:01:12
In memory of my son Romano.
- Roberto Rossellini
:01:17
When ideologies distance themselves
from Christian morality and piety,
:01:21
the very foundation of human life,
they become criminal folly.
:01:25
Even childhood innocence is tainted
and drawn from a horrible crime
:01:29
to a lesser one in which,
through its own ingenuity,
:01:33
it believes to find
freedom from guilt.
:01:36
This movie,
shot in Berlin in the summer of 194 7,
:01:41
aims only to be an objective
and true portrait
:01:45
of this large, almost
totally destroyed city
:01:48
where 3.5 million people live
a terrible, desperate life,
:01:55
almost without realizing it.
:01:58
They live as if tragedy
were natural,
:02:03
not because of strength
or faith,
:02:07
but because they are tired.
:02:10
This is not an accusation
:02:13
or even a defense
of the German people.
:02:15
It is an objective
assessment.
:02:18
Yet if anyone,
:02:21
after watching
Edmund Koeler's story,
:02:24
feels that something needs
to be done--
:02:27
that German children need
to relearn to love life--
:02:31
then the efforts of those
who made this movie
:02:36
will be greatly rewarded.