Ava & Gabriel: A Love Story

Sugar could not claim its own sweetness...

...but isn't my daughter precious looking?

She resembles me, don't you think so?

Yes, but the father's complexion does quite a bit for her, right?

What a shame. Look how Delia mistreated that satin fabric.

That child of her looks like a plucked chicken.

It doesn't matter.

As long as they buy their fabrics from us, right?

You better watch out, mister.

You are lucky nothing happened, mister eh...

Goedbloed. Gabriel Goedbloed.

Goedbloed? By the way, have you got a driver's licence?

Carlos, take it easy. Nothing happened.

Mr. Union himself.

Is this guy a new party member, perhaps?

Stupid people can only ask stupid questions.

We will meet again, Mr Zarius.

Who's that? - An artist.

Hello.

I am very sorry. I am in a hurry.

I am a painter. They are waiting for me.

I hope you're a better painter than motordriver Mr. Goedbloed.

Ah, a painter.

That's what he says. - The children are very upset because of you.

You came and ruined everything.

Darling, calm down.

See you later.

We are an easygoing people, Goedbloed.

But if necessary we can be mean motherfuckers.

The dignitaries are waiting for you. So you better hurry.

Grand entrance, Gabriel, bravo.

Hurry up. They are about to leave.

Sorry Zarius. I'm sorry. Now hurry.

This really is most interesting, Mr. Goedbloed.

Eccentric.

Those Antillean elements, combined with Western technique.

What do you think, darling?

Well, technically not bad...

...but a Madonna against an ..Antillean background...

...doesn't seem historically right.

Indeed... a point of discussion.

Fidelius, did you know about this?

What a narrow-minded point of view, Monseigneur.

I thought the church would surely respect artistic freedom.

Art is freedom.

I think. Mrs. van Hanschot, that where church matters are concerned...

...I may be considered an authority.

Yes but, Monseigneur, I mean that...

Look, the essence of the holy virgin...

...has nothing to do with time or place.

And I think, Fidelius...

...that I have already granted you too much freedom in this matter.

Mr. Goedbloed, technically the work is quite sufficient...

...but we'll have to talk about it.

Louise, shall we go?

Monseigneur.

Mr. Goedbloed.

Your Excellency, I will walk with you.

Fidelius, we'll talk about this matter.

Mr. Goedbloed. I think your work is of remarkable quality.

Not typically Dutch, if I may say so.

You studied in The Hague?

Yes, your Excellency, eh... Mrs. Hanschot, yes.

My private collection will surely interest you.

Louise?

Yes, I'm coming. Mr. Goedbloed.

Remember, if you have problems at home...

. ..you can always come to me. Don't forget.

Please wait for me.

How was your day?

What will the sisters think, Carlos?

Let the sisters continue praying, dear.

If you like something spicy, in any color you want...

...you will be addicted some day to rum and coke.

Sweetie, pray for me too, okay?

I would commit every sin in the world for you, doll.

Show some respect Luciano. That's Mrs. Arlina's daughter.

Nurse, nurse, I'm having a heart attack. Help me.

I'll send the Garbage Department for you.

They will take care of you.

What to do with this saucy pussycat...

...because from this pussycat I can expect anything...

Neighbors, this pussycat's driving me insane...

...come and help me drown her in the sea.

Did you hear Juanita is having an affair?

...with a Portuguese man from Madeira?

Before she knows she will be pulling the plow!

Ava, Farida, how are you?

Hello Yuja, everything okay?

Did you hear about the fight between Mr. Union...

...and Mr. Bonheer yesterday evening?

Gee, they were really carrying on....

Scandalous...

But what happened?

One was calling the other a backward ox...

...the other answered with slavekeeper and then... bang!

Our queen should have left things as they were.

Voting and all that is nothing for us.

So we're not allowed to make progress?

Come on Farida.

You look like a donkey yourself.

Pride will have a fall.

You insult the ideas and the memory of the man burried here.

He was respected by everyone.

Brandsma was a God-fearing man.

Indeed Monseigneur, a very God-fearing man...

...as far as the eye reaches.

His wife and his cbildren know him as a tyrant and a miser.

He was very generous towards the church.

That's exactly what I mean.

My apologies, Mother Superior, Mr. Goedbloed, for keeping you waiting.

We had to see Brandsma to his last resting place.

Let's get to the point.

The Antillean Madonna of Santa Ana church.

Is this necessary, young man?

Monseigneur, I believe that in the church...

...the Black Madonna has already existed for a long time.

The Madonna of Montserrat... of Poland.

The Curacao people...

I don't doubt your good intentions, Mr. Goedbloed.

And I am also informed about the black Madonnas in our history...

...but the White Mary is a tradition of our Holy Mother Church.

But Monseigneur, time defines tradition does it not?

And, Mother Superior, what do you think?

Yes, an Antillean Mary?

She wasn't really brown-skinned, was she?

No, I don't know.

This matter is secularised and politicized in such a way...

...that I have serious doubts.

And the Governor is far from happy with the way things are going.

But his wife, she...

Mother Superior.

Mr. Goedbloed.

Father Fidelius.

Mama, what is this?

Those are Dutch matters, my dear.

How is your husband.

He is still out of a job.

Life is hard. - Yes, trust the Lord.

Fidelius should hurry. We cannot arrive too late.

Here you are, praise the Lord.

I'm coming.

Listen Filomena, don't give more than six breads.

Allright Father.

How are you Anita? - Fine, and you Father?

I haven't seen Guillermo lately.

He shot the Cuban moon.

He left for Cuba? That is far away, isn't it?

That's what they say, Father Fidelius.

Goodmorning, goodmorning.

Goodmorning Father.

Goodmorning.

What's this. You want to break down my door? Off with you.

Mr. Francois - How are you, Madam.

Hello, Mr. Goedbloed. Come in.

You look real sweet.

Some lucky people don't age at all.

Juanita, the turkey is all set to go to church.

A she does is boast that she received another letter...

...from her white Dutch captain.

Captain? My ass.

Just a fatso sailor, smelling of rum all the time.

A drunk.

Why doesn't Father ask one of the sisters?

They are nearer to God than my little Ava.

Please mama. Don't exaggerate.

I am not your little Ava. I can decide for myself.

Keep your mouth shut while your mother is talking.

No one asked you to speak.

But Mrs. Arlina, Mother Superior Bernadette herself...

...had given permission.

Mother Superior?

In my opinion it isn't up to Mother Superior to give...

...permission in this matter.

Mama, please stop that.

Bishop Hilderbrand himself has requested your operation.

Bishop Hildebrand? - Yes.

Being a good Catholic I want to collaborate of course...

...and the Bishop is a righteous man.

I don't want to oppose him.

Yes. Mama is a very good Catholic.

Father Fidelius would you like to bless our Saints?

We'll talk about this later, you hear, dearest?

Mama, come over here, have a look.

I have been busy with a first sketch for the mural.

But, that's me!

Do you like it?

Yes, but why should I still model for you, while you...

Because of the details, the purity of your jawline...

...the light upon your skin and your eyes that...

Alright, I don't want to be impolite, but I have to get back to work.

Gabriel, please can you join me?

We still have to make a list of everything you need.

Mrs. Arlina, thank you very much.

Mrs. Arlina? - Father Fidelius.

I think that I give my permission.

Thank you very much.

But Father Fidelius, I keep you personally responsible for this.

Father Fidelius you understand me, don't you?

Yes, yes.