1864

I'm writing this for it to be remembered.

But who the reader is, I do not know.

Denmark was a country under the sun.

And no one could ever have imagined -

- that the most bloody defeat was waiting to happen.

It became the story of a forgotten time and war.

The story of Laust, Peter, Johan and Didrich.

Of Sofia, Karen, Dinesen, Einar.

Erasmus, Alfred and the thousands of others -

- who fell victim to euphoric blunders of mad people.

And to our own belief in them.

I'm Inge. The estate manager's daughter.

The love of Laust and Peter. I'm the last living witness.

I am the times that have disappeared.

Let's all gather here before we move on.

Okay. This is where it all happened. The 18th of April, 1864.

The Danish army fought against the Prussians. Caroline!

Someone tap Caroline on the shoulder.

Now, only some indentations and entrenchments are left.

But...

Try to picture, by using your imagination...

...that the Prussian army came in over there.

And over here lay the Danish defense positions.

Is anybody listening? We drove all the way over here.

Dybbøl Mølle.

Right here, young Danish soldiers fought an impossible battle -

against a massive Prussian army.

Dybbøl Mølle.

This is some Grade A weed.

I'm gonna make a fortune. You want some?

You'll never get rich, Zlatko.

"Entrenchment IV."

"Fallen on the 18th of April, 1864. Captain S.U.R. Lundbye."

"2nd Regiment. Alongside several privates."

"Their names have not been written."

How lame. Got a monument because he fell.

- I fell! I want a monument! - Idiot.

SOUTH FUNEN, 1851

Good morning.

"Noah did everything just as God commanded him."

If there were two of all the animal species -

were there also two lice?

Noah brought two of all living creatures.

- But lice? - They're all God's creation.

- But lice? - You like it when they're gone.

Without lice I couldn't delouse you.

- Damn it. - No swearing!

Come, Peter!

Therefore, Denmark is at war right now.

Nobody is as brave as the Danish soldier.

The Germans are fleeing and Slesvig bends its head.

Many of your fathers are fighting.

You should be very proud of them for defending Denmark.

Peter's father is also fighting, while he's late for school.

The Germans are trying to devour Slesvig.

Like the wolf trying to lure the lost sheep. "Come with me."

But no! For this is the kingdom of Denmark.

And it stretches all the way down to here.

Slesvig is a part of Denmark, even though they don't believe it.

- Einar. - But don't they speak German?

Yes, but that will have to stop, because we only accept Danish.

That's why God gave us this flag. Yes, Peter?

Did it really fall from the sky?

Yes. God let the Dannebrog fall down to the Danish people -

because he loves us the most.

- Hooray! - Hooray!

- Are you sure? - Yes. It's gonna come out.

I do it at least once a day -

- and then I put it in the jar over there.

It's coming.

Look.

This stuff is what makes children.

Then, why can't I just...

You'll get there.

Why are the bells ringing?

- It's Didrich! - The soldiers are back!

I was 12 years old in 1851 -

- when the soldiers returned from the Three Years' War.

They had defeated the Prussians and the insurgents of Slesvig.

And everyone was thrilled with joy.

I still hear the women cry -

- when they reunite with their sons and husbands.

And I remember how handsome Didrich was -

- when he came riding on his horse, looking like a true prince.

I ran next to him on my bare feet, looking up in admiration.

And his father and his people -

- who greeted him with blind enthusiasm.

- There's our hero! - Hooray!

Didrich!

And... that's...

Get my son some brandy. Come, my son.

You didn't get me!

You bloody German!

Mom?

Father?

Come here, boys.

How many did you kill?

Let's not talk about that.

- More than Didrich, I'm sure. - Did you fix the fence yourself?

- Yes. - You're very skilled.

Peter reads books.

- He attends school and he can write. - You might study in Copenhagen.

- Maybe. - A priest in the family, perhaps?

Hooray!

How about it?

- How many did you whack? - About 120.

How are you feeling?

Did you assert yourself? Were you admired by your men?

Do you wish to continue in the military?

If you had seen what I have seen...

- Grown men shredded to pieces. - Yes...

I was standing next to my lieutenant and all of the sudden...

...his face was gone.

It was gone, father. It could have been me.

War is terribly messy.

Do you know how it feels, watching yourself die -

every single day?

But you're alive. Your mother would have been happy.

To see you back in one piece. Safe and sound.

In one piece.

I'm not safe and sound.

Get a hold of yourself!

Not many people saw the scars on Didrich's soul.

Who knows what lurks behind appearances?

Even the strongest of us sometimes feel alone -

- like weak and whimpering children, or like bizarre demons.

Denmark is great.

Like the greatest of them all.

It's even bigger.

But the reactionaries, the conservatives -

- and the aristocrats have all the power.

Ditlev?

Can't you see that I'm working, woman?

My dearest Ditlev. We have to leave.

Thank you, Emilie.

For God's sake, Monrad. You're the rhetorician.

I need your help to defang the conservatives.

- Pull yourself together. - Where's your head at, Monrad?

We have to unite this country, but you're faltering.

Our leader provides the instruments. You make the music.

- But you're dead silent. - I know.

Oh hell, you need to speak out!

Don't talk about hell in front of me.

We've got a great project and we must do all it takes -

to shut up the conservatives.

They too love the growing democracy.

The Danish colors are showing Europe -

- that we're a modern and democratic kingdom.

In order to unite people we need to use...

...Your rhetoric, Monrad.

This is what you do so well. You and Grundtvig.

Doesn't the Lord himself speak through priests like you?

Pull yourself together. You're the master here.

- What are we watching? - Mrs. Heiberg. MacBeth.

...yet do I fear thy nature.

It's too nice.

And too full of the milk of human kindness -

to catch the nearest way.

Thou wouldst be great. Art not without ambition -

- but without the illness should attend it.

What thou wouldst highly. That would thou holily.

Wouldst not play false -

and yet wouldst wrongly win.

Thou dost have, which cries.

"Thus thou must do, if thou want it."

And that, which rather thou dost fear to do -

than wishest should be undone.

Dost thou not dare to follow your desires?

Dost thou only wish for life's finest ornament?

To stand a cur by your own estimation.

And to let your cowardice wait upon your wish.

Like the cat with a craving for fish -

but not for wet paws.

Bravo!

Bravo!

Because it's your birthday you get this.

- And... - Save some for Laust.

Thank you, Peter.

- Here you go. - Thank you.

"Linné's Book of Flora and Plants in Scandinavia."

- Wow. - I traded it with a Swedish person.

It's in Swedish, but that's easy to learn.

- I didn't find you a book, Laust. - That's okay.

- Are you sure? - Yes.

Perhaps this will do instead.

You'd better check that a Prussian isn't stuck at the end of it.

Let's go, Peter.

That day the sun lit up this world of ours...

...which is infinitely small.

All I see are two filthy boys.

And they see me as a pillar risen from the ocean.

But that day became a day we would never forget.

This is no place for girls. This is our secret place!

That's right. This is our place!

You assholes! You gigantic -

filthy and damned assholes!

- Who are you? - I'm Inge.

The new estate manager's daughter.

And this place is just as much mine as it is yours!

Anybody can stay here!