According to Plato,
individuals are contended between two sides.
We have a body, liable to urges and drives,
and a soul, which through the use of reason
allows us to pursue the greater good.
But can we really tame our primal instinct?
- Or are we just-- -Yo, do you mind
if I eat some of you veg--
Oh right, your final exam...
Are you worried?
Not at all. It's Plato...
I know it by heart.
Sounds great! So..
No problem.
Thanks.
[tires screeching followed by a hard hit]
[man groaning and screaming for help]
Yo, somebody just got run over!
Hold on, let me look for help.
[man groaning in pain]
[static noise]
[static noise intensifying]
[drops falling in water]
[sound of a waterfall]
[car approaching]
So, can we really tame our primal instincts?
Or are we just prisoners of our roots?
According to Parmenides,
our senses deceives us.
They make us believe we're moving,
but being stays unchanged.
Motion...
Change...
are just illusions.
I thought I could change once I'd leave home.
I thought I could live among other people.
But apparently, I was wrong.
The more you try to flee from yourself,
the more you find yourself back at the starting line.
Oh my, you're so skinny! Haven't you been eating?
My parents.
So, how's my little boy?
Feels good to be back.
You got homesick, uh?
I just missed my parents.
Vittorio, but what about college...
Ugh... so what's for dinner?
Hmm!
How is it?
Really good.
Mhm, you used to cook it differently, right?
No, it's always been the same, why?
It's just not how I remember it, that's it.
You were dreaming of a steak like this one, weren't you?
Indeed.
So, who is this?
The mailman's son.
Such and athletic kid, so muscular. Can't you taste how lean he was?
Does meat taste this good in the city?
My father's dream.
A pastoral life.
Unnoticed.
Our land, our cattle...
Not that bad, am I right?
I mean, no chance to grow your knowledge...
Vittorio, it's your turn.
We have it all thought out.
Remember Giancarlo? The singer at the country festival?
I could follow in my parents footsteps...
But is this really who I am?
Whoa...
♪ Femmena ♪
♪ Tu si na malafemmena ♪
♪ Chist'uocchie 'e fatto chiagnere ♪
♪ Lacreme e 'nfamità ♪
♪ Femmena ♪
- ♪ Si ddoce comme 'o zucchero ♪ -Yeah, I know I haven't hunted in 3 years, so what?
- I still remember how it's done.
[Vittorio accidentally kicks a glass bottle] - I still remember how it's done.
[Vittorio accidentally kicks a glass bottle]
Hey, Vittorio! Whatcha do here, uh?
I was going for a walk, I saw you and I stopped to say hello.
- Wasn't ya studying up north? -Yeah.
- Your folks are so proud of ya, ya know? - I know, I know...
[Giancarlo's words fading out]
Listen, I'll say it for the hundredth time: he never showed up.
I was there for hours.
And let's face it, my veggie soup is the best.
[rooster crows]
"Learn who you are and be such", Pindar said.
I believed I could be someone else for far too long...
A normal student with normal dreams.
Why would I keep fooling myself?
It's hard to forget what I am and where I'm from.
Looks like the only viable way
is to accept my fate and be brave enough to go all the way.
A piece of cake.
[muffled groans coming from inside the barn]
[Giancarlo groaning]
[Dad] Vittorio!
- [Giancarlo groans] - Come on you, shut up!
- [Giancarlo groans] - This guy's so damn loud!
Come on darling, hush.
But--
Surprise!
We couldn't help ourselves.
It was my turn, I was going right now!
Oh, it's no big deal.
We waited for you. Come on, you do the honors.
[static noise]
Remember: from ear to ear.
Quick, easy, painless.
Come on.
I can't.
I don't want to.
Vittorio, I don't understand...
I don't doubt that.
Don't talk to your mother like that!
How can I say this...
Say what?
I can't stand to be here anymore.
I hate farming, hunting, going around with dirt all over me.
I can't keep pretending to be like you guys.
I just can't anymore.
Well kid, this is a free country...
If you don't fancy this life, feel free to leave.
But I just got back...
Why did you come back?
Why did you drop out of school?
You only had two finals left!
Your mother planned your graduation party already!
Do you really think I'm happy?
I've tried to be normal for two years.
I was studying, going out,
I was meeting people without feeling the urge to eat them!
I know, I haven't eaten meat since I left.
And it has nothing to do with chance...
I actively chose not to do it.
I missed it a bit, it's true,
but I felt more like myself.
I was happy.
But one night I just couldn't resist it,
and dear old Vittorio showed up...
That's all it took: one moment.
Is this why you came back?
I came back because no one can run from his own roots.
Looks like you just ran from it...
Am I wrong?
Listen, I love you guys.
But I just can't stay here.
I want to study, I want to be free.
Then do it, Vittorio.
But I...
Can't you see you've done it already?
You've been the first in the family to leave this god-forsaken place.
The first one to stop eating meat.
and let me tell you:
you'll be the first one to graduate from college.
You have my word.
What do we do with this one, though?
[Giancarlo groans]
How could Achilles beat a tortoise in a race,
if it has already moved forward
by the time he gets to it?
By stating this, Zeno thought he finally proved that everything stays the same...
That nothing ever changes.
A lot of thinkers tried to prove him wrong, and they all failed.
On the other hand, Diogenes kept quiet.
He simply stood up and started walking
to show everyone that he would catch his tortoise,
no matter what.