[narrator] A few months after the execution of Arcadio,
Colonel Aureliano Buendía was captured
just before he reached the border of the western frontier.
[dogs barking]
Of the 21 men who followed him to war, only one survived,
Colonel Gerineldo Márquez.
[townspeople chattering]
[somber music playing]
-What happened to your hand? -[Amaranta] Nothing. It's just a burn.
Aureliano José's all grown up now.
-[men shout] -[soldier] Get back.
-Aureliano! -[soldier] Get back.
-Aureliano! -[soldier] I said get back.
-Where's Magnífico? Huh? -Where is our son?
-Where is he? -[soldier] Get back.
-[Isabel] Don't touch me! -[soldier] Get back!
-[man 1] Hands off! Hands off! -[Aureliano] Go home, Mother!
Ask the authorities for permission, and come visit me in jail!
[Úrsula] Aureliano!
[all clamoring]
[grunts]
[man 2] Let go!
[man 3] Long live Colonel Buendía!
[clamoring continues]
-[gunshot] -[all screaming]
-[Roque] That's enough! -Aureliano!
The party's over now!
There's nothing to see here! Let's go!
-[sobbing] -[Roque] Everybody back to your homes!
[narrator] Colonel Aureliano Buendía's sentence would be carried out in Macondo
as a lesson to the people.
ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF SOLITUDE
[soldier] Ma'am. Ma'am!
[Úrsula] I need to see Colonel Aureliano Buendía. My son.
-Let me in. -[soldier] Ma'am!
-[Úrsula] Captain! I said let me in! -[soldier] Get back now!
She can come in!
[dog barking]
I want to see my son,
Colonel Aureliano Buendía.
Sorry,
are you referring to "Mister" Buendía?
Whatever you say.
Just let me see Aureliano.
We're just waiting for the government to ratify his official sentence.
What sentence?
The death penalty.
Meanwhile, he's to stay in complete isolation.
There's no way I'm not seeing my son.
I'm going inside, so shoot me if that's the order you were given.
Take her.
[dog barking]
[soldier shouting in distance]
[men chattering outside]
I haven't told you this, but Arcadio named his baby Remedios.
He wanted to name her Úrsula, but
that name comes with great suffering.
[both chuckle]
You never told me any of this.
But I already knew.
You were born with your eyes wide open…
looking all around…
so curious yet so unbothered.
I haven't forgotten that.
And I haven't forgotten the sadness in your face…
[sniffles]
…when you saw me return without your brother…
after I left you and Amaranta behind.
That image of you still breaks my heart.
I feel like I've already lived through all of this.
But I can't see my own death.
As if the omens have abandoned me for some reason.
[sighs]
-[sniffles] -[Aureliano] I have something for you.
These are the poems I wrote for Remedios.
Promise me…
that you'll burn them.
I don't want anyone to read them.
[soldier] Time's up! Let's go!
Don't say goodbye.
Don't beg anyone or humiliate yourself for me.
This is a war.
Instead, you should act as if I was executed ages ago.
[somber music playing]
[townspeople murmuring]
[man] Interested in having a bit of fun tonight, Captain?
Good evening.
So you know, sir,
we didn't come here after anyone.
My fellow officers and I simply want a drink
and to have a good time.
[coins jangle]
No one wants to lie with a man on death row, Captain Carnicero.
[ominous music playing]
It's bad luck.
The only ones on death row are the rebels.
Maybe.
But the whole town knows
that the officer who executes Colonel Aureliano Buendía,
as well as every soldier in his platoon,
one by one…
will be killed sooner or later, without exception.
Even if they run to the far corners of the earth.
Well…
Look, I have nothing against the colonel.
In fact, I admire his bravery.
But, unfortunately, if we are ordered to,
we'll be forced to execute him.
That is our duty.
[ominous music continues]
Pray then.
[Catarino] Pray that you never receive that order.
[music swells]
[women murmuring]
[ominous music continues]
[music fades]
Pardon me, Captain.
That it?
Gerineldo Márquez…
you've been sentenced to spend seven years in prison.
It looks like you and I weren't as fortunate.
You have been sentenced to death for rebellion.
The telegram orders your execution to take place immediately.
That's truly wonderful news.
We have our first telegraph in Macondo.
[somber music playing]
[narrator] He did not feel fear or nostalgia,
but rage at the thought that his artful death
would not allow him to see the end of the many things he had left unfinished.
Any last words, Colonel Buendía?
[narrator] As he faced the firing squad,
Colonel Aureliano Buendía
was to remember that distant afternoon
when his father took him to discover ice.
He saw himself again as a child
wearing short pants and a tie around his neck.
And he thought of José Arcadio Buendía,
who at that moment was thinking about him,
under the somber dawn of the chestnut tree.
[sighs]
Soldiers.
Prepare.
[stark, somber percussive music playing]
Aim your guns.
[wind whistling]
[tense music playing]
[gunshots]
[man mutters]
[breathing heavily]
Hold your fire.
Soldiers,
put down your weapons.
You were sent here by Divine Providence.
Release him!
Just do it!
[men whispering, muttering]
[music fades]
[chains jangling]
I'm at your service, Colonel Buendía.
Welcome to the revolution, Carnicero.
[gentle, ethereal music playing]
So, I guess it turns out that you're Divine Providence.
[chuckles softly]
Hmm.
Well, don't you think someone had to come rescue you?
-Hmm. -Don't get yourself killed again.
I won't save you, Aureliano.
[narrator] No one ever learned of his involvement
in halting the execution.
Captain Roque Carnicero and his men left town with Colonel Aureliano Buendía,
and they joined the revolutionary forces of Colonel Victoriano Medina.
[bell tolling]
[narrator] One year after Colonel Aureliano Buendía's escape,
the Buendía residence was once again filled with children.
Úrsula had taken in Santa Sofía de la Piedad
and her eldest daughter, Remedios…
How many times have I told you not to do that?
…and a pair of twins who were born after the execution of their father,
named Aureliano Segundo and José Arcadio Segundo.
"Sa-tur-day."
"Tha-tur-day."
[Amaranta] Let's try that again.
[narrator] Amaranta took care of them all.
This one?
Listen to this.
"After many years of confrontations,
the government will meet for the first time
with liberal politicians to discuss the terms of a potential truce."
Hmm.
[sighs]
You saw it coming, José Arcadio.
You never needed an omen to tell you that politics are nothing but a plague.
-[Aureliano Segundo] …Thursday. -[Amaranta] Good job.
[Aureliano Segundo] Good morning! It's a bowl!
[mysterious music playing]
[coins jangle]
Where's the rest?
My sons are fighting for the Liberals in the countryside.
With your brother, Colonel Buendía.
What's that got to do with anything?
Well… it's just the two of us,
and we can't take care of the whole harvest ourselves.
I'm asking you to give me more time, sir.
[mysterious music continues]
[coins jangle]
Tell them to come work
and stop playing soldiers.
[whoops]
[dog barking]
Does it hurt?
Yeah.
-Auntie? -Mm-hmm?
Please can I sleep with you tonight?
Aureliano José, you need to get used to sleeping alone.
It's the last time. I promise you.
All right.
[both giggle]
[Amaranta chuckles softly]
-[townspeople chattering] -[birds chirping]
[narrator] Tired of living among the dead,
José Arcadio and Rebeca moved to the house built by Arcadio.
They made it their home,
and continued to love each other freely.
[giggles]
Mm.
[both moan]
[wind gusting]
[birds chirping]
[gunshot]
[thud]
[tense music playing]
All right, let's go again. Three times three?
-[Aureliano José] Three times three… -[Amaranta] Think about it.
-[Aureliano José] Nine! -[Amaranta] Five times two…
[narrator] Rebeca maintained that she hadn't seen anything.
It was difficult to believe,
but no other story was more plausible,
as no one could conceive a reason why she would murder the man
that had made her happy.
[no audible dialogue]
That was perhaps the only mystery in Macondo that was never solved.
Rebeca shut the doors of her house and buried herself alive,
covered with a thick crust of disdain
that no earthly temptation was ever able to break.
[digging dirt]
[Gerineldo] Colonel, they're waiting for us. Are you all right?
I was thinking about my brother.
Now I know why, for the last two nights, I've dreamt of him.
[men chattering]
You've all been summoned as the regional leaders you are,
to show your support for the Liberal Party in a crucial day for our country!
[group murmuring]
The Conservative government… is now open to dialogue.
[group muttering]
And we must answer their call!
We should be answering with gunpowder!
-That's right! -[all clamoring] Yeah!
Everyone, settle down, settle down, settle down! Please!
Try to understand that the absolute best way to end this war
is to reach a consensus.
What consensus is that, huh?
[man 1] Well, whatever consensus is necessary.
First, we must go to the capital so we can--
For example, to begin with,
the representation of Liberals in Congress is fundamental
as well as in other government offices.
That is what all of you want!
[all clamoring] Yeah!
The future of Colombia is what's at stake, all right?
And to reach a negotiation, we need to stop fighting.
-Like hell we're gonna stop fighting now! -[man 2] What is wrong with these guys?
Have you no sense? Come on!
[all clamoring]
What's really at stake right now…
[man 2] Carry on like this!
…is the dignity of our people.
And you cannot negotiate that.
If you sign in favor of an armistice,
we may be able to demand participation in the regional elections…
[murmuring]
…for you, sir.
[man 3] That's right.
Sign here, Colonel.
We'll sign that
when there is more to offer to the Liberals.
[tense music playing]
But until then, we will continue with our fight.
[man 2] That's right.
[man 4] Stop.
[women screaming]
For your support of the Liberal insurgency…
-Hey, I said get back! -[woman] Please, sir, I beg you! Please!
[all clamoring]
[soldier] The Colombian Government sentences you to death!
[dramatic music playing]
Prepare!
[prisoners clamoring, screaming]
[soldier] Aim!
[hooves pounding]
[rebel 1] Long live the Liberal Party!
[horses neigh]
[men clamoring, grunting]
Uh!
[narrator] That is how the legend of Colonel Aureliano Buendía was born.
[rebel 2] Long live Coronel Buendía!
[all] Buendía!
HUICÁN'S TOWN HALL
[narrator] Over the following years,
the colonel armed more than one thousand men,
and he declared total war against the government.
Long live the revolution.
[groans]
Uh!
[grunts]
Uh!
[groans]
[women screaming]
[gunshots continue]
-Ah! -[man] Ah!
[wails]
[dramatic music continues]
[men chatting]
[music fades]
Colonel.
[man] What do you mean? I told you guys you could have those two, okay?
I thought you'd be interested.
Ah, well, I'll drink to that.
This is how they thank us for leaving our blood on the battlefield.
WANTED, DEAD OR ALIVE
Hmm.
[ominous music playing]
If the Liberals are gonna kneel to those Conservative sons of bitches…
then we're going after them as well.
-May I come in, Colonel? -Yes, come in.
[sighs]
[both grunting]
[both straining]
You wanna kill me, you son of a bitch?
[man grunts] Ah!
[gasping]
[both grunting]
[both staining]
[man groans] Ah!
[grunting, panting]
[Aureliano grunting]
[groans, exhales]
[music fades]
[groans]
[sighs]
[screaming] Ah!
[narrator] And so, another war began.
[somber music playing]
Here, sir.
[narrator] Colonel Aureliano Buendía's men proclaimed him
Chief of the Revolutionary Forces of the Caribbean,
ranking him as General.
[somber music playing]
[narrator] Although he assumed the position,
he would not accept the promotion
until every member of the Conservative regime
was removed from power.
[gunshot]
[women screaming]
[all clamoring]
Ah!
[screaming]
[somber music continues]
[gagging]
[music fades]
-[men chattering] -[birds chirping]
[man] Colonel.
Colonel Aureliano Buendía.
General José Raquel Moncada.
All politicians are complete shit, Moncada.
The only difference is, Liberals go to mass at five o'clock,
and Conservatives go to mass at 8:00.
[chuckles]
You're right. [chuckles]
Which is why this war is completely futile.
Other Liberal leaders have already started negotiating with the government.
And they're about to sign, Aureliano.
Everyone is worn out.
It's been over ten years.
And we'll fight for ten more or however long we have to
for our people to decide their fate.
We've been muzzled for long enough, and we're done.
We both know that you wanna keep fighting
to get even for what your own party did to you.
That's true.
I won't deny it.
All of those Liberal leaders need to understand
that our army is legitimate.
Don't confuse our men with bandits.
Then stop attacking innocent civilians, Aureliano.
You have enemies everywhere now.
Then why are you here, Moncada?
Did they send you here to bribe me? Or to intimidate me?
Nobody sent me to do anything.
I just came to say goodbye because I quit the fight.
I've been appointed civil and military chief of Macondo.
I will look after your town.
That, I can promise you.
You're one of the most decent men I've ever known, José Raquel.
But unfortunately,
you're still a Conservative.
[pensive music playing]
[Úrsula] Breakfast is served!
Aureliano Segundo! José Arcadio Segundo!
[narrator] The twins were so similar and mischievous,
neither their own mother nor grandmother could tell them apart.
-Good morning, Grandma. -Good morning, Grandma.
Morning. Sit over there, Aureliano Segundo.
Aureliano José.
Aureliano José!
[narrator] Just like his father had at his age,
Aureliano José had quickly grown into a man.
Yes, Grandma?
Go get Remedios and your Aunt Amaranta. Their food is starting to get cold.
[narrator] Aureliano José felt a strange trembling
at the sight of her splendid breasts with their brown nipples.
He continued to study her,
discovering the miracle of her intimacy inch by inch,
and he felt his skin tingle as he regarded her.
[pensive music playing]
[horse neighs]
[music fades]
Good afternoon.
Are you Úrsula Iguarán de Buendía?
-Yes. -Ma'am.
General José Raquel Moncada. At your service.
How can I help you?
I've been appointed the new civil and military chief of Macondo.
And it would be a very special honor for me
if you would assist me, Mrs. Buendía, in showing me around.
[Úrsula] The military forces have caused a lot of damage to Macondo, General.
Both the red and the blue.
I know that.
And my mission is to care for the people, despite the color of their banners.
I promised Colonel Buendía.
Have you talked to my son?
I have.
I met with him before coming here.
Was he captured?
[Moncada] No, he's with his troop, leading the revolutionary army.
He's my enemy though.
Close enemy.
But we have one common enemy that we hate even more each other.
Injustice.
[Úrsula] Injustice is constantly swaying in the direction of what's convenient.
These days, words are as empty as they were
back in the time of the insomnia plague.
[Moncada] Mrs. Buendía, I respect your son,
and I intend to treat Macondo with the same respect.
That much I can promise you.
Well, I hope you will, General.
Macondo can't bleed anymore for this endless war.
Have a nice afternoon.
[gasps]
-I didn't hear you. -My apologies.
[ethereal music playing]
[Aureliano José moaning softly]
[Amaranta breathing heavily]
[Aureliano José continues moaning]
-[Úrsula] Amaranta? -[gasps]
-Hmm? -[Úrsula] Where are the candles?
J… just a second. I… I'll get them.
[panting softly]
[José Aureliano laughs]
It's all right. She didn't see us.
Not today,
but if we keep this up, she will.
Mother! Here they are.
[townspeople chatting]
[narrator] While Colonel Aureliano Buendía
snuck around the narrow trails of permanent subversion,
General Moncada replaced soldiers with unarmed policemen,
hoping to foster a trusting environment.
One that made people think of the war as an absurd nightmare of the past.
No banner should ever be above the dignity of a human being.
That's why the people of Macondo should all share the same rights.
The same opportunities.
That's always been its founders' wishes.
And the very first step to make it a reality
is guaranteeing public education.
So, as of today,
this space will serve its original purpose once again.
[applause]
I have to be honest, I didn't think you'd keep your promise
or that I would live to see the Macondo I knew
from the time of José Arcadio again.
-What was it like back then? -[Úrsula chuckles]
There were no sides,
no soldiers.
We had no idea what fear was.
And people painted their houses the way they saw fit.
Well, I'm glad to hear that we're on the right path.
[Úrsula] Yes.
Any news on Aureliano?
No.
I just hope he's considering surrendering his weapons.
Eventually, men get accustomed to war…
until they can't find their way out of it again.
[both breathing heavily]
I'm your aunt.
What we're doing is awful.
No, it's not. It's beautiful.
[Amaranta breathing heavily]
[José Aureliano moans softly]
Get out.
[footsteps passing]
Don't you realize what we're doing? This is forbidden.
Leave me be. Please go.
Is that what you really want?
Tell me to leave you alone again, and I swear I will.
I want you to go as far away as you can.
Then I'd rather go and be killed in the trenches.
It'd be better than your indifference.
[somber music playing]
[door closes]
[dog barking]
[mysterious music playing]
[footsteps approaching]
[music fades]
Where's your grandfather?
He's right here.
He's been this way all morning.
We've just received a letter.
It's Aureliano.
He says his omens have returned.
[crying]
[somber music playing]
[in Latin] We come from water.
ÚRSULA, MOM, TAKE GREAT CARE OF DAD
BECAUSE HE IS GOING TO DIE. AURELIANO B.
[narrator] In spite of his undiminished strength,
José Arcadio Buendía was in no condition to fight.
That colossal old man, beaten by the sun and rain,
was indifferent to everything.
We come from water,
and our fates are intertwined.
Try to sleep some, my love.
The afternoon is so beautiful
and cool.
[somber music continues]
[music fades]
Wait, woman!
[mysterious music playing]
Wait, I'm not sleepy yet.
[narrator] José Arcadio Buendía found consolation in dreaming of infinite rooms.
He dreamt of getting out of bed,
opening the door,
and entering another room,
My dear boy.
[mysterious music continues]
Melquiades,
my dear old friend.
[narrator] And then another, as if in a gallery of mirrors,
until he came across a descendant of his,
Aureliano Babilonia,
as he read, many years later,
from Melquiades's manuscripts,
about that very same moment José Arcadio Buendía was living.
[gasps]
Prudencio.
[music intensifies]
[music fades]
[narrator] A light rain of tiny, yellow flowers
fell over the town all through the night in a silent storm.
They covered the roofs and blocked the doors.
So many flowers fell from the sky
that they had to clear the streets away with shovels
so the funeral procession could pass through.
[solemn brass music playing]
[somber string music playing]
[soldiers chattering]
[narrator] Years after the death of his father,
at dawn on the first of October,
Colonel Aureliano Buendía returned to Macondo
with one thousand well-armed men.
The garrison had received orders to resist to the end.
[Moncada] Ladies! Gentlemen! Please go home!
Everyone, close your doors! Stay inside!
Come on! Keep moving! Bring that cannon to the front!
Very good!
José Raquel!
José Raquel, what's happening?
Aureliano.
He and his men arrived at dawn.
What will you do?
If they attack us,
we will defend ourselves.
Bring the machine gun here! To the front as well! Everyone ready?
I don't know which one of you is the bigger fool here!
[distant bell tolling]
PUBLIC SCHOOL
[ominous music playing]
[narrator] Úrsula felt like her son was a stranger.
His face had acquired a metallic hardness,
and he was showing the first symptoms of resistance to nostalgia.
Aureliano.
[music ends]
Mother.
Will you attack Macondo?
That'd be an atrocity.
There is no other way.
We have to overthrow the government.
Aureliano, my God.
We have had so many years of tranquility.
No one has spoken of parties or banners.
Don't do this, son.
I'll give Moncada the option to surrender.
That's more than enough, I think.
You are the leader of these bandits, aren't you?
You're able to decide whether or not the war returns to Macondo!
Do you know how long I have waited for the moment
that I could finally take back Macondo for our cause?
No, I don't.
But I do know this much.
There is still time for you to do what is right.
[gentle music playing]
VICTORY WILL BE FOUND IN THE FRAY
[Úrsula] Faithful departed.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy
on the souls of the faithful departed.
God the Holy Ghost…
have mercy on the souls of the faithful departed.
Thou who holdest the keys,
Holy Trinity,
have mercy on the souls of the faithful departed.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on the souls of the faithful departed.
Have mercy on the souls of the faithful departed.
Thou who holdest the keys to death and to Hell…
we ask for your mercy,
[gunshot]
[horse neighs]
[men roaring]
We didn't free ourselves of anything, José Arcadio Buendía.
We ended up raising a monster.
Attack now!
[somber music playing]
BASED ON THE NOVEL BY GABRIEL GARCÍA MÁRQUEZ
[music fades]
[mysterious music playing]
[music fades]
[poignant music playing]
[music fades]