Lady Nazca (2025)

[bunniefuu]

Lady Nazca

Well?

What do you notice

about these lines?

You just need to look,

to observe,

and to tell me what you see.

Thats all.

Hello, Maria!

- Ah! Dolors!

Im finished with classes.

Want to go for a drink?

Oh, no, I cant..

I've something on at the caf

tonight. I have to go.

Thank you.

Hello Diana!

- Hello Maria!

Is Amy here?

No, she's in her apartment.

Thank you.

Have a good day!

In need of fresh air?

You could say that...

Not a party lover?

Not really, no.

Conversations where people

only listen to themselves

drive me to despair.

A sharp statement.

Perhaps, but a true one.

Where in Germany

is that lovely accent from?

Dresden.

- Ah, Dresden!

The Florence of the North.

It's a beautiful city, Dresden.

And how did a young woman from Dresden

come to speak French so well?

I've always loved languages,

and my mother speaks perfect French.

She made sure we could too.

There's a German word I love:

gemtlich.

I love this word.

In French, confortable.

The English say cosy. But...

Gemtlich is...

It's not just cosiness or comfort.

It's an invitation to warmth...

Gemtlich... wonderful, this word!

For some months, I've been leading

an archaeological dig

in the Nazca region.

And before me,

there was a German archaeologist

working there with his team.

Max Uhle, a great archaeologist.

He left all his notes and notebooks.

The problem is that,

other than gemtlich...

I don't know any German words.

I've been looking

for a translator for months.

But I'm not the right person.

I'm not a translator.

I studied mathematics.

You speak German.

That's enough.

I don't need an academic translation.

Just someone to...

to translate these notes and

write a short summary. That's all.

Where did you say it is?

In southern Peru.

A little town called Nazca.

We weren't introduced.

Paul. Paul d'Harcourt.

- Maria.

Just Maria.

- Yes

It's a pleasure to meet you, Maria.

- Enchant.

Tired?

- No, I'm fine.

The public telephone is there,

under the arcades.

Theres a little market too.

Here we are.

We'll find you a room.

Hello, everyone.

- Hello!

May I present Maria? She'll be working

with us for a few days.

This is Charles!

- Hello.

Luciana.

- Hello.

And Jrome.

- Hello, Maria.

Good. Any progress

at the Animas Altas dig?

Yes. I think we've even

found a royal grave.

Show me.

- It's coming.

Very good!

You see those colours?

Wonderful, isn't it?

Yes.

It's a marvel.

Of all the Inca ancestors,

the Nazca civilization is

by far the most interesting.

Not great warriors, but great artists.

Look at this.

You'd say these are nave drawings.

Far from it.

Everything is symbolic for the Nazca.

For example, the hummingbird

was the link

between humans and the gods.

The monkey was abundance.

The Nazca used these animals

to write sentences.

Like the hieroglyphs.

Watch out!

- Sorry!

You can put it there.

Thank you!

- Let me open it.

There.

- Joaquin? Thank you.

Oh, how pretty!

Pass the brush, please.

Thank you.

Oh, but she's beautiful!

She's a young woman, very young.

- Mhm.

Undoubtedly

a member of the royal family.

What era would you say?

Middle Nazca?

I'd say the zenith of the Nazca.

To the highest bidder!

- The Muse de l'Homme will love it!

Or even New York!

That's raising the stakes!

Claude, do we have the photos?

- Hot off the press.

Wonderful!

- I've just developed them.

Oh, that's magnificent!

Send this to Paris and to New York.

Could someone please

bring Max Uhles archives?

Yes.

- Please follow me, Maria.

Here. You can start with this one.

These are his notes

from the 1926 Cahuachi dig.

You don't need to translate everything.

Just a summary of each page.

What interests me the most

is anything about

old irrigation systems.

That's my research focus here in Peru.

- Right.

As soon as it's about

irrigation systems.

Exactly.

Claude!

Western man is a man of domination

He is not a man of harmony...

You can't translate everything

in three days, you know that?

I think I've found something.

- Ah?

Here.

Behind the pyramids of Cahuachi,

climb to the Nazca Desert plateau.

A furrow starts from there.

He even made a small sketch.

This is perfect!

- Yes.

This may be just what Im looking for!

- Yes.

Shall we get water?

- Let's

Look. It's breathtaking...

The Nazca built this well

more than 2,000 years ago,

and it's still used today.

Hello!

Shall we?

Cahuachi was the Nazca capital

for 700 years.

But then, very violent earthquakes

shook the region.

And then? What happened?

They abandoned their city and pyramids

and settled further north.

They were absorbed by the Huari,

who were then absorbed into the Incas.

I'm fine, thank you.

Its always the same process.

Its a cycle!

Can you picture that?

You are in AD 300.

The hubbub of the city.

The sounds. The smells...

According to Max Uhles notes,

the furrow should start over there.

Here, Paul!

That must be it.

But I was expecting something deeper.

The stones have been

moved to either side

to reveal the layer of gypsum,

just beneath.

Thats why its white.

What could this be?

Processional paths, perhaps?

But so straight?

So precise?

Certainly not

an irrigation system, anyhow.

Weve wasted our time! Lets go!

Maria, Come on!

Its a long way!

Ill catch up with you.

Miss?

Miss?

Lesson's over.

Can we go?

Yes, yes...

... it should be here...

Ah, Pizarro.

ACCOUNT OF THE DISCOVERY AND CONQUESOF THE KINGDOMS OF PERU

Account of the discovery...

CHAPTER THREE: LIMA TO AREQUIPA

DESERT OF NAZCA

Nazca!

What can we do?

I'm going to find out.

Here, give it to me, please!

Thank you!

New York are offering 20,000!

It's rare, above all.

Wait.

Maria!

You think about it and call me back.

Back already?

I didnt expect you here so soon.

Im just passing through!

Meaning what?

- I'm going on.

Back to the desert.

To do what, all alone in the desert?

I want to see those lines again.

I want to see where they go.

The conquistadors already

talked about them in the 16th century.

It may be a vast network of lines.

You can't go out

into the desert alone, Maria.

It's madness!

- I'm a strong woman!

I don't doubt it, but...

Ill keep you informed, Paul.

What about my translations?

She's out of her mind!

Good afternoon.

We met the other day.

I was with a gentleman.

May I camp here?

Somewhere near your farm?

What do we tell her?

Can she stay here?

No, she can't.

But why? She's just a woman alone.

Anything could happen.

Its just for a few days.

What could happen?

Just let her stay for a night.

Scared she might take your husband?

Is the gringo with you?

No. Its just me. Im alone.

You can go there.

Under the Huarango tree.

Thank you.

Look at the young gringa!

She turned red.

She looks like a tomato on legs.

Hello.

Exactly the same figures

as on the pottery and fabrics.

But gigantic!

They are dozens of metres long.

The Nazca plateau

is covered in figures!

You can hardly see them

from ground level.

Theyre too big.

Youd have to fly to see them properly!

The features are almost

erased in places.

Making them difficult to see.

They must be restored!

Restored one by one!

Nice work.

Charles, can you enter that

in the Cahuachi archives, please?

Wait a minute!

You... you aren't going

to come and see them?

To what end?

Maria, Peru is full

of archaeological sites.

What do you propose

doing with your designs?

Im sure they're very nice.

But we archaeologists work with pottery,

with fabrics, or mummies.

But barely visible lines

in the middle of the desert?

I mean, come on!

I know you're passionate.

Archaeology, finding treasure,

It's exciting to many people.

- My photographs.

My photographs, please.

Don't take it that way!

Youre young!

You got carried away, thats all! But...

My translations... damn it!

Brooms for sale!

Brooms!

Sir? How much for the broom?

Fifty centavos for the broom!

OK, give me three, please.

Thank you. Good day to you.

Hello! Hello!

Maria, hello!

We have to dash to Cuzco for a party.

But well be back in three days.

All right! Have a good trip.

Come on!

Hey!

Hey!

Stop that now!

Stop!

Hey! Hey! Stop!

Hey! Stop!

Madam, please!

- Hey! Are you crazy!

Why are you here? Who are you?

Alejandro, keep working!

- No! No!

What are you doing?

Piss off!

You are destroying a figure!

You are destroying a drawing, sir!

What drawing?

- You can't dig here!

Shut up, crazy b*tch!

- You can't dig here!

Ignore it. Keep working!

- No!

This is Montoya's territory!

No! No! Get off me!

- Let's take her!

Aaaahhh!

Calm down, calm down.

You're crazy.

Hello?

I would like to see Seor Montoya.

Who are you?

- Maria Reiche.

Wait a moment.

- Of course.

Seor Montoya.

Hello there, Lady Nazca.

Have we met?

The German woman who sweeps the desert.

I know everything

that happens in my desert.

Unless things have changed

in the last minutes,

the desert does not belong to you.

Of course it doesn't!

It belongs to the Peruvian state, right?

- Right.

Europeans are so naive.

Make no mistake, young lady.

That desert is mine.

But I'm glad it's being decorated

by such a charming creature.

You know when Peru gained independence?

Oh, very good. 1821.

And who do you suppose the desert

belonged to before that?

For example, this bathtub.

Who do you think it belonged to?

Francisco Pizarro!

Do you know him?

Wherever he went,

his men carried it with them.

200 kilos of stone!

It has his name carved on it.

To what do I owe

the honour of this pleasant visit?

I found figures in the desert.

They were made by the Nazca

civilisation 1,500 years ago.

Yes. And?

Your men have destroyed one of them.

It will be gone forever.

And your plantations will destroy them

one after another.

Do you know that you are a legend?

When my grandchildren misbehave,

I tell them, enough!

And I threaten to send them

to sweep the desert

with the madwoman of Nazca.

Paul!

Paul!

Is Paul around?

- No, why?

Where is he?

- He went back to Lima for a few days.

Paul!

Open the door!

I know youre there!

Paul!

- What?

You knew.

Of course I knew.

Everyone knew!

There must be laws.

Sadly the law says we can do archaeology

provided we don't bother anyone.

But the truth is,

we don't have any power.

But you know people who have.

I do.

And they'll tell you Peru is full

of archaeological sites.

And we can't save them all.

Believe me, I know how it works.

We can't defeat the people with power.

Even less her in Peru.

If only...

if only you had the hint

of a meaning, Maria!

Were they tribal symbols?

Processional paths?

Signs for the gods?

But you've got nothing.

Not one clue.

Absolutely nothing!

But I will find out.

Ill find out how

the Nazca made these figures,

and why.

Ill find the unit of measurement

the Nazca used to build these figures.

And I will understand

why they built them.

If I do find the meaning

of the whole network, will you help me?

Who did this?

Montoyas men.

Why do you think your ancestors

made all these?

I don't know.

When the Spaniards came,

they forced us to worship their god.

We were cut off from our roots.

They destroyed everything.

They left nothing behind.

We lost so much, so much knowledge.

Now there is a great void between us

and our ancestors.

MR BOCANEGRA, YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND

THE NECESSITY TO PRESERVE...

... THE PAST ...

MR PRESIDENT...

Four...

Seven. Twelve.

Thirty-one, thirty-two, thirty-three...

thirty-four...

Thirty-five. Thirty-five!

So.

the...the head...

One, two, three, four, five.

From here...

Six, seven, eight, nine, ten.

It should...

Seven metres. This should work.

The arm is 1.7...

From here to here.

It doesn't work.

But could it be on the other side? Why?

Come back, Maria.

Come back, Maria, come back.

Come back, Maria. Where have you gone?

Where are you going?

We'll use the egg too.

Maria. Why are you afraid?

Where have you gone, my little girl?

She is afraid. The egg reveals it,

Yes. She is very much afraid.

The earth has taken her.

If you leave,

the figures will be destroyed,

and you will lose your soul too.

They will be destroyed anyway.

You must promise to stay

until the Celebration of the Sun.

It is our most important day.

When is it?

June 21st.

The day of the solstice.

Where are you going?

I need to look at something!

Its a calendar.

An immense astronomical calendar.

Surely the largest

astronomical observatory

ever built in the history of humankind.

You're sure?

- Yes!

Show me.

Remember the line

that points towards the precipice?

- Mhm.

It is not pointing at the precipice.

It is pointing very precisely

towards the sunset

on the June 21st solstice.

The straight lines point

towards the Sun,

the Moon and the stars.

I've been able to link this line here

to the star Canopus,

and this one

to the star Alpha Centauri.

According to my calculations,

this one...

points towards the equinox.

The Nazca knew exactly where,

and at what time of the year,

an important star

would reappear in the sky.

They knew the motions

of the stars perfectly.

But this is not all.

The figures are not just

beautiful drawings.

The figures are representations

of the starry sky

as the Nazca saw it.

You mean the figures could be

like a zodiacal calendar?

As we have Leo and Scorpio,

they had their own bestiary?

Exactly.

Jrome, Luciana, come here, listen in.

See this line from the monkey.

- Yes

It points very precisely

towards the Great Bear,

when it reappears in November,

in the southern hemisphere.

And the line from the spider

points towards

the constellation of Orion.

So the monkey is certainly

the symbolic representation

of the Great Bear,

and the spider is

the representation of Orion.

So there.

So this calendar

was capable of predicting

the motions of the Moon,

Sun and stars?

Absolutely.

And, probably, eclipses and

other astronomical phenomena.

Alejandro, I need your

opinion and your help.

How can we stop this project

that will destroy everything?

Look, Montoya is a powerful man.

- I know.

There arent many solutions.

Only one, to be exact.

- Congress?

Yes, Congress.

Would you do that for me?

I could propose to my party

that we bring a motion of censure

at the next session of Congress.

Which would mean...

When is the next session

of Congress, Carmen?

In three weeks, sir.

Three weeks.

We would have three weeks

to convince the majority.

How great that would be.

I'm asking as a personal favour.

Let me think about it.

Miss Maria Reiche, you are next.

Mr. Speaker.

The supporters of the irrigation project

want to make you believe

that these are nothing but

remnants of primitive superstitions.

While it is a complex network.

A true work of art.

It is the testimony

of a fascinating civilization,

of its way of thinking,

and of its culture.

Mr. Speaker, Members of Congress,

The inhabitants of ancestral Peru

have been cut off from their past

for five centuries.

And today, this vestige of their history

can be saved.

Nor is it a vestige

of Peruvian culture alone.

It is a one-of-a-kind work

that forms part of the history

of all humanity.

A masterpiece that will

ask questions of the world

for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker,

Members of Congress,

Not only must we save this piece,

but we must also take care of it.

Just as we must take care

of our own world.

Yes! Just as we must

take care of our world.

Now, let us move on to the vote.

All those in favour

of the irrigation project,

please raise your hands.

Clerk of the House, take the count.

All those in favour

of safeguarding the Nazca lines,

please raise your hands.

Clerk of the Court,

I leave the count to you.

Thank you.

The official count is as follows.

In favour of the irrigation project:

49 votes.

In favour of safeguarding

the Nazca lines: 55 votes.

Abstentions, seven.

Therefore, we order

the immediate suspension

of all construction works.

Everything good?

- Yes, perfect!

I envy you.

- What?

I envy you!

No one has ever

seen them as you will now!

They've been there for 1,500 years!

As of today, the Nazca lines

are a protected archaeological site.

SOUTHERN CROSS

Maria Reiche

worked on the Nazca figures

until her death in 1998.

She was 95 years old.

Her resting place

is a few meters from the figures.

To my son