What happened in Fallingbostel? How did Alfred die?
It was... it was an accident.
George!
Did he say anything? - That I had to take good care of you.
So that's what you came to tell me? That George killed Alfred?
Sometimes the truth hurts, Mr De Keyser.
MOTHER OF JESUS ORPHANAGE
I'm going to come and see you every week from now on, Louise.
Maybe even a couple of times a week.
I've still got it.
Alfred's letter. I've got it.
I'm pregnant, George. We're going to have a baby.
You can't be, you're not married.
All change! - All change!
Alessandra, before we leave, there's something I'd like to sort out.
I've been thinking about yesterday.
About yesterday? - At the bowling alley.
I really enjoyed myself with you, at the bowling alley.
Yes, it was fun, wasn't it? - Yes, it was more than just fun.
But I've got a bit of a problem.
How can you, if you can choose between red cabbage and sprouts,
choose sprouts?
Silly!
Come here.
Mitts off my girlfriend!
I'm not your girlfriend!
Come on then. Come on then.
You haven't seen the last of me!
We waited a while, before we held the christening.
Because of what happened to Henri. But you can't wait for ever.
Here comes the soldier. Look, look, look.
He cries out, "Tra la la, boom boom. " - Oh, look...
What a cute little chap! - It's a girl, Thieu.
She's a beautiful girl. - That's cos she looks like her mummy.
Isn't Helena sorry it's not an Alfred? - It'd be a silly name for a girl!
But Martine is a nice name too. - She really is lovely.
Hey, don't frighten her.
She doesn't look a bit like you, George. - No, no.
No. You don't look like Daddy, eh? - Where is Mummy, anyway?
Yes, the soldier.
Secret room. Is it some kind of workshop?
Your grandma is a bit of an... artist, isn't she?
Yes, but that's no reason to neglect your child, is it?
Did she do that to your mother?
Yes.
Here. George Reeckmans, a report from October 194... 44.
He was picked up by armed partisans and handed over to the authorities.
October '44 is just before the allied tanks rolled into Belgium.
You round the back. And three via the front door.
Upstairs! - What is going on?
Is George Reeckmans here? - Frans... What d'you want George for?
Hey... don't!
Got it!
Schnapps? Distilled for the occupier?
You know damn well that we never sold any.
If you drink too much of it, it gives you a headache.
He was imprisoned in Breendonk.
Until January '45 and then he's cleared...
He's innocent.
Here. A statement by Frans Tonait.
Excise Inspector at De Keyser and later commander of the armed partisans.
The company wasn't fussy about keeping its distance from the occupier.
Upon jolning the company, George Reeckmans started
distilling German alcoholic beverages, including schnapps.
An employee in the malt room, Anna Raaymaekers,
made no secret of her relationship with one of the German soldiers.
German soldier Klaus Brück was killed by Charles Vandepopuliere, the foreman.
The latter was subsequently executed by the occupier.
What a carry-on!
Charlotte gave me this Anna's address. She worked at the distillery.
And Grandma threw her out. - Why?
She was too close to the Germans and Grandma didn't approve.
De Keyser. - Hello, Mrs De Keyser?
Jacques Marchoul speaking.
We met briefly, a long time ago, together with your father and mine.
How can I help you? - I heard George had been picked up.
I know him. We were in the same Stalag.
Right. Stop it, Martine.
I wondered whether you needed any help?
What d'you mean? What kind of help? - Help with your business.
I don't need your help, Mr Marchoul. De Keyser can manage.
Stop it!
OK, Mrs De Keyser. But maybe you would like some more information about George?
I've got all the information I need, thank you.
If I tell you to stop, then stop!
Maybe I should wait down here. Twoof us turning up will frighten her.
Hello.
Sorry to just turn up like this, but I didn't have your phone number.
I'm dolng some research for school.
And I wondered whether you could help me.
You used to work for my family and I read somewhere
that my grandmother threw you out because you were seeing a German.
Detlef.
Jump off. Right.
Yes. I was a woman in love.
I was in love, with the wrong man. But I was a naive girl.
I courted Detlef when he was billeted with the De Keysers.
He was staying there with twoother Germans.
With someone called Hans. And Klaus.
What happened to Detlef?
Why did you stop courting?
I was thrown out by your grandmother.
I don't know what possessed her.
But she suddenly became a different person, overnight.
And Detlef went back to his girlfriend in Mönchengladbach.
And I was left behind on my own.
When the war was over, that was when things really got bad for me.
What do you mean?
Destroy it all! And you! Did you enjoy it?
Now it's our turn to enjoy it. Weren't we good enough?
You filthy whore! You filthy whore!
They hit me in the face.
They kicked me in the stomach. They shaved off my hair.
First, they locked me up for a week.
And when they let me out, I had nowhere to go.
I often thought about asking your grandmother to help me.
But I didn't dare.
Helena De Keyser wasn't my friend any more.
I don't know if she knew that you... - I've got shopping to do.
Actually, I've got another question about my grandmother.
I don't like talking about your grandmother.
Thank you, anyway.
Tell your teacher to give you good marks.
You said my grandmother suddenly changed. What happened?
You'll have to ask your grandmother.
Ask her who Klaus was. She got on really well with him.
Close the door behind you.
My grandmother with a German. Klaus.
Klaus...
Klaus Brück? We've got something about him. Hold on.
Hold on. Here.
Look. The German soldier Klaus Brück
was killed by Charles Vandepopuliere, the foreman.
The latter was subsequently executed by the occupier.
Well! Madam was carrying on with a German
while her Alfred was in the camps.
I'm going to stop, Ruben. - What d'you mean?
She's just messing me around.
Yes, but we're just starting to get somewhere.
I'm stopping, Ruben! That's it!
Wrought iron oxidises quickly. Everything is disintegrating.
You only told me half the truth.
I told you I was pregnant before I told my own mother!
I want to try to get to the bottom of it all but if you hide things, that's it!
Stop it.
A report said De Keyser collaborated during the war.
It's not true. We tried to survive.
We never, ever collaborated with the Germans! D'you hear me?
And as a De Keyser you should damn well know that!
Your butler, Charles, murdered someone and was shot. Isn't that true either?
And during the war, when George and Alfred were in the camps,
you had a relationship with a German.
Klaus. Does the name ring a bell?
COURTHOUSE
Where's Martine? - At home, with Mum.
The judge was on my side, all the way down the line.
He said, "That is only normal. Mr Reeckmans is not a collaborator. "
And the war is over, Helena!
We are free to come and go and do as we please.
You can finally take me on a honeymoon.
Yes.
I want to see the sea.
It's saltier than I thought.
I've always dreamed of this.
Why haven't I been here before?
Because you hadn't met me yet.
Helena. Helena. Look over there.
I had a strange phone call.
Who from? - From someone called Marchoul.
He wanted to tell me something. - Did he?
What did he tell you? - Nothing. I hung up.
Why? - I don't trust the man.
You're right not to.
There's nothing more to tell. I told you everything that happened.
I don't believe that.
You haven't told me everything.
A woman can feel something like that.
A woman can be wrong too.
Tell me the truth.
I love you. That's the truth.
About the prisoner-of-war camp.
That's in the past.
We've got a child together now.
And I want... my child to have an... impeccable mummy and daddy.
I don't understand you. Why are you keeping things from me?
Because I can't go backwards.
And the past is going backwards. Don't you see?
And I don't want to...
I don't want to stay here either.
So I have to go forwards. So do you!
Please! We can go forwards together, can't we?
I can't forget him.
When I see a stupid dune, I think of the Himalayas.
That he really wanted to climb.
When we walked along the sea front it reminded me of the Great Wall of China.
It's as if he's here.
You don't want to talk about the past. I understand that.
But I have to live with it.
We're going back now.
We're going to spend the rest of our life together in one house.
Yes.
I'm not sure if I can do that.
But you love me, don't you?
Helena, you love me.
We'll make the best of it. But my way.
I shall be responsible for distilling the genever and you for selling it.
You can sell our genever throughout Flanders.
Travel, come home, travel.
And sell genever.
Jesus! Reeckmans! What a surprise!
What are you dolng here?
This is my wife, Helena.
We're on our way home from our honeymoon in Ostend.
Helena De Keyser? - Yes.
As I said on the phone, we met a long time ago, at your place,
together with my father and your father.
Who was his friend. - More of an acquaintance.
You two met while you were prisoners of war?
Your little husband hasn't told you about it?
We spent our holiday together in Fallingbostel. Stalag X1 B.
Where I was allowed to stay a bit longer. Because I spoke French so well.
We have to get off.
Hold on, Helena.
Mrs De Keyser, I would greatly appreciate it
if you could give me your opinion of the newest Marchoul.
Before I forget, congratulations on your latest distillation.
I had the pleasure of trying the latest De Keyser.
Helena.
It's outstanding.
Helena.
Mr Marchoul.
How is she? - Calm down, she's asleep.
She's stable, Alessandra, she'll be fine.
What exactly happened? - Calm down.
I found her in the flavour room. She was experimenting again.
Her body is much too weak for all those products.
Sorry, Grandma.
How much did you sell in Diksmuide?
Enough to keep the distillery running for more than two months.
Hello, Helena.
How long have you been back? Haven't you got anything useful to do?
A father playing music for his daughter,
that is dolng something useful.
And I'm sure she'll remember it.
And later she'll be grateful to me for opening up the world of music for her.
You couldn't report on your business trip first?
No. Martine needs me.
I've been on the road all week, I've hardly seen her.
Martine is spolled enough as it is.
Come on, Mario, she's only just out of Intensive Care
and I'm supposed to thrust that paper under her nose?
Please, Mario. She's still alive for now. Fortunately.
She's a strong woman but...
Yes, yes, I'll make sure she signs it this week, Mario.
That's not important now, Mario.
No, and it's not my fault you and my daughter have fallen out.
It's her own cholce, Mario. I brought her up without a dad too.
Can we goout for a meal this evening? Ital... Italian, yes. OK. Bye-bye.
We're not selling pure alcohol! - OK, then we won't sell anything.
I don't even want to discuss it.
What is the polnt of me travelling the country and selling goods,
if you won't fulfil the orders?
You sell what I make. It's not up to you to decide what I have to distil.
We live in the twentieth century. Adjust your flavour to what people want.
You just don't want to understand.
Have you thought about my question? - What question?
Whether Louise can come to live here?
She'd be a good playmate for Martine.
Louise isn't coming to live here.
I promised her father that I'd look after her.
I didn't promise her father anything. - I think I should leave.
You're sick in your head!
I'm sick in my head? - Yes, you are.
You say you're leaving and I mustn't get angry?
You don't know what you want, Mrs De Keyser.
I can't do anything right.
And when I say I'm leaving, you slam the door!
I'm going to see Louise.
George! - Louise. Happy birthday.
Thank you. Actually, it's not my birthday for another hour.
Then I'll wait another hour. Outside in the car.
It's beautiful!
Mr Reeckmans, you asked to see Mother Superior
but something has come up.
Actually, it's no longer necessary. Louise has now come of age.
She no longer needs permission. - Permission?
What for? - To start the rest of her life.
Louise. Go and pack your case.
And that little baby there is me. It is.
And that's Aunt Helena after the war. - Be careful, Martine. Don't drop him.
And that is Uncle George. - Leave her, Helena.
Marcel is perfectly safe.
Hello, sweetheart. Did Aunt Martine take good care of you?
She did, eh? What? - What?
Oooh, Daddy's brought an ice-cream gateau with him!
Ice cream for our little fellow! Marcel loves ice cream.
Who stands at the window when the ice-cream man comes round? Marcel!
Shall I put it in the fridge?
No, we'll eat it now. I haven't got much time.
Come on, come to Mummy. Come to Mummy. There we go!
I know you won't like this, the timing's bad. But what'll happen if Grandma dies?
It's a disaster. D'you realise that? Our company, your baby.
It's such bad timing. - You should be ashamed of yourself!
Mario has just phoned you. - Yes. Mario is concerned about it.
Have you ever heard of someone called Klaus? A German officer.
He was billeted with Grandma at the start of the war
and she may have had a fling with him. - Klaus. No, no, Alessandra.
I know some Germans lived there
but Mum has always said she hated Germans.
With all her heart. - Anna told me differently
and Ruben and I found something in the archive that seems to back it up.
Forget the archive. Leave the past alone for a moment, Alessandra.
Oh, doctor. - She's dolng better now.
We've given her something to make her sleep. When she wakes up
she can leave Intensive Care. - Really?
But we'll keep her in for a week for observation.
Thank you, doctor. That's good news. - OK? Right, bye.
That's good, isn't it, sweetheart?
Happy birthday dear Marcel, happy birthday to you!
Hip hip hip! - Hurrah!
Blow them out, Marcel. That's it, blow.
Again. Blow! That's it! - Goon, Daddy. Help him.
Hurrah!
And next year there'll be another candle on there.
Until it's full up and there's no room for any more.
And then you'll die. - Thieu! What a thing to say!
At a birthday party. This little chap still has to start his life.
Shall I keep a piece for Dad? - No, he won't be back till very late.
He's gone... to get that Louise.
Is she finally coming here?
She's coming to work here.
Is everything OK, Madam Louise? - Everything is fine, George. Thank you.
And why do you absolutely have to sit in the back?
I think it's great in those American films.
The people sit in the back and talk to their chauffeur.
Did the nuns in the orphanage let you see a lot of American films?
No, no. We always went to music lessons on Wednesday.
And, very occasionally, we managed to escape.
And we went to the cinema.
To see romantic films with Ava Gardner and Rita Hayworth.
And afterwards, back in our room, we'd pretend to be them.
George? - Yes?
Is it going to work out OK at your place with two women?
You mean four. There's also Martine, my daughter.
And Germaine, my mother's wife. - Have you told them about me?
My wife will be pleased to have an extra person around the house.
Around the house? I thought I was going to work for your company,
not that I was going to be your maid. - I didn't say you would be a maid.
I said that you are welcome.
Plus, you won't be working for my wife but for me. I've got plans.
What kind of plans? - It's too early to talk about them now.
All I can say is that they are rather ambitious plans.
Then they are bound to fail. - How do you know that?
I know that from the films. Men with plans, that always goes wrong.
Tell me, where were you? Was it in an orphanage?
Yes, an orphanage. - Let the child answer herself.
Yes, something like that. A convent. A sort of boarding school.
Why on earth was she there?
Why didn't you bring the child straight here?
Isn't that what you promised your friend, if I understand correctly?
There is a time for everything in life, Mother.
And it wasn't time for Louise.
I'm really happy that Louise is here, anyway.
Me too.
Now I can finally improve my French. - And me my Flemish.
Where are you going to put her?
In the distillery?
I think that...
she's going to be George's assistant.
Then I'll be Louise's assistant.
We're not going to talk about work this evening. I've got a surprise.
With four women in the house, a man has to provide some entertainment.
What's that? - Wow, it's a television!
Where did that come from? - From a television shop.
How did you pay for it? - I've been able to save over the years.
It needs to warm up a bit.
It's quiet in here.
Hi, Grandma!
You were out of it for a while. - Hmmm.
Why am I still here?
They're going to keep you in for a few days for observation.
They can dream. - Grandma!
I'm going to stay with you for a while and then Mum will come in,
because I'm going to work on my flavour this evening.
Where are my clothes? - No. You've got to rest for a bit.
You've had a heart attack and have to stay here for a while.
No, I don't think so.
I'm not going to spend the last few days of my life in a hospital bed.
Stay in your bed, Grandma! - No, I won't.
Don't make it more difficult than it already is.
There's no way I'm going to let you leave here.
No!
Alessandra. - Grandma! Stay in your bed!
No. Come on. - Come on.
It's time, my little butterfly.
This is not a good idea. - Dying isn't a good idea.
Take me home, Alessandra. I have to show you my flavour room.
A sweet and charming girl In her garden did sit.
Along came a butterfly And kissed her on the lips.
"Forgive me," said the butterfly. "I'm sorry that I exist.
I thought your lips so red Were roses and couldn't resist. "
What's that? - My elixir.
Your great-grandfather had one too and, just like him,
I've searched for it all my life.
And Alfred sent me various herbs from the camps.
I used them all.
Look.
But one herb is missing.
And I'm so close, Alessandra.
But my sense of taste isn't good enough any more.
It will be your job.
I won't be able to do it. - Of course you will be.
You've got it. My father had it too.
Martine hasn't got it. But there...
And what is 'it'? - A gift.
Synaesthesia. Just like me.
Your senses aren't just sharper than the average person's.
They... flow into each other.
They complement each other.
If you think of a smell, you see a colour.
And if you think of a colour, you taste a flavour.
Well, that's it. Use it.
And from a perfect combination of colours,
even from the purest sound,
you can create a pure flavour.
The flavour of all flavours.
But what I create is rubbish compared with this.
You've got time. Your whole life.
You can start now. I'm going to bed.
Grandma?
I'm sorry about earlier.
I really was angry with you, but I meant what I said.
When are you going to tell me about this Klaus?
Well done, Martine. - Damn!
Come on, Louise. You're supposed to enjoy a hobby.
And from today your hobby is tennis. - Why?
Because we like playing tennis. - You choose a hobby yourself.
Yes, you do in theory, Louise, but not in practice.
A hobby chooses you. And De Keysers play tennis.
That's not true. Mum's never played. And my grandparents didn't play either.
We've only just started playing tennis, Louise.
I don't mind, I like playing tennis.
Goon, smash it!
I've had enough, I want a drink!
Hey! Louise!
Why on earth do you need hobbies?
Because those who work hard, have to be able to play hard too. That's why.
And who works hard here? - I do!
Listen. You know I've been working on a plan for some time.
Well, it's almost ready.
It is simple and brilliant! Like all good plans.
Tell us. - OK.
You should know what you're good at and admit it when someone else is better.
Your mother is brilliant when it comes to flavour. She smells a flower, a herb
and knows exactly how they'll taste in a glass.
I can't smell a thing. But I am good at selling. It's in my blood.
What are you going to sell? - De Keyser's genever, of course.
But it already is sold.
When I walk round town I see nothing but De Keyser's genever all over the place.
That's in this town. But go a bit further afield.
Do you see it then? And why do you think that is?
Because genever is a local product.
Someone from Hasselt likes to drink Hasselt genever, from Luik Luik genever.
Which is why we're going to market a new bottle for each province.
De Keyser's genever, cuvèe Liège, De Keyser's genever, cuvèe Antwerp, etc.
Not a bad idea. But you'll have to have a different distillation for each one.
No. Genever is genever. We'll put the same in every bottle,
we'll just put different labels on them. - That's dishonest.
Mum will never agree. - It's not dishonest.
In America they call it marketing. And I need you two for it.
You cos you speak French and you cos my blood courses through your veins.
And you have to be able to play tennis because the Walloons like playing.
Then we're going to get all the clubs to buy our genever. Thousands of litres.
How will you do that? You need a distribution network in Wallonia.
Maybe Marchoul can help me.
D'you think that's a good idea? - Maybe not.
But I haven't got a better one. For now.
Anyway... Cheers! - Cheers!
FOUR-YEAR-OLD MARCEL DIES INSTANTLY
CHILD RUNNING TO ICE-CREAM MAN KNOCKED OVER BY LORRY
Stop!
Oh dear! Something has happened! - What? Where?
Looks like it's right outside our door. - No, it can't be.
Shall we go and see? - I'll go and see.
I'll come with you.
No, constable! What? Constable? Constable...
No, let me through! - Charlotte, come here.
Marc... Marcel!
Marcel! Marcel! No!
Marcel! Bloody hell!
Bloody hell!
This is Alessandra. Could I pop round?
I never knew that you once had a child, Charlotte.
How come things like that aren't talked about?
There's not much you can say.
So it's better to keep quiet.
But how can you bottle up such grief?
You can't. It gets worse and worse every day.
Things got bad between Thieu and me.
Things weren't that good anyway but...
since Marcel died
he has become completely withdrawn.
Did Grandma help you? - Yes, your grandma did her best.
But sometimes your best isn't good enough.
And she had her own cross to bear. - Grandpa?
George was part of the problem. But there was more to it than that.
Things that leave scars.
I heard you've come up with a new plan.
Selling local genevers but with the same thing in all the bottles.
I don't like the idea, George. - That's marketing.
No, it's dishonest.
How do you know about it?
The printer sent me the proofs of the labels.
I cancelled all the orders.
Fancy involving Martine.
And Louise. - You don't like her, I know that.
I can see that. - You can see correctly.
What have you got against the girl?
She doesn't belong here. - We've already discussed this.
I promised her father. - And I told you I didn't.
And, my dear George, this is and will always be my house.
Yes. This is your house. And our daughter's.
But it's also mine.
Why are you so hard on us?
And on yourself?