A French Village The Opening
No,look, this isn't right.
They've only given me 48 retirement points...
...that's my entry into the Maquis in 44.
I was there a year before.
A year before? Well yeah, May 43, from the STO !
But that's because you were with the Jura Liberation!
And as you merged with the Jura Resistance...
...they've counted from the merger, March 44.
Well, it's not right!
But I'm not telling you it's right. I'm explaining.
And there were lots of zozos, in Jura Libération...
...I mean guys who came for, what, 2 or 3 weeks?
And then ran off.
Hey, I'm not a zozo!
I was in the November 11, '43 parade.
Well, you have to make a claim.
Ask the Union guys.
No, he's a Commie. He'll make me get a card.
They count from entry in the GMR.
I entered the GMR in May 43, at the same time...
...as you! Which gives me 60 points.
60 points! Oh yeah.
I have 12 for the first year, you don't.
That's disgusting! So go ask the union guys!
No, I mean. This isn't against you...
... but do you think it's right that guys who chose GMR i.e. Vichy
...get more retirement points than guys who chose the Maquis?
You can't reason like that, Maquis, GMR, it's all over with.
Sorry but he has 60 points and me 48.
Well yes, but you may die young!
Ah, that's clever.
Authority to Voitigerin... Come in please.
Ah, we're moving, it's none too early.
Voitigerin to Authority. Receiving you.
The Regional Group Directorate...
...requires extreme rigour in the intervention.
So use of live ammunition to anticipate a violent reaction.
And if need be, two warnings.
Live ammunition! Understood.
Do we know when we go into contact?
Negative. Wait for orders.
Over and out.
Received. Over and out.
Good, come on guys. Get everything ready...
...and you each take clips of live ammunition ready for use.
And no matter what, it's not right.
Come on, we're going into action.
Don't give up!
We've done the hardest bit.
We're not going to collapse because the cops are coming.
He's right! We're ready to receive them, right?
Of course, Anselme.
It's not a matter of collapsing, but of getting something.
Mère Chassagne won't give up anything.
It's a question of both money and principle.
Through us, it's the Résistance she wants to crush.
Monsieur Schwartz, was a Résistant, right?
Monsieur Schwartz, as you say, is a boss. End of story.
The Résistance, today... he doesn't give a damn.
That doesn't prevent discussions, however.
But after the elections. Not before.
Good God, what's bothering you?
De Kervern gave us 24 hours, 2 days ago.
Were not going let ourselves be dictated to by a police plan.
Yes, but we lumberjacks don't want it to become a fight.
So what should we do, then?
The workers are striking over pay and hours.
Not to make the headline in the papers.
Yes, well, if we get out of it now we'll have nothing.
No fight, no payroll, nothing!
On the contrary, I think right now we have the right balance of power.
Listen, let's go see Raymond. He's our intermediary.
We have a platform, he accepts it or not...
This is a waste of time and energy.
Good!
Will you come see Raymond with me. I don't want to go alone.
Yes.... yes, of course.
Good. I'm going to have a meeting with management...
...to present our platform and demand an answer.
Who is for?
Father?
You don't mind?
No...
My husband is sick, but he's sleeping.
The day before yesterday you had an agitated air, so I...
I was worried about him.
May I?
But, I... Has a doctor been?
Yes.
He doesn't know what's wrong with him.
I...
I've thought a lot about the questions you asked me...
A... a press article that we talked about...
...and your husband's illness...
I was worried.
And... maybe... also put together a story.
I don't know what you're talking about.
Do you still need the Chauvot, Lucienne?
Whatever happens to you...
...whatever the trials...
...you must stay on the side of life.
Usually, you say that I've to think of God.
Not life.
But God has given you life.
He allowed you to give life to Françoise...
You must celebrate life, Lucienne, always.
Whatever...
...disappointments and pains.
I no longer can.
Lucienne...
Lucienne.
You have to pick yourself up.
You must return to the side of life.
...of love... of your child.
Now... you're alone with God.
Have courage.
Don't lose yourself.
Docteur Vignal here. Ah!
So, how's Hortense?
Listen, I'm concerned...
...your wife has more serious problems than I imagined.
Oh!
She responds very well to electroconvulsive therapy at a clinical level but...
...she had a paranoid delirious attack...
...and brutally assaulted the caregiver.
Ah, sorry...
One month!
Yes. The time to adjust treatment. She must try some sedatives.
But... can I see her?
Ah, I don't advise that. Not for the moment.
She's very hallucinated... I think...
But how? By trusting us.
Good. But let me have some news, then.
A few days from now.
I'll call you in a week. Goodbye, dear colleague.
Goodbye.
Hortense will be absent longer than expected.
You'll be able to keep your room.
I hope it isn't too serious.
Obviously, the cops are aware of your exploits.
We can't keep you here.
I understand.
I have to turn myself in? No, you're joking!
You'll go underground.
In Belgium we have Comrades who'll take care of you.
And me?
I don't know.
Do you want to go with him? Yes.
Even if your mother is against it? Yes!
This is risky, you know.
If Suzanne sorts things out, Gustave's situation...
...may be okay, but it's not sure.
Well, I want to go with him.
You want her to come with you?
Yes. She's a good Comrade.
Nestor will be at the reunion.
I love Nestor.
You don't?
Not especially.
You know he knows all the old Stalin songs.
He can even do them on the guitar.
So, is he worth seeing?
Definitely! It's terrific. The old Stalin songs.
Oh, no. I don't find it so.
There were two hawks...
...up there on the big oak...
...who spoke of everything low in the foliage...
...up there, yes in the foliage, up there.
One called Lenin, the other called Stalin...
... and all around them in the foliage...
...birds, yes in the foliage, birds.
And the first hawk said to the other hawk...
...goodbye forever despite my pain...
...my friend, yes despite my pain, my friend...
...we have to leave, the hour has come alas.
You don't like it when I sing.
Yes, yes.
I have to tell you something...
Yes?
I've decided to take a step back, Gustave.
You'll have to come to see your Aunt's show.
I don't care about my Aunt's show.
I don't like painting and I don't like my Aunt.
Oh, well, that's frank.
Yes, yes. I'm a frank guy.
Even if it doesn't please some.
Well, that never really bothered me.
I wasn't talking about you, Daniel Larcher.
Nothing ever annoyed you. Never....
...or, I don't know, embarrassed you.
Will you have something?
Cognac.
Cognac!
Do you remember anything of the Occupation?
Well, yes.
I was 9 years old in '40.
Don't you remember anything? Nothing.
Well, when one is hidden in the closet...
While Sarah was being arrested by a guy... in 43.
Sarah? Who is Sarah?
What! Did you forget Sarah?
Yes, my mind's a blank.
In any case, the Occupation, was a flaming mess.
Yes.
That's true... it wasn't easy.
But I still have the impression of having done...
...all I could for my fellow citizens.
Wait. For the Jews at the school, don't tell me you did all you could!
Yes! We didn't care about Jews in '40.
What do you mean, you didn't care? We didn't care.
I mean, we didn't think it was good to put a star on them and arrest them...
...but we didn't bother our heads much about it.
There weren't many Jews in Villeneuve, anyway.
You had a girlfriend...
Hélène Crémieux... do you remember?
Obviously I remember her.
And what became of her?
Auschwitz?
But we didn't know all that!
Our problem was to get rid of the Boche...
...as soon as possible. End of discussion.
Frankly, you, Mayor of Villeneuve, you didn't know!
Well no!
I didn't know
Really...
When the Germans required us to separate parents from children...
...it was said that...
But we never imagined Auschwitz.
People said that it had to be hard in these notorious camps.
We didn't know how bad, you see!
Well...
We knew...
...without knowing, if you prefer.
See, it's like when you tell a patient he has pancreatic cancer.
Well, the guy's smart, he's pretty sure that...
...but that's not to say that he'll spend every month of his life...
...telling himself that he's going to die.
No?
He's going to think about death...
...but he'll also start projects...
He'll think about...
...the next year...
... he'll think about Christmas...
...holidays.
Do you think so? Well, it's the same.
You're telling us that in '42...
...if you came across 100 people with pancreatic cancer...
...you'd not tell them, you'd not treat them...
...you'd let them die. Is that it?
Frankly, Tequiero, you're getting carried away by this.
I don't see why you say that.
Listen, Daniel isn't my model...
...He's a bourgeois who'll vote for Giscard d'Estaing...
...he's a wimp...
But, I mean, to come today and get carried away...
...about the deported Jews, it's...
...it's really... What did you do to prevent this horror?
We didn't know the horror!
And even if we had known, we were fucked.
There were other horrors to cope with.
Every morning, every night... Believe me.
I don't accept this logic. It's too easy.
Yes, and what is easy, is that in '75...
...comfortable in your private surgeon's high tower...
...you come and give us morality lessons. I work in a public hospital.
Oooh! Children, come on. We're no longer children!
My father was shot.
Daniel, did what he could.
And I want to change the world.
Change the world!
Good day
Please.
Sit down.
I didn't want to receive you, but Raymond insisted.
Thank you, Monsieur Schwartz. Oh, no. This is perfectly normal.
We're not here to exchange greetings. You asked to see us. So?
So, with the strike committee, we wrote a list of demands.
We know all about your list. Someone passed it on.
And what do you think of it?
A tissue of unrealisable stupidity.
So if that's all you have to say...
...we'll leave it there, and the CRS will clean out the factory.
No. What Madame de Cantillon means is we can't accede to all your demands.
Anyway, before we answer, you must stop the occupation.
No, for us to stop the occupation, you must start to answer us.
Good. Let's go!
No, I'm staying.
As for wages, we can make a start, but it will be progressive...
...for bonuses on the other hand, we agree.
Excuse me?
For hiring... uh...
...since yesterday, I see things differently.
We'll not support you. Do you mean 'Papa'?
Excuse me, it's a family matter.
As to hiring... I can't fully commit...
but there'll be at least 5 new positions.
But really, how are you going to pay for that?
But... when I'm elected mayor.
I hope you'll vote for me.
Thank you. Thank you.
Forgive me Father, for I have sinned.
I'm listening to you, my daughter.
Père Emmanuel isn't here?
Is he ill?
A servant of God is listening to you, my daughter.
No matter his physical form.
Just tell me he's well.
Are you Lucienne Bériot?
Yes.
Père Emmanuel asked for transfer to another diocese.
He left this morning.
To go where?
He asked me expressly not to tell you.
I understand
Do you want to confess, yes or no?
Can you give him a message?
Go on.
I can't guarantee you anything.
Tell him...
Thank you.
What are you playing at, Raymond?
What? What's the problem?
I'm an understanding boss...
...humane.
Social conflict resolved on eve of second round, not so bad, eh?
Think I didn't see how you looked at her?
Who?
Suzanne Richard?
Mère Grosjean.
I knew she's hot for you, but didn't expect you'd take advantage of it.
Don't tell me that you sent her along.
I don't have to answer you.
You don't have to answer me? No, I don't have to answer you.
And then, yes, I'll answer you.
I fancy who I want, where I want and when I want.
You can't dictate my conduct just because we've had it off 2 or 3 times, OK?
The war's over, Jeanine...
I learned what resistance was...
You'd be comical, if the situation wasn't so serious...
Those two dames will broadcast everywhere...
..."We can get what we want from Schwartz."
A little treat under the desk, and bingo, he gives you anything. What a joke!
Get out of my house
So you really screwed her!
I've told you. Get out of my house.
You know without me you've a signature for nothing!
The sawmill's mine. OK?
It's small, it's shabby, but it's mine!
So now your American deals, your dreams of greatness...
...I don't give a hoot. Do you understand that?
I leave them to you. You idiot, you'll go bankrupt!
A mayor doesn't go bankrupt.
But you'll never be mayor. you clown.
Yes, I'll be elected mayor, Madame de Cantillon...
...just as you were with me here...
...because with all your money...
...your contacts and Papa...
...you can't manipulate the voters.
Do you understand that?
Goodbye.
Charlotte...
Psttt...
Charlotte.
Do you think your mother has really delivered my letter?
Yes. But are you sure?
Yes. She wouldn't not do that.
It's not normal for my husband not to come. It's not normal.
Why didn't he come?
Wait! You know how to undo the straps, don't you?
Charlotte!
Why?
I have to get out of here.
But what will you do?
The gate is locked, the walls are too high.
I don't know... I'll manage.
But they'll know it was me.
I'll be punished.
Go to sleep. Charlotte!
Oh, Charlotte don't let me down. I only have you.
Charlotte. What?
You could escape with me.
No! But why not?
Outside scares me too much.
It's horrible outside.
Charlotte, I beg you, untie me.
If I get out, I'll send you food parcels
Every month.
Did you hear?
Untie me.
I have to get out of here.
With caramels? Yes.
With caramels. Come on, untie me.
Do you swear before God?
Oh, I'm not a believer, Charlotte.
But before what, then?
I don't know. Before anything you want.
Who is it you love most? Your husband?
No
So swear on the head of the one you love most.
Swear he'll die in excruciating pain if you don't send me caramels.
I swear it.
With your hand, heaven is listening.
I've sworn, come on, untie me now.
Good.
I forgot about caramels. I prefer them soft, really soft...
...I don't have good teeth.
Yes, I agree, soft.
Come on, untie me.
Larcher, you disgrace. We Jews are on your case.
Let us pass.
Larcher, Collabo. Larcher, Collabo.
Do you know what freedom of expression is?
No freedom of expression for antisemites...
...for these fascists.
Free Israel. Israel will win.
But this none of your business.
Stop!
She doesn't care about us, this slut! Dirty bitch.
Do you, at least, know what you're talking about?
Young man.
You won't pass!
We won!
Can't you stop sulking?
We're done for, Suzanne
One day you'll understand.
We won, damn it, I didn't believe it.
Madame de Cantillon. Hubert.
Are you alright?
Oh, I'm fine.
The strike's over, imagine that!
Ah.
They were afraid of the CRS.
You were right, Madame.
Unfortunately, we can't say that.
I...
...was wrong.
Yes.
That's it, I was wrong.
They're not afraid of the CRS.
So, why did they stop the strike?
You should ask your wife.
Ask my wife?
Above all you should watch out, Hubert...
...if you don't want to be cuckolded,...
...who you stop crawling under your gate.
Can I get a little water? I'm thirsty?
I'm not supposed to give you a drink. Ah!
I'm supposed to free you. How come?
The judicial inquiry concerning the murder of a certain Cabernis...
...was closed without further investigation by the Prosecution.
Despite the report of your colleague?
Do you mean Hubert Grosjean? Yes, Hubert Grosjean.
He was transferred to Guyana this morning.
Following the intervention of a big wheel in Paris.
Armand de Cantillon.
Does that tell you anything?
Sign here.
You're free to go.
Thank you.
Goodbye.
I'm sorry.
I have to announce that the show is cancelled.
In addition to the damage, the mayor has banned the exhibition.
Because of the risk to public order.
Does he have the right?
You could challenge it but...
...I confess I don't have the strength to do it.
In any case, the restoration of the paintings will take time.
I'm sorry.
All the same, my paintings are not good enough to do this to them.
Obviously, they think so.
It's strange, too. These Jews.
This is aggressive. They weren't like that when I was young.
Things have become more tense since the Yom Kippur War.
The what?
It doesn't matter.
The portrait of Heinrich! Did they take it?
No So where is it?
In my office.
I'd set it aside for the catalogue.
Ah, that's it you've put it aside!
I would have got it out for the opening.
But the catalogue goes everywhere.
To the Region Cultural Affairs Directorate. I preferred to avoid that.
Do you mean it's not in the catalogue?
No, it's not in the catalogue. Really, this is outrageous!
Do you ever think about the meaning of your actions?
If I didn't do that, Madame Larcher...
...this painting here, your favorite...
...would be in shreds today. That's not the problem, Mademoiselle!
This is a nice way to hide your cowardice with fake generosity.
It doesn't make sense. Nothing makes sense anymore.
It's the times. Nothing makes sense.
Where should I have your paintings delivered?
Self portraits really, what's left of them...
Well, you can burn them.
On the other hand send the other painting to my hotel.
Room thirty-one.
There's nothing for you here, Madame Larcher.
Suzanne just called.
She negotiated an end to the strike.
Ah!
Shit.
This is pretty good news, right? Well... no.
Not really.
The CRS beating up workers at Schwartz's, was going to make a nice picture.
Good. Well, too bad. Contact Préfet de Kervern.
You find this good? What are you looking for?
The Schwartz meeting is on Radio Luxembourg.
Give me Préfet de Kervern.
...Raymond Schwartz, you worked for the Germans...
...is that true? Very good.
In '40 I worked for the Germans...
...as did almost everyone, after Montoire.
He'll call back in 2 minutes.
...and those who blame me, the Communists...
...and their leader Edmond Lherbier, to name one...
...what were they doing in the summer of '40?
Whore! He's good, that bastard.
...they collaborated with the Boche.
Our Communist friends lectured us until June '41.
They made a right U-turn...
...well, a left U-turn...
...when Stalin their real leader, their only leader, told them to do so...
...and not before.
Today, I want to...
...bring together all Villeneuvois. All of them.
Workers, bosses, foremen...
...peasants who want to rebuild France.
A fairer, more humane France...
...modern, which will allow everyone to find their place...
I don't reject anyone except the lazy, the dogmatic...
...the dreamers and the revanchists...
Tomorrow, vote for work and freedom.
Long live the Republic and long live France.
They'll flatten us. Even I want to vote for him.
It's really annoying that the strike is over!
Monsieur Le Préfet.
So, Lherbier, you have news?
Lherbier? Are you there?
Yes. So?
As far as I know, the strike and the occupation continue.
Do you mean that Suzanne Richard failed?
I guess so, but I don't have any direct news.
But, please, don't send in the CRS. Wait a little longer.
We've already waited too long. Good day.
But you can't do that, Edmond!
I just did it.
You can't manipulate Comrades on strike, and voters like that.
Truth isn't always revolutionary.
And the task the Party has assigned me...
Is to win the Villeneuve Mairie...
...not to be sentimental.
Guillaume!
Call our pals at the newspaper, to send people to the sawmill.
I want photos of police violence in tomorrow's paper!
Come on, have a good evening.
See you tomorrow.
So? Not left yet?
I have stuff to put away.
No hard feelings.
Fuck and shit, Anselme!
We cut Boche throats together on a bridge.
We loved Marie, each in our own way...
...and you don't want to shake my hand?
I have no memory, Raymond. Nor for the future.
The future doesn't look so bad, you get a 20% rise, and we'll hire.
Be damned...
...you conned the girls like infants.
Oh! Did you listen to my speech on the radio?
I know your speech, no need to listen.
Always more for the rich, and less for the poor.
And those who aren't happy can shut up.
It's much more complicated than that. OK?
Can you trust me for once in your life? Is that possible?
Anselme! The CRS... the CRS
You still sent the cops! And you talk of confidence!
I didn't call anyone. I'll talk to them.
You bastard!
You pretend to negotiate. Just to get everyone to disperse.
I didn't do anything, I tell you.
Filth!
Company, halt.
Go back!
Section One, deploy.
This occupation is illegal.
Please evacuate your positions immediately.
Go fuck yourselves!
There's nothing to do here. The strike is over.
Please evacuate the area immediately, Monsieur.
I'm Raymond Schwartz, the boss of this sawmill. There's nothing to do here.
Get the hell out of our workplace!
Warning, the enemy has a handgun.
At my command...
Put it down, Anselme!
Don't fuck with me!
Put it down, Anselme!
Put down your weapon or we shoot!
Anselme!
Anselme, I beg you.
On my command, load with live ammunition.
Stop your bullshit.
Drop that gun.
Put it down!
I've always said there's nothing better than life
Live standing, Raymond, not lying down.
Anselme!
Vive la Résistance.
Cease fire!
Shit!
Ah, you're there.
Ah! It's better. I haven't as much stomach ache.
You see, System V, eh.
I had Lanzac on the phone while you slept.
He wanted to tell you about Raymond's meeting...
...tonight. Yes. He can still run.
I'm lucky to be sick. It's a good reason not to listen to it.
You never really liked Raymond Schwartz.
I've not liked anyone for some time, Lucienne. I don't know why.
Except Françoise... and you.
It's funny. I had a dream just now.
I was walking on hot coals.
It was like the judgment of God in the Middle Ages.
I was in pajamas, I think...
I was walking, I thought.
It didn't hurt. It was odd not to hurt on hot coals.
It was because you were innocent.
Innocence, Lucienne, is fine for children.
You were there in my dream...
...you watched me walking...
What was I doing?
Nothing.
You were just there.
You weren't afraid of my burning myself...
...you didn't want me to either. You were there. That's all.
Rest, Jules.
I'm sure it's going to be better now.
It's good of you to feed me like this, but...
...I have so much pain in my shoulder.
I've given you so little in 60 years of marriage...
...that I can easily feed you once a week.
You think you've given me little?
Almost nothing.
It's quite the opposite, Lucienne.
You intrigue me.
You can't know what it's like to want a woman.
To desire to be loved by a woman who doesn't love you.
And probably will never love you.
There are some that it depresses and who let go of the affair...
For 60 years, that has kept me...
...alive.
Every morning when I woke up, I said to myself "Tonight...
...tomorrow...
...next week...
...will she love me?
...would I finally find the way in?
We all have a way in, you know.
It seems.
I am over 90 years old and my desire for you is intact.
My love for you is brand new.
My hope is... Always disappointed.
...reborn every time from its ashes.
These yogurts aren't good. They taste like bleach.
You didn't put anything in them, by chance?
Oh, you're impossible!
Yes.
It's my birthday in 3 days.
Yes.
Do you know what I'd like?
You told me 20 minutes ago, Jules.
Ah.
What did I say?
You wanted me to talk to you about love.
Ah, yes, yes. I think that was silly.
No, that isn't what I'd like.
Too late!
The damage is done.
I'd like you to take me to lunch...
...with Françoise. You're staying with her, I suppose.
She... she doesn't come to see you anymore? Even less than you.
And it would make me so happy to see you both.
It's been so long.
Oh. It's going to be difficult to organize, Jules.
Just like that, so unexpectedly.
I took the liberty of ordering an ambulance...
...and a caregiver. Ah!
But... what if I said no?
Now that you know that frustration is my driving force,
I knew you would say yes.
Frustrating me, by not frustrating me.
Do you know that it's my birthday in 3 days?
No, I did that on purpose!
You're really impossible!
Careful, you're the one repeating yourself. Yes.
There are still beautiful remnants, huh?
What?
How are you?
Yes, fine. What do you want?
I don't know. I heard noise, I worried.
Stop worrying about me.
I'm sorry that things went wrong.
It's not your fault. Yes...
...it was my idea, I brought you here.
I thought it would do you good to be a little recognized for once.
I don't give a fig for being recognized.
And anyway, there's nothing to recognize.
My paintings are nothing.
Really!
Why do you say that?
Even Heinrich said it.
But... he wasn't an art expert, as far as I know.
He was an expert in me.
I was convinced he'd come to the opening.
Heinrich?
I know he isn't far away.
I feel his presence.
Alright...
You should go back to bed. We leave early tomorrow morning.
But, actually...
...he came, he just doesn't know how to find us.
It's annoying. How could we have let him know?
I don't think he would have come, Hortense.
What do you know?
Come on, go back to bed.
Wait, you seem to know something. Tell me.
But no...
I'm telling you. Go back to bed.
So, you know something about Heinrich. Something I don't...
No. Maybe he's here and in that case, he'll find out at the gallery...
They'll give him your contact details. Come on!
Get back to bed!
Yes! You know something. I hear it in your voice. I hear it.
No, I tell you!
You're lying!
You lie, like everyone else. Badly!
Look, you're making things up.
Is he dead?
I don't know.
Turn off the light.
Do you promise to go back to sleep?
Yes.
Good.
Sleep well, then.
I'll get you breakfast tomorrow morning for 7 o'clock.
Very good. What do you want?
A chocolate brioche, a croissant?
A chocolate croissant.
Good, good night.
Subtitles by Rod Clarke Whitby, Ont. June 2018