Original subtitles

A Tale from the Estaque

I'm wrecking my back!

You there, stop!

Damn.

That's all I need, a guard.

My house'll collapse without a coat of paint.

This place closed six months ago, no one wants this paint.

I'll take them off your hands.

Are you mad or what? You think it's my paint?

I guard it. Let's see some ID.

ID?!

You'd turn me in? Keep your paint! It's not your factory.

I'm not going to the clink over some paint, I'm not desperate!

Keep it, I'm going!

Belt up and show me your ID!

- Fascist... - What was that?

Fascist. You're a worker too! D'you give a shit about the paint?

If I was an Arab, I'd be dead by now.

Shut up! Take your ID and go.

Shut up and leave, quietly.

Quietly.

- What about the paint? - Go!

Hey, you cripple!

D'you mean me, Mr. Ebrard?

Sit up straight.

I can't, it hurts.

You're slowing things down.

Nobody's complained except you.

Torturer!

Watch it, Jeannette, or they'll be firing you.

Let them. Screw them, I do my job properly.

Nobody complains. If they fire me, it's not 'cause I sit funny,

it's 'cause of my big mouth. Stuff them.

If I shut it, I'll get an ulcer. I can't afford rich folks' illnesses.

What'll become of you?

Your dad was strong but you're too weak for a work site.

Mum, I got 14...

Last time, it was 18! That's 4 less. It counts.

- You'll go down a class. - 10's enough...

You need a good job.

Mum's right.

I make all these sacrifices and he comes back with 14!

I'm third in my class!

Shut up! Don't talk back to her. Get to bed now.

He hasn't eaten.

To sleep is to dine.

He'll get ill, he has to eat!

Time to go!

- 18, remember. - Don't forget the Coke.

- Got it. Work hard. - I'm top of the class.

Students just doss around all day!

I asked the bosses, they said okay for two cans.

They never come to the cement works anyway.

They don't know how many cans there are.

Why are you doing this?

I told you, they won't notice.

I mean, they take some too from time to time...

Thanks.

My pleasure. I'll be going then.

Daydreaming again, Jeannette!

Aren't you tired of being on my back all day like a leech?

Sit up straight, I told you!

It's lovely talking to you but the customers are waiting.

Sit up straight, last warning!

Read my bar codes, I wasn't hired as a model.

Get me a decent chair and I will.

The Gestapo could have used these to break the Resistance...

15 minutes on this and there'd be no need for torture.

Just sitting on this, they'd shop their whole family!

We'll deal with this later.

Sure!

Opening her big mouth won't help.

If we all did, she wouldn't be in trouble!

It's not that simple.

Exactly, it's too simple.

Go ahead, comrades, spend.

Empty your wallets, spend! It'll create jobs.

Spend, buy useless, expensive stuff, get a loan...

Cut it out!

Go on, buy everything, buy everything!

Come on!

- Remember the Coke. - Promise.

- You said that yesterday. - I forgot.

Don't forget today.

Come on, have you lost your fizz?

Something wrong?

I'm tired...

Why?

I got the sack.

Step back, I hate heights.

I often come here to think.

I haven't jumped yet and I won't today.

My dad worked here. If I got here early to meet him,

I'd stand here and look down.

Once, when I was nine, he never turned up, he was dead.

A steam pipe had exploded. He was thirty-six.

Why is this place being demolished?

There must be a reason, but we'll never know it.

Who decided to demolish the place my dad died? Where? When?

And we can't do anything.

People still use cement, don't they?

You scare me...

Am I raving?

No, I was trying to think of what to say to make you smile,

but I'm out of ideas.

When I was a boy at school, to make the others laugh,

I'd turn my back and screw my mouth up.

It doesn't work now.

Say I came to paint.

I do a good job,

something really pro. I can do other things

besides shooting thieves...

That's kind but no.

Is it my leg?

No, that doesn't bother me, I mean...

I'll race you to that parasol.

With a head start.

- That's crazy! - Afraid you'll lose?

- A twenty-yard start. - I'm not going running now!

You have to, you humiliated me.

Come on...

If I win, I'll paint your house.

I didn't particularly want a job as a guard,

but I told myself, you've gotta get it.

You should have seen the queue!

Like 3 million unemployed after the one job!

The idea came to me just as it was my turn.

I started to limp.

I said to myself, the only way to get this job

is to make them sorry for me.

They wouldn't check if it was true or not.

Besides,

they thought my stiff leg would stop the wind blowing me away.

Did it work?

This is Marius, he gave us the paint.

Now he's giving us a hand...

You forgot?

I didn't, Magali.

I'll explain later.

- Can I paint? - Do your homework.

- Just this once... - Do your homework!

Do painters take exams?

Yes, in wallpapering.

"A" levels?

No, spirit levels!

"Guell, Gaudi's friend,

"had built a textile factory in 1898,

as well as workers' housing directly linked with this workplace."

- Did you hear? - What?

- About Castro! - He's snuffed it?

No, he's here. He's swapped his uniform

for a suit to charm French industrialists!

- Why? -'Cause he can't go on!

He wants French money. What's the world coming to?

In ten years, with capitalism around,

Cuba will be like before the Revolution

and Russia like under the Tsars.

- They're up the spout! - So?

So we need to talk.

Tomorrow then, 'cause I have to find a job today!

We have to think it over!

Hi, Dédé!

No more night shifts?

Hi, Daddy.

You're doing it then, you're out on strike?

Bloody strikes, 4 weeks last time, we can't get the telly fixed.

Fuck the telly, Dédé,

and fuck football, too. This is a strike.

I say, fuck the strike.

God, Dédé, what's wrong with you?

What good did it do last time?

It saved the health system, that's what it did!

Shit, we've got three kids, you say it's not worth it?

Fine, don't strike, vote for the National Front instead!

- Give me a break - - What?

Stop nagging me 'cause I voted for them! It's not -

- Yes, it is! - Will you nag me forever?

Yes, and perhaps even longer!

Hello, Dédé.

What's up? Haven't you eaten?

That's it, piss me off!

Hello, Monique.

Hello, Justin.

Old Dédé looks out of sorts.

Hello, Justin.

Hello, Caroline.

Does it remind you of your teaching days?

So how's school?

They're on strike against the cuts.

No school, no school, we run and fly and laugh.

No school, we all dance in a circle.

No school, no school.

It's not funny, but it's droll.

Each in turn, we laugh.

No school, we all dance in a circle.

- Waiting for the job? - What do you think?

Want to make love to me?

Definitely not... no.

What then?

I want nothing, everything's fine.

You help for no reason...

Right. Does that bother you?

- I'll carry on then. - No, you won't.

I won't?

The kids won't do their homework with you here.

Hey, that's not my fault...

- Right, I'll tidy up. - I'll do it.

Are you sure? You don't want me to...

It's okay, Marius!

Have you finished?

I'm sorry.

I'm not used to having a man about the house anymore.

It's ages since someone took notice of me.

Have you got glasses?

A drink to make up.

I love Martini.

Not for me, thanks.

Are you still angry?

I don't drink.

- Never? - Never.

Cheers.

One day,

Malek's father went to buy cigarettes and never came back.

Some scaffolding fell on the Canebiere. He died instantly.

I haven't touched a cigarette since.

I haven't made love either.

It's been eight years.

I shouldn't tell you all this, but you're like a real friend.

It's good you don't talk much because I...

I remember what it was like with him.

I don't remember with my daughter's father...

perhaps 'cause he dumped me...

or didn't do it as good, I know he didn't...

With Malek's father, it was something...

It was something...

I remember it really well...

He liked it, and we did it good.

We'd best not try then.

Do you want me?

Yes.

When he died, Magali came to sleep in my bed.

It was horrible, alone all of a sudden.

You'd have thought the bed was some icy enemy.

It chills your very dreams.

I can believe that.

Have you known many women?

So, so.

You lived with one

a long time?

What's this guy after?

He can't love me, I've had two lives, got two kids.

I don't want any more.

We don't have a future together, I don't get it...

You spent a night together!

Not for what you think.

- You didn't... - No!

Well, he doesn't see many movies.

Why do you say that?

In every movie you see, the hero and heroine do it

up against a wall, their feet in the mud.

And get paid for it...

Hello, Caroline.

Hello, Justin.

Are those fresh broad beans?

Why do you ask?

You can see they are!

To talk.

Talk about something else!

They're poisonous.

I've always eaten them, do I look dead?

I had a friend

who died from eating them.

I bet you cooked them!

A few hours after eating them,

he went yellow, his blood was infected,

his red cells diminished, he had a fever, he was dizzy...

Some people get better in a couple of days...

but others never do.

They either die of a heart attack

or kidney trouble.

They piss less and less, and the nitrogen

gets concentrated in the blood...

Why tell me that?

No reason, to talk...

So you poison me! Talk about the weather

like other people!

I don't know much about that but I do about broad bean syndrome.

I can tell you want some, no need to make up

some poison theory.

I didn't. Absolutely not!

I didn't start chatting to get invited to dinner tonight!

You're accusing me of guilty intentions!

I've known you forty years!

Just say you don't want to be alone, that you fancy my beans or whatnot!

What do you mean, "whatnot"?

I start a conversation and you accuse me of...

of... whatnot!

You want to sleep with me?

Well, yes, but...

that's not related to broad beans...

Everything's related, you told me that.

Yes, but... I mean...

I eat at 7:00, come or I'll eat them, and if I die,

it'll be your fault!

How do you do them?

You're still mad at me for that!

Yes, and I will be for the rest of your life!

Fuck, I don't believe this!

I can't forgive you.

I've had enough of this!

Voting National fucking Front is unforgivable, can't you see that?

It was only once, it's nothing!

There's loads of dickheads who vote just once!

I always remember the first time...

under the big pine tree... up at La Galline...

It's like it was yesterday...

I remember the state of my back and the stones digging into me...

I was black and blue.

If we tried now, it would be on your bed...

If you want, we can get married first...

We're neighbors, I cook you broad beans,

it's already like living together, that's enough,

don't you think?

There you go.

What d'you want to be?

A footballer.

- What about you? - A footballer.

- And you? - A footballer.

All footballers? Great, you nearly have a team there.

Did you want to be a guard?

When I was little?

Yeah, it's a fine job, huh?

I always dreamt of it...

Off you go, Cantona.

Eat up, Malek, what's wrong?

Not yet, it's too early.

- Too early? - It's not dark yet.

- What's going on? - Ramadan.

What?

Ramadan, I can't eat until dark.

You did Ramadan at lunchtime too?

You're crazy! Does God want to see you all skinny?

- Not God, Allah. - What?

And Mohammed, his prophet.

And me, who am I? Who am I?

That's not the point!

I'm your mother and I'm telling you to eat.

You're weak enough without Ramadan on top of it!

I can talk to you about it, but I don't believe in it myself.

No, I don't believe in God or Yahweh

or Allah, but I can talk to you about it.

- Go on then. - What do you want to know?

Mum's Catholic and I'm Muslim, how come?

That's a tough one,

but we'll give it a shot.

You and your mother aren't that far apart.

- What's so funny? - She's just next door!

No, I mean your religions aren't that far apart.

It's like Marseilles. The people are all from Marseilles...

But you've got people from the Estaque, from Endoume,

from Joliette, and so on. Understand?

- So, so... - Okay,

you'll get it.

People from the Estaque could be Muslims,

those from Endoume, Christians, those from Joliette, Jews...

but they're all from Marseilles.

- What about you? - Me?

- Where are you from? - What?

You don't have a religion, so where are you from?

Aix en Provence?

Is anybody interested in cut-price, high-quality lingerie?

You're having us on!

There's a guy selling lingerie...

On a bloody Sunday!

Say we're at mass!

Excuse me.

Mr. Ebrard!

- You know him? - You bet, he was my boss.

He got me fired!

Hello, Jeannette. You sit up straight when you want to.

- Want me to brain him? - Not just yet.

I was dismissed too.

There's some justice then. So now you hog panties.

You know, a manager doesn't make much more than the check-out girls.

- A thousand francs more! - 921 francs.

I feel sorry for him!

You put in for a raise?

Not exactly... I tried to give myself a raise.

I stole and got caught.

I'm getting to like him!

What did you steal exactly?

Undies for my wife.

Know how much they cost?

Not cotton ones

that go baggy, real ones!

Silk ones?

My wife gets through them in no time!

You see, she's quite big, so she sits down most of the time.

The undies take all the pressure, just there,

to be more precise,

and when she moves, it's like two crocodile jaws,

and the poor undies get a real beating.

How come your wife sits down all day?

I'd love to sit down all day...

Four kids

and she got on 20 pounds each time and never lost them.

She has trouble standing up. And...

the fifth's on the way.

I never have thought you had it in you.

So if you could buy something... it's not Chinese silk

'cause Chinese silk gets fluffy after a couple of washes.

We don't want a lecture!

They feed their silk worms as little as they pay their workers.

Are you going to show us your undies or not?

Here we go!

Very skimpy!

For a special night!

- A bit bigger... - A bit dull...

There again, my Dédé likes me in blue...

Two months saving to mend the telly...

When Dédé finds out I've spend 400 francs on undies...

My check will bounce.

You're kidding.

Once you've paid the bills, there's nothing left.

What will you do now?

I've got the outfit, all I need is the client!

Do you like it?

It fits but I'm not sure I like it.

You're beautiful.

- Do I look tarty? - Yes...

But it suits you.

I'm joking.

It's funny seeing you like that...

You've grown up.

If I go out in this, I'll get pregnant before the end of the street.

I'd like to be a grandma...

What's his name?

- Tell me! - Did you tell your mum?

She thought I was still a virgin when I had you.

Keep it, you're gorgeous.

It suits you.

Don't be ashamed of being beautiful,

just remember who you're beautiful for.

Don't you want it?

I said keep it...

I know nothing about you.

Don't talk, we mustn't talk, look at the sky, breathe...

I'm curious, I'd just like to know.

Know what? All this has already happened,

you've been married, you've had lovers,

and if we say we've felt these feelings before...

Let's not talk about that, it'll stop us enjoying it now...

I'd like it to be... something new.

It's all been done by us, by others.

It has to be new every time we do it, that's all...

You don't say much but you talk well.

I like that.

- Can I put my hand on your shoulder? - Yes, why ask?

I don't know, people will see us, it makes it official.

You just got back?

Don't tell me you didn't do it this time!

I'm in heaven!

He's good?

I'll tell you!

I want details!

He's got a lovely backside, as round as an apple!

- Look at the time! - What?

Where were you? Malek was late for school, thank God I woke up.

- What's the time? - Ten to nine.

Haven't you got lectures?

- I was waiting for you. - Why?

You didn't come home! You could have called!

You know, it wasn't planned...

Spare me the details, I'm not interested.

What's wrong with you?

I'm fine. Want some coffee?

Yes, please.

Did your brother have his breakfast?

Mum, I have something important to tell you...

I'm worried now.

I know it'll hurt you.

You're getting married!

You're pregnant! Tell me.

You've never hurt me, so tell me.

I'm going away.

Why? Aren't you happy here?

What's wrong? Is it because of Marius?

Of course not!

I have the right to meet men, but...

if you don't like him... Has he done something to you?

I want to study in Paris.

In Paris? Are you mad? Have you seen what goes on there?

Everything goes on in Paris...

Theater, cinema...

You want to party!

No, I want to go to a journalism school.

Where else can I go? It's not China.

It's only four hours by train!

Where will you live?

I'll share with Rose.

She wants to be a journalist?

No, an actress.

- Surprise, surprise. - Why say that?

No reason.

That Rose hasn't got many thorns,

she'll soon get picked.

In '44, I was fourteen, but you know...

you soon grow up after two months in a camp...

The men and women were separated but, from time to time,

we came across a few.

We were lucky we weren't Jews,

because the Jews were never in the camp long...

They weren't in a rush to finish us Commies off.

We got used to the place and got used to making love there.

Making love made us stronger, like dreaming.

No one could take that, no one could stop us.

We just had to hide. We did it anywhere.

Often in the mud, standing up...

against something, sometimes even barbed wire.

You just had to throw a blanket over it.

Day, night, whenever we could.

You mustn't get pregnant,

because then you were weaker

and the weaker ones...

never survived.

We made love for the joy of it,

to show ourselves we still had some freedom...

I'd have given in without it, I'd have stayed there too.

Who is it?

What? Don't you recognize me?

I didn't expect you...

You're as deaf as a post. You'll be needing a guard dog soon.

I need to talk...

Is that for ghosts?

I put the telly on for ghosts. The programs scare them.

What did you want to tell me?

Listen...

We don't know what we're getting into...

We've been a bit hasty.

We're not youngsters...

I've got a daughter, a son...

I've had two men in my life...

So? Third time lucky.

It's not that simple... we have to think it over...

We haven't done that...

It would do us good... to think it over.

We have to think it over...

Are you crazy?!

I've never loaded it...

Come with me now.

- Where to? - Shut up and come on!

- What about my work? - The telly is on, isn't it?

What do you think of Marius?

Well?

Mum!

I've decided that...

Sit and watch with us, Marius!

Shift, Jeannette, I can't see.

"...but not

to give up."

Full stop, close inverted commas.

- I'll read it again. - Hang on.

Right...

- "As tears..." - I haven't finished!

"As tears well up,

"then form and flow, words do likewise.

"We must simply prevent them from falling like tears

"or from hiding deep inside.

"A bed welcomes them...

"The words glow...

"a poem will soon arise.

"My star-lit nights, it could travel the world

"or comfort tired eyes...

and not give up."

Read it.

Not a TV journalist. It pays better, but I'm not interested.

The press, that's real investigative work.

Yeah, that's good.

You want to be a footballer?

No way, too tiring. A lawyer 'cause I like to talk.

That's good...

Is it time?

I'd better go.

See you, kids.

Wait!

It's for you, a surprise.

What is it?

Dédé isn't home yet...

What's up?

Dédé didn't come back for dinner. That's not like him!

- It's getting late... - Where did he go?

I don't know. We had a row...

- Is it Dédé? - Yes.

He's not home, I'm worried.

Was it those undies?

No! We have a hundred things to fight about...

Don't you make some up?

- That'll be him. - Who?

The phone, that'll be Dédé.

The idiot'll wake up the kids!

Those two...

- Heard the news? - What?

The Pope's publicly asked priests to use condoms

to shag their cleaners.

You're kidding?

Of course I am.

Quiet, quiet, listen!

I knew it, it's Dédé!

Why are you laughing?

'Cause you're laughing!

- It's Dédé. - We guessed.

He's in hospital.

And you're laughing?

The idiot had a few drinks

and he passed a wall full of National Front posters...

- He was drunk... - Completely.

And he started lobbing stones at the posters...

The stones bounced back off the wall

and got one right in the face!

Is he all right?

Hold on!

Two stitches.

Go and laugh somewhere else! I've got class tomorrow!

Crazy old farts...

Personally, I think...

God exists

for people who believe and doesn't for those who don't...

Fundamentalism is different.

Fundamentalism is about classes, about power.

It's people using religion to oppress the weak

and exploit the poor. I don't just mean Muslims,

you understand...

A fundamentalist is someone

who wants everybody to think like him.

It's like a color-blind man trying to prove that red is green

because for him, red really is green.

Everything looks grey to him, just as it does to a fundamentalist!

They believe colors don't exist

and want everybody to see the same as them, otherwise...

Their religion's color-blind.

They tell you that God has a beard like this,

long white hair, and if you think that God is bald...

You aren't allowed to think that, they know for you!

As if God held an open house once a week...

You know, Malek...

you think that God

hasn't had the time for a few haircuts

since...

Sometimes I say to myself...

imagine God exists.

And why not...

An ultra-intelligent being who lives somewhere

where even our imagination couldn't take us.

Why not?

You think a God like that

is bothered whether you eat pork,

say your prayers,

or you touch your willy? No way, those are human problems.

God doesn't care.

He doesn't care if we believe in him

or not!

He just wants us to live in peace together

and stop fucking fighting all the time!

Okay, Dédé?

No, I can't concentrate.

It's the stitches. Got a headache?

No, it's them. It's been like that an hour...

What is it?

It's Caroline's friends from the camp!

The older they get, the happier they are,

the more they've suffered, the more they love life...

We're younger, but we're stupider...

And I'm scared we'll end up older and stupider...

It's tricky, the contract's worth 900 grand and it won't work...

- Discount it! - It's a European contract.

So?

The law doesn't cover European contracts.

And then there's the exchange risks...

Why not call COFACE? They offer funding for exports...

I could counter insure the contract's value

and my bank will discount it?

- Of course! - How much does it cost?

It's reasonable, given the risk involved.

Two or three points above your discount rate.

You could get 11%, before costs, normal for export...

Is it free? There's no prices.

That's the ladies' menu.

Show me the prices.

No, this is my treat.

I can't choose if I don't know the prices!

Choose what you like.

I like it when it's not too expensive.

If it is, I'll kick you.

I like everything...

- Such a choice! - There's no rush.

I'll have what you have.

If you like.

No fish, no wine?

Yes, why say that?

Because this

is for fish and this is for meat.

This is for wine,

and the bigger one's for water.

You know a lot! Were you rich once?

Very rich, especially in winter in the Alps.

I was a waiter for three seasons!

Hello, sir, hello, Jeannette, ready to order?

Shit, Marius, it's Mr. Ebrard,

my boss who sold me the silk undies!

Hello again. No Chinese silk.

You work here now?!

There's no future in undies.

Has your wife given birth?

Well, I'm... no longer married.

You got divorced?

No, I'm married when I need to be and I'm not when I don't.

You lied, you've never been married!

Lied, no... Let's say I invented a family for the occasion...

which boils down to the same thing.

We all lie...

Don't we, Jeannette?

Fennel for aioli?

I follow Monique's list.

I want her to be happy.

Yeah, me too.

She deserves it, in fact, I'd say it's her right.

If she didn't get some happiness, it would be unfair.

Do you love her?

I believe you.

Fennel in aioli?

She likes fennel...

Remember, real aioli

has green beans, carrots, potatoes,

cauliflower, boiled eggs, salt cod, and that's it.

Exactly.

If she likes fennel, who gives a shit?

- Why not add radishes then? - Why not?

Stop watching me, it'll spoil.

- No, it'll curdle. - What?

You said it'll spoil. An aioli doesn't spoil, it curdles.

I'll say what I like. Shut up, it'll spoil.

I'll show you how to make the bloody stuff!

You can try anything,

do it every which way, but it works!

Old folks should be killed at birth!

- That's mean. - I'm joking!

- That's mean. - I was joking!

- That's mean. - You're losing it!

- Stir it... - I am stirring it.

It's like Niagara Falls!

Want me to take over?

A ton of garlic!

It'll repeat for a fortnight.

The place will reek when we talk.

You prefer minty breath?

She prefers more refined smells.

I just don't like garlic!

Even less since you started college.

Doesn't your boyfriend like it?

He's a vampire.

You don't know him!

'Cause you're ashamed to bring him home!

We only just met!

If he doesn't like garlic, he can't like women...

What's that got to do with it?

Don't be so serious. Did I raise you like this?

- We're joking. - Yeah, I can see.

So laugh.

I still don't like aioli.

Dip some fennel in salt, it'll make you pee.

Is your lover boy going to Paris next year?

How'll you manage?

We're not married.

It won't last long 528 miles apart!

It's not permanent!

Excuse me!

- What'll you do in Paris? - Journalist!

That's good...

- Not for Mum... - I never said that.

I said it's far, not that it wasn't good!

I said it's far away, that's all!

Journalists from our background can write about us...

- and write properly. - Thank you, Caroline.

You're welcome, just don't forget us.

Surely I can say I think Paris is far away.

I've the right to think that!

If I'd drawn up the map of France, Paris would be Aix en Provence!

That way, we'd have got rid of Aix for good.

Hear the radio?

What now?

The Popes' Palace is a world heritage site now.

The Vatican?

No, the one in Avignon!

It's a what now?

A world heritage site.

So who gets to inherit?

World heritage, idiot! For everyone.

If you can't take a joke...

Well, then,

UNESCO has listed the Popes' Palace, it's time it was restored.

I don't see why places where kings and popes lived get listed!

Why can't they protect...

this cement works? It's a beautiful cement works...

But only the poor came here.

Without a Pope,

this place stands no hope!

That rhymes!

What?

Nothing... Pope and hope... it rhymes.

In any case,

if I remember right, they've listed the Pedrera

Gaudi built.

A building designed by Antoni Gaudi.

Did workers live there?

Kings certainly didn't.

Pedrera means "quarry," a quarry like this...

Why not list this one then?

They would have, if Gaudi had built it.

Why's he so special?

He was talented.

The workers here were talented too!

Fuckin' hell, the kids!

They'll fall!

- They're going to fall! - Calm down, Marius.

It's not the Eiffel Tower!

They're having fun!

It's not very high.

They won't get hurt...

This is fun...

Don't climb on the tractors!

Come on, get down off there, come on, now!

That's okay, but not up there!

It's all politics...

- Don't start on that again... - I mean,

even the beer you buy in a bar is politics.

Every time you buy a Heineken, your gut swells a bit more

and you give Heineken more power. And so,

Dutch Heineken buys up French Fisher.

And so, Heineken closes unprofitable French factories.

And so unemployment goes up.

If you'd drunk Fisher

instead of Heineken, you'd have turned it round!

I only drink Kronenbourg.

Stupid bugger!

- Give me a cigar... - No, I'm keeping it.

- Not too worn out? - I slept all night.

Nothing ever happens. Why do they pay you?

One night, a few months back, a flying saucer landed there.

I've stopped believing in Santa!

- You think I'm lying? - Or you were drunk.

- I never drink. - What did they want?

Don't you start!

What did they want? To see the view from the cement works.

Their planet is flat - no sea, no mountains, no old towns,

everything's spotless.

They all look the same, they share the same religion.

They're very advanced scientifically.

But everything runs so smoothly...

they're bored shitless.

Hurry up, you'll be late.

Go on!

See you, kids!

See you!

We're beautiful, young, and in love.

Coming in?

Go ahead, I'll join you later.

- Come on! - No, go on, I'll go in later.

You'll be late.

- What about Marius? - He must be delayed.

Come on.

- Will he be here tonight? - Probably.

- Don't worry. - I'm okay!

So?

Not a sign!

Did you go up there?

What for?

I don't know, perhaps something happened...

Right, something...

Yeah.

Maybe the aliens took him.

Yes, I suppose so...

If you don't go, I will.

You're going to bed, Miss.

You want me to go?

Nobody's going. He's fine.

Stop stuffing yourself!

- Make your mind up. - What?

Where's Marius gone?

Well, you know,

once he's done it, he loses interest...

Idiot!

Why d'you always insult me?

You are an idiot!

'Cause they've made love?

That's what he means,

but all men aren't as stupid as him.

- Learn from Marius... - Learn what?

Tenderness...

There must be something else...

Like what?

It's not us in any case. I talked to him,

I told him me and Malek liked him.

It's not our fault.

What is it then, if you're so smart? See, no idea.

Maybe I'm stupid,

but I said something.

I've known intelligent mutes.

You what?

That means you're no mute.

Of course not.

You're pissed off 'cause you know I'm right...

It's the usual thing. You meet a girl,

you're in love, you want to live with her,

until you bonk her,

then you go off the idea.

What about me?

What? You're different!

He loves you, Monique!

Thanks, Magali.

Quiet now, the second half's starting!

Come on, Jeannette, it's starting.

So did you see him?

And?

Nothing.

What did he say?

I just told you, nothing.

He didn't explain?

We didn't speak.

I watched him, he didn't see me.

He owes you an explanation!

He doesn't owe me a thing.

You're not curious...

Maybe you didn't love him...

It's probably better that way.

You'll soon forget.

I've got to wash up.

You're ridiculous.

Nobody has to be unhappy,

believe me.

When death's a permanent threat,

you soon learn what's important in life...

I have to do my washing up... The sink is full of it.

You have to find out, not knowing will get you down...

A guy who dumps me won't get me down!

Magali's father left me and Malek's never said he'd be crushed to death.

I never get an explanation.

You get used to it...

Good night.

What do we do?

What do you want to do?

Force people to be happy? Look what happened in the USSR...

Fuck, football kills me...

It's the same every time.

They lose and it takes me a fortnight to get over it...

I'm knackered...

You're too emotional...

Think so?

Maybe you're right.

He's had a head start...

And he won't let go...

We could catch up a bit...

Fine by me.

Thanks.

Do you have Fisher?

No, Heineken or Kronenbourg.

Heineken, traitor!

There's ways and means, but there's poverty too.

And poverty doesn't give a shit about ways or means.

Hey, bow low, there's only one way

to drop your pants.

And there's only one way

to bow low, drop your pants...

What's up?

You know him?

He's got a pretty arse...

He has got a nice arse!

You fancy him? I can get you a good price...

How much would you give me? Don't chicken out!

To get anywhere, you have to get fucked, didn't you know?

We're all queers, there's the rub!

We're all queers, niggers, Arabs,

tarts, Jews, Mohicans, Zapatists!

And they all say: "Screw you!"

Throw him out, that's enough!

- Give me some money... - It's a bloody gay bar!

I can't afford to mend my telly,

I voted for the National Front and want to get fucked.

Don't chicken out, go ahead and fuck me!

Let go of me!

It's a fight!

Fuck... I haven't drunk since...

Shit, Jeannette said you never drink!

How is she?

Okay.

And the kids?

The kids?

When you're drunk, you talk.

I haven't drunk since the accident, so I never told anyone.

I'm telling you, because...

Because you're drunk...

I had two kids, a boy and a girl, four and six.

We woke them up to go, we'd celebrated my wife's birth day.

We'd had a bit to drink.

She drove, she liked driving,

perhaps she'd drunk less than me, I forget.

It happened on black ice. Drunk or not, when black ice

takes you by surprise... well, even I'd have panicked,

and I'd be dead instead of her.

She was killed, the kids were strapped in,

but it didn't help.

My seat was the only one the tree didn't crush.

Does Jeannette know this?

It's 'cause of the kids I didn't come back.

You need to be brave to love kids, and I'm not brave.

I'd watch them have breakfast together.

That's a family, when the kids have breakfast and go off to school.

You start thinking they won't come back...

There's hundreds of reasons on the way there.

And on the way back from school too.

And there's more and more risks at school itself now.

The kids leave and you're not sure they'll be back.

You sit there all day like an idiot.

You try to take it easy...

I don't have the guts for it.

Sometimes, I'd look at Malek and Magali...

and I'd see my two dead children.

I can't handle that anymore...

I can't...

Oh, fucking hell...

- What? - He's fallen asleep...

You know what, Dédé? This guy...

hasn't got enough music in his heart to make life dance...

Shit, Justin! You come out with some weird stuff!

It's not me, it's Céline...

...who said that. - Céline,

my sister-in-law?

Céline, the man of letters!

A man called Céline?

You know what?

We're totally arseholed!

D'you know what...

attachment is?

Attachment to someone...

It's when you're... when you're attached to someone?

You're right.

Just right, Justin.

This way.

Grab this.

Shut up, don't scream, you'll wake everyone up!

Go on, can you manage?

A strong attachment, a very strong attachment...

Don't scream, they're dead, Jeannette...

The two kids are dead!

No, not yours! They're asleep, so keep quiet!

Listen, Jeannette, I'm taking my hand away,

but don't scream, okay?

You old bastard!

He hasn't got enough music in his heart to...

to make life dance.

You're stinking drunk.

Yes, stinking.

- Untie me! - Don't shout...

No, Jeannette, don't shout!

We have to tell you

something very important.

You tie me up to tell me?

Listen to Justin!

Now listen...

It's because of the two kids...

My kids?

No, his kids, not yours!

Tell her about his wife.

What?

About his wife...

He was married,

but she died, and...

they had two kids and... they died too.

I don't believe you.

He told us!

We heard it from him!

Why would he lie?

He likes people to feel sorry for him.

Like his bad leg! And if it is true, why tell you and not me?

It's the least he could do!

He was drunk!

Sure,

he never drinks, and now he's sloshed!

There you go, that proves it.

People who never drink get drunk!

He's a mythomaniac.

Isn't that the word

for a compulsive liar?

That's the word, but it's not true.

He's not a mythomaniac, he's unhappy...

He just had a couple of little drinks,

and that did the trick.

- He was gone... - He was gone, good.

He was gone, and you went to get him back!

I don't believe you or him. Where are you going?

Come back!

What's up with Mum?

- Marius is back. - Great!

You're drunk.

Sober up and then you can come in.

Caroline, I love you...

Monique, I love you...

Save it for the morning, okay?

I love you!

I love you.

What's up with them? Is it the mating season or what?

- They're feeling randy! - Shut up and sleep!

- How can I? - Just sleep.

You're fat.

You're heavy.

You're squashing me.

But stay here.

I'd like you to be even fatter, even heavier.

I'll die of suffocation...

but being crushed by you is a nice way to go.

I'll do all the strikes,

I promise.

Even the post office and the railway strikes,

I swear.

All of them.

The police, teachers, nurses...

Well said, Dédé!

We love you!

Where the fuck am I?

What are you doing here? I drank too much!

Will you always love me?

- Will you always love me? - Yes, always.

What if you meet another woman?

I'll tell her I'm taken.

What about my kids?

I'll help you take care of them.

- Like they were yours? - Like the ones I had.

You won't be afraid?

All the time.

No more accidents?

I'll hold your hand to cross the street.

We love you!

I love you...

Marius and Jeannette will marry, have no more kids, and be happy.

At 75, Marius will slip on canine excrement,

break his hip, and limp until the day he dies.

Jeannette will work on a till, plagued by her bad back.

Justin and Caroline will share other mutton and broad bean stews.

They'll never get bean poisoning and will sometimes share a bed too.

Despite all the fights, strikes, and football matches,

Dédé and Monique will have a fourth child.

Malek will teach Arabic and read the Koran,

thus confirming everything that Justin told him.

Magali, a journalist, will write:

"Cézanne painted the poor of the Estaque,

paintings that will end up on rich people's walls."

Marius and Jeannette will rest in peace in the cemetery

along with Dédé and Monique, Justin and Caroline,

and the thousands of unknown workers to whom this film is dedicated.