Original subtitles

Excuse me!

Assas and Montpellier, it's the same code?

Yes, 67.

- Thank you. - You're welcome.

Can I help you?

Give me that photo! Come down!

Be nice. It's for me.

Come down, or I'll go up.

I'm coming.

For Nicolas and Marianne that day...

was not like any other day.

Give me that!

It's terrible.

- Who sent you? - I'm freelance.

You know, there are people and I know them...

who'd pay a lot...

I don't want any fuss. How much?

A lot.

Tell me the price!

A hundred...

- 100 francs? - Times 10.

Was it just to kill the time...

that they played this scene,

or were they hiding their fear of what was going to come?

For Marianne...

this fear was absurd and without a real cause.

I'll call the police.

You'll end up in jail.

If I were you I wouldn't do it...

Are you trying to scare me?

You know something?

I know...

everything.

I've got no money on me.

Let's make a deal.

- You'd like to visit my room? - Yes...

I'm sure we can talk.

Why has she suddenly got so uneasy?

Because of this visit to the Frenhofers?

It was decided so quickly...

It came just out of the blue.

I want a coffee.

Of course.

Take my cup if you don't mind.

- Sugar? - I never take sugar.

You must have heard your eyes...

are beautiful.

You must have heard yours aren't bad either.

Going up?

Going up.

It's him?

Yes, it's Balthazar,

it's Porbus.

You're OK?

You slept well?

Great. We're coming down.

Take your time. I'll take a coffee in the yard.

Marianne's fine?

Very well. Come on.

Porbus.

This man changed their lives a few months ago.

I'm too early maybe. Geneva's closer than I thought.

I know you. You drive like crazy.

It's true, I missed you. When I say you, I mean...

Here she comes!

Above all Porbus is a chemist.

You're splendid.

Thank you.

A simple...

formula can sometimes bring much money.

That's a way to start collecting houses,

women, paintings.

Yes.

It's going to be about paintings.

Nicolas is a painter.

Shall we go by car?

It's very near, you must have been past it before.

And Marianne...

That's the only thing you can see.

Marianne loves Nicolas.

You're impatient?

No, it's Nicolas who's so excited.

Don't exaggerate.

I'm telling less than the truth.

How did you come from Montpellier?

We called a taxi.

It's the only way.

You see, this way is to Prades,

and this one goes to the Pic Saint Loup.

Do the views inspire you?

Brought your brushes?

No, I can only work in my place.

So the Mati re will be sad.

He likes what you do.

He's as interested in you as you are in him.

I doubt it.

Something's wrong?

I'm jealous.

He's less and less interested...

in me and more in Frenhofer.

Is he really a genius?

I couldn't find any books about him.

There was one...

in 74. Sold out now.

And his last exhibition?

Before you were even born, dear Miss.

I wonder how one can live there.

One can very well, I assure you.

I'll buy a bigger one after my next show.

I wouldn't live in such a place.

You'll change your mind.

Maybe they can't hear.

Of course they can. Maybe they're... I don't know.

Magali! You're such a big girl now.

Where are Monsieur and Madame?

I don't know, I was after Justine.

She eats all the hydrangeas. I've got to go back.

Liz! Edouard! Anybody home?

I'm sorry, I was...

helping Francoise with the tart.

Hello. I'm Marianne. Oh, sorry.

You've come all the way on foot?

You must be dying of thirst. A drink?

Anything that's cold.

I'll take it off first.

And Frenhofer?

Francoise will offer you a drink.

And where's your nice blue car?

I took my nice red car. A brand new one.

A red one?

I've heard people with red cars pay higher insurance.

Never heard of that. Why?

Red means they're dangerous.

Really? Marianne?

- Pardon me? - Am I dangerous?

I don't know. I don't know you enough.

Yes, he is.

To whom?

Especially to you.

I'll remember that.

You like books?

Yes.

It depends. English ones. English novels best of all.

Thank you.

Is it an original edition?

You'd have to ask Frenho.

Where is he, I wonder. I reminded him this morning.

Look out, it's very dusty.

I like dust.

You're a real booklover?

Not really, I like what's inside.

Marianne is a writer.

Come on, Nicolas...

Is it true, you're a writer?

Yes... no, I mean I write a little for myself.

Not only for yourself.

I admire you... I can't even write a postcard.

That's why some friends get angry.

Me among others.

You're not a friend.

My tart!

What am I then?

Marianne, come here.

What's he doing?

Maybe he just doesn't want to see us.

It was just the right time!

So you're here...

The room of chimaeras. It's my favourite...

because it's useless.

It's beautiful. Impressive.

There are no ghosts here?

No, only Frenhofer and me.

Besides, it's not really the place for them.

By the way...

Tell us what you've done with Edouard.

I don't know. He disappeared after breakfast.

It's strange.

Maybe we'll go out?

Magnificent.

It's me who did it.

There used to be ajungle here. Ajungle of...

how do you call it?

- Laurels. - That's it.

Rose laurels.

For Frenhofer it could've remained ajungle for ever.

Thank you, Francoise.

Will...

Magali stay for a while?

She has her dancing class.

What a pity.

You haven't seen Mr Frenhofer?

No. He's in his studio maybe.

Certainly not.

He simply forgot.

He might have forgotten.

When he thinks of one thing he forgets the rest.

But he mainly thinks of nothing.

Maybe we came at the wrong time?

No, it's never wrong.

At last. He's got it.

Oh, I've just remembered...

I've got this thing,

arsenic soap.

It's for insects. Is it dangerous? Can I touch it?

What did you use before?

DDT. DDT mixed with soap.

Don't change it. And throw your arsenic out.

But it seems...

it's an old formula.

Doesn't matter.

I care for you.

I don't want you to be found one day with a black tongue.

Why?

You suck your fingers.

- It's not true. - Yes, it is.

Excuse us.

It was a professional question.

Balthazar hasn't told you...

Well, he's not too early.

Give it to your mother.

Wait. Put it on my desk. Thank you.

Today's what?

Monday.

Yes, Monday.

I completely forgot.

It's Marianne.

Excuse me.

You know Nicolas?

I completely forgot. Unbelievable.

It's a shame.

Inexcusable.

It's so hot...

Come on, we're not going to cry.

I know why you're here.

Let's go.

It's cool in there...

Something's strange.

Something strange's happening.

I'll put a panoramic table here.

With a telescope.

With a slot for 10 F coins.

You'd be able to watch the view.

We don't care about the view, do we?

I feel you're already shivering inside. It's this way.

It's here.

It looks like a church.

Actually it's an old barn.

Stables were downstairs.

Would be nice to work in an atelier like that, wouldn't it?

I haven't been here for 2 months.

You've gotten awfully lazy.

You know why I forgot about you?

Because I was scared. Scared of you.

Of us?

Yes. Don't take it wrong.

Liz and I have come here

to a state of perfect stability.

Happiness, you could say.

You're bringing bad luck.

You've gone nuts, Frenho.

I'm not blaming anyone. Nothing can be done.

Besides, the worst'll come to you soon.

Have you been drinking? You went to Roussel to drink?

By entering the door you've brought trouble,

but you too will be unhappy.

I admire your work, but I never wanted to be an intruder.

You invited me.

Of course...

You want to see, you want to know.

You're more interested in my work than I myself.

Exactly.

Nothing new?

Nothing for you, you old bastard.

Come on in.

Here are the oldest.

And here also.

It's all in a mess.

I don't keep it tidy.

You're not coming up? It's nicer.

This one's prehistoric. I was 12 then.

You can have a look at them.

This one's what?

Not bad. It's somebody else's.

And here...

No comment.

This is extraordinary.

Not bad. It's nothing actually.

There's no blood.

If I go the whole way there's blood on the canvas.

You're going too far.

Not at all.

On La Belle Noiseuse you see blood.

What's La Belle Noiseuse?

- For 5 years you said nothing? - It escaped from me.

This one I like too.

Can I see this Noiseuse?

It doesn't exist. It was just an idea. I gave it up.

It does exist.

What?

It does exist.

It must be here.

Why La Belle Noiseuse?

Just because.

It's a name of a 17th century courtesan.

Catherine Lescault. She had a crazy life.

Reading about her life...

I suddenly wanted a painting.

I just saw her like that.

It was 3 a.m., I couldn't sleep...

Because of me.

Laugh! It's your fault.

Me?

Yes, the Noiseuse it's you.

What does noiseuse mean?

It's from noise. Nuts.

Like going nuts.

- You know it? - Yes.

In Quebec everybody says it. I lived there.

"You're a noiseuse."

That's it. Nuts.

A pain in the arse.

So, the painting exists...

No. I told you already.

If the idea doesn't make you sick, maybe we could have dinner.

Come on, it's ready.

I couldn't forgive Nicolas if he left me in doubt.

You love him?

Hell of a way to ask questions.

It's embarrassing.

It's a good sign. Means I'm interested.

Let's have fun. Let's drink.

To life!

This wine's good.

Delicious.

No, thank you.

The Moriers are charming too.

It's a pity the old man pushed his wife under an express train.

Afterwards he hanged himself at home.

In the house up there.

It was the Duchess of Uzes...

you say that...?

who gave it to him.

By the way, all his children finished badly.

All of them went to...

agronomy schools.

And he had 12 of them.

So, you love Nicolas.

And he adores you too.

It's plain to see.

Don't take it wrong. He's like that.

It's all right. I'm listening.

Would you accept it if he loved painting more than you?

Would you accept...

Iosing him for a painting?

Anyway,

if Nicolas didn't want to go the whole way, I'd lose him.

I'd leave him.

Lose? Why?

We want the truth in painting. It's cruel.

...You haven't lost me.

Almost.

Wait, let me handle it...

It's O.K.

Where did I put my glasses?

Oh, sorry.

I know.

I left them in the studio.

- I'll get them. - I'm going with you.

May I lean on you, Nicolas?

I'm wobbly.

Wait, I'll help you.

What's happened?

Nothing. A bit of epilepsy,

or something like that.

Leave it. Francoise will do it tomorrow.

Can I ask you a question?

Who were you before meeting your husband?

I wanted to be an architect.

But I had no talent.

Why?

Because...

It must be difficult to live with a man like him.

It's completely unbearable.

But I'm nuts too, so somehow we're getting on.

Anyway, I couldn't live differently.

You had no other projects?

My project was living with him.

It wasn't so easy.

You know, I've got my odd jobs too.

I don't take odd jobs.

You've published already?

Yes. A children's book. For 13 to 14 year olds.

What is it about?

That's interesting. I love books for children.

It's a story of a diplomat's daughter.

It's in a military dictatorship.

She falls in love with the dictator's son. It causes a revolution.

The title is A Secret Weapon with Golden Eyes.

Oh, it's nice.

No, it's completely stupid. Just to get my hand in. And...

I've had enough of odd jobs...

and I don't want to depend on Nicolas.

A year ago we were both the same.

He still thinks it is so.

You want a piece of tart?

No thank you.

Something's changed since his first show.

I must defend myself.

It's him who's fragile, I think.

Anyway, we'll end up by fighting each other.

I know it, I feel it.

I understand.

I know...

He won the war.

Nobody won the war.

Each looks after his own wounds.

We made peace.

The treaty's solid.

Solid rock.

Here they are...

So, let's go back to the ladies.

Wait. Is there...

Can I have something to pick me up?

You want to stay at night?

No, somebody's waiting for me.

Besides, I feel fine now, just fine.

I don't want to stay here. It was difficult even to come.

When I see a recent painting...

the suffering here is unbearable.

At least it's cooler here.

There's silence.

Silence?

Can't you hear the forest?

The sound, the murmuring, all the time.

It's like the sea.

Just like the sea.

It's the fossil sound of the universe.

It's the sound of the origins.

The forest and the sea mixed together.

That's what painting is.

Don't you think?

No, I don't. For me it's not that.

For me painting is the stroke.

A colour that stands out.

A cadmium yellow, a flashing red.

Something sharp, finished.

Really?

Every time I felt I'd finished a painting,

completed it...

I always said to myself I should have gone further,

try a bit harder.

Take the risk.

Haven't you ever damaged a painting going...

"further"?

I have. Several times.

You have to take the risk.

But not everybody is capable of it.

Not everybody can invent new things.

I think...

all the artists, even the least gifted, should take risks.

Not those that are not capable of it.

What should they do?

They should help the others.

You should start painting again.

I'm too impatient.

And not interested any more.

I need a masterpiece, or nothing.

What about the Noiseuse?

Impossible.

It was Liz and now it's too late.

It was almost a catastrophe then.

Why not Marianne?

With Marianne...?

It may be possible, it's true.

More than possible.

It's her.

You mean you want Marianne to pose for you?

Why not?

It could be interesting.

When are you leaving?

It should be in 2 days. But nothing's definite yet.

Take your time, think about it.

It's O.K. She will pose for you.

I have to leave, I've got 120 kilometres to go.

But when you finish I want to see the painting.

As for me, I buy it. At market price.

It's an honest deal.

- I'm leaving. - What's her name this time?

I'm sure her name isn't Natasha.

Kiss her from me.

You can count on me. So long, ma belle.

See you soon. Very soon.

We'll be going too.

You're getting away too?

We'll see before you leave?

Of course.

Sure.

See you tomorrow Marianne...

Good bye.

Why "see you tomorrow"?

Who else? Frenhofer said, "see you tomorrow, Marianne".

I think he'd like you to pose for him. Very much.

What's all this about?

He asked me if you would.

And you said yes.

Well, I said yes.

Here's the herb tea.

You're meeting her tomorrow?

Meeting isn't the right word.

They're nice young people.

They've got something.

Yes, they're nice.

He has lots of talent?

I should say so. And lots of passion too.

He's almost made me start anew.

Both of them gave me back the taste for it.

It's been a long time that I haven't...

I think I'll try again.

I've had enough of self-portraits.

Why not? It's a good idea.

I'll paint her.

Her...

I know what you mean.

Listen...

You don't have to do...

anything.

Really? Thank you.

Besides let me explain...

Explain what?

How I should pose?

Naked, I suppose.

I've seen his paintings.

I didn't mean...

Maybe it's not what you meant, but don't say you didn't know.

You sold my arse!

Move your feet!

Listen Marianne...

He wants something different than a simple portrait.

It's more...

Maybe I was wrong, but...

I had to help him.

Even if it were the masterpiece you should have let me decide.

It is the masterpiece.

Anyway it can be. It's La Belle Noiseuse.

A project he gave up 10 years ago. He wants to start it again with you.

I don't give a damn about it.

That guy's ridiculous!

"We want the truth in painting".

"The truth is cruel, you need blood on the canvas".

And you go for that! You're pathetic!

Stop it!

Look at me...

Fuck off!

We'll talk it over tomorrow...

O.K.?

Put it out!

Good night, my love.

I have a belly-ache.

I have an appointment...

Come in. Follow me.

Good morning.

Tea or coffee?

Coffee please.

Sit down, please.

I'm going to work.

Come on, we'll make the duke's eyes.

Oh, yeah!

Am I too early?

Not at all.

You've finished?

Yes.

Always the same. Nothing in place.

Sit down where you want...

Help me with it, please.

Here... hold it.

That's right.

Thank you.

We can start like that. Doesn't matter.

It can begin with any part.

Sit down.

Would you straighten your shoulders, please?

That's right.

Look at me. Straight in my face.

I don't know...

if Nicolas draws.

Some prefer to go straight to the canvas.

Ajump into the unknown.

Everybody's different.

Stand up, please.

Come closer, please.

Can you put your hair up, please?

Can I have a brush?

Step back a little.

On this prop. Right.

Look at me.

Your stare disturbs me.