Original subtitles

Prices have risen in January: plus 1.9%.

It's the worst case in 21 years.

The CGT says the real number is 2.2%.

The Minister of Economy said

that the situation could only get better.

Laurent Fabius said that Georges Marchais is like

a football player specialized in scoring against his own team.

So there is in the news this morning about the declarations of Mr. Barre.

Yesterday, Raymond Barre made a surprising declaration

while asked about the question of unemployment

by communist militants.

You know, Anne? I found that piece of work

that I gave to that student of mine at the end of the year.

He had to complete sentences

like "I would like to..."

"I have dreamt...", "Nothing is...", etc.

I put some bits of it together.

"I'd like to be an animal to watch others without speaking."

"I'd like to know what people really think of me."

"I'd like to be a boy to know how it feels."

"Nothing's worse than being shy."

”Nothing's more dangerous than a broken motorcycle. ”

'Nothing's more beautiful than a chessboard."

"I dreamt I was the mailman, giving happiness to everyone."

"I dreamt I was a typewriter that didn't make any faults."

"I dreamt that my parents were happy together."

Can we go, Captain?

Finish your meal, I'm tired of

screwing with a skeleton.

The first fag is Ro,

because Ro fucks Pierre.

The second fag was To,

because To fucks Hambourg.

To fucks Hambourg.

Yeah, I get it.

Sorry, I thought that.

Hello? Yes. Yes.

No, sir, he's not here, sir.

I'm Conchita, the Spanish housemaid.

Yes.

No, tonight he's going to see prostitutes.

Yes.

Well, okay.

I'm coming.

Take care. Bye.

Come on, let's go.

It's funny, I'm always the one waiting.

Turn off the lights. I'm the one paying.

Life's not easy, hmm?

Well, let me finish.

The third faggot is Ma,

because Ma hides Bono while he screws,

"Ma hides Bono screwing."

It's a clever one, isn't it?

You have a cigarette?

No, I just quit smoking on the staircase.

ONE WEEK OF HOLIDAYS

PUBLIC EDUCATION:

"FILLING THE HEADS FULL OF ALL THOSE CONDEMNED TO LIVE."

Laurence, Laurence!

Wait, where are you going? You're not going to the school?

Leave me alone.

Are you feeling ill?

Leave me, I'll return home. I'll feel better.

I'll call Grenoble, I'll say I can't go.

I can't leave you like this.

It's all right, really.

Sabouret will give me some medicine.

You'll get a fine now for your car.

I don't care.

-Leave me, please. -Come on now.

Laurence Cuers!

Just a little longer and I wouldn't have been able to leave the car.

I had to avoid going to the school.

That's what scared me.

What did your students do, did they sell drugs or what?

-It's not about them, it's about me. -Of course.

Anyway, you'll take a week of vacation as soon as possible.

And don't fool around with Pierre.

Take a good rest.

He just called me. He's not in Lyon?

He's gone to Grenoble a few days to sell houses.

Call him tonight

or he'll have a nervous breakdown, too.

Take this three times a day,

before your meal.

You should have taught math, not French.

That's something solid.

Even after '69, math stayed the same.

Only Marchais could have been able

to mess that up, and still. Will you read me?

Don't be stupid.

I'm not kidding, didn't you see Debray-Ritzen on TV?

If you were to put them through a real test,

not half the children would be judged fit to go to school.

Also, we discovered dyslexia.

So, when you start again, take it easy.

Is Heredia still taught in school?

"The beautiful bottom of the pale madrepore."

We send them straight to the factory.

Can I dry my hair here?

Yes.

A beer.

Mancheron, you'll go to the principal.

She's a bitch.

Okay, you'll go to the disciplinary committee then.

I don't care, your life's finished anyway.

Sending a kid to the disciplinary committee!

Deep inside, he's a good kid.

I'm sure he likes me.

Everybody makes mistakes, Laurence.

Maybe we should quit this job then.

-Hello. -Thank you for coming.

I'm glad to see you.

I bought some sweets,

so we can get high on sugar.

It's cold outside.

I almost forgot, Tubiana gave me your students' homework for you.

Here.

Do you see how much there is to correct?

I'm sure it's gonna be bad, too.

Some are quite good.

See the first one for example.

You're beeing fooled, Anne.

His parents must vote left, that's all.

It's dreadfully conventional,

although it's on our side.

So it's true that you're depressed!

Don't tell me...

The more you let them express themselves,

the worse it gets.

We go to the expos, we do audiovisual,

"parallel activities,"

and all we get is cliches.

The only difference is how bad they write.

I prefer when you tell us what we must do.

Really?

It's more work to think it up ourselves.

Actually, they're not all stupid.

1978 was the year of the woman,

1979, that of children,

and 1980, the return of the sadistic teacher!

I don't like it when you talk like this.

You didn't even open my box of chocolates.

-Do you want to sleep here? -Yes.

When I was little, I used to think

I was shrinking at night in my bed.

My body got so little that it became just a dot.

And that dot was going away

until it melted in the void.

I was afraid, but,

I always pushed the dot further but it never disappeared.

Why are you laughing?

It reminds me of my first boyfriend.

We never had an intimate talk.

One night, I told him a story that happened to me when I was little.

As soon as we turned off the lights,

I thought there was a corpse under my bed

with its eyes wide open.

So I didn't move,

otherwise, he would wake up,

and that would be terrible.

Something of an offense.

And he would take revenge.

It was my friend.

My boyfriend just answered, "Well,

that's pretty common."

For me, it was like giving

a wonderful present to one's mother and finding it the next day in a closet.

Tell me, why did you become a teacher?

I didn't want to.

But then I liked it.

I didn't want anything,

only to be a pirate.

What's the matter?

Was it the chocolate?

Yes, it was the chocolate.

How much?

I'll tell you.

Let's say 20 francs.

How much?

Okay, 10 then.

10 francs.

You take it then?

Hello, madam.

What would you like?

I've got a nice one here.

Do you like it?

It's a beautiful flower.

And it lasts long, too.

It's a strong plant. You want it?

Miss Cuers!

Hello, can I help you?

That's a strange plant.

Jean told me you were ill.

Oh, you skipped school!

I knew it! You skipped school!

I did that a lot.

Oh, a teacher that skips class,

I've never seen that before!

Let's celebrate! Come on, we'll have a drink.

That's something to celebrate!

So this is your restaurant?

-Jean didn't tell you? -No.

Two sausages for table number three!

Are you staying for dinner?

I've got some nice crayfish from Czechoslovakia.

Two Ricards, please!

Not today.

It's because of the plant.

But next time with Jean, sure.

A teacher skipping class...

That's amazing!

I thought only the student did,

I mean the bad ones,

like I was.

Something happened to me once as a child.

I wanted to skip school.

It was around two o'clock, I told my father,

"I'm going to my English class."

So I went to the park.

It was a place where I thought

I wouldn't run into anyone.

But 20 minutes later...

Twenty minutes later,

two large avenues,

with absolutely no one,

and then, boom!

I ran into my father on the spot.

I can still remember the look in his eyes.

I never get used to it...

Is this okay?

I hope I didn't break it.

It's on the floor anyway.

It wasn't on purpose.

I didn't see your bike.

It's a motorcycle.

I'm looking for Miss Cuers.

-Yes, that's me. -Very well.

My name is Mancheron, I am Jean's father.

PoorJean!

But I expected you on Tuesday.

I couldn't come.

And since I was in the neighborhood...

But, if you're busy...

No, it's all right.

Let's go to my classroom.

-You tell Anne. -Okay.

Follow me.

Volleyball is nice.

Yes. Jean likes sports, right?

Yes, unlike everything else.

Excuse me.

It hasn't changed.

What?

The smell.

Someone forgot his things.

Sit down.

I wanted to talk about Jean.

It's nothing serious, don't worry.

I'm not worried, but the disciplinary committee...

It will be fine.

He's witty and nice.

He's plain bad.

Oh, no.

I have bad ones, you know.

But lately, his attitude has become more... aggressive.

Maybe he has problems.

How is it going at home?

He's like everyone... TV, friends...

Does he have brothers and sisters?

No, he's an only child.

And your wife, does she work?

No, she died when he was ten.

But it's not a trauma for him.

I forgot my things.

Well, if you don't work, with all that...

What's he into?

Does he talk to you?

I don't know.

He likes bikes.

-Does he read? -Never.

He gets books on his birthdays,

but it drives him mad.

It's like an allergy.

I didn't like school, either.

In religion class, they threw me out.

We were talking about earthly paradise,

Adam and Eve, what a fun topic.

So they asked, "Does anybody have any questions?"

The fool I was, instead of keeping silent,

I asked, "Let's see...

He created the apple,

He created the desire to eat it.

He knew they would eat it, yet He put it there.

If I don't want somebody to eat something, I don't put it on the table!"

"Get out, Beelzebub!" they shouted.

I thought you were ill?

Lucie, it's nice you're here.

Come.

You want to drink something?

Water, maybe.

You were thirsty!

Mama says I drink too much.

What class did you have this morning?

I think I'm dumb.

What do you mean?

Just that.

-Hello.

You're busy?

A little, I have a student here.

I got a letter from Mom.

Wait for me at the cafe, I'll be there in half an hour.

It was my brother.

I just wanted to say that. Anyway, it's stupid.

Wait, Lucie, stay here.

I'm glad to see you.

Why do you think this?

I have bad grades, and there are other things.

Like what?

Everything.

I don't know,

I don't understand the explanations.

I can't do it...

I don't understand things.

Even the movies.

I don't say it, but often I don't understand.

You see it, in class.

Not being good in French doesn't mean anything.

But when we have to work in groups, it's unbearable.

Everybody's talking, and I don't know what to say.

It doesn't matter.

It's not about being smart.

It's hard to learn some things, but it has nothing to do with that.

The fact that you've come here proves you're smart.

Plenty of people were bad at school yet they succeed in life.

It's not just school.

Listen, Lucie.

Nobody is beautiful,

smart at school,

tender and strong altogether.

We all have something less and something more.

If I were a painter, I would like to paint your eyes.

They're as beautiful as the heart of the forest.

Cats are happy to play and birds to fly.

But a cat would be unhappy if it dreamt of flying.

I'll try to help you.

Together, we'll make it.

Being happy is what matters in life.

The rest doesn't matter.

Do you want to eat with my brother and me.

It's about Dad.

He's going back to the hospital

by the end of the month.

We have to pay part of it.

How much?

First, the laboratories...

I don't need the details. Just tell me how much.

Mom gets lost in this.

You didn't count it all?

Well, no.

She would like you to come by, you don't come these days.

I know you have little time.

I like your sweater.

How's your work?

It didn't work out.

We were exploited.

We were fed up.

So you're not working as usual?

I'm job searching.

There's nothing interesting,

or it's too far away.

I have to go now.

You want dessert?

Apple or lemon cake?

Apple.

One apple cake, please.

And a pack of Gitanes.

Here.

Thanks.

You're coming on Sunday?

I don't know.

I'm going to the theater tonight with a friend. Will you come with us?

Okay.

I'll pick you up at school?

No, no... We'll meet at the cinema.

Bye.

Bye.

I thought you weren't going to school?

-No, I'm not going. -Then why did you tell him...

I don't want to see him this afternoon.

He bores me.

I was afraid you'd screw up, but you were fantastic.

I don't get it.

It was you who proposed to write a script.

It was a great idea.

But there's nothing in your work.

Nothing.

Only cliches,

not a trace of imagination.

They killed our imagination.

They killed our imagination?

Did you hear that on TV? It's not coming from you?

-Yes, it's me. -Because school...

School...

Quite handy to blame school, isn't it?

Then you only have to wait and blame others.

At this rate, you'll be old by the age of 20.

The lights are coming back on

Ugly.

The film's over

I wake up the guy next to me

He's sleeping like a newborn

I get up out of my chair

I want to yawn

It was the last scene

It was the last screening

Hello?

No, he's not here.

Tomorrow. Bye.

The words "The End"

Can make you laugh or cry

But I know the fate

Of a small theater like this

It will end as a garage

Or a supermarket

There's no hope about it

It was the last screening

Now it's over

Farewell, the heroes I loved

The intermission's over

Farewell, forever and ever

To the ice creams also

If I could have chosen my father,

it would have been Gabin for sure.

Did you like it?

Yeah.

Wasn't it on TV?

Yes, I think so.

Okay, I have to go then.

I've got a meeting for a job tomorrow.

We walk you home?

No, I have my motorcycle.

Bye.

You should come have dinner at my place sometime.

Sure, next week?

Okay.

Your brother is nice.

Yeah.

It's hard to talk to him.

I have a date with Philippe tonight.

I don't think I love him anymore.

Already?

Stop it.

I think I want to fall in love so much,

that I often mistake making love for it.

DOTH you?

The worst is when the man you think you love kisses you

and you don't care anymore.

But suddenly, it comes back and you don't know why.

Is it love or desire?

I'm gonna give up everything.

-What is it? Pierre? -No.

School?

Yes.

You just feel sad.

What would you do? It's crazy.

Anything.

Write.

You can very well write a book

and have a job at the same time.

Come, let's meet Philippe together.

Come on, you look depressed.

I just had a great idea.

You'll sit next to us,

so you can hear everything.

Tell me what you think of him.

Okay?

Is it him?

Yes, shut up.

Am I late?

No, I just got here.

If we have just one hour, wear a skirt.

I need to feel your thighs.

-You want something? -You, you.

I want the same as you.

Since last night,

I can only think of your thighs.

So soft and nice around my neck.

-Listen, Philippe... -Wait. Let me finish.

Other women have a rough pussy.

Once I slept with a black woman.

But you.

It's so soft,

it's like silk, like the hair of a baby.

Did you just become crazy?

No.

I can't help it, I make bubbles.

Bye.

It's the first time he spoke to me in Spanish.

He must be a spy.

But he's cute, don't you think?

And so poetic.

I think I'll call him.

We weren't nice.

Pierre isn't here tonight?

No, you know that.

Do you want me to stay with you?

No, I'll go to sleep. Bye.

Laurence!

You won't give up?

We'll see.

It's snowing.

Who is it?

Social security control.

What time is it?

It's eight o'clock, madam. It's regulation.

Fuck!

You can leave the house from 10 to 16.

So, I come before or after.

It's logical.

It seemed strange to me.

Yeah, don't tell me...

Careful.

You were ready to punch the face of that poor controller!

You're really silly.

You're not going to school?

No.

You dress sexy when I'm not here.

Hello.

Now that I'm here, we have to take it off.

Leave me.

What a welcome.

I smell like gasoline.

They won't pour it for you,

so I always spill some on myself.

It's bullshit!

Right?

Well, I'll just make some coffee.

Still no sugar?

-I forgot to buy it. -She forgot...

Can you spare a cigarette?

No, I quit.

Tell me, Captain,

do you know the story of the pregnant woman

who wonders if the child's really hers?

-No. -No?

So?

Well since she's a woman, it has to be hers, no?

Everything all right in there?

Everything in order?

Stolen from a bistro.

Sorry, but I got just one.

At least the radio is talking a bit.

These days, kids don't resemble their parents,

they resemble the times.

Jean isn't a Mancheron, he's an "80's."

The uniform, like the house.

One doesn't live in a house with a door like this,

a garden like that, a green balcony.

One lives in a "F3."

Funny, we always want our children

to be exceptional.

Not necessarily the president,

that would rather displease me,

but different,

with a little something,

a special spark.

I used to write fairy tales.

I would have preferred a girl.

I could have read tales to her.

I'm sure a little girl would've liked them.

Did you like them?

Yes, but no one read them to me.

Boys are rude.

I know it doesn't show, but,

I do like finesse.

If I had had a teacher like you, I'd have paid attention in class.

Or perhaps, no, I'd have been dreaming,

but quietly.

I wasn't a quiet student at all.

The teachers, back then,

were often bastards.

What punishments they were able to imagine!

Humiliating the children like sadists.

I still have dreams where I spit at their face.

I hated school so much

that I never walked Jean there.

The other day, that was the first time I ever went there since.

Does Jean know that you wanted a girl?

He knows that I prefer girls over boys.

But not that I wanted one.

It's hard to be a kid, too.

You have to please your parents.

I know it's not easy.

One blunder after the other.

I don't feel him anymore,

it's risky, because,

when two people start growing apart,

it goes fast, the distance.

Very fast.

You know, teachers who don't give a fuck about their students,

who don't get involved in their work,

they never miss a class.

They're always there.

They've been boring everyone for 30 years,

if there's a strike, they don't take part.

Perhaps, but I don't picture myself going to my boss and saying,

"Mr. Schmurz, I need three weeks holidays, I can't take it anymore."

It's true that I build houses, not kids.

By the way, there's still

no sugar in my coffee.

Do you know the story of the guy who drinks his coffee without sugar

and tells a girl who's naked in the bath,

"You're great at making love."

And she answers, "I know"?

So that guy, he stares at his cup of coffee,

and drinks it up,

since he has nothing to say, the dumb ass.

Do you know that story?

Gotta make some effort with the stories.

I'll be going then.

I don't like when you lock yourself up in the bathroom like this.

Some people drown in their bathtub.

Seriously.

It's all right, Pierre, it's fine.

Okay, bye, then.

The kitchen, the living room,

and the TV.

But we put the kitchen close to the living room.

So it's more handy for the one cooking.

So it comes in handy for you.

I don't cook.

That's me.

Okay, well, we can go see the kitchen now.

Normally, the kitchen is larger than this.

But there's a cellar in this one,

so it's smaller in size than usual.

Hello, ma'am.

I'll wait for you outside.

I'll just sell the kitchen and I come.

Were you longing for me?

What would you say of a house like this

just for you and me?

With walls so thin, I could hear your heart beating from the next room?

Why do you sell them, then?

I thought professional conscience was only for intellectuals.

The sad thing is that stupid jobs make more money.

Did I say your job was stupid?

No, you never talk about it, that's worse.

Because I only talk about my job.

Women are all the same, you know,

talkative, egocentric,

and very, very mean.

Yes.

I want to take a walk in the park.

They say that in America, even grown-ups go rollerskating.

It must be fun.

Laurence.

Come here.

Don't quit your job.

You won't hold up without the kids.

Hey, you need a ride?

Can I?

I'm going to Bellecourt.

I'm going to Cordeliers.

You don't mind?

-Excuse me. -It's okay.

I thought you didn't work on Tuesdays?

I changed the day because of the kids, and I replace Charlie on Monday evening.

Was Ardèche nice?

Fantastic!

The kids loved it.

Same for us. Playings cards, drinking beer.

A bit foggy, but the weather was perfect.

The only problem was we were invaded by Dutch people.

And you?

I'm doing fine.

Annie went to see her mother, she has problems with rats.

How annoying!

But it'll get better.

Madam, did you read my work?

No, I told you already.

The one time I finished it...

It was not bad,

I had a couple of ideas.

-My father liked it too. -I'll look into it.

You want one?

No thanks.

It's for my parents,

since I never get a good grade.

As for me, I don't care.

Madam!

I thought you were sick?

You're coming to the class?

No, I'm going to the doctor.

But I'll be there next week.

-You all right? -Yes.

So you're here?

Since when?

-You're early. -Yes.

I want to make love.

I want to make love.

If you saw the people working at my father's office...

One of them, in his forties,

goes to the bathroom to read the paper.

He doesn't dare to read it in front of his boss.

They're all scared like that.

They're scared.

Where did you buy those eggs?

Why don't you just let me do it?

I do it because I'm so nice.

If they weren't scared, they'd be talking bullshit anyway.

I'd rather have that.

If you're allowed to express yourself from childhood on,

one day, you'll say something beautiful,

even if it's just once.

We used to put them in jail.

Today, we despise them for not talking.

It's like sex doctors.

They once used to tell you what you shouldn't do.

Now they tell you what you should do,

where, when and how.

You like that better?

I dunno.

It must be ready now, no?

Just a bit more.

Didn't you put that on inside out?

Still, doubting can be good.

I dislike people who think they know everything.

You people read more books than anyone and yet you know nothing.

-Is that the idea? -Don't get upset.

I'm not upset.

I've just had it with intellectuals claiming

"fuck culture" just like when rich people despise money.

Let them give it to others first, then we'll see.

If they want to burn the books, let them read them first.

Doubt is a privilege.

Children need the sure things first.

If you don't give that to them, they'll just end up being lost.

A whole generation of bums,

that's a bit much.

It's not working with these eggs,

I've had it!

These eggs!

I work myself out,

but it won't do if you buy eggs like these.

The education is more democratic now,

it fits the capacities of the children,

doing away with any kind of selection.

With all those help crasses for instance.

Sorry, I meant help classes,

to help the ones lagging behind.

She's stupid!

Stupid!

What a surprise!

But what time is it?

I always eat beforehand.

You want some?

I've eaten already.

Come on, just have a little.

I'm making myself something delicious, you can have a glass of wine,

and try this too.

You can't refuse it, it's all homemade.

Here's a little salad with some eggs.

You're going away?

I'm seeing my parents in Beaujolais.

Jean's mother was from there.

Don't hesitate.

-Are you enjoying your holidays? -Yes.

In front of my house, there's an old lady living alone.

Just in front.

I never saw her before.

Can we eat?

We're full.

-Looks empty to me. -It looks like it but it's not.

It's nice of you to come with me.

I must grab something at Saint-Jean.

It's on the way.

And there's no one before five.

It's here!

Number 35.

For 15 years, Mancheron was happy there.

We had a pub at Saint-Paul.

Then I sold it and we moved away.

I said it was because of Jean, but it wasn't true.

It's funny.

You love some people so much that you're afraid of remembering them.

It hurts too much.

My wife was too nice.

I think she even married me just to be nice.

It's good you're going to Saint-Paul.

We couldn't have gone to Perrache.

I tried going there the other day.

I didn't understand, with all those crossroads, one-ways,

and whatever else,

but I ended up on the highway to Valence.

I take off again, and then,

I find myself in the Fourvires tunnel.

Rousseau, come here!

Livie!

You come with me.

Rousseau!

Sorry, I didn't see you.

Here.

I heard she had a rough time?

Perhaps she should just change her job.

You'll do it again?

Will you?

Hi, Mom.

What, you got even thinner?

I don't know.

-Give it to me. -It's all right.

It's still changing, what are they building there?

One day, I won't be able to recognize anything.

Countries change faster than people.

How's Dad?

Same as always.

He'll be happy to see you.

So they gave you a week holiday?

You're lucky to have a job where you can do that.

Put your bag here.

I'll bring it in your room.

I'll do it later, Mom.

You want to wash your hands?

Public transports are dirty.

You can change clothes too.

I don't like seeing you in jeans.

I'll say hello to Dad first.

Hi, Dad.

You see?

Laurence came to see us

as I told you.

You look well.

Do you want more water?

Do you know who I ran into?

Marcel's daughter, you know,

the girl who looked a bit dumb.

She works in a shop in Valence.

I'm glad to see you.

I believe that's all.

They still ask the birth dates of your children.

Even though they've known it for 20 years already.

I hope you checked it all well?

'Cause last time...

Last time, I forgot to have you sign one paper.

That's why they sent it all here again.

It's not my fault if they're stupid.

-You want some help? -No, it's all right.

You bring him up his tea, he'll be happy.

He was so glad to see you.

Yeah.

They gave him pills so he's not in pain.

Of course,

he doesn't talk much,

but he was never very talkative.

Does he read?

Yeah, the news of the country.

He listens to the radio.

I'll taste it.

I don't use much salt, it's no good for him.

It's nice like this.

Everything was very expensive.

The hospital, the doctors...

I know, Mom, I saw.

Let me do it.

No, it's dirty if it stays here.

You can't rest for a minute.

Here.

Don't let it get cold.

Drink your tea.

I'll get someone to repair it.

That would be better.

I'll leave you with Laurence.

Soon,

she'll start feeding me.

I used to be so skilled with my hands.

So skilled.

-You don't like it, do you? -No.

But we love each other.

That's what matters.

Do you know what joke my students did to me last year?

They exchanged rooms.

I came in the morning and found the students I had the year before.

They were all ready to work, no one laughed.

I wondered if I was getting crazy.

Then one of them raised his hand and asked,

"Shall we continue with Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme?"

I felt so stupid,

I didn't know what to do.

I told them it was very funny but they had to go back to their class.

Saying that, I realized that they all expected me

to play the game with them.

But I didn't know how.

I couldn't.

I watched them leaving the room.

I'm sure they hold it against me.

Take it.

It's some jelly, I know you like it.

Thanks.

You said you were staying for three days.

I've got a lot of work to do.

Before you go, we could pay a visit to Marie Therese?

-She'd be pleased. -But we won't have the time.

She used to be your best friend.

She always wants to hear from you.

I'd rather be with you, Mom.

Bye, Dad.

I know so much,

so much.

Will you marry Pierre?

I don't know.

I would've been fine with Eric!

You told me already. He was perfect.

He had everything, a good education, a good job...

But I wasn't happy.

I don't understand you, Laurence.

You're 31, without children.

It's about time,

don't wait until you're too old.

Do you really want a child?

I don't know now.

I want to, but I'm scared.

-But a little girl... -Boys are good too.

Yes, they are.

Dutch people came the other day to visit the house.

You should sell it, and find a place under the sun.

We have the sun here too.

Nothing is softer than your softness.

I dreamt that I was the postman bringing happiness to everyone.

I dreamt that my parents reconciled

at the gala where I danced.

She's afraid of the breakout of war because of the children she'll have.

She's afraid to die young of illness.

She's afraid to sleep in the dark.

She's afraid of shots and hospitals.

He's afraid to go back to sleep

and find his nightmare waiting for him.

It's Laurence Cuers, is Pierre there?

Tomorrow evening?

Yes, I came back earlier.

All right then.

Can you tell him to call me?

Thanks.

Laurence.

I've had enough.

I want to have a child with you.

A child is something real, is that what you're afraid of?

When one's really in love, one wants a child.

I don't know.

What don't you know?

If you love me enough?

You always exaggerate.

It's not just to keep you.

Even if you went away,

having a child with you,

I'd feel like I've done something meaningful in my life.

Help me.

Help me, damn it!

I want to have a child with you.

A child is something real, is that what you're afraid of?

When one's really in love, one wants a child.

I thought I was normal

Quite content with myself

Not too good nor too bad

But in fact, I'm banal

Not far from being a zero

I'm just a number

I've got a postal code

Just a number

Another for social security

And for the taxes

Now I've got a trial

They think I'm handsome

I'm just a number

That's why I like to go out at night

Get drunk to prove myself I'm alive

Find love without even asking her name

To run and lie without reason

The only way for me to save myself

To breathe and find a reason to live

Create myself a world without numbers

I dream of myself making the show

But at dawn, I'm just a number

Okay.

Good.

Good evening.

Good evening.

I'd like to eat here.

I'm alone this evening and...

I want to make the best out of it.

But I don't serve dinner in the evening.

But you can still stay here, though it'll be upstairs then.

The water's boiling already.

A little Montrachet?

It's healthy and natural.

Sir!

One Beaujolais, please.

Excuse me.

One bottle, please.

It would be even better if it came with a pretty girl.

That's a rare thing these days.

Good.

I just got a call from a cousin,

when I came in.

He told me they had no room left, in the family grave!

They have to make room for the new ones.

He asked me if he could put Uncle Victor next to Aunt Adele.

Since they're dead for 25 years, I guess they don't really care.

Then he got very serious

and told me, "We don't want to make a blunder."

That's what he said.

"Because Uncle Victor and Aunt Adele

didn't talk to each other."

"They hated each other, and never talked at all."

So I told him, "As they are now,

I doubt they'll get into a fight."

He was horrified.

Is that bottle coming?

Just a minute.

It's here.

This way.

It smells good!

I made a "gratin dauphinois."

Jean isn't here?

I told him to go see his friend.

I'm only waiting for Michel Descombes.

Can I come in?

He's here.

-Hello.

It smells like gratin dauphinois, it's gonna be good.

Laurence Cuers, Jean's teacher.

Michel Descombes.

So it is you who is trying

to make Jean clever?

That mustn't be easy.

And he's surely not the only one!

They say that ignorance is progressing these days.

Bernard just changed his job.

He works in the library now.

That's better.

It's my son.

He's incarcerated at Saint-Paul.

It's been five years.

What used to be his work?

Knitting work.

Knitting for five years for five francs a day

can be tiring.

Is he still holding up?

Yes.

It depends.

The hardest thing is to hear the trains.

He can't get used to it.

Especially during the holidays.

What were they thinking, putting a prison next to a train station!

Are we drinking something or what?

Sure, just sit down.

They described me as a "totally stubborn student."

Harsh, isn't it? "Totally stubborn student."

In short, I was hopeless!

And you?

It was more subtle.

Less overwhelming.

My math teacher wrote,

"I don't see the use of having this student in my class."

It's not bad either.

He is something special though.

He hated school so much,

he didn't only skip class or just make noise,

he actually learned fake lessons to trick his father.

Right, sir?

Yes, I learned those of the year before.

My father didn't understand anything,

"You know it by heart yet you get a zero!"

-Do you want another? -Was it rebellion?

No, that's saying too much.

I was just an awful student, that's all.

But you know,

life's awful when you're bad at school.

It's a nightmare, people have no idea.

You can't imagine the angst

of such a student.

You're scared to death of being questioned.

It's awful, it's true.

Now we're laughing, but it's truly terrible.

I remember a teacher,

he wasn't mean, but every morning,

with his lips like this,

"Recite!"

We were all shaking with fear,

who's it gonna be?

And, barn! He chooses you.

In the evening, your parents would scold you.

Above all, the worst was

the contempt in the teacher's eyes.

I had a history and geography teacher,

when he caught someone sleeping in his class,

he hit him with his ruler and said,

"I don't want a bum here!"

And that makes you laugh!

I find it funny that someone would end up like that after going to university.

Once we played an awful prank on him.

I paid a beggar to come to class and sing a song.

And he sang for two hours in the street.

He stopped once in a while. It fell silent.

And then suddenly, he would sing even louder. Awful!

Do they do such things to you?

No.

An obscene drawing on the board sometimes, but...

-Normal. -They talk in class,

but not to make a mess.

It's because of the TV, they can't concentrate.

Yeah, the TV, the TV...

This is something special.

Sounds great.

Just a drop.

There's a cinema in front of the jail

and a pub a bit further.

Every time I go see my son,

I want to go into that pub.

That's not just a drop!

I want to go in there to talk to the bartender.

Because I say to myself,

when someone is freed,

with no one to expect him,

who finds himself alone,

he'd surely go into this pub.

So I would like to know how it goes.

How does he behave,

how does he talk,

and behave with the guy next to him at the counter.

Perhaps he'll take his gun and rob the cashier.

Stupid!

Even today, I walked passed that pub.

But I didn't dare come in.

Strange.

You could tell him, "My son gets out in 10 years,

make sure the coffee's good that day!"

You go first, I'll throw this away.

My car's here.

Just where it's forbidden.

Don't look inside, it's such a mess.

It's because of Sylvie,

Bernard's daughter.

She'll be five soon,

just when her mother leaves jail.

-Isn't that nice? -Yes, it is.

I heard you're not doing too well?

Mancheron told me.

Are they hard on you?

Yes.

No...

I don't know.

For the last three years, it seems they are just fed up.

Perhaps it's because of me.

Perhaps it's not you,

nor them,

but everything else.

Since my son went to jail,

I wonder about his daughter.

And you know...

you have to avoid

staying still.

It gets rusty fast in there.

My car is further away,

where it's allowed.

-Bye, Laurence. -Goodbye.

Bye, Lucien. Thanks.

The hardest part is to listen,

but the kids don't know that yet.

Bye, Lucien.

Give my greetings to Jean. Thanks.

I want to kiss you, can I?

I knew I shouldn't have.

I knew it, damn it.

I'm so stupid!

Better to jump in the Rh6ne river than kiss me, right?

No, that's silly.

I even make her laugh.

Damn it, shit!

Just go home.

At least I've got the TV!

Hello, Captain.

You're back sooner than expected.

I came back this evening.

Your parents are doing well?

That's a nice picture.

Put it more to the left.

Any coffee left?

I don't know.

Tell me, did you take my black pencil?

No.

I've lost it then.

Great.

If the idea was to break it, then it's a success.

There's no coffee.

And the day after tomorrow, school.

It doesn't really show yet.

But with a little red curtain,

it would start to look nice.

And of course, that should be the prettiest red curtain.

I was thinking about something.

I should paint a naked woman in bricks

with very large, inexpressive eyes, standing up,

her arms in the air.

I'd paint an open door on her belly

with a key on it,

and behind the door, there'd be a newborn baby.

I've got plenty of such ideas.

I slept with a guy.

You don't believe me?

Well, no, not really.

Of course.

What's going on now?

You told me I wouldn't make it without the kids.

It's awful to say such a thing.

What do you know?

You're all being funny, you, Anne.

You're so scared that I'd give up.

"Such a beautiful job!"

You don't like the idea.

It's like when beautiful lovers part ways.

No one's thinking, "perhaps she's right."

No one!

Of course.

Laurence is having a bad time,

we must take care of her,

it will get better.

I've got no right to go elsewhere.

I can have dreams but not live them.

You've got no imagination for me.

But you're right

since I'm going back.

Listen, I didn't force you.

Never mind, forget it.

I'll go take a walk.

-For long? -I don't know.

You're here?

Yes, I wanted to apologize

for the other night.

You could've gone upstairs.

I didn't want to be a bother.

I know how you feel.

So I thought,

she mustn't give up.

They need you.

It's not just Jean,

but the others too.

They need a teacher like you.

I guess they only find me less ugly than the others.

I'm helpless.

No, that's not true.

It's hard to say.

You see, the other day,

someone said on TV,

"you must do everything to make life less heavy."

He said that?

That's a very generous grade.

"You must learn liberty."

I'd have given that an F.

Just leave it.

4000 francs per month for all this.

But as we said the other day, there are the holidays.

Without them, there would be 60% less teachers.

You should hurry up,

they won't wait for us all day.

You had eight days to do all that.

I know, I know.

"I know, I know." She knows everything.

Even heroes have to do it

I can smell that sandwich.

Johnny Walker, Chivas Brothers,

Drink them dry

What's going on?

Fuck!

What are you doing?

It's stuck.

How did it get stuck?

I threw their homework in it.

I threw it in and it got stuck.

I see.

You still haven't bought a screwdriver?

We have this.

No, you got it wrong.

It ain't a screwdriver.

I'll leave it to you.

Here we are.

I'll get home soon to wait for you.

Bye.

Another.

Another still.

How do you do?

-Hello, madam. -Hello.

How is Philippe?

Still talking Spanish?

Still.

Are you better, madam? It wasn't serious?

You don't look good.

Your parents are still letting you watch TV all Sunday?

Paul,

you seem to have something interesting to say,

why don't you tell it to all of us?

Come on, Paul!

Come here.

No? Good.

Before talking about your homework...

which is, in fact, not really great...

Has anyone watched

"Golden Helmet" on TV?

It's the third time they broadcast it.

So, what did you think?

I thought it was awesome.

Not bad.

When she sees him committing murder, I cried.

Did you cry much?

You shouldn't make fun of her,

it made me cry too.

All right.

Your homework now.

The grades were abysmal so I decided not to return them to you.

But, madam...

Silence.

Take out your books.

Take out your books.

I believe that Moliere is pretty much always the same story.

There's always something with money and a wedding in the end.

I think Moliere must've liked money a lot,

but he didn't have much.

That's why he made small books dealing with money.

It's always about money.

It's not always about money!

Well, I think so, there's always something about it,

even if only a little.

And the audience of his plays is mainly poor people.

Let him make his point.

Then you can talk.

It attracts them to know

that the rich will be made fun of.

If the poor were made fun of, it would attract fewer people

because they were the majority.

Quite the contrary.

Moliere entertained the nobles.

Some of the wealthy

weren't pleased with that and wanted to put him in jail

because of his satires.

I think all this about money

is related to his times, cause it was very important then.

I think that Moliere didn't agree

with the discrimination made between the poor and the rich.

There was a big difference between them.

The poor could die of hunger,

no one would care.

When a rich man died though, a big fuss was made.

Women were deemed inferior.

It was up to the men to decide things.

Women only obeyed.

And Lucie?

You've got nothing to say, Lucie?

Do you like "The Miser"?

So you blend the gasoline with oil like this,

three quarts to one, as shown on the board.

Here you have the air filter, it filters the air.

You don't say!

So the gasoline comes in from the left, and there, the air comes in?

Yes, it blends together here.

So it's air and gasoline blended together?

This thing here opens this valve.

When it's open, air enters this compartment.

The valve is closed again afterward.

So when I push the accelerator, there's a call for gasoline.

You're not doing it right!

It must be funny to see you drive.

They were so full of energy.

It was amazing!

"One half of my heart is here, doctor,

but the other is in China,

with the army marching towards the yellow river.

Every morning, doctor,

at dawn,

my heart is shot in Greece.

And when prisoners fall asleep,

when you hear footsteps leaving the infirmary,

my heart goes away, doctor.

In an old wooden house

in Istanbul.

It's been ten years, doctor,

that I've got nothing to give to my people.

Only an apple.

A red apple, my heart.

It's because of all this, doctor,

not the arteriosclerosis,

nor nicotine, nor jail,

that it hurts in my chest.

I watch the night through the window,

and despite the walls

that oppress my heart,

it still beats with the furthest star."

-Can you change the channel? -No way.

I want to see something.

I bet they're all watching this.

-Who? Your students? -Yes.

You're not gonna watch this American trash

just because your students do?

Just say that you don't like opera.

Stop, that's not true.

Just tell me that you don't like it.

Stop it.

Come on, say it!

-Leave me! -Say it, say it, say it!

You piss me off.

I piss you off?

What the fuck!

Shit!

If the idea was to break a cup,

then it's a success.

You're not the same anymore. You used to be always happy.

What's going on?

It was my first day of work.

School, school, always school.

What about me?

Yeah, I know.

I wanted to buy you a dress.

What kind of dress?

Green.

With large squares.

And long sleeves.

You may not have liked it after all.

Then I decided to start smoking again.

Can you spare a cigarette?

Laurence, when you go back to school in September, I won't be there.

I've decided to give up everything.

It's a bit because of you and your doubts that I got scared.

Suddenly, I couldn't bear the crowded classroom,

the brutal program changes, the ongoing governmental reforms,

transforming teachers into experimenters

and the students as test subjects.

I've got no strength left to charm 120 children.

Perhaps I never had it.

I only see people giving up around me.

I hope I'm not like them.

I hope that leaving school isn't seen as desertion.

What are you going to do?

I've got a job at FR3.

I got it thanks to my father.

You're preparing yourself for the coming year?

Yes.

I'm scared too.

For three weeks already.

In eight days, I'll be sick, perhaps I'll throw up.

They, too, are scared.

Less than us.

I don't know.

I've forgotten.

And still, you go on.

When I went to see my parents, my father surprised me.

His gestures were so slow, so slow.

And I thought, "That's being old

for him, being clumsy,

slower, being in pain

when he bows."

For us, it'll be the incapacity to listen.

In my hometown, women become old at 40.

Not physically.

It's just that one day...

they sit down,

in the afternoon,

they look at a tree, a small one,

and they bury their youth

just like that,

without rebellion.

It's true, I'm attached to the children.

They laugh, they are violent,

and they often hurt,

but they help me to live.

I'm used to it now.

I can't live without them.

And I don't want to.

You know, in a world of adults, and adults only, I'd be afraid.

I need to be surprised.

And the children...

I adore them.

What happened to the old woman you watched from your window?

I don't know.

She disappeared one night.

Maybe she moved out.

I never saw anyone visit her.

I never knew her name.

She's afraid to die young of illness.

She's afraid to sleep in the dark.

He's afraid of shots and hospitals.

He's afraid to go back to sleep and find his nightmare

waiting for him in the night.

There's nothing more troublesome than being timid.

I'd like to know what people really think of me.

She's afraid of the breakout of war because of the children she'll have.

She's afraid of being scared during a horror film.

She's afraid of Waking up as a dead person.

I dreamt I was a typewriter that didn't make any faults.

I dreamt that my parents reconciled

at the gala where I danced.

For this film shot in Lyon, we thank Francisque Collomb, Deputy Mayor,

the authority and all people living in Lyon.