All language subtitles for Merci patron. (2016)

François Ruffin, editor of "Fakir"

So, this is my new bathroom.

I couldn't decide between a tub
and a shower, so I got a shower-tub.

These twin basins let the children
brush their teeth side by side.

I bought it on a classified ads website

up north near Lille.
And this is

the LVMH clothes airer,
the Bernard Arnault clothes airer.

It's my LVMH share

which paid for it.
I consider it a gift from LVMH.

When I bought the share in 2007,
it was worth 70 euros.

It's now worth 133.50 euros.

So, that's the profit
plus the accumulated dividends

of 1 to 1.50 euros a year.

It's got to the price
of a clothes airer.

When I hang my clothes up,
I'll think of BernardArnault.

Thanks to him, I dry my clothes.
I just have to put it up now.

It can go up there.

Bernard Arnault, CEOof LVMH,
one of France's biggest fortunes,

is becoming a Belgian citizen.

Libération's headline:
"Clear off, rich asshole!"

Enough! Those people are parasites.

All he wants to do is
dismantle and break up his companies.

I think he should have thought

about what it means
to apply for another nationality.

THANKS, BOSS!

When cigars change mouths
When the stars change hands

When the soup changes ladles
Who'll be in Who's Who?

When opera hats change heads
When rings change fingers

When the lobster changes forks
Workers will be kings

You better not neglect us
'Cause we'll be in charge

Even if I become a Rockefeller

I'll still be a worker's son

A low-paid wage slave...

LVMH TURNOVER
X 20 IN 30 YEARS

When our hearts change sides
When secretaries change knees

When sofas change backsides
Who'll change their tune?

When Rolls-Royces change owners
When Maxim's change customers

When tuxedos change suitcases
Well, then, gentlemen

You better not neglect us
'Cause we'll be in charge

ACT 1
THE MISSION

What I'd like to do,
through BernardArnault,

is to reconcile
lower and upper class French.

I wondered

where to start
this mission of reconciliation.

We have to go
where the scandal started

and the man
who started the slander.

It's this building in Brussels

that houses all of BernardArnault's
financial companies.

So, you're proud to have here
the financial center

of the world's leading group
of luxury goods.

Hello.

We'd like to go up to LVMH, please.

We can't? Can you ask?

Well, I'm with a Belgian tax inspector

who's convinced that Mr. Bernard Arnault
based his foundation in Belgium

just so that his children can be given

his estate without paying tax on it.
But I think it's ill-intentioned

to think that.
So, I want to establish a dialogue

between this tax inspector
and the heads of LVMH

so you can make him see reason.

Mr. Marco Van Hees.
Remember his name, because...

Van Hees.

She hung up.

There's another way
to restore the dialogue.

- Will you become a shareholder?
- Sure, why not?

If you become a shareholder of LVMH,

you could talk directly
to Mr. BernardArnault.

I'd like that.

In 2007,

I helped to restore dialogue
between Bernard Arnault and his staff.

At the time, the suits for Kenzo,
an LVMH brand,

were made at Poix-du-Nord.

But it was relocated to Poland
where it's cheaper.

But the French workers weren't happy.

It's scandalous.
UNION REP, ECCE

We're discarded like used tissues.

I met the union rep.

I advised her to buy an LVMH share,

to go to Paris,
and to speak at the AGM.

Are small shareholders prepared
to lose some money

so that 147 employees
can keep going?

We're disturbing you
with 147 unemployed outside.

Mr. Bernard Arnault, we'll meet again.

The CEO kindly put
some more money in the pot

and he saved a few jobs locally.

So, I helped to restore dialogue.

On the way home,
I stopped at Flixecourt.

It's a former mining town
with abandoned textile factories.

There was weaving there.

There was an entrance for us knitters.
UNION REP

There was a room for union reps
and a meeting room.

On December 17, 1984,
Sister Catherine was lucky enough

to meet Bernard Arnault.

She's never forgotten it.

He's a predator.

The few times we met him,
he looked down on us.

We were worthless in his eyes.

Boussac Saint Frères

was once an empire:
tens of factories, thousands of staff,

great brand names...
but it was in decline.

Luckily, a savior came

with a promise to keep the jobs.

This plan
which involves a limited program

of selling non-strategic departments

can in no way be called
a dismantling of the company

as the sale represents
less than 20% of the business.

Bernard Arnault promised
to keep 12,200 staff out of 15,000.

Bernard Arnault didn't save a thing.
Not a thing.

He took over the group
to get Christian Dior.

He didn't care about us.

What's left of him here?

Nothing. Nothing whatsoever!

- He told you that he'd...
- No.

30 years later,
don't you think he's a great man?

No!

- Because...
- No.

- But...
- No.

Do you have proof of all this?

You're making accusations
about Bernard Arnault.

But...

I'm not. It's the reality.

Do you have any proof?

The proof is all around you. Look.

Isn't that proof, dammit?

You're getting me worked up.

You have axed 8,000 jobs.

How did you do that

without creating huge problems?

The social partners of this company,

and it's why we were able
to make it profitable,

truly understood,

and that's a big change
since the start of the decade...

They understood that a company
had to make money.

The Gospel says
you cannot serve both God and money.

So, you serve
either your brothers or money.

I chose which side I'm on.
Or rather, I try.

Catherine was stuck in the past.

Her yellowed tracts
accused the CEO of selling off

Boussac Saint Frères
and destroyed everything

except Dior.

He founded his luxury empire
on this original sin.

- Maybe he lied a bit...
- Alot.

- But he didn't hurt anyone.
- Alot.

If you don't hurt people
by making them destitute

and pushing them to suicide,
then I agree with you.

You're accusing Bernard Arnault
of making people destitute and suicidal.

Of course. When everything was sold,

I remember saying to my boss:
"If you want more suicides,

throw people out."

One of the Pruvost twins
committed suicide.

I said: "If you want the second to
commit suicide, keep throwing them out."

I think what's missing in all this
is dialogue.

You haven't had the opportunity to talk
to Bernard Arnault in the past 30 years.

You met him once in an office,

but if you could really talk to him,

I think it'd smooth things over
between the two of you.

I have to ask if he realizes
he's made people destitute.

It must happen a lot
at Flixecourt Post Office

that people come to buy LVMH shares.

I continued my journey to Paris.

Bernard Arnault
was modernizing the capital

despite some resistance.

I trained as a hairdresser.

I expected to work in perfumery.
UNION REP

I was told that as a hairdresser,
I'd work in gardening!

I sold spades and hosepipes.

Lots of customers came
from the suburbs to buy them.

And like my colleague,
I stayed till it closed.

So, when BernardArnault came along,
you thought:

"A real businessman, at last."
- No!

Know what he said?

"I don't want a do-it-yourself section."
UNION REP

All he was interested in
was fashion.

Did they ask you

to work for Kenzo or Dior?

No way!

Would you have worked
as a designer for Dior?

If they'd retrained me!

We realized
we didn't have the right look!

The employees of La Samaritaine
realized when they came along

that we were surplus to requirements.
We didn't have the LVMH look.

Girls 6 feet tall

with slim waists and big busts
weren't found here.

Were these whiners
worthy of the challenge?

I went to the exhibition
next door to find out.

A 5-star hotel
with a view of the Seine.

The Jourdain and Rivoli building
will be a shopping mall.

Will there be supermarkets,
do-it-yourself and sports stores?

I understand
it will be a luxury mall.

- It's all this?
- Yes.

- The subsidized housing is this bit?
- Yes.

It's not excessive.
There is subsidized housing.

It's better to have
Qatari, American or Japanese tourists

that spend their money in the hotel

than people from the suburbs
who buy hosepipes.

Anything that wasn't luxurious

and chic was eliminated.

When we demonstrated outside,
UNION REP

we had a banner that said
"Reopen a store for the people

and keep our 1,500 jobs."
I remember the big banner we had.

To talk to Bernard Arnault,
there's the LVMH shareholders' meeting.

Do you want to become
LVMH shareholders?

Oh, sure!

We'll tell him exactly what we think!

While I was in Paris, I decided

to buy my wedding suit.

A white suit could be classy.

I had no wife,
but I could get the suit.

Wow, 525 euros for the jacket.

It's a bit long.

That's not a problem.
My mother used to do that.

- We see to that.
- Oh, OK.

Where are they made?

- In France.
- They're made in France?

- In Poix-du-Nord.
- Pardon?

Poix-du-Nord.

- It's a textile company.
- I see.

They have factories there.

I see. So, it's all made in France?

So, it came from Poix-du-Nord.

Marie-Hélène had lied to me.
I suddenly had my doubts.

My group is French.
We do globalization

backwards.
It's made in France.

You don't go abroad?

Louis Vuitton
will never relocate abroad.

I had to be sure. So, I went

to Kenzo's offices on an open day.

A question:

Where is it made?

It depends. There are companies
in Madagascar, China, Taiwan...

It depends on the products.

Madagascar, China, Taiwan
or France? It was a bit vague.

This report cleared up my doubts.

The suits have gone further away.
Poland was too expensive.

This is the biggest textile factory
in Bulgaria and in Europe

with 3,000 workers.

That's Kenzo.

Each item

sold for over 1,000 euros
in the stores,

the labor costs represent 30 euros.

And the boss is always looking for

cheaper solutions.

Maybe in a year or two,
we'll partly relocate to Greece.

Because nobody knows
what will happen here.

I think labor costs
will continue to rise.

So, we'll be short of affordable labor
in 3 years' time.

There's lots of
unemployed people in Greece.

So, we'll try to strike
the right balance.

And find what works for us.

I felt reassured at last.

LVMH spread prosperity
all around Europe.

I still had to find
a happy employee

who would go
to the shareholders' meeting

and thank Bernard Arnault
for being laid off.

I found a job in an ambulance firm.

For better pay?

Yes.
UNION REP, ECCE

- Do you like it?
- Alot.

Please put on this T-shirt
as a sign of your gratitude

to Bernard Arnault
and say"Thank you, Bernard",

because if you have a better job now
for more pay,

taking peoples
to state-financed hospitals,

it's thanks to BernardArnault.

Not thanks to him.

What if he hadn't laid you off?

I'd still be in the factory.

You'd still be doing the same work.

I wanted to stay there.
I liked my work

even if we were exploited
and didn't earn a fortune.

We liked what we did.
But we had no choice.

You blame him?

You bet I blame him.
He laid off so many women,

but he doesn't care.

He's cleared off to Belgium
just to pay less tax.

What about his employees
who have nothing now?

They're no longer entitled to benefit.

I know people
who are losing their homes,

because they have no work
to pay the mortgage.

He doesn't care.

No! Bernard Arnault

did care.
These families in distress

needed an ambassador for
a perilous mission of reconciliation.

Serge and Jocelyne live here.

The Klurs.

We're pawns.

Yeah, we're just pawns.

We were paid for our work.
LAID OFF FROM ECCE

Now we're ancient history to him.

- Have you looked for work?
- Oh, yes!

We can show you our debts.

"We regret to inform you
we cannot offer you

a job in our municipality.

However, we will keep
your letter on file."

So, there's hope?

- We hope so.
- We can but hope.

You've sent letters like that
every week for 4 years?

I drive around when I can,
when I have gas in the tank.

Sometimes I don't.

Why? There's always gas at the pump.

- But I have no money.
- You need money for gas.

Sometimes I only have
5 or 10 euros for gas,

so I can't get far.

We don't heat.
We have no money for heating oil.

- We live in one room.
- Right.

- How do you live on 3 euros a day?
- We don't eat.

- Pardon?
- We don't eat.

At Christmas, we had
bread and cream cheese.

It's a good way to diet!

It doesn't bother me.

Poverty's good for the figure!

- As long as you're not sick.
- I've had enough.

As long as you don't have
a breakdown.

We could've had
a nervous breakdown.

But there's no point getting angry
and shouting at each other.

He shouts, 'cause we have problems.
But it's not my fault

if we're out of work.

They don't eat a sandwich
at Christmas,

those folks who talk on TV.

- The fat cats.
- Yeah, those capitalists.

I call them capitalists,

'cause they wouldn't last a month
in a warehouse.

They couldn't get by
on 1,500 euros a month.

How can I live on 400 euros a month?

If you earn 1,500 a month,
you're a capitalist?

A capitalist earns
3,000 euros a month.

Times are hard for everyone,

because Bernard Arnault
isn't going to upgrade his yacht.

He could wash his yacht!

Doesn't he need any personnel?
JOCELYNE & SERGE'S SON

- Pardon?
- Doesn't he need any more personnel?

- Where?
- In his house.

In his house. He must have
a country house or something.

Errands to run, grass to cut,
I can do anything.

- Gardening.
- Doesn't he have horses?

I can brush the horses.

- Doesn't he have sheep?
- He must have outbuildings.

A house in St Tropez.

A hotel in Courchevel.
Can you ski?

No, I've never been to the seaside
and I've never been skiing.

I've never seen the sea.

- He promised...
- Well, no.

I've always worked. Always.
Never been away on vacation.

We said we'd go to the Somme,
but we didn't.

The Somme?
That's what I call a vacation!

It's a day out.
It would make a change.

- You don't want to become shareholders?
- No.

We'll give Bernard Arnault the tape.

- Stand up.
- Whatever.

I'd rather sit.

Now look at the camera.

Mr. Klur...
We're at the general meeting

of LVMH. There's been an increase
of 1.10 euros in this year's dividends.

What do you have to declare
to BernardArnault?

Well, Mr. Bernard,
when you shut down the factory,

we were both laid off.
We don't have much to live on:

400 euros a month.

What I'm asking is,
if you have any work for me,

you can contact me here.

I could clean your yacht,
brush your horses,

cut your grass, anything.
I'd work for you

to have a salary.

I'm only asking for 1,500 euros a month

to solve my problems,
pay my bills and all...

before our house is sold.

That's what I ask you.

That's it.

We'll be your spokespeople.

ACT 2
THE GENERAL MEETING

Fakir: A reader more
is a shareholder less

Me and my Fakir pals
prepared for the meeting.

We got together in secret.

We found the plans, the fire alarms,
and even the underground passages.

We had codes.

The fur coats are lined.
I repeat: The fur coats are lined.

We formed groups,

each with a lieutenant.

We synchronized our watches,
planned every minute.

We'd drawn up fantastic tactics

to facilitate a dialogue.

The reception was charming, enchanting
at the shareholders' meeting.

Clutching the Klurs' file, I went
looking for a kind soul who'd listen.

But we were in for yet another

disappointment: the multinational

had a new method:
apartheid among shareholders.

This room's for the renegades!

Small shareholders were put
in a different room from Bernard Arnault

and without a microphone.

For the Klurs, the CEO would hear me

through the giant screen.

Let him speak!

Shareholder democracy
proved to be a combat sport.

My attempt at dialogue
was a disaster.

My hopes of reconciliation were dashed.

ACT 3
THE HOUSE

We were feeling very down.

The free champagne we'd received
wouldn't save the Klurs,

especially as bad news awaited us.

Our house and contents
are going to be seized.

- When did you get this?
- Yesterday.

It's dated May 3.
What does it say?

We had an accident.
Jérémy didn't see the car

and he hit it.

It was 3 years ago.
They want the money.

- How much?
- 25,000.

- For the damages.
- For an SUV.

The cost of a new SUV.

If we don't pay next week,
they'll take everything.

Everything. We'll be out on our ear.

We'll lose the house and everything.

We slaved away for 30 years
and end up with nothing.

The best thing we can do is
to kill ourselves.

- It's very nice.
- This is my patch ofland.

- We growvegetables.
- Potatoes, carrots, lettuce.

Was it always like this?

- No.
- It was overrun with weeds.

- Even the house.
- There was no bathroom, no water,

no heating, no toilet, nothing.

So, you spent your free time,
doing the lawn and things?

We dug trenches,
because there was no water.

- At lunch...
- Yes, we didn't stop for lunch.

- I dug trenches 6 foot deep.
- I could stand in them.

We did everything.

- Jérémy does a lot.
- That's true.

We're lucky.

When we told him
we were losing the house...

If we don't have a nervous breakdown,
it'll be something else.

- What?
- I'll destroy my house.

- Destroy your house?
- Yes.

I'll burn it down.

So it doesn't get seized.

Don't you watch
"Little House on the Prairie"?

It was on TV not long ago.

Some bigwig wanted
to seize all the houses.

The people came together
and destroyed everything.

When the bigwig came,
there was just the land left.

I'll do the same.

Like "Little House on the Prairie".

You have a fine house.

Yes, and I intend to keep it.

This cou r t order says
you have to leave within 48 hours.

It's legally binding.

Yes, it's a very fine house.

48 hours, Mr. Wilder.

N ow...

Hold onto him.

That gave you the idea?

Yes, if I have to.

If our problem isn't sorted out,

I'll go get 10 or 20 euros of gasoline,

even 30 euros if needs be,

and I'll pour it everywhere,
even in the attic,

all over the house

and I'll get a blowtorch
and I'll burn the place down.

With all the gasoline I'll use,

10 minutes later it'll be gone.

I'll even torch the garage.

I'll do it at night, not in the daytime.

It'll be like fireworks.

No-one will be able to live in it.
Not me

nor anyone. The bailiff
won't be able to sell it either.

What a violent show.

- That's how it ends.
- That's right.

A nice blaze.

We have some gifts.

Here.

Real champagne!

As soon as I opened my mouth,

about 10 security guards threw me out.

We learned something though:

They organize "Journées Particulières"
or Special Days.

- Have you heard of it?
- No.

Their slogan for it is
"Behind the dream".

Special Days

LVMH opens up
40 exceptional locations

Special Days

We could make these special days
very special!

We could show them
what really goes on "behind the dream".

Let's reach out again to Bernard Arnault

and do a proper letter
about your problems,

tell them we want a reply
before the end of May,

and if they don't reply by then...

then, we get angry.

Let's put my phone number.
You never answer yours.

He leaves it in the car
when he's at the tip.

I'll address it to Mr. Bernard Arnault
and the board of directors.

Everyone needs to know.

It was sunny earlier on.

I said it wouldn't last.

Hi!

Hi, Marie-Hélène.

- OK, Marie-Hélène?
- Yeah, you?

With the interest.

- It's a lot, isn't it?
- Yeah.

Ask for at least 30,000 euros.

When you want 30,
how much do you ask for?

At least 35.

You don't ask for double?

35,000... We mustn't put a round number.

35,472...

Yeah, 35,600.

Yes, 630... 672 point...

Point 40 cents.

42, then.
Gotta be precise about these things.

"Our debts amount to a total
of 35,672 euros and 42 cents.

Losing our jobs caused this situation
for which you're responsible.

We demand a reply
by Wednesday May 29.

If it's a yes,
your Special Days will go smoothly.

If you refuse to help, we'll join forces

with our former union rep
Marie-Hélène Bourlard,

our elected representatives,
Fakir, and everyone

who feels revolted by this situation.

Sincerely yours, etc."

That's not bad.

Here's to hope.

- To better days.
- I hope so.

They're broke,
but drink champagne!

Cheers, Serge.

Wait a sec.

Yes, hello.

3 days later, I received a strange call.

Or rather Jérémy did.

The guy was from LVMH
and wanted to meet my parents.

He said he'd go to their home.

I asked him
if he was from social services.

"No," he replied, "from security."

Oh, no! That scared me.

Security at LVMH was handled by Bernard
Squarcini, Sarokzy's dirty tricks man.

At their offices,

he occupies a whole level.

Bernard Arnault brought

a new way of doing business:

phone tapping,
surveillance, tailing people.

This looks like a normal phone socket.

There's a cable coming out of it.

At the end of it
is a tape recorder.

This man was the good Samaritan.

A former head of intelligence.

This ex-cop
had thrown me out of the meeting.

Faced with professional spies,
what were we? A bunch of amateurs.

At 4 PM today, Mr. ***, security advisor
of LVMH, is coming here.

I can't be here,

because... No, I can't.

He knows my face.

Why did I bring photocopies
of the last letter we did?

So, we can put them in envelopes
addressed to certain media

and tell him he has till Wednesday

to bring a check for 30,000 euros

or they're mailed.

Yes, that's good.

The Canard Enchaîné and Médiapart
are scary, aren't they?

Edwy Plenel...

When he sees the letters,
he'll be scared.

And we'll put hidden cameras here.

In this nice doll, there's a mike.

We'll put it with the rest.

We can move things around,

I don't mind.

The secret weapon:

The cat mike.

Don't look at them, OK?

- No, no.
- Forget about them.

Do we say"Hello, sir"?

Hello, sir.

Take a seat.

- We'll wait till June 31.
- May.

Yes, May 31.

If I have good news...

by May 31...

Or even May 28 or 29,
I'll burn all this.

But I need news first.

- You will...
- Good news.

No, you want 30,000 euros.

Let's try again.
But it's not good news you want.

- Do you want to do it?
- No, you do it.

If you don't pay up,
I'll go to Paris

on June 14 or 15.

- The Special Days.
- Yeah, with lots of our people.

We'll take a bus, probably 2
to go to Paris.

I've been there before.
And I'll turn up.

- What about those?
- I'm keeping them. I'll mail them.

Despair, take 1!

So, you're not doing well, Mr. Klur.
Why are you smiling?

It's nervous laughter, Mr. ***

because I'm angry, Mr. ***

because ECCE laid me off.

Since then, everything's gone wrong
in my family.

I have debts
at the bank and all over the place.

A bailiff is demanding money.

I have nothing to lose.
My house will be sold.

I'll be on the street.

Like a tramp.

With my wife and boy.

After 25 years' work,

I have no house, no heating, nothing.

So, you have till the 28th
to send the money.

If I have it by the 28th, it's OK.

I have nothing to lose.

How's that?

You keep bringing it forward.
We put May 31,

now you're saying the 28th!
Next you'll say: "I want it tomorrow!"

I'm surprised he hasn't called back.

Hello. Is that Mr. ***?
Hello there.

We're on tenterhooks here.

I'm calling to say
I'm on the road.

OK. So, at about 4.30, right?

Yes, my GPS says
I'll be there at 4.15.

See you later.

Good luck. Negotiate well.
Bang on the table.

Thanks.

Give the bosses hell!

See you later.

- It's up to us now.
- It's up to you.

Let him in.

Say: "Hello, sir."

- Mr. Klur?
- Hello, sir.

- What weather!
- Shitty weather.

- Hello, ma'am.
- Hello, sir.

I have your letter.

Yes. Did Bernard Arnault send you?

Yes, I work for LVMH. We got the letter.

- Can I sit down?
- Go ahead.

So...

I hope you're not recording this.

No, no, no.

- The union isn't behind this?
- No.

- Mrs...?
- Marie-Hélène Bourlard.

No. It's Jérémy who...

I've been sent by the CEO
to work things out.

To work it out,

you mustn't publicize things.

Oh, no publicity.

- If there is...
- Only if we get nothing.

The letters are ready.
But we're prepared to burn them.

You understand
we can't give in to blackmail.

Understand?
So, we'll dress it up.

I have 35,000,
not 30,000, but anyway...

We'll sort out the 35,000.

I give you my word
as long as that doesn't go out.

If... by the 31st...

Your wife's not here.
We have to reach an understanding.

I have nothing against her,
but so I can persuade them

when I go back to Paris,
and I swear on my grandchildren

that I need this.

- When you come back...
- No.

I'll start the ball rolling tomorrow

and show them these.
- No, no...

There's no point, then.

You see, I have to show them
I stopped you

from taking any further action.

If you come back in 2 days' time,
by the 30th...

No, well, no.

I have to show them...

No-one knows about this.
Only the 3 of us.

It doesn't matter.
It's in my nature.

It's just the 3 of us.

It can't get out.

No, no.
It doesn't leave here. It's ours.

We'll wait till May 31.

Who are they to?

Fakir, Jean-Luc Mélenchon...

Yes, Le Monde,
France Inter, the President...

Not too fast.

- France Inter?
- Yes.

And Hollande.

Yes, François Hollande.

Will you give that
to Mr. Bernard Arnault?

I don't have my glasses.

Should I read it?

"Sir,
Thank you for looking at our situation."

You wrote it
since I said I was coming?

- Jérémy wrote it.
- Go on, then.

"We really hope

that on June 15, instead of
fuc... messing things up in Paris,

we'll have a barbecue in our yard.

You are, of course, very welcome."

You're not having a barbecue
with Fakir and the union?

Oh, no, no, no.

- So, give that to me.
- We're not in contact with them now.

Now let me ask you a question...

on a different matter.

Would either of you

be prepared to work
in a Carrefour supermarket?

Because Mr. Bernard Arnault...

Tomorrow I'll see the person
who can sort it out.

He has a majority shareholding
in Carrefour, you know.

So, I can take action with Carrefour.

I don't mean legal action.

I mean I can persuade them.

- Where's the local Carrefour?
- Landrecies, Bousies...

- And Solesmes.
- 3 of them?

Which one do you prefer? Think it over.

No pressure.

- Which is the best?
- I don't know.

Bousies isn't a big Carrefour.

Let's say Landrecies.

- Is it bigger?
- Yes.

Landrecies.

- So...
- L... A... N... D...

Hello?

Your parents are at the theater.
I missed them.

What do you mean? Yes...

What do you mean?

Oh...

Here's how we'll do this.

Tomorrow I'll do a letter
to the bailiff with 26,000 euros.

25,000 and a bit.

And 15,000 on their bank account.

- At the Post Office.
- The Post Office, sorry.

OK.

And I'll find...
I've prepared the ground.

I'll find your father a job

in Carrefour in Landrecies or Solesmes.

OK.

I'll come back on Thursday
to discuss the next steps.

We won't abandon him.

I'll try to come earlier.

Will you bring...
Will the LVMH Group bring champagne?

We'll bring beer.

I'll bring champagne
the day you burn those 7 letters.

We're Bernard Arnault's friends

if he solves our problems.

Yes, but you mustn't show it.

Don't show it now.

He can come here whenever he wants.

Yes, but don't show it now.
Don't brag about it.

You have to keep a low profile.
I'll do what I said.

Don't tell anyone about it, OK?

Don't count your chickens
before they've hatched.

Alright?

Until you have the money
on your Post Office account

and the bailiff is paid,
don't celebrate.

Then, we'll have a beer
and put it all behind us.

People mustn't think

I let myself be taken in by you
or anyone else.

See what I mean?
I have to remain the referee.

And the referee can't say
you scored 3 goals.

See what I mean?

It has to be a nil-nil draw.

OK.

I hope the tape recorder got all that.

What?

The one under your Dad's seat!

There isn't one!

Oh, I see.

- I'll be going.
- Thank you, sir.

I'll tell you something
I said before.

I'm pleased to help,
but thank your son.

He said he'll give the bailiff
26,000 euros tomorrow,

15,000 on the Post Office account,

and get your father
a job at Carrefour Landrecies.

We'll see...

Usually I pay 10 euros for a haircut.

This will cost 160 euros
and last 3 hours

whereas I usually get a GI cut
in 10 minutes. Let's see what happens.

Hello, Mr. ***
This is Jérémy Klur.

I'm calling to make sure
you're still coming tomorrow at 5.

Can you phone me when you're near

so I can leave work.
The boss willlet me go early.

I'm seeing the sheriff,
like in "Robin Hood".

Today, Dad's seeing the sheriff.
What does he do, then?

- He dresses...?
- Up.

What'll Robin Hood try to do?

He'll take from the rich
and give to the poor.

What'll we try to do, then?

To take the money
and give it to the poor.

- Hi, Dad!
- Hi, son!

Come in.

- What if he recognizes you?
- I dunno.

You'll be screwed, then!

We recognized you.
He will, too.

You've seen me more often than he has.

A Maroilles cheese for Bernard Arnault,
a Maroilles for Mr. ***

- You got him pâté.
- Garlic pâté.

From Picardy.

Fakir clearance sale!

- And some candy.
- Boiled sweets from Cambrai, of course.

And Ch'ti beer.

And another Ch'ti.

- Why did you do all this?
- To be nice. No?

OK, OK, OK.

- You're given 26,000 euros...
- To be nice, OK.

- We didn't think of doing that.
- My word!

Lucky we're here, then!

- We'd have thanked them.
- How would you do that?

We'd have said thank you.

That doesn't cost a cent!

It's free!
We didn't think of doing that.

- We're not used to...
- ...doing that kind of thing.

What about the job?

- What happened?
- The boss said I start tomorrow.

I have a 6-month contract.
I work 36 hours a week.

- What'll you do?
- Stacking shelves.

Liquids, food...
We'll see tomorrow morning.

I have to learn. That's the hard part.
He asked if I had a computer. I said no.

They use computers a lot.

They use those things...

Beepers.

For the prices.
He said it's not hard to use.

Does he know
you were recommended?

- By?
- The boss.

Yes.

Wait a couple of weeks
before you ask for a raise!

Let me do the first 6 months
and get the contract renewed.

I'll get dressed up.

Don't wear the jacket.

- Why not?
- It's better with a pullover.

Yeah, I think so.

Just in a pullover.

- You think it's better like this?
- Yes.

- Like that.
- He looks like Jérémy.

- It's more casual.
- I look like Jérémy?

He wears a shirt and pullover.

- Nice n' casual.
- OK.

- It's good.
- OK.

What do we do, then?

What do you two think?

Carry on recording, Laure,
even though I'm asking you.

Do I go and turn up in the middle?

Do I wait for Mr. *** here?
What do I do?

There's lots of local produce.

Maroilles, Ch'ti...

So, do we still agree?
I know it sounds like an obsession.

Above all, you don't tell anyone.

No problem.

I'll get you to sign a paper
which says that.

It all went fine.

- The letters?
- There.

Get them.

First, the letters.

- 7, right?
- Right.

- 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
- OK.

The phone's ringing.

Hello?

I said I wasn't coming anymore!

I said that!

Yes, I'm reading
the agreement to your parents.

Drive carefully now.

You've won the battle.
Don't crash now.

OK?

See you.

Was it him?

So?

He's reading them the agreement.

He said: "Drive carefully.
You've won the battle. Don't..."

Do you think it's...?

What do you mean?

It makes me question our actions.
We've won the battle.

Aren't we going to...

- Ruin things?
- Yes.

Jérémy's here.

"Read and... approved."
2 "p"s.

It's Mr. ***

I guessed that.

- Hello. How are you?
- Fine, thanks.

- What's wrong with your finger?
- He bit himself.

Avicious dog.

- Want some juice?
- What you're having.

Let's finish this first.

I read the agreement.

I'll give you a copy to read.

It'd be good if you signed it

and initialed it for your mother.

If someone asked you:
"Why have things improved?"

let them think
you've had a lottery win.

OK?

The tape will run out!

There's no tape recorder.

You see...

You say you can't
read and write well...

but you conducted the transaction...

It's not flattery,
but you three were great.

He's the spokesman.

In naval terms,
you blew us out of the water!

You see?

Or I wouldn't be here.

I said that Mr. Bernard Arnault

was a good guy. He's...

He's a northerner.

He's a billionaire. Good for him.

But in a way, as you say,

he has a touch of humanity.

A touch? No, I say...

They're the old generation:

"The bosses this,
the bosses that..."

Always criticizing the bosses.

I'm the old generation, too.

Sometimes you're right
to criticize them.

You know what they say?

This is the opposite
of what usually happens.

Do you believe in the devil?

- No.
- You lucky devil!

I think you're one lucky devil!

And I guarantee
that you'll get a permanent job.

A permanent job.

Others will want the same.

Yes, but no way!

One shot.

It's every man for himself.

No-one helped us.

"It's the North!"

I saw "Welcome to the Sticks"!

You are what they call

the exception which proves the rule.
- Why?

You're lucky that it's worked out,

but for others, it's too late.

He can't go around
giving 40,000 euros

to everyone who was laid off

from firms in his group.

See what I mean?

He'd be Mother Teresa!

Everyone's scared, you and them.

How can he be scared?

What did you write?

- What?
- I'll take them.

What did you write?

Well, in the current climate,

the rich, because he's rich...

they don't like publicity.

And maybe you could have...

But in the current climate,
with the left in power,

it stood a chance...

He made a... blunder.

He applied,
even though he canceled it...

He applied to become Belgian.

So, having some poor people

who have to sell their house,

he realized that it might be
a real tear-jerker.

It's about his image.

You know full well that he doesn't like
his image being tarnished.

The world of the catwalk, etc.
is about one's image.

Each letter's a bullet.

And one might have hit home.

Would Fakir have given you a hand?

Maybe!

They tried to disrupt
our general meeting.

I'm not always a nice guy.

I got one by his pants
and threw him out.

They failed.

So, that said,

if your letter to Fakir

had reached them,

they'd have said: "He's attacking LVMH!
Let's support him."

Fakir scared you most in the letters?

Yes.

We send them to Mélenchon, Hollande,

- Le Monde...
- Fakir.

- France Inter.
- Fakir.

They're so small.

Well, look...

Active minorities do everything.

What a day!

It's ended well. We keep the house,

a job...

We can pay our bills.

Yes. That's good.

You're not having a barbecue
with Fakir and the union?

Oh, no, no, no.

We managed

to bring out the best
in Bernard Arnault.

The human slightly silenced

the businessman.

All together,
we can help Bernard Arnault

to give his life meaning again.

We have to accompany

the spiritual transformation

of Bernard Arnault.

Hello, Mr. ***
Jérémy Klur here.

I'm calling, because we're having
a barbecue with our family.

And we all wanted to thank you, Mr. ***

Thanks, boss! Thanks, Bernard!

Thanks, Bernard! Thanks, Bernard!

What a pleasure to have tricked you

We're as happy as larks

Thanks, boss! Thanks, boss!

What a pleasure to work for you

We're as happy as larks

Thanks, boss!

My reconciliation mission
was accomplished.

A happy story. Our film was at an end
and it had a happy ending.

But there was one problem:
The agreement contained a huge danger.

Absolute discretion,

strictly confidential,
and if it's not upheld,

the threat of having to repay
the sum paid.

We couldn't show you this film.

You couldn't see it.

All this joy could collapse.

Thanks, boss! Thanks, boss!

What a pleasure to work for you

We're as happy as larks

ACT4
THE CLAUSE

Police! Police!

Yes, hello.

This time, it was the secretary-general
of LVMH who rang me.

A certain Marc-Antoine Jamet.

He feared trouble at the general meeting
and wanted to negotiate

with me, François Ruffin,
not me, Jérémy.

The Presidential Palace

Hello.

Marc-Antoine Jamet
is the guy next to Hollande,

with the tricolor sash.

Alocal Socialist leader,
Socialist mayor,

a henchman
of Laurent Fabius there.

In short, he belongs to the left
who fight tirelessly

for the workers' happiness!

Hello, Mr. Jamet.

His main concern was violence.

I'm here to say

that it's all rather hostile

and violent.

It all happened in a climate
of aggressive conflict.

Can you be more constructive

and tell me what the goal is

beyond the anathema
or begging the question?

Is there a concrete goal?

we can think about?

First, there are people
in a catastrophic situation.

The Klur family.

I told you on the phone
that on Saturday,

we're having a little gathering.

About the general meetings
you intend to disturb?

Yes, with a number of participants.

But it depends
on the answers we get.

The trap was set.

As well as saving the Klurs, we had
a crazy dream: a day with Bernard.

I bought Mr. Arnault
a train ticket.

Does he have
a senior person's pass?

I'd like Mr. Arnault
to come with us...

to Flixecourt,

to Poix-du-Nord
where the ECCE factory was,

to Forest-en-Cambrésis.
He goes to Tokyo, New York,

but we'd go to Northern France.

It's fanciful to imagine
him going there.

Why?

It was fanciful apparently.

But if we met him,
what would we say to Bernard Arnault?

I'd like to take him by the hand
and say: "Don't be scared, Bernard."

We'd share some fries.

I'd take him to meet
Jérémy after work

to eat sausage and fries
at Jojo's snack bar.

Or in my hometown, Amiens

at the carnival.

Or eat mussels and fries
in Fakir's offices.

But it's fanciful apparently.

In the meantime, the Klurs' dreams
were coming true.

What luxury!

A new fence,

a new hairstyle,

new wallpaper,

and a new stove.

Give the poor money-
they blow it!

Oh, no, not me.

- Look.
- It's not a luxury.

The old one broke.
We need heat in the winter.

- How's work?
- Great. I hope to get a contract,

but the boss was off today.

Serge still had a big problem:
It was the last day of his contract.

And there was
no permanent contract in sight.

When the boss comes, we'll discuss it,
but he's not sure. He said:

"It's tough."

The goal for you is to have
a permanent job.

Right.

I have an idea.

We'll say you're being hassled

by Fakir and Marie-Hélène.

She even put a letter
in your box, saying:

"We're planning something
for the general meeting. You must come."

Are you there?

I wrote that Mélenchon was coming, too.

I wrote
that the Goodyear guys were coming,

that there'd be lots of people,
a bus from Flixecourt...

This letter is a complete lie.

We have nobody, but we must hope
they'll think we have lots of people

and say: "Oh, no, we must do something
to avoid all this going down."

Tires thrown at the police,

punches,

and the police's riposte:

teargas.

We'd invited the Goodyear guys.

They'd create a great atmosphere!

We want Mr. *** to get this.

He'll take it straight to LVMH.

He'll take it to Mr. Jamet.

Bernard Arnault will read it and say:

"To avoid trouble..."

The goal is to make them think
there's lots of people.

Once they think there's lots of people,
they'll give you a permanent job.

- How does that sound?
- I get it.

I'm trying to find
a spot with good reception.

When it's foggy and raining,
the signal goes.

Can you hear me now?

My father's contract
ends tomorrow night.

So, that annoys him.
And secondly... Hello?

- Hello?
- Yes, go ahead.

The second problem

is that Marie-Hélène and the Fakir guy
keep hassling them.

They shouldn't let them in.

I happen to know

that they're trying to use
your parents' case

as they don't know
it's sorted.

They're trying to use
your parents' case

to bring it up
at the general meeting

on December 14.

We haven't sorted everything yet.

Your father stops tomorrow night?

The contract ends tomorrow night.
And the boss doesn't know...

Wait, wait...

Is the boss keeping him on or not?

Well, the boss doesn't know
if he can or not.

- It's no at the moment.
- It's no.

Your father is?

What's my father's name?
Serge Klur.

Serge.

Well, I'm sad
that you don't remember us.

Because we remember you,
I can assure you.

If we had a photo of you,
we'd hang it up.

Yes, OK...

And you'd show it to Ruffin?

Pardon?

You mustn't let

those people from Fakir, Ruffin...

Can I sit down?

Don't let that union woman in.

Marie-Hélène Bourlard.

Don't let them in.
They'll raise hell.

And we've signed an agreement
to keep quiet.

You mustn't say a thing.

As for your permanent contract...

I have to intervene

to make it permanent,

but I can't do it before April.

Won't we get it now?
You promised us.

It's not only up to me.

People mustn't use you

as they want to.

We've received a letter

from the head of Fakir.
Fakir is with that woman.

They want to disrupt
the general meetings of big companies.

And your union rep is in league
with Ruffin, the head of Fakir.

What worried me, I must admit...

I trusted you, I was right to...

What worried me

is that the first
- you need to know this-

the first of the current demands

of the Fakir group...

Do you know what it is?

And I said:

"It proves that I..."
I speak my mind.

"The Klurs
haven't spilled the beans

as the first thing Fakir says
they want from LVMH

is to save the Klurs
who'll have to sell their house."

That's still the first.

That's why they come
and put pressure on you.

To use you.

If they find out
we helped you,

they'll make a hell of a mess.

200 others were fired
along with you.

They'll come running.

She put a letter in our box.

Let me see.

Jérémy told you she'd come back.
She did.

With the journalist!

Yes.

When she came back,
I had to open the door.

I can have this?

- If you like.
- Oh, yes.

She wants me to go to the meeting,
but I won't.

- What I want...
- ...is peace.

A job.

And that can go in the trash.

They mention me in this!

Yes, I read the letter.

We don't give a damn
about all that stuff.

Wow! Look, that's really good!

Thanks for this.

But now, no more contact with them.

- You've come into money.
- We lock the door.

This is invaluable.

- To support me.
- Oh, OK.

This is invaluable.
To suppo r t me.

So, the letter

is as if we'd put an enormous

bait on the hook,
and he bit it.

He jumped at the hook and bit it.

I think he'll take it
straight back to Paris.

It'll be on the desks of Jamet
and of BernardArnault.

It's as if we sent them
a Trojan horse.

This will make 'em think.

Hi, Mr. Jamet.

You like dressing up.

Here.

Let's have a game of poker.

Will it be a game of cat and mouse
at the general meeting?

There's talk of Goodyear.

- Pardon?
- There's talk of Goodyear.

Lots of other things.

What do you intend to do?

It depends
on the answers we get.

The Klurs wrote:

"What does he care?

We didn't ask him
to look after us.

All our demands have been met.

- Who by?
- Bernard Arnault.

- Pardon?
- Bernard Arnault.

He sorted it all out.

Why didn't you say?

He's done it...

You support the Klurs.
They didn't tell you?

That's absurd.

You defend the Klurs.

I thought you knew.
You see them a lot.

It was sorted out ages ago.

By Bernard Arnault?

Not recently.

I'm concerned.

Bye for now.

Our trick had worked.

The trap had closed
on the secretary-general.

You're saying
that the situation was sorted out

by Bernard Arnault?

See?

3 times he said

the Klurs' problems were solved by?
- Bernard Arnault.

He's telling a journalist

who cannot be trusted...

Mom and Dad,
he's telling a journalist

that Bernard Arnault signed a big check
to solve all the problems.

So, can he still come
and seize the house?

I don't think so,
because he said it, not us.

Very good, Mom!

She'll be a corporate lawyer next!

ACT 5
PERMANENT JOB

Now will we tell LVMH
that you're pleased?

Yes, we're pleased?

- No.
- No?

No! No, Mom!

No!

You're angry.

Yeah, they spilled the beans.

That's right!

You're angry.
What'll happen now?

Ruffin will phone
Marie-Hélène Bourlard.

He'll say:
"Listen, Marie-Hélène, the Klurs

were paid off ages ago
by Bernard Arnault. They lied to us."

- Will Marie-Hélène be pleased?
- No, she won't.

She'll come to your door...

- She'll break it down.
- Right.

So, I'll phone Mr. ***
and tell him, OK?

I'm sorry to speak from the heart,

but I saw my mother cry.

The confidentiality clause worked
both ways. My parents kept quiet,

but you weren't to talk either.

That's pe r fectly true.

We weren't to talk.
Jamet talked.

He broke the agreement!

That Jamet is a politician.

A Socialist who wants to please

those left-wingers,
Ruffin and the rest.

Jamet has betrayed you.

Just one last thing.

Marie-Hélène is coming tomorrow
about the meeting in Amiens.

Hello?

I'm listening.

I don't want my mother to go.

What'll happen to the poor woman?

Right. But I'm just telling you

that if she goes, I go.

I can't leave her...

N o!

...alone.

Don't go. They'll start
yelling at you.

They'll take it out on you
and say you're guilty.

They'll chop off your heads!

You mustn't go!

My Jérémy went to the Fakir meeting
like it was the guillotine.

But even worse,
he was about to betray me.

We've gone with the union.
I'll record it on my phone.

Mr. ***:
OK, thanks. But be careful!

No Goodyear or Mélenchon
at our meeting, of course.

But for LVMH,
we had to put on a show.

So, for our fake meeting,

our pseudo union reps
were on fire!

We could go to his home
or his kids'-they'll inherit one day.

Jérémy recorded this farce,
the bastard!

We'd take them by surprise.

Stop talking crazy, guys.
We'll all end up in jail!

We must act responsibly.

- People could get hurt.
- Or killed!

Cut the crap!
We'll smash up their meeting!

We'll harass them all year round!

We're not gonna stop
and do a little dance!

For Christ's sake!

Here is the file.
I hope the sound is clear.

Mr. ***:
I have all I need. Stay put.

I heard the top-level discussion.
Orders have been given.

So, Serge,

what did Santa Claus leave
under the tree?

He brought good news:

I got a permanent job
at Carrefour Landrecies.

I was given the good news
on December 24.

- December 24?
- Yes, at 10AM.

The boss sent for me and said:
"Well, Mr. Klur,

as of today, you're hired."

I was so happy
when I got the news. Surprised, too.

How come they got you
to sign a temporary contract,

then, a permanent contract?

I didn't understand it.

He sent for me
to sign a permanent contract.

My first permanent contract.

- A Christmas miracle.
- A Carrefour miracle.

A mystery.

He said:
"You'll work here till you retire."

It took some effort to hold down
a permanent job in the France of today.

- Hello, Marie-Hélène.
- Happy Christmas.

- It's a good Christmas.
- It sure is.

Quite some gift!

Here's to Bernard!

To Bernard!

Thanks, boss! Thanks, boss!

I'll show you the way.

The reception was charming, enchanting
at the shareholders' meeting once again.

Thanks to the Klurs' treachery,

LVMH had thwarted the terrible attack
of Fakir, Goodyear workers,

and all the anti-capitalists.

Yet I came alone and as a friend.

I had a gift for Bernard Arnault.

- Put that...
- In the cloakroom?

Yes.

- What is it?
- Mussels and fries.

They won't let you in with that.

Really? Damn!

My offering was rejected.
They thought my dish was a bomb.

Their concern

affected the meeting.

- Number 4.
- Hello, Mr. Arnault.

This year,

security is so tight
that we have to wear bracelets.

It's a bit much.

I do apologize,
but we had to choose

between letting chaos reign in the hall

due to a certain number of agitators,

revolutionaries, and such like

who threatened our meeting
and many others

or take admittedly unpleasant
organizational measures

to avoid total disorder.

I'm sorry about all this

and I'm very surprised
by all this fuss.

I hope the revolutionaries
will have calmed down next year.

To all the Marie-Hélènes...

This filmwas largely financed
by the 6,437 Fakir subscribers

Thanks, boss!
Thanks, boss!

What you do on earth

One day, God will repay you

In the meantime

To prove we love you

We want to give you

A bit of our pleasure

We'll change roles
You can file metal

And we'll deal with boss's problems

Get out the Rolls, lad

We'll be the boss!
We'll be the boss!

You'll have the pleasure
of working for us

You'll be as happy as a lark

We'll be the bosses!
We'll be the bosses!

What you did for us

We'll do for you!

Subtitles: J. Miller, a.s.i.f.