Original subtitles

SARAH PLAYS A WEREWOLF

Does our way of working disturb or scare you?

- Not really, no. - It's not about being scared.

I would like it

if we could work with texts that already exist, you know.

- To have a goal. - What about you?

I like working freely. I have better ideas.

But we don't have your imagination. It doesn't work for me.

We're still in the process, it's normal.

Imagination is nice,

but I don't feel like I'm interpreting a character.

- What's the problem? - The way we work here.

I like it! - What way?

She wants texts to act out.

That's because she's scared.

I think that's fine.

I'm also scared that we won't make it.

But that's ok, we're brave!

- We want to be brave, right? - Yes.

We want to create something together! Right?

And we'll make it happen, it'll be great!

- You draw well. - Thanks.

What's that book?

It's by Georges Bataille.

- Who is he? - A philosopher.

What are you drawing?

It's for a new scene.

Are you ok?

I don't feel very well lately.

Why?

Because my brother committed suicide.

I didn't know.

- See you. - See you.

You found some...

Hi my dear.

Is that a friend of yours?

Yes, she just wanted my opinion on a scene we're doing.

We're writing our own play with the theatre group.

If everybody gets involved...

It's gonna be a mess!

They should give the job

to the only one who actually knows how to write!

- Can you see me now? - Yes it works. You?

- Yes, all good. - Great.

It works.

You were telling me about theatre.

Yes, well everyone else started getting ironic,

and I ended up being the only one really present.

Yes, it's a lack of maturity...

I tried calling you many times, why do you never call?

I just prefer seeing you in person.

- Sarah? - It's just not the same anymore.

Heidelberg, why didn't you go to Zurich or Geneva?

Come on, it's not that bad...

You can just come visit!

Should I come tomorrow?

No. You have to go to school.

I'm not going to school anymore.

And what does mum say?

Well... Mum is sad that you left.

She told me she's happy for me.

Dad misses you too.

And I do too.

Hi Esther!

Hello!

How are you?

Don't you want to talk to him?

Rather some other time, we're going to the cinema.

You really don't want to talk to dad?

Well, we're going to the cinema...

Wait a second.

That's it. Yes?

- Benjamin says hello. - He didn't want to talk?

He thought you wouldn't enjoy skyping.

And what's going on, how is he?

He's fine.

Did he say what seminars he's taking?

I don't remember.

But he talked about a seminar on Wagner's Liebestod.

When Juliet wakes up, she sees that Romeo is dead.

So she takes Romeo's dagger and kills herself.

Right.

And how does this action show the passionate character of this love?

But what's the point? Isn't it useless and complicated?

Romeo kills himself for Juliet who's playing dead...

who then kills herself for him.

That's just annoying!

That's another topic.

Think about this gesture, the dagger thrust.

Why the dagger?

Juliet's gesture has something profoundly carnal.

Sarah.

Well in fact, Juliet thrusts Romeo's dagger into her body.

So it's a bit like a physical love scene.

That's exactly what it is.

Romeo's dagger penetrates Juliet.

Which proves that their love is physical.

And it's Juliet who initiates that act.

Anyhow it wouldn't work as a play nowadays.

It's way too kitsch.

Really? You all think so? Yet it's about love...

Yes, but it's not the kind of love we feel.

Imagine we killed ourselves every time we fell in love.

There might be much bigger feelings than you can imagine.

Yeah, like what?

Like in every big love story.

A love which you'd sacrifice your own life for.

Romeo and Juliet's love is an innocent love at first,

and in fact it becomes tragic

once their family origins are revealed.

Romeo should have informed himself first.

The debate is over.

Mrs Philipona...

Is it possible to take a distance high school diploma?

A what? A distance high school diploma?

I was thinking I could work better this way, concentrate more...

and also write more as a result.

But it's not possible...

I don't even know if it's done on a federal level.

Sarah,

you'd be better off taking distance from other people's reactions.

Sarah?

Are you sick?

- Sarah is not going to school today. - Why?

She was throwing up.

There's a bee in my room!

Monica?

- Monica! Let's go! - Coming!

O comfortable friar!

Where is my lord?

I do remember well where I should be, and there I am.

Where is my Romeo?

Poison, I see, hath been his timeless end.

O churl! Drunk all,

and left no friendly drop to help me after?

I will kiss thy lips.

Haply some poison yet doth hang on them

to make me die with a restorative.

Thy lips are warm!

Yea, noise? Then I'll be brief.

O happy dagger!

Welcome. This is thy sheath.

There rest...

And let me die.

Mummy! - What is it? Sarah is going to die!

- She's in Benjamin's bedroom. - Really?

Sarah, stop it.

You look frightful.

Look... She's breathing a little bit.

Now she's even smiling.

So it's fine.

Do you think it's funny, Sarah?

I thought you were sick.

That's enough now, what is this drama about?

Someone died.

What now?

- Who died? - My boyfriend.

Really? What boyfriend?

I had a boyfriend and he died.

- He's name was Luke. - Not Romeo?

- What are you doing? - He understood me.

- One more time... - Stop that.

Leave!

Get out!

Esther, come. We're leaving.

Let's go, darling.

Mum... I'm sorry...

Listen, listen...

Listen!!!

Cocky.

Cowboy.

Without his horse...

Wild.

Dangerous.

Over-acted.

Testosterone.

- Dominant. - Loser...

That's a Johannes who didn't understand the exercise.

Oh yes, I did! But...

I don't want to be myself on the stage.

Do you want to work with me on that?

Fine.

How can I explain you that...

This exercise is about...

becoming conscious of your behaviour

when you feel watched.

You can shut down and pretend no one's there.

But you can also look yourself.

Instead of just being watched.

One rarely acts alone.

Well, let's go on.

Farmer.

Weeping willow.

A deer.

Despair.

Strange.

Inapproachable.

Foetus. - Insecure.

- Snob. - Old maid.

She looks deep in thought.

And her?

Who's she?

That's Saint Barbara.

She was locked in a tower by her father,

who wanted to kill her because she believed in God.

But she managed to escape

and hid in the crack of a rock.

A shepherd reported her.

Her father pulled Barbara by the hair all the way into the city

to give her to the Roman governor.

And he cut off her breasts in front of everyone.

What do you think it feels like,

to be in front of all these people,

and being cut into pieces?

Barbara felt nothing.

She said torture was like a stroke from a peacock feather.

- Did she die? - Yes.

But before she died,

an angel appeared and dressed her in a long white dress.

When you really believe in something,

you can endure anything,

even the most terrible pain.

It rains and the stairs are slippery.

The city is dark.

No light is on.

Panic can be felt.

The girl suddenly stops around a street corner and listens feverishly.

Nothing.

Very, very softly, we can hear music playing.

A music that calls her.

She has to go, in spite of the danger she can feel around her.

Her steps are slow, but firm.

She's lost control of everything.

Her entire body is under the spell of music.

Under HIS spell.

And suddenly she understands.

It's the torturer.

It's a ruse. To make her come back.

To come even closer to him.

Sarah?

Did you know the torturer can play music on guilty women's bodies?

He plays them like an instrument.

Alice wants to go to the torturer.

She thinks it's fun. But it's dangerous.

He's a collector.

He collects parts of your body...

as no one talks with him, his loneliness made him half crazy.

He has a tuft of hair that stands up.

Sarah: When everyone is asleep and all looks dead,

then HE wakes up.

Alice: He?

Sarah: Yes, the torturer.

Alice: What he prefers are breasts,

because it's intimate for a woman.

Sarah: Shush, don't speak so loud.

If he hears us, he'll kill us, and he'll be after our breasts.

What are you doing in your dad's study?

Wait...

I'm working!

What else could I be doing in my office, but work?

But please, take a seat. Take a seat.

Just feel at home!

- Although you're at my home. - Yes, of course.

- It's my office. - Yes.

- My den... - Yes.

The room that I created,

into which I brought all my knowledge.

Book after book. Yes, I read them all.

From the first with the letter A to the last with the letter Z. All!

Devoured.

And sometimes I read them again! Just for pleasure!

I will shape you, I will teach you,

I will show you, because I know!

This young insolent! You should educate her.

- Right, I didn't... - We should think of her education.

Can you read?

- Yes! - If you can't even read,

- how could she? - It's true... yes.

He's coming...

What are you doing in my study?

What's so funny?

But...

It's not a place to play!

Why do you need to take these books out!

- Just leave please! - Alright!

This is where I work! This doesn't go here.

They took everything out.

- Come one. - Yes, we're going.

Yes, thanks.

Your hair looks nice like that.

I like it, really.

The torturer likes to see pain.

He likes blood, and tears.

He likes nudity.

He likes young women. He likes to break and destroy.

We all have a torturer inside of us.

1: The martyr enters the stage, followed by the torturer.

Gaze of the martyr toward the audience.

They will have to participate.

The audience comes on stage.

Come on!

Faster.

2: The torturer starts the torture.

- Rope, whip... - Go on!

3: Encouraging calls from the audience. - Again!

More brutal blows, more violent.

Obstinate silence of the martyr.

She is enduring.

Come on!

Stronger!

4: Screams of the martyr.

That's right!

All the violence in the world in one scream.

Then, all stops.

I suggest we talk about what we just saw.

And be sincere.

- Honestly, I didn't understand. - Why?

I mean it wasn't...

It wasn't convincing. You can't be real on stage...

It doesn't work.

And I think it's not for a group of young people like us to show this...

Who should show this then?

Well, it's too much.

It went too far.

But there are much worst things than this out there!

Is it criticism of violence? Because if it is...

Why do you reproduce it? There's nothing critical about it.

To criticise you have to show them!

People don't even know it exists.

They do too.

But they do nothing!

When you see such things...

It just blocks you as a viewer,

it doesn't make you want to...

It doesn't bring you to a positive reaction anyway.

- But it makes you realise... - You don't need a positive reaction!

Anyway the positive thing I see in this work,

is that it generates a reaction, it provokes something.

That's positive at its core. Then...

- What I criticise... - No, I can't.

- I can't discuss this. - We're talking Alice. It's interesting.

- This discussion is interesting. - I don't want to!

It's a real shame, because there's quality in this...

It's a process, Alice.

It's a real shame, Alice.

What?

How do you know if you're in love?

When you take inconsiderate risks, even just to kiss that person.

When you constantly think of her.

When you notice a multitude of details...

How she stands, how she holds a glass...

Her hair.

Mum thinks that love like in the operas doesn't exist.

That it's made up.

- I've experienced a love like that. - Luke and me, we felt it too.

That's why I love this opera. It's about passion.

- What are you doing here? - I'm looking.

- What do you have on your mouth? - Tape.

- Do you want to play with me? - No I don't.

Leave it.

Don't touch.

No, you have to come play with me...

Play with me!

I need a key for my room.

Why?

Because you come in when I'm working.

Alice and me are doing something big at the theatre.

I'm happy you have a friend now.

We might not stay in the group.

I think when you start something, you should go all the way.

We have to do free things, we have to free ourselves.

But free yourselves from what, Sarah?

We're going to the opera to see Tristan and Isolde.

I think she's going to like it.

Ok, but what do her parents say?

She has no parents! She has no siblings!

She's all alone, she's independent!

At least they leave her in peace, her solitude is respected.

Why am I not allowed to be alone? Why don't you leave me alone?

Why can't I also be alone?!

Why?!

Hey!

Hey!

- You alright? - Yes, you?

- Let's go? - Where?

To the opera.

You know...

Did you make a reservation?

You didn't reserve...

I don't feel like going to Zurich without knowing if we'll have a seat.

We could go another time.

What's the matter?

- What? - Are you sick?

No, I'm not sick.

- Are you hurt? - I'm not hurt.

What's that?

It's a Hickey.

A Hickey?

Yes.

I'll see you at theatre then?

You know...

It's not my thing at the moment.

I think I'm going to stop.

We started something, we have to finish it.

We could see each other just like this...

You show me your texts...

Well, then...

See you, then.

- Bye. - Bye.

Have a good evening!

Sit down.

- Mum says dinner is ready. - Yes, yes.

Imagine that your brother here is Siegfried.

Your beautiful lover.

Imagine he is dead.

Because your closest confidant

stabbed him in the back with a spear.

And he could do it because you...

You revealed to him

Siegfried's only weakness,

by branding it on his armour.

You indicated it to him, in order to save Siegfried.

But now, in spite of you,

you're an accomplice to that murder.

Betrayed by this disloyal confidant.

And you miss Siegfried.

You miss him cruelly, and this immense love,

this extreme pain,

is going to turn into...?

In rage! It's not that complicated!

It's a bit your situation somehow, no?

Because she's very angry that you left.

Because she loves you, loves you, loves you, you see...

Just look at this.

Well this magnificent woman

adores you.

Someone...

whom you trust absolutely blindly

murdered your brother.

How would you seek revenge?

I don't think I would seek revenge.

Imagine your brother, your real brother!

Murdered!

By your confidant.

How would you seek revenge?

Vengeance can be imagined, you know...

Would you follow him into death?

No, because I wouldn't find him again there.

Not to join him...

But to seek revenge from this disloyal confidant.

Can you come and play with me?

Later...

Esther, I told you I don't want you here!

- Why? - This is not a place for little girls.

Dinner is served.

- It's stupid to stay here. - What's stupid about it?

To interrupt a conversation like this, just to be on time for dinner...

Now THAT is stupid!

Just go.

But it's a shame...

I thought Ramona was doing you good.

I wasn't going to get married!

I'm young, you shouldn't settle down too early either...

I thought she was nice.

You know, when we met we were still very young.

For us, making a commitment still meant something.

It feels good to be all together at the same table, no?

Yes.

Don't you ever invite anyone?

You're the one we miss, not guests!

You never go out?

I would like to,

but your dad is always busy preparing conferences.

And you terrorise me with subscriptions to the theatre.

If we had a subscription

we would go out just the two of us.

I'm much better off in the comfort of my home, really.

Oh, come on...

it's because I want to be with you.

Stop it!

And your classes at the conservatory?

It's difficult at the moment.

I can't play because of my finger.

What happened?

Sarah caught my finger

in the door of your room in fact.

- Of my room? - Yes, she misses you.

No wonder.

She has no friends, she's always at home with you,

replaying and imagining the script of god knows what story.

Excuse me?

I was never allowed to invite friends home either.

That's nonsense!

You're not going to pretend we forbade you to have friends?

I am allowed to invite friends over.

You're a lucky girl.

You never allowed me to invite a single friend to this table.

Ben and me, we once saw a spaceship.

I was 6 or 7 and it was hovering above the garden.

- A spaceship? - Yes.

That's what we thought at the time...

We'd just seen Star Wars and were impressed.

But that's interesting indeed.

Could you describe it for me?

There's no need to describe it.

We both saw it, we know it was there.

And what came out of it?

She's right, dad. It really looked like a spaceship.

It must have been something else, of course.

A weather balloon or so...

Good, Esther,

I leave you alone with these two space heroes!

Did you really tell mum that your boyfriend was dead?

I even told a friend that you had committed suicide.

You can't say that...

It's not funny, you can't tell that to people, it's scary Sarah.

It's how it feels for me...

I don't understand why you make up such things.

We used to invent things together.

When we were children, now it's different.

Bye, see you soon.

You're going to miss the train, hurry.

Soon, dad, I won't be here anymore.

I'm going to kill myself.

If you think you find yourself again in death,

and join your soul, you're wrong.

There's no return to the origin, and nothing after death.

No human, no nature...

No moon, no sun, no sea, no earth...

Not even bees.

Not even bees?

When you were stung and we knew you were allergic,

I spent the entire night with you at the hospital.

Really?

I thought mum had stayed with me.

No, it was me.

You almost died.

You couldn't breathe anymore.

If a bee had come near you, you would have died.

I went through the entire room:

under the bed, every fold of the sheet,

I ran my arm against your back...

I even opened your mouth!

Sarah?

The martyrs were tortured and killed because of their beliefs.

We often think it's over,

the times when people got tortured for their beliefs.

Yet today still torture continues.

It is more discreet, less spectacular, but present.

Torture is other people's gaze, people who judge.

Who think they know everything,

as if one could know someone with just one gaze.

Hello.

- You're not hungry? - No.

I have to go as well.

Take her along, please.

I don't want to leave her alone.

But yes, of course.

Esther, I'm sitting in front.

Esther, move.

- No! - Leave, I'm in the front.

I'm sitting in front!

Leave her, that's ridiculous, I let her sit in front too.

No she's not allowed to go in front yet!

Why are you so upset? That's so childish!

Are you sad because of Johannes?

No, I don't give a damn about him, I have other problems.

What problems do you have?

I don't know if I can tell you about it...

I was with a guy not so long ago...

And we didn't use a condom.

This morning he sent me a message saying that he has AIDS.

So I'm really freaked out.

I took the test this morning, that's why I came late.

It's like when my boyfriend died. I didn't tell anybody.

- What? - Sarah?

I have the feeling

that my father

doesn't really listen to me...

I try to tell him my problems

but he just nods

and looks back down at his paper,

and he doesn't give a shit

about what's happening in my life.

But when he talks, you have to listen,

and it's super important.

My father really works a lot.

He's in his office all the time,

with his plans and drawings.

But one thing we always do together

is having breakfast together.

He tells me about his newest project,

we listen to the radio,

and it's nice that he takes that time.

My father has a restaurant since I was a child.

Lots of guys come to drink every night,

he calls them his friends

but with the years I understood that they aren't really his friends,

but people who come to drink for free, and...

It makes me sad now when I see him with these guys who drink.

I love my father.

He's really great.

And we just get along so well.

He's almost like my best friend.

And when the hockey season starts,

we both root for our team, and we go see every game.

Fantastic moments!

We spend our time shouting, cheering like crazy...

I love it. I adore my father.

My dad...

He can be fantastic.

When he starts talking about sciences,

it's as if the entire living room were lit up.

But unfortunately...

he has a hard time understanding

that what he does, doesn't really interest us.

And to avoid hurting his feelings,

we don't say anything,

and pretend to be fascinated by the things he says.

My dad...

He always took care of me very tenderly.

And when I was little,

he put me to bed at night.

He sat on the side of the bed

and told me stories.

I loved it, I always asked for more.

My dad often picks me up after theatre, or after school,

and when we're in the car he plays his Wagner opera,

and hums along.

He always has this hairlock that curls up

and doesn't stay put...

- You're the best actor in the group. - You think so?

- Schroeter, too. - Really?

- Are you a dancer? - No...

I do Taekwondo.

- You have a good sense of balance. - Excuse me?

You have a good sense of balance.

Nietzsche says that mankind needs a superior being.

A superior being who doesn't care about the ego, the good and the bad.

Those people don't exist.

Could be...

I don't know.

I've never met one. Except myself!

We're moving in together...

So cool.

Right in town. It'll be easy.

What's he do, your father?

What's with Alice, anyway?

I think she's a lesbian.

- Really, it's true. - What makes you say so?

Because she touched me on stage.

When? - You know the scene where we do the contact?

She went too far.

But the idea was to touch each other.

Yes but this was not...

It wasn't just touching like that.

We did the exercise many times, it was never like that.

- She went too far, I swear. - Really?

Is that why you ran off after?

Anyway I always said so, too, Alice just goes too far.

She's always excessive.

I think she's too proud to be doing theatre.

True.

With her theories about going further...

Sorry.

What now? Shall we go swimming?

Let's go, a midnight swim.

Come on, and you too.

Come on, Valérie, Philippe.

Let's go through the forest, we'll find a place.

- What's happening? - Nothing.

- What's up? - Nothing, nothing is up.

Are you sure? Come on, I can see there's something.

You won't understand, Roman.

Why?

Because nobody understands.

If something's wrong, you should say so.

But I won't put up with it. LUKE

And thank you...

Shhh...

Sarah,

what are you doing exactly?

Your costume...?

I don't know where it is.

Alright.

I suggest we go back to the start.

My chair got taken out.

Shall I just sit on the floor? - Sure.

Barbara?

- Yes? - I can't find my ladder.

Just build a mountain with the chairs.

- Wherever I want? - Yes.

Go back to your positions.

Barbara, I can't do my scene.

Do you have some tape and a marker?

Yes.

- In my bag. - Ok, great.

Sorry, what is this about?

I can't do my scene.

I don't want to do it with Christina.

Your scene is beautiful, I don't understand.

This is the final dress rehearsal.

There's no discussion, go change into your costume.

Ok, can you go to your positions?

- Are they marked? - I'm doing it.

You should mark them, otherwise...

Barbara, why isn't Valérie in the play?

She missed the past three rehearsals

and has no idea what we're doing. Ok?

- It's not fair, she has problems. - Everybody has problems.

But it's serious, she slept with someone with AIDS,

and maybe she has it, too!

Are you serious, Sarah? You're such a dumbass!

Mind your own business!

Just keep on going, stay calm.

Go on, come on.

Sarah, get dressed!

We have to keep on rehearsing,

I didn't find my costume, where did you put it?

The set design isn't ready yet, and here as well...

The room wasn't supposed to look like this...

- The projections are not set up yet... - Don't worry, it's gonna be fine.

- Let's take a break, come. - No, nothing is ready!

- Don't worry. - It's not fixed!

We'll make it.

As soon as Schroeter comes back. Take a seat.

Give me your bag.

Give me your coat.

Sarah...

It's gonna be fine.

Don't worry.

Listen Sarah...

My mum is a therapist.

So if you want to talk to someone, you can come to our place.

Sarah, are you crazy?

Sarah, calm down...

Calm down. We won't do you any harm.

Sarah, it'll be fine...

It'll be fine...

- Don't worry. - Stop that!

- Stop it! - Stop Sarah!

Sarah, stop it! Sarah, arrête!

What happened, Sarah?

You're coming home right away.

- Hello. Schroeter. - Now!

- You're coming now, I said. - She had a little malaise.

- Calm down sir, please. - She's 17 and she was out all night.

- She's coming home now. Got it? - Yes, I understand.

It's all good, she calmed down.

We're going. Come on.

It'll be fine...

Why?

Why do you think of it?

Why do I want to commit suicide?

Yes, why?

I want to follow Luke into death.

But that's ridiculous...

He isn't real.

He never was.

Mum, I have nobody to talk to,

nobody who understands me.

You're going to start a therapy.

There you go, typical...

When you don't understand, you medicate.

Soon she'll say you are depressive,

and maybe then, more daringly, schizophrenic...

I didn't say she is sick.

We won't make you do anything against your will.

Alright?

Raphael...

She is only a child.

How can she decide when you manipulate her like this!

She's not a child anymore, damn it!

I swear...

I'm sorry.

See, Sarah, you are free.

You don't have to worry about us.

Don't let your mother make you feel guilty.

You're free to die or not.

You say you agree so I change my mind. - No.

No, Sarah.

I'm not trying to dissuade you.

If you want to do it, just do it.

I'd just ask you to...

to do it properly.

You can do it in a place where you feel good.

But don't do it here.

I don't want it to be us who finds you.

Sarah is going through a difficult phase in her life.

Particularly because of the disappearance,

the death of her friend.

The theatre rehearsals

reopened buried wounds

that were hardly healed.

You'll understand she's very sensitive and fragile.

As for us we're somehow glad and relieved to see

that Sarah can express

this sadness and this despair.

But that doesn't at all justify

such an aggressive action.

It's absolutely regrettable that somebody got hurt.

It's completely inexcusable.

That's it.

You can be sure that my wife and I...

We do our best to support Sarah through those hardships.

Each in our own way,

we reply to what we recognise to be a cry for help from her.

I can see that you're very committed, that's certain.

Otherwise we wouldn't be here trying to figure out the situation.

This young man...

Is it because of him that you needed some time off lately?

Your emotional overload...

Was it because of him?

Why didn't you tell us about it?

It's my fault, I didn't understand the gravity, the urgency

or the pain Sarah was experiencing.

This death completely threw her off.

Did you consider a psychologist?

Yes we'll go see a specialist,

but there are long waiting lists, and it's not easy.

Your pain is overwhelming.

But still...

You can't bite someone like that, it's not ok.

Sarah is an incredibly sensitive person.

She can put herself in special states

whose intensity most other teenagers her age can't understand.

You can't ask young actors to control such a state.

You can't.

They're still children.

Sarah, Benjamin wants to talk to you.

Sarah wants to commit suicide and daddy agrees, if she wants to.

Stop it.

It's not funny anymore.

Stop it.

Stop.

You're annoying us.

Sarah, stop it.

Stop!