All language subtitles for New.York.City.Inferno.1978.

To Jacques M.

On the 20th of June 1977, Paul
leaves his friend J�r�me

for a one week trip in New-York.

During his stay he writes
every day to his friend

and tells him in his last letter that

he will never come back to Paris.

Today, monday the 5th of December 1977,

J�r�me arrives in New-York as well

with Paul's letters in his pocket.

My beautiful lover,

I just landed in New-York and I
already regret that you're not

here with me to discover
the city.

Our short separation maybe will
help us to think about

our relationship and our problems.

During the drive from the airport
to hotel

the taxi-driver offered to give
me the homosexual New-York tour

or gay as they say here.

I have the impression that
these americans are not shy guys.

I miss you.

I kiss you tenderly. Paul.

-I can speak a little French
-How did you learn french?

I was a student in Belgium
for a few years.

-What did you study?
-Medecine.

You're still studying?

It's a complicated story but

I'm still studying here in New-York.

And you're working as a taxi-driver...

to make some dough, yeah.

Pocket money as you say in french.

It's your first time in New-York?

It's my first time, yes. I'm here

because of a friend who came here and
never left. I'd like to know

what has made him stay.

Everybody talks about New-York.
I'd like to see why it's so magic.

It seems a wonderful place for gay people.

-Isn't it? -Yes, sure.
-You know Paris?

A little but not the gay Paris.

-You can't compare then. -No.

You know the places here?

Not at all, what are the good spots?

There's a block here called The Village.

There's Christopher Street.

-It's the main street.
-I heard about Christopher Street.

There's a few clubs on Christopher.

All in the same area.

Four or five clubs on the same street.

And then you turn on West Street.

It's another main street.

There's a new club called the Warehouse.

It's rather exciting in there.

I heard about the Warehouse.
Lots of action there.

There's everything.
All your desires.

What kind of desires?

-Well, it's hard to say...
-What happens there?

Well, you can go there just
to have a drink or...

Well, the lights are very dim.

You're always in darkness.

There are several rooms.
Two rooms in the back

and the basement where you can...

you can have sex with one guy or more.

There's a...a.. bath...tub...

-A bathtub.
-A bathtub, yes.

What goes on inside the bathroom?

Some guys play out their fantasies.

What kind of fantasies?

Some guys like to be pissed on.

In the bathtub?

Yes. It helps to keep

the club kinda clean.

Tuesday the 6th of December 1977.

My love,

it's hard to tell you all the
sensations assaulting me.

New-York is a strange place.

The sounds and images mixed together
are overwhelming.

I visited Manhattan.

Tomorrow I will visit a gay block
called Greenwich Village.

But I don't think there's only one block.

All the city seem very gay friendly to me.

It seems like a lot of fun!

I'm very excited.

And, except for you, I don't
miss being in Paris.

I kiss you hard. Paul.

Wednesday the 7th of December 1977.

My love,

I've decided to further
explore this city

where everything is fascinating
and exciting to me.

Paris seems very far.

I went to a mexican market
near Harlem.

I met a strange man half-sorcerer,
half-fortune teller.

Tonight I will go cruising
and checking out the bars.

All the faces of these good-looking
boys attract me.

Their violent tendencies
are also very attractive to me.

I'm always surrounded by your
love and tenderness

I find I have now other wishes.

I need your help

and think a lot about you.

I kiss you. Paul.

Would you like to learn
something about your future?

How do you know I'm French?

It's easy when you're interested in people.

-I know a lot of things about you.
-Oh yeah?

If you know so much things maybe you
could help me to understand some of them.

Come to my home tonight if you want.

I'll see how I can help you.

There is in your hand, as in your
life, lines of strength

and lines of weakness.

And the relations between human beings
endure the same influences.

Your friend left because
you couldn't understand

neither this strength

nor this weakness, J�r�me.

He wanted to be dominated.

And the only successful way

to find him

is to become the master

of his current master.

Come to the Warehouse next friday night.

You will understand.

Thursday the 8th of December 1977.

J�r�me darling.

Another day spent doing new things.

Yesterday I bought some
leather clothes and gizmos,

"toys" as they say here.

I don't know if you would
like to use them with me

but I must admit I have
a lot of fun using them.

Then I went in a tattoo shop,
it was really amazing.

"It's a completely new landscape"
to quote you.

His customers are
astonishing people too.

Do you have fun in Paris?
Did you cheat me?

I hope you go out and have some fun.

I think it's time for us
to change our lifestyle.

See you soon, Paul.

-So, you speak french?
-Yes.

-You're french.
-Yes.

-From where?
-Paris.

-What are you doing in N-Y?
-Visiting.

Oh yeah?

And why did you come in this place?
You're coming for a tattoo?

Right, I'm coming for a tattoo.
You too? -Yes.

I look at the models.

-You're the first woman I
see in a tattoo shop. -Really?

Did you find something you like?

I was browsing but I haven't made
my choice yet. I don't know...

-Maybe you can help me.
-Yes, there's a big choice.

I'd like a small one, you see.

Something cute and funny.

Yes, something different.

Oh gee, that's something!

-Look at this one.
-Very nice, yeah.

It's one of a kind, no?

That would be fun.
I'm deciding on this one.

-Where will you have it?
-There.

It sure is different.
And why do you want a tattoo?

-It's exciting!
-It's hot in here.

Yes, it's very hot.

-You're right, that's why I took
off my clothes. -I noticed that.

It's nice, very cool.

Do you have friends, girl friends,
who are tattooed, or boy friends?

No, only boys, gay friends.

You have gay friends in New-York?

How did it happen? You met them
here or you already knew them?

Some of them here, others in Paris.

Almost all my friends were gay in Paris.

And it's the same here.

I'm always with the same crowd.

Why do you hang out with gay people?

I love fags.

-Why?
-They're very educated.

They enjoy living and having fun.

They're never depressed, they cheer me.

-You prefer living with that
kind of people. -Absolutely.

Where do go to meet your friends?

-I'm go to gay clubs.
-What are their names?

I'm going to the Flamingo, Toll West..

There's that new club that just opened.
I don't remember the name.

-You must give me the adresses.
-Oh yes, absolutely.

-I'd like to go with you.
-Yes.

You can join us, we're always out
on saturdays and sundays, no problem.

And since you're very cute
you will have many fans!

-You think so?
-Yeah. -Thank you.

Oh yes, I'm all right until now.

I must admit that I...

What? It feels odd?

I don't know how to explain...

I didn't know the place and
I heard rumours about the pain...

If I jump to the roof you help me to
stay seated. I want to have this tattoo.

I will hold you. Don't worry.

So?

I don't know, it's ok.

It's kinda funny. It stings a little.

But it's less terrible
than what I thought.

-He begins the drawing?
-Yes.

He's going fast.

-I really want to see it.
-It's beautiful.

Mirror please.

You see it?

Yes, I see it. It's fantastic.

My dear J�r�me.

Our parisian clubs are very pale
compared to those in N-Y city.

Here it's color and excess everywhere.

But at least no-one is afraid
to see the cops coming.

Freedom is a word that has
kept it's meaning here.

The parisian queens I met
can satisfy all their whims.

Pleasures of the mind add to
the pleasures of the flesh.

There's always something
to do or to see.

New-York is not a city.

It's a whole world more and
more to my taste.

The idea of going back
is depressing.

I feel disturbed and hesitant.

I'd like to have you at my
side to give me advice.

I think about you. Paul.

Friday the 9th of December 1977.

J�r�me.

I met a boy with whom I will
spend the evening.

Don't be mad at me but I have a
hard time thinking I will miss you.

I don't know if N-Y has became
some kind of drug to me

but I'm asking myself how I could
live so long without this city.

I spend the days hanging in the
Village or in the Museums

and I fuck all night long.

Here homosexuals are not
ashamed of themselves.

I met a homosexual activist who
explained how they were organized.

They know they're a force and
have influence.

They use it to get more freedom.

The reconnaissance of rights

we also have but at the price
of a permanent hypocrisy

that I can't stand anymore.

As Americans say "I am what they are".

I don't know what to do. Paul.

J�r�me. I've decided to not
come back to Paris.

I've called my office.
Don't try to see me again.

I'm sorry. Paul.

You have found Paul.

The only way to see him,

to have him again,

is to become the master of his master.

Saturday the 10th of December 1977.

timings : zoPZ
translation : aloysius