Original subtitles

Hello.

There's a guy outside.

- Who? - I don't know.

Still there?

Must be an inspector. No one knows him.

Better tell your dad.

Déde, go tell grampa.

No, tell uncle Jules first.

Take your grapes.

There's a guy by the fig tree.

- So? - Dad doesn't know him.

An inspector, I bet.

Anna, go warn grampa.

Grampa, you got anything in the yard? There's a stranger hanging around.

They must've seen me at faugat this morning.

I didn't see them. I'll fish where I want!

What's that guy doing? I don't know.

I'm not sure if it's this shack.

I wait an hour in this heat, and you're not sure?

This must be it.

What are you doing, barging in on people?

You know who I am?

I don't care.

Board of health.

Put that away and clear out. You should've shown it sooner.

You know I have the right to search.

You should've shown your ID and a search warrant first.

- I have one. - It's too goddamn late.

I caught you breaking in here like thieves.

You could be out to steal something.

I'm gonna kick your asses out of here.

- He's calling us thieves now? - What's your name?

I'm not telling you! This is tyranny!

This is my place.

Mrs. soldino? Board of health. May we come in?

- What are you looking for? - Nothing.

Did your husband go fishing this morning?

When he got up this morning,

his hand hurt, and when he wanted to -

wanted to what?

He wanted to -

Can't you see she's senile? She's my mother-in-law.

You're upsetting everyone!

Go on, get lost!

We're eating quietly, and they show up like gangsters.

- You're coming to the station. - Fine.

I'll file a complaint for illegal entry.

- No one will believe you. - They sure will.

I'll give you as much trouble as you've given us.

Hassling us for what? They don't even know.

- You'll pay for this. - I doubt it.

- Come on, Jules. - I'm coming.

Soon as they leave us alone.

Rummaging around in people's shacks - for what?

You make me laugh.

You'll see!

You messed up.

I went through the hole and got the basket from the shack.

It's under the bed.

I'm coming.

Here, kitty...

So they came to harass your dad?

Yeah, but they got an earful from Jules instead!

The mistral has kicked up again.

I heard you were here.

How are you, Louis?

You here for a while?

- Yes. - How long?

A little while.

So long.

This was some time ago, not yesterday.

You're really something.

At 20, I could jump in the water and jump out dry.

Listen to this guy!

Well, I'm off to the station.

He met the Paris train yesterday too.

- Who's he expecting? - His wife.

- And he doesn't know when? - He said no.

- So how are you? - How'd you know I was coming today?

- I've come every morning. - For the past five days?

You're sweet.

He didn't seem like a skirt-chaser, but he sure found a pretty girl.

There are lots like her in Paris.

Did they recognize you?

They'd forgotten me a bit in 12 years, but once they saw me -

do you recognize me?

I know you by heart.

My face hasn't changed?

See? This is la pointe courte.

You've talked about it so often.

There's the house I was born in.

- That one? - Yes.

There's the boatyard.

I've wanted to come back here for so long.

Why didn't you come back sooner without me?

With or without you...

It was all the same to you.

I didn't say that.

But what I've rediscovered here belongs to me alone.

Besides, you never wanted to come.

You always said there was nothing to see.

It's true. Look.

I like to see things.

I don't so much.

Meaning I forced you to go on all those trips?

No, I was happy just being with you.

And I'm glad you're here...

But this isn't about us.

Just living is a pleasure here.

You think so?

I don't.

Let's get things right out on the table.

I came to tell you it's time we separated.

That's what you figured out, after five days alone?

It's been on my mind much longer than that.

So that was it.

We were to go on a trip.

We never went.

Something always held you up.

The vacation time went by,

and since I have little imagination,

I came here thinking you'd follow a day or two later.

Then you show up five days later...

All worked up like this.

You're tired.

You need rest...

And sunshine.

This is very serious. I came so we could talk it over.

Oh, I'm sure it's very serious.

Where are you taking me?

To a house. Well, a shack.

You can see it over there.

I'll say, “hello, Laurent.

This is my wife, who's come for a rest...

And to get to know the area.”

Your “homecoming” number is amusing.

Good thing I'm not from here.

We'd look like we were hired by the tourism office.

Laurent!

Can we cross over?

- If you swim! - I mean in your boat!

- Use the bridge. - It's too far.

- Rowing's too much work! - It's not that hot yet.

- I'm fixing my bike. - Come on, help us out!

Okay, I'm coming.

Laurent, this is my wife.

Hello, ma'am.

Couldn't you use the bridge?

There was no bridge before. I always crossed over this way.

Well, don't get in the habit of interrupting my work.

There's my bike, my customers, and the hot sun.

The bike always needs work.

I'm busy. I have work to do.

You'll enjoy this, Maxime. His wife.

Hear that? She's from up north. Paris.

You can bad-mouth us southerners to her.

If they're newlyweds, she'll learn to appreciate it here.

- We've been married four years. - I didn't know that.

He hasn't worn you down.

We're from good stock.

So Maxime was wrong after all.

Be quiet!

Very nice!

See? All clean and brand-new.

What a pleasure!

And there's water.

I mean... when there's water.

They hooked it up this year at issanka.

Then they cut it off.

We hope we'll have water next year.

See you later, folks.

How marvelous!

What a lovely room.

We'll go for walks.

Oh, what difference would it make?

Is something wrong?

You know why?

I'm a little scared...

For us.

We'll take it slow and be very careful.

Never careful enough.

My delicate one!

My big ox.

Come on.

Let's have lunch.

Soldino, I came by earlier. You weren't here.

I was napping.

Talk louder. I can't hear.

Are you deaf? Since when?

I went deaf after the flu last winter.

At the movies the other day I kept asking my wife...

“What's he saying?”

I could see their jowls moving. That was all.

Is your son here? - Which one?

Louis.

He's in his shack.

Louis, they're coming tomorrow to take samples.

- Finally. - Who?

The labor representative.

He's coming along to see if we're taking water from the bottom.

You told 'em why?

They can't say no. I didn't say a thing.

We'll take it to the Michel laboratory in béziers.

We'll say it's for the mauguio lagoon...

To see if it's the water that's rotting our nets so fast.

The board of health can't stop us?

No.

If we pay for the test, we can take it where we want.

You stir things up...

But nothing will ever come of it.

And you don't stir up a thing. That's no better.

The small lagoon should be allowed.

There are shellfish there. The water's clean.

And that counts for something.

We can still haul in shellfish.

Sure, but we don't like working like we're poisoning people.

You still have your nets,

but we only get shellfish.

I'm off.

They got a mouthful this morning. They'll leave us alone tonight.

Unless they send the fishing patrol.

I'll send my little girl to the bridge

to keep an eye out.

How's that work coming along?

What did she say?

“You can ask dad for my hand

but watch out. He's a mean one.”

I asked, “you want to get married?”

She said, “oh, I'm tired.”

- Tired of you? - Me... or her father. Who knows?

Ask and you'll find out.

I'm going to work.

Anyone keeping watch?

Joseph's little girl is over there.

What'll we do with these cats? They're everywhere.

- What? - That one's big again.

Like the carmacci woman.

Again? Aren't seven enough for her?

- She's always ready. - Whose is it?

I don't know. Whoever wanted her.

It doesn't bother her.

If I was like her, always ready to reproduce...

I'd sit at home with a sign on my belly saying...

“Don't touch”!

She doesn't mind.

Stay there.

Here's the fishing patrol now.

The station attendant saw them.

What a life!

Hurry!

Their new motorboat!

A real lightning bolt.

Where were you fishing?

- Between roucaidous and bouzigues. - That's not sorted yet?

I didn't have time. I had to get back.

Sorry, but that's not allowed.

You know that.

I told you where it's from. It's good.

You know it's forbidden to sort it on shore.

Why?

It's just not allowed. You shouldn't have done it.

I have to report you.

Give me your name, age, and address.

Scotto, raphaél...

Age 20, ex-Navy man...

La pointe courte.

Why didn't he hurry?

He's asleep.

- He could've hidden. - He's asleep, I tell you.

He's in love.

Lot of good it's done him! Who's the girl?

- Anna. - He'll have a ball with her dad.

All done.

Ready to go.

The label.

Think a six-franc health label is for nothing?

They know what we do with 'em.

If our shellfish were really bad,

there'd be plenty of corpses by now.

And something else.

Why do they bother us poor guys

with all this about “sanitary” and “unsanitary”?

All that hassle.

- Shall we start? - You're in a hurry.

Yes, I am.

So you don't love me anymore?

So you want to leave me?

Then what's all this about?

If you want your quiet life here, I can leave.

Happiness is all you talk about. That's right.

Being happy at all costs has got us where we are.

- You mean being happy without thinking. - No!

Fine. Say what you're thinking.

Do we really love each other...

Or do we live together out of habit?

What? Whoever's first to have enough should leave

if their heart tells them to.

It's not the heart that tells us that.

The heart never gets enough.

It's the mind that rebels...

Or the body.

When I met you, there were no questions.

I went toward you.

One day I saw in the eyes of others what we call “our love.”

I saw it frolic about while the others coaxed it.

I saw it grow while others grew jealous of it.

I began to look at it.

I too took to keeping watch over it, looking after it...

Weaving garlands for it, keeping it under glass.

Too late.

It's stuffed now, dry as an old orange blossom.

“Our love.”

That's all you say.

You watch over it, keep it under glass.

Do you love me... or our love?

Look at me, not at it!

I'm looking at you...

But not with the same eyes as before.

You looked at me with closed eyes then.

Yes, but I saw no one but you.

Whereas now you're comparing.

No, I'm not...

But I can see the others.

I imagine myself living elsewhere, differently.

Would you like that?

I don't know, but I don't like having these thoughts.

It's no big deal.

No big deal? I think it's dreadful.

I never used to have such thoughts. Did you?

I've always noticed the others.

But I don't want to live anywhere but with you.

We chose each other.

Chose?

As if we choose what happens by accident.

Fine. We chose, selected, crowned each other.

But if it's against nature, nature will have its revenge.

And it is. It's separating us.

Nature is?

You can't say we're in love like in the beginning.

That's normal.

Normal?

Like growing old, or seeing people die at war or in a hospital -

you call that normal?

Two people love each other madly. They want nothing else.

They work. Time passes. It rains or it's sunny.

They get a new cat, a new home, new friends.

They don't care.

But we've changed too. We're no longer madly in love.

Our love's like an old Beau.

Forget about “our love.”

I've loved you just as long, and I'm not unhappy.

When I began to love you

“with the wind in my sails” as you call it, I thought...

“I'll make her happy.”

I watched you live, talk, laugh, make noise.

I knew I'd prefer your noise above all others',

and that the more I knew you, the more I'd love you.

Of course we're not in love like at first. So what?

I didn't choose love at any price. I chose you...

To love you a lot, then perhaps a bit less...

But to be with you.

- Just say it: I don't know how to love. - No.

You love more than I do.

You devour with your eyes closed.

You have ideas. I don't.

I have no ideas. I love in a different way.

You can't tell me our love hasn't aged.

And it's sad enough to spend all day in tears.

You can't be bitter all your life

because we've aged together these last four years.

What else can we do? We've tried everything.

You cheated on me. I tried to cheat on you.

Where did that get us?

You know I love you even more now.

I realized clearly all we had together.

Bravo.

I realize what we no longer have

and how heavy an affair is.

- If you lightened up a bit - - I'd be the happiest of women.

Instead, you're the unhappiest.

I'm fed up.

I'm kindness itself.

Except for work, I think only of your happiness.

I'm patient and caring, and you're unhappy.

Why? For no reason.

Instead of being a haven for each other...

It's a constant revolt.

See? You'd rather give me up and see me leave.

Anything but give up your quiet little life.

Fine. Keep your work and your tranquil life.

But I won't sit quietly in a corner!

I'll live without you too! Why wait?

One works better alone, never sensing time slipping by.

Perfect! Honesty at last!

Keep talking, sweetheart. I want to hear my fate.

I'm not judging you, just saying what I think.

Don't you do the same?

Yes, but I judge us too.

Guilty.

I judge you. You're either blind or a coward.

You didn't dare break our little habits? Break them.

You'll be at ease again.

I've decided to live alone.

No heroics, please!

Keep your room. The apartment's big enough.

I'll find my spot when I return.

So that's how you take it.

Calmly.

You'd let me leave.

Yes, if you don't want to stay.

If we separate, nothing will ever interest me again.

You had ambitions for “our love.”

It's your pride talking, not your grief.

But I do feel grief.

Sodol.

Not as much as I do.

There's so little difference.

I said not to yell! Daniel has a fever!

These kids get on my nerves!

- Did he throw up? - Yes.

- Several times? - Starting yesterday.

Why didn't you call me sooner?

He's never been sick before.

I didn't know.

Little Daniel! Dear lord!

What a tragedy!

Poor Daniel!

Have you seen Raphael?

Call him. The train's at 7:00.

- Raphael, come here! - What?

Why do you want him?

They've come to take him to jail.

They want you in montpellier today.

How many days?

Five. It'll pass quickly.

So you say.

Move it if you want to stop by your place.

Poor kid. Try not to let my husband see you.

Poor Anna.

Seeing me with you two, he'll give his daughter hell.

We'll let you go alone...

Through the neighborhood.

Go change clothes

and meet us in the last car on the 7:00 train.

- You'll take responsibility? - Yes, I've known him for years.

This really tears me up.

This isn't our business.

Go on, and don't get us in trouble.

Dad, I have a problem.

I took 62 pounds of clams to the fishmonger,

and he gave me credit for 56.

If he cheated you out of six pounds,

he's stealing your hard work.

These fishmongers!

They make me puke.

Go back out.

I got the report from beziers on the samples.

It says there's bacteria.

Impossible.

Afraid so. I'll show you the report.

I say they're in cahoots with montpellier.

You can still file a petition.

6:00.

I have to pick up rosette at 6:45.

I don't have time to get into the work,

but 20 francs is 20 francs, and a half hour is a half hour.

Better than going to jail.

- I'll teach you! - I did nothing wrong.

- You're too young to see boys. - Mama got married at 19.

What's going on?

He got slapped because Daniel died.

Come with me.

I'll buy you some licorice.

When she's of age, she can marry anyone she wants.

Jules, you can do as you wish. You're the father.

But I gave you my daughter when she was 19.

Madame repeto had to convince you.

Madame repeto.

This woman forgets everything...

But she remembers that.

You got her, didn't you?

Is this a family meeting?

About Anna again?

Do as you wish. She's your daughter.

But she's mine too.

I don't want her to go through what I did.

Sorry, papa, but you were tough.

You tried to hang on to us forever.

Now it's up to her.

I'm not saying she should get married. She's 16.

But if it's serious, let her see him.

Then they can get married.

They're old enough to start.

We've already shit out half our crap.

And if the bastard is out to take advantage?

He's no bastard. He's too dumb.

He got caught.

Now he's fretting about you in jail. You'll spoil his stay.

While Anna's under my roof,

no one's going to take advantage of her.

You're as happy here as if the whole world were yours.

Especially finding a woman standing next to me!

What an encounter!

Don't speak of an encounter.

The time is long past when we didn't know each other.

I know your tastes, your quirks, your ways.

Your habits have become my own.

There can be no more surprises.

Yes, you know my quirks and my ways...

But you couldn't live my life.

Knowing someone is something else entirely.

You never came here...

Yet it's half my life.

You don't have to think about me.

Don't think about anything. Look around.

As if you'd been here for years...

Like a Shepherd ends up guarding the secrets of the landscape

more than his animals.

What about him? Is he guarding the fish?

He's waiting for them...

Watching out for them.

Go ahead!

Nice and easy!

Did you spot some mullet?

Yes, and we're gonna make 'em jump.

In Paris it seemed so natural having you as a partner.

But here I feel how strange our connection really is.

I wonder why I'm here where you chose to be born.

Chose?

I came here to leave you.

There are better things to do.

I came to make noise, but silence has won out.

It's so quiet.

This is our first real vacation together.

It's true.

We traveled in years past,

but always to places neither of us knew.

Perhaps you dreamed of other women here before.

Which ones?

You know everything about my youth.

Don't go crawling backwards, my little crab.

Were you happy?

Let's not discuss that.

I gave you everything to share, not to tear apart.

I've nibbled enough on your memories from before me.

Silly woman.

Look.

My only ambition when I travel

is to see something like this now and then.

“Ambition”! Do you even know that word?

I spent my childhood in these boatyards.

A shipbuilder builds boats and repairs them.

That's all.

My dad never thought of expanding.

He died young...

But he'd have gotten old the same way, quietly working away.

So many people come to Paris to succeed

and make a place for themselves.

I was born there...

And saw lots of hustle and bustle.

For a long time I thought hustling was a good thing.

You've taught me to keep still.

I love this ship!

It's our home's attic.

There must be rats.

If you've learned to keep still, stop running around.

You'll fall. Be careful!

People here don't like talk about being “tired.”

You'll come to hate it too.

Here, when they say, “he's very tired,” it means...

“He's about to die.”

Things between us would have been so much easier

if I'd been born here next door to you.

You exaggerate.

I wouldn't have fallen for you if you'd been just like me.

The resemblance has to grow bit by bit.

On the red boat...

Raphaél scotto of the “sporting Lance.”

- You okay? - Fine.

- Having fun? - Yes.

You haven't said a word.

I'm fine.

I said, “Alexandre, if you don't want to joust, stay home.”

On the blue boat...

Albert soldino of the “sporting Lance.”

On the red boat...

Auguste calcazani of the “golden shield.”

- See that? - Be quiet!

Fine.

Albert soldino has qualified for a return match.

Now we'll hear from the band.

An ice cream.

A warming fo jouster sebastien

for illegal posture on his perch.

All aboard on the blue boat

Its like this every Sunday in summer,

minus the tribune and the officials.

Is there a crowd every Sunday?

Yes, from 2:00 till 7:00.

You can watch that long?

Isn't it always the same? Maybe.

But if you knew all the jousters like I do...

Their little tricks and schemes.

And even if you don't follow completely,

it's a sight I've always known.

I find it delightful.

Albert, you're not afraid of the water?

You want a flag like your jousting uncle?

They gave la pointe a fine tournament.

Yeah, but like always...

They put the people over there and the tribune in the shade.

You know the officials don't like to come here.

After what they pulled on us,

they feel guilty about refusing our petition.

I told the others they'd never give in.

Samples, analyses. It's not worth it.

We'll never get the small lagoon.

We might if we keep trying.

No, they want us to move to the big lagoon.

Well, what if we refuse? Right. We'll keep hounding them.

We'll take samples every year till one of them says...

“Why keep harassing these people?

Let "em fish. There's so little bacteria.”

- There's no one there like that. - Who knows?

Admit it's fun and lively here.

No longer sorry you came?

I didn't know.

I kept telling you!

You listened like I was telling stories, and not my story.

You were in love with “our love,” not me.

Now I'll love you...

Native of la pointe courte, son of a shipbuilder,

fan of jousting and the sun. My word!

You'll never again reproach me or demand anything of me

without thinking of all that.

You'll love me very thoughtfully.

Why not? Do you love me madly?

I don't think so.

Here's Raphael.

How are you, my boy? - Fine.

Nice tournament. Going to the dance tonight?

What about it, Anna?

Thank you. See you then.

Now you talk to him and let him dance with Anna.

You're a good man.

He jousted well.

He'll be a real man.

Every time he approached, I'd try to nail him.

But nothing doing.

Then he'd come back around. I'd try again.

Bang! He'd slip free again.

- Weren't you in jail? - He escaped.

No, I asked for a leave.

I proved I was on the jousting list.

You're lucky.

I'm going back tomorrow for two more days.

- They're leaving tonight. - Odd people.

Some vacation! Always running around like dogs.

They talk too much to be happy.

You don't look well. Anything wrong?

Lie down a minute.

Maybe you got too hot this afternoon.

At least I had some ice cream.

Your ice cream.

I'll never forget it.

You know...

I thought you'd left...

Like you said the first day.

You thought I'd left?

I'd never just leave like that. How do I know?

- You know me completely. - Yes.

But your mind changes all the time.

I'm always a day or two behind.

I'll keep you up to date.

Have you made a decision?

I've made no decision...

But I've faced the facts.

The bonds between us are stronger than us both.

We've lost the first flower of our love.

The emotion, discovery, desire...

The passion.

And I can't get over it.

But adult love based on knowing each other is a passion...

That's less external, less fragile...

A bit like maternal love that nothing can truly diminish.

Are you sure all that is about me?

Yes, you.

Now I know how much I love you...

And no one will ever set me free.

Set you free? I never tied you down.

Of course not. And we may not always live together.

If you love me as you say,

I'll never let you go.

Together or apart, nothing will ever separate us.

You love me quietly just like you live quietly.

Yet you're trapped just as I am.

I don't feel trapped.

You will.

You really think you stole my soul?

Yes, and you stole mine.

Fine, but what does that change?

Nothing.

But it's good to know what we've traded our youth for.

What do you think? Was the trade-off worth it?

I don't know.

Is that the canal water on the ceiling?

Yes. The moon's shining on the canal.

Gentlemen, silence, please.

And now for something different.

Monsieur de rubi will sing us a song.

Monsieur de rubi, also known as néné.

I'll sing “I love only you.”

I love only you

ever since my lips knew

the fever of your kiss

I love only you

and my heart dreams only

of that intoxicating moment

despite myself, my voice implores you night and day

for I fear you won't be back

but when [I see you everything sings with me

I love only you

This is dragging on. I'd better step in.

Well?

All done eating? The dance is starting.

We have time.

So he grabs the dish and slips his hand under it...

Quiet, everyone!

I'm proud to award Albert soldino the grand jousting trophy.

Let's hear it for Albert!

Look at him, papa.

After all his grumbling,

he can still have fun like a young kid.

Parties don't change a thing, but they make us feel good.

Time for bed, kids.

You were right to be so calm the day I arrived.

In a few days you'll start again.

You'll do your “this can't go on” number again.

Maybe.

But now I know it's pointless.

You're resigned to it.

Resigned, reassured...

Delighted.

We'll still have secrets.

A couple's secrets bring them closer.

But no one knows if the secrets are happy or sad.

Come on, kids.

I lost my hanky.

- Louisette? - Coming!

When you bring back the basket and plates,

don't forget the towel.

Mine has a little ring in the corner.

Cast off.

Uncle Noel, don't drown all the kittens in the canal.

Save me one.

The little black-and-white one with the white belly.

This kid's getting on my nerves with his kitten.

Isn't pomponette enough for you?

We'll have to look after his kitten.

Good-bye, noél.

Don't forget the towel!

Watch your feet.

He's no trouble, ma'am. Don't worry.

I'm thirsty.

Some coffee, ma'am?

For him? Oh, no.

If his mother doesn't touch it, he doesn't need any.

But you're very kind. When do we get to Paris?

Tomorrow morning.