Original subtitles

I'm so sorry, Mr Schwartz.

It's an error. A serious error.

Action will be taken.

No-one closed her eyes.

It's procedure.

We're not allowed to touch anything until...

If there's anything I can do...

- When can I bury her? - After the autopsy.

She jumped out of a window. There were witnesses.

As it happened at a police station and there was negligence,

there'll be an inquiry.

I don't want her cut up.

If you want to do something, let me bury her.

I won't be filing a complaint.

Nor will the only family she has left.

I understand.

An inquiry won't bring her back.

I'll ask the judge,

but it should be possible, in the circumstances.

In any case...

I know, you're sorry.

Not as sorry as I am.

A FRENCH VILLAGE

THE MOVE

There you are.

Are you

Marie Germain's son? Why are you here?

I was sentenced to 20 years' forced labour

by a French judge.

Apparently the French gave me away to the Boches.

Are the Boches here?

They control everything.

There's a common-law section,

and the screws are French.

So,

you're all with the Resistance?

Yes.

I haven't done anything. I don't get it.

No?

I bought some meat tokens on the black market,

for my fiancée.

She lacks iron, she has a poor constitution.

I've been charged with terrorism.

That's hard.

- Will I be here long? - If you're lucky.

Is it that bad here?

They shot someone yesterday and on Monday.

This is four-star here.

I thought they were deporting people to Germany now.

They ring the changes.

Marcel Larcher.

I know who you are.

I'm Anselme.

You're Marie Germain's son?

- Yes. - I know your mother.

- Really? How is she? - She'd be pleased you're here.

Can we ask to see a lawyer?

Yes.

But I expect they'll refuse.

Grub's up.

There'll be a final today.

One of you, I think.

What's a final?

I had to see you.

What is it?

- Your cousin Hubert... - What?

Is he still head warder?

- Yes. - Can he arrange visits?

I think so. Why?

I need a pass for a political prisoner.

Who for?

- Who for? - Will you help me or not?

I need to see him today.

- You'll need forged papers. - I've got them.

A head warder should be able to arrange a visit.

- You just turn up... - I have no choice, Gérard.

I'm too nice.

Look...

The guy I need to see shot a German officer.

He's been sentenced to death. I must see him.

Is it him?

We're at war. People are dying, the country is starving.

There's no time for relationships.

War doesn't stop people loving each other.

Will you help me?

Please.

You must show what doesn't exist,

the invisible.

That's theatre.

Claude, Antoine's calling you.

Got you!

I got him.

He's making progress.

We wanted a story,

- or it isn't funny. - A story?

Something to happen.

Duels, love stories.

Tragedy!

You want a story? You'll get one. We'll put on a play.

We can do "El Cid", my mother's favourite.

- That's old hat. - "Cyrano"!

"It's a bit short!"

- Too middle-class. - What then?

"Les Remparts de Saragosse".

A modern play, but in verse.

What's it about?

Saragossa, Spain, 8th century.

The Saracens are laying siege to the town. If they get in,

they'll kill everyone.

A young captain, Golfo,

guards part of the ramparts.

Key to the defence of the town.

A beautiful gypsy, Ariana,

comes to talk to Golfo.

She distracts him.

He falls under her spell.

But does she really love him?

Is she working with the Saracens?

Or both?

- Not bad. - How does it end?

What matters is the question, not the answer.

Who is it by?

Henri Bernstein, an early work. Never performed.

I did theatre in Karlsruhe.

Really?

When I was young.

I don't understand why they're holding you.

Aren't you on their side?

I'm not on any side.

I'm a doctor.

You can be a doctor and be involved.

My father was a doctor and a communist.

Communist?

Ten years ago, there were millions in Germany.

Things change quickly.

Do you have family waiting for you?

Yes.

The guy with the gun

would be easy to disarm.

You just need to untie me.

I can't do that.

I won't hurt him.

I'll take his gun

and we'll go.

They'll release us eventually.

Are you sure of that?

What are you doing?

- We're working on our play. - I don't care about that.

We have to leave shortly. There's lots to prepare.

You still have jobs to do.

Come on, then.

I said they were dangerous.

But you always know best.

Do you know this area?

Steeply sloping conifer woods, a lake,

marshes,

quicksand.

Can armoured vehicles get through?

I doubt it.

How long will it take to mount an operation?

Without troops or armoured vehicles, two or three days.

What are you waiting for?

In 2 or 3 days, they won't be there.

- How do you know? - They're not idiots.

- They know the girls will talk. - The enemy can be stupid.

Sometimes.

Allies too.

If you had listened, you'd be there by now.

"If" gets us nowhere.

We can let you have

our reserve troops.

We need to follow them, and infiltrate if possible.

And when they think they're safe,

we'll crush them.

How can we infiltrate?

Thank you, Gentlemen. I won't see you out.

Do we leave now?

I imagine so.

He's unbelievable.

- Everything OK? - Fine.

You're nearly out.

I've increased the dose.

Daniel said you had enough for a week.

- He's not the one who's ill. - Heinrich!

- Give me that! - You're killing yourself.

Heinrich! Ow!

Give me that bottle!

You need an operation.

It's your only chance to remain a man.

You have to realise when you need help.

Even when you're someone important in the SD.

I'm no-one important.

Remember that you and I are in this together.

You win.

I'll have the operation, Hortense.

To get organised for my convalescence

will take three or four weeks.

I'll need morphine

to keep me going.

Could you ask your favourite doctor one last time?

Why do you kill them?

- They're collaborators. - They're locked up, like us.

No, they go through the gaps, they're free to move around.

- Collaborators. - You don't know that.

You're quick to condemn.

You may be right.

Next time we'll have a trial. You can be the lawyer.

OK.

- You can be the judge. - I don't know how.

It's very easy.

You decide who speaks. You give the verdict.

We'll do it tomorrow!

- Who will you be? - The clerk.

Or the public.

Have you got kids?

A son.

I haven't seen him for two years.

His name is Gustave.

Does he live with his mother?

No, she died in 1940.

He lives with my brother,

the former mayor.

Do you get on?

I'm not sad he's looking after my son.

Larcher, visitor.

You're crazy coming here!

My papers are OK. Gérard's cousin is the head warden.

- And you trust him? - He's a family man.

You mean, more than I am.

What is your name meant to be?

Jeanne Lemarchand.

- Do they know who you are? - Yes.

Because of the letter?

It wrecked your false papers.

No, they didn't read the letter.

A cop recognised me.

Did you read it?

That's not the problem right now.

No, the problem is to get you out of here.

It's very hard to get out of here. Almost impossible.

- Will they interrogate you again? - No physical contact.

I'm in a cell where I might leave at any moment.

To go where?

I won't survive if...

- Don't talk nonsense! - Please.

If it happens, continue the struggle.

Marie Germain's son is in my cell.

- The farmer? - Yes.

Larcher, time's up.

I can't come back, but we'll get you out of here.

Goodbye, Jeanne.

My regards to the family.

Goodbye.

You're drinking a lot.

No more than usual.

You had a port last night. The day before,

two anisettes, some wine...

You're worse than the cops. It relaxes me.

This is no time for relaxing.

- Quite the reverse. - Dad's dining with Barthélémy.

He said people in Paris think well of you.

- Thinking, always thinking... - You have to think before acting.

No, you have to act to force people to think as you want them to.

The Pétainists have never understood that.

- Forcing people doesn't work. - It's worked in Russia and Italy

for 20 years, and in Germany for 10.

You just need some decisive men and it works very well.

Philippe Chassagne.

Hortense Larcher, am I disturbing you?

Never.

- I need to see you because... - No need to give a reason.

Today?

When?

4pm. Do you know where my office is?

Yes. 4pm is fine.

Who was that?

The Villeneuve Young Ladies Union of France.

- They want a subsidy. - Young ladies? Maybe I should come.

- You're no longer a young lady. - Bastard!

Finish this and be careful.

Hurry up! You're as slow as girls going to their first ball.

- It's because we're actors. - Very clever.

- What's all that for? - The grub.

You don't need all that!

We need spoons and plates.

But it's heavy! We've got 15 km to walk,

- mostly uphill. - They're things

- that belong to me! - He's carrying them.

It's noisy!

OK, I won't take everything.

You like his chestnut purée.

Not if it gets us caught.

What do we do

with the Boches? We can't take the wounded one.

No, we'll let him go with the doctor.

It'll slow them down.

- And the other one? - I don't know.

They haven't said what they'll do with us.

I don't like it.

Don't worry.

It's not normal not to tell us.

They're moving.

They'll let us go.

What are you doing? We're releasing

- your precious doctor. - I have bad news.

More repression?

Your sister was arrested shortly after coming here.

- By French or Germans? - She's dead, Antoine.

- You should... - Shut up!

- Did the Germans torture her? - I don't know.

Probably.

- Are you mad? - Shut up!

He's done nothing.

He's a Boche!

- Stop! - Leave me alone!

You saw Marcel?

- My husband's cousin is the warden. - You mix with your in-laws now?

My husband escaped. I've seen him several times.

He arranged it.

Here we go again.

- It's good that I saw Marcel. - No, it isn't.

It complicates any attempt at escape.

- Why? - We can't trust the cousin.

- I think we can. - You think!

He may get arrested for giving you a pass.

- He knows your real name, right? - Obviously.

You saw your husband without telling us.

The problem is Marcel, not me. He's in a condemned cell.

- What do you want us to do? - Get him out.

From a German prison?

- How? - With the cousin's help.

Enough with the cousin! He's a screw. He's not one of us.

- It's dangerous. - It's Marcel's only chance.

Suzanne, I was wrong about you two years ago. You're OK.

But you don't listen to advice. You're endangering the Party.

- We'll take care of Marcel. - What do you plan to do?

I don't know.

We'll find a plan using people we can trust.

You'll do nothing.

You'd rather let Marcel die than cross the Party line.

- You've no right to say that. - I'm going to try the cousin.

- You'll be out of the Party. - So what?

You know, the war took my husband.

Jo's death is my fault.

Why do you say that?

She died because I didn't do forced labour.

- If I'd gone... - Life isn't like that.

Your sister died because...

the Boches are occupying France and some bastards help them.

That's life's way.

How did your husband die?

Life's way.

- And Raymond? - What about him?

What does he mean to you?

A memory.

Let's hurry. We don't know what Joséphine and Anselme told them.

- Where's your new camp? - On the Ribeaucourt hill.

Near the stream. Do you know it?

Yes. What about the doctor and the Boches?

I thought I'd leave them here.

By the time the doctor unties the unhurt one, we'll be long gone.

Fine.

See you at Ribeaucourt the day after tomorrow?

What for?

To talk. We need to coordinate our actions now.

OK.

You tired?

- Want to rest a bit? - No.

We're still far from Villeneuve.

Antoine, I won't take the utensils after all.

- I'll make more when we get there. - Good idea.

Just the big spatula.

Can I take that?

I think you should.

Eh? The big spatula?

Sure, yes.

- And the girl? - She'll meet us

at Ribeaucourt.

I'm not up to leading the unit alone.

Don't say that. They all follow you, you know.

Even you?

As long as we can act, I'll follow you to the ends of the earth.

- Is everyone ready? - Yes.

Tighten the knots on the Boche.

- I'm not good at knots. - I am.

Bastien, it's OK,

I'll do it.

Don't shoot!

Your Luger!

Slowly!

Claus...

I can't take you with me, you understand?

Get going!

Come in, Mrs Larcher. You may

leave us, Hussard. Thank you.

I wanted to thank you for the other day.

You helped me out of a difficult situation.

- I still don't know why. - I like to help my friends.

You don't blame him?

I'm talking about you, not him. I believe in friendship.

It's him you helped.

My friends' friends are my friends.

He's suffering. It's no wonder he gets worked up.

And I'm a most fervent collaborator.

I need...

Knowing what a woman wants is the secret to life.

Thank you.

You still believe in Santa Claus. It makes you all the more

exciting.

- Let me go. - Too late.

Give me what I want,

or I'll tell him how he got the morphine last time.

What did you tell him?

You want to play truth games?

If he finds out what you did,

he'll kill you.

It's not too bad. You were lucky.

But I need to reduce the fracture.

How did he

get free?

- It's impossible alone. - Who'd help a Boche?

Me.

I untied him.

- Collaborator! - That's enough!

He thought you were going to kill him.

I'm not surprised, given what your word is worth.

- You'd rather help a Boche? - I didn't want

- to be complicit in an execution. - We were going to leave you here.

He couldn't have known that.

Bastien is hurt thanks to you. You won't be going home.

Watch him. When we stop, tie him up.

Take turns with Charles.

I've got nothing.

Daniel had none.

He may have some tomorrow or the day after.

It doesn't matter.

Give me a hug, it will be just as good.

I'm sorry.

Tomorrow is another day.

VILLENEUVE PRIMARY SCHOOL

- Are you Mr Bériot? - At this time of day, barely.

Do I know you?

I'm a friend of Marcel Larcher.

Were you at the post office in 1940?

- Yes, but that was long ago. - What can I do for you?

- Marcel was arrested. - I know.

I want to get him out.

I don't see how I can help. I'm a headmaster.

You contacted Marcel last year about the Gaullists.

Come in.

In here.

I'm looking for help.

You must have comrades who can help you.

Not soon enough. Marcel could be executed at any moment.

Have they tried?

I don't think so.

I'm sorry for you and for him. But what can be done?

Marcel is in the same cell as Marie Germain's son.

- Raoul? - Yes.

Lead me to her. I'm sure she'll help me.

I accuse Robert, here present,

of being verminous,

foul-smelling and dirty.

- Why do you call him Robert? - He has to have a name.

Robert's my brother-in-law.

I don't like him.

Now then: Robert is dirty.

He never answers questions.

He gives you the blues, even before you're depressed.

He is therefore depressing,

in a period which is already depressing.

I demand his death by crushing, Your Honour.

With the confiscation of his goods and denial of animal rights.

I protest.

- The public has no right to speak. - In popular justice, we do.

These bolsheviks are annoying. Let the populace speak.

- Go ahead, sir. - Thank you.

- Citizen Cockroach... - Robert.

Citizen Robert. Is it his fault that he's a cockroach?

No, it's his natural state.

Would you condemn a living being for what it is?

That's fascism.

- Exactly! - I protest!

- Quiet, or I'll empty the chamber! - Really?

We'd like to see that.

The defence

has the floor.

My client

- is innocent, Your Honour. - Well, well!

- Why? - He is an honest cockroach

who attends to his cockroach occupations.

Depressing people.

And who has done nothing.

And that makes him innocent?

Obviously.

We are all here because we have done something.

But none of us considers ourselves guilty.

Today, doing nothing is wrong.

So Robert is even more guilty.

You're referring to me?

Concentrate on your client, Maître. He risks

losing his head.

Citizen Robert has done nothing.

- I demand his acquittal. - Bravo!

- Long live the people's justice. - The populace.

- Cockroaches of the world unite. - That's a good one!

Your Honour, over to you.

I'm deliberating.

Simon Wartel!

Yes?

Come with me.

- Where to? - Quickly!

I've done nothing!

You think the final's for him?

Black market? No, they'll just interrogate him.

There were three of them.

And they were Boches.

Fire!

- Dominique? - Are you Marguerite?

Sorry I'm late. Jules gave me bad directions.

- I don't know the area. - Make an effort in future.

I've news of your son, Raoul.

What?

- He's in prison in Villeneuve. - How do you know?

Someone called Françoise came to see Jules.

She wants to organise a jailbreak. Her partner's with your son.

Sorry, I've had no news for months.

I understand. Obviously,

- he got a heavy sentence. - Did Jules talk about Françoise?

I think she's a communist. Her partner's Marcel Larcher.

I see. He's been arrested.

He's a good guy.

Right. Tell Bériot

to send Françoise to the Ribeaucourt stream tomorrow at noon. Clear?

Ribeaucourt stream.

You asleep?

Heinrich.

Heinrich!

Ludwig!

Ludwig!

He took too many sleeping pills.

He's OK.

Like the morphine, he needs more and more.

His heart may give out.

He thinks he's indestructible, but...

What can we do?

We have to get him some morphine.

For if the Saracens...

and their brutal strength overwhelm our city,

our fate will be sealed.

You must sleep

occasionally.

You must eat and drink so that your body may be content...

Stop.

Stop. It's not working.

Sentinels, you don't look like you're guarding a city,

that you are under pressure.

You look like you're strolling round the ramparts.

- We're doing what we always do. - This is theatre!

Forget real life.

You have to work together!

Is it that complicated?

And you must memorise the text. You're just reading it.

The text is hard, there are words.

For if the Saracens and their brutal strength overwhelm our city,

our fate will be sealed.

You must sleep occasionally.

You must eat and drink so that your body may be content.

The words are simple. What is hard is to convey them.

Time to gather wood. Night is falling.

And help the doctor by the river with the wounded.

Go on!

Now!

They obey you more than me. You should have been a soldier.

No way!

- Are we far from Ribeaucourt? - 3 km. We'll be there by noon.

I can't believe she's dead.

I tell myself that later, after the war,

I don't know...

I'll see her again.

- You believe in God? - Obviously.

I don't.

If I was, I'd tell myself that I'd see her later.

- In heaven. - No.

I don't believe in that.

Well, not really.

You believe in God but not in heaven.

What a waste!

You saved my life.

It's incredible how good it is when the pain goes.

Good.

Come here.

You were right. It's time I had an operation.

- Did your husband make a fuss? - No.

How is he with you?

Normal. He was very busy.

He told me about his patients, as usual.

And things about Villeneuve politics.

Think he still loves you?

No idea. In any case, I don't love him.

Will you have enough until the operation?

I'll ration myself.

Promise me not to take any more sleeping pills.

I can't do without you, you know?

You and I are in this together.

Ludwig.

I'm a little hungry too.

I'll make some sandwiches. Ludwig, you want one?

No, thank you.

So, what news of the world?

The French are sending us an agent to infiltrate Antoine's unit.

It's shameful having to use a Frenchman for that.

Marcel Larcher has been arrested.

Excellent!

But the French sent him to Section II.

What?

They'll shoot him without interrogating him properly.

If he's due to be executed, get a suspension.

It's a bad time for the Larcher family.

Why do you say that?

The doctor.

She didn't tell you?

Tell me what?

Dr Larcher was abducted by the Maquis two days ago.

What?

That's just a rumour.

A patient saw him following a man

who was pointing a gun at him.