Original subtitles

WINTER OF 54, ABBÉ PIERRE

Careful!

After new year's eve, there's always glass.

This is rubbish, it's worth nothing.

Always clowning around!

That's all right, so to speak.

Who am I taking back?

It's my turn.

And give my regards to the father.

How about a little extra?

It's not what we do.

I see, you're scared stiff.

Look at this!

And there's more.

- Loads of oyster shells, in there. - Hurry up!

And oysters come with oyster forks.

Solid silver.

Complete with trouble.

May I?

Are you a ragman?

I've been one all my life.

It's a good one, as well!

- Your card. - What are you hiding?

Me? Nothing.

- It's only valid in Paris. - He's got something in his pocket.

Give it here.

Enough! Stop it!

I said, enough! We might as well talk.

- Who do you work for? - The deputy priest.

Exactly!

- Can you prove it? - It's round the corner.

He'll only make himself scarce.

Not likely, I'm going with him.

EMMAUS COMMUNITY

- Where's the father? - Over there, by the incinerator.

See, everything gets back here.

- To sort it out? - No, to look pretty.

- You mend things? - If we can.

- You sell things? - If we can.

Is it true your priest is a deputy?

He used to be, now, he works with us.

Since when are priests on our side?

Since him.

We can't allow you.

Only on rubbish tips.

- I should hope so. - Definitely not round town.

Especially first-hand.

- The bins are ours. - Really, how come?

- They're part of our wages. - That's right.

We have an arrangement with the council.

Wages are low, so they grant us first-hand.

How do you mean?

Normally, the police keeps an eye.

- The bins? - Yes.

Thank you, er, father.

That's how it is. It's you or us.

- I understand. - We only have the streets.

You're still better off.

Second-hand trading.

We can't visit people to sort out their things.

It's what pays.

Rotten mattresses, only good for burning?

And for this morning? I see you've squared up.

Yeah.

Add this to the bill.

Thank you.

Bless us, Lord.

Bless this food and those who prepared it.

Give bread to those who are hungry

and those who have bread, give them hunger.

Amen.

Before second-hand trading, you could try something.

Produce some tracts.

When we collect the dust bins, we'll put them in letter boxes.

Tracts?

When you give them notice, they give more.

It's a lot of work.

And your cut?

Nothing.

It's to help you. In exchange for the bins.

It's a wonderful idea.

Come here.

Since we're on the topic of reconstruction and housing,

we have to address the question of homeless people.

I'm asking you to take an immediate vote to keep

one billion francs

from the construction of social housing.

And to allocate it to the construction

of emergency housing.

What is this about, Mr Hamon?

Your emergency housing is nothing more

than insalubrious sheds.

There are more pressing matters than emergency housing.

What do you think, dear friend?

That in three years time, we'll have too much housing.

There will be to let signs all over Paris.

Léo, you're such an idealist.

Ask them what the real reasons are.

They don't want Abbé Pierre's dropouts anywhere near them.

- Neither do you. - Of course, I don't.

Mea culpa, I don't want shanties in my town.

They'd also use up all the building land, for nothing.

I don't find this...

How would you put it? Sensible.

And if it became a life or death matter?

We'll worry about it if it happens.

Do you want to know what I really think?

Go on, then.

Your extreme-left position with the MFP is amusing for a while

but it's feeble.

One can't take risks with everything.

You see this as a game?

A time comes when one has to choose one's side.

Modernism or violins.

We'll see when the time comes.

Good evening, Abbé. Good morning, in fact.

No, they didn't vote.

They want professional advice.

Yes, I understand.

Thank you, Léo.

Thank you. See you soon.

Come in!

Morning, father.

Good morning, miss.

- Well? - The amendment was rejected.

No...

It will have to go through commissions, laws,

- finance, building... - It will take months.

They'll vote when the sky is blue.

If they do vote.

What are we going to do?

"We"?

As usual, miss, we'll keep going.

With our limited means.

And by the grace of God.

Morning, Maurice. Hold on to this for me, please.

Of course, Mr Charmat. You're expected.

Thank you.

My dear Jacques!

It was a narrow escape, what a night!

Would you rather postpone?

Not at all, I can't wait to see this exemplary factory.

Really.

What have you done with your charming Hélène?

Right on cue.

Perfect as ever, lucky man.

- How are you, Senator? - Not well at all.

We finished at dawn, again.

They're voting on the budget.

5 o'clock in the morning, and Léo Hamon was on top form.

We had to chuck him out,

or we'd still be talking about emergency housing.

- Are you against it? - It's a waste of money.

Reconstruction, first and foremost.

- And what does it mean? - Anything but houses.

Very amusing.

No, we'll never stop people building houses.

On the contrary.

He wants to cut the social housing budget.

Emergency housing would have

to be knocked down in six months' time,

it makes no sense.

Priests belong in churches.

Poor man, he seems so genuine.

We're all genuine.

As if he didn't have enough to do, saving our souls.

He's right, the real problem, Hélène,

is that priority must be given to production facilities.

Exactly.

Machinery, planes, power stations, dams, ports,

factories, motorways, bridges...

Yes, make sure you build bridges, for them to sleep underneath.

You're very funny, Hélène.

Let me tell you something.

Poverty has been around for 2,000 years.

It's about time we got used to it.

The poor, in a state, like shadows on a painting,

provide the necessary contrast.

Taste in art is not something that can be discussed.

Excuse me.

Very droll, quoting yourself?

Pardon? No, Philippe Hecquet, 18th century.

Women don't understand these things.

Irène...

Irène!

My baby!

A layer of tarmac should hold it.

- It's not a patch on clinker. - But it's all we've got!

Watch out!

Shit!

It's one of those days!

What's the problem, today?

- It's not difficult, is it? - It's not the point.

"I can't have faith

"in the man responsible for a world where children die."

Mr Albert Camus.

No one's forcing you, old chap. You're free.

Free to snuff it.

Look.

Give me the sheet metal.

- We can't put the roof up first. - Yes, we can.

- It's not logical. - It is, actually.

If it doesn't have a roof, the cops can close the site.

But as soon as the roof is on, it's a house,

so they need to obtain an eviction order to chuck you out.

It's the same thing.

Yes, but later. Justice is a long process.

How is it illegal?

Father, there's neither water nor electricity.

And look at the road.

- What about it? - It's not surfaced.

I told you, we're only camping.

Is this not French?

Father, you have to face the facts.

You have no building permission.

You'll have the police services on your back.

He's from Health and Safety, I'm from Equipment,

- and it's just the beginning. - Without permission, it's illegal.

What are we going to do about them, then?

They're just dying.

Legally, but they are dying.

If you don't clear off, you'll be taken to court.

Yes, please, for the love of God, let them take me to court.

I'll wear my Legion of Honour medal here,

my Deputy sash round here, and my stole on top.

And I will go to court, and I will tell them

that when the law doesn't grant the workers enough

to pay for their housing, then the law is illegal.

He's mad.

We need mad people.

I like it, when he's like this.

Good night, dear friend, I'll call you tomorrow.

Father...

What a surprise!

I'm really sorry, but I had to see you.

You did the right thing, come in.

Thank you.

Forgive me for not turning the light on, it's our ritual.

If the light comes on suddenly, they panic, they hit the glass.

It's beautiful.

My favourite ones, Cardinalfish.

Charming.

What's this one?

This one, here? A Corydoras.

We call him "the rooter"

because he looks for food in the waste of others.

Not such a silly thing to do, then.

Part of the Creator's plan.

Take a seat, father.

What can I do for you?

- Publish this. - What is it?

A letter.

Run out of stamps?

Exactly.

To Mr Letellier, Minister of Housing.

Goodness!

I might as well.

If you don't know, please keep quiet,

never discuss housing again.

Do you really want this to be published?

I've been thinking about it all day.

We have to tell them.

Powerful men are blind, Paul, you know this as well as I do.

Power is blind.

And poverty is dumb.

And you and I, we're in-between the two.

By keeping quiet, we become a party to it.

True, but addressing Letellier like this...

Why not?

Be realistic, it would have consequences.

They'd have to go one better.

One better than nothing might finally give us

a little something.

Father, I'm saying this because it's really...

- What? - Risky.

For me?

A priest who has nothing left to lose.

What's the risk?

Of course.

Ex-member of the Resistance, close to the De Gaulles.

- You're untouchable. - It's our chance.

One can't address a minister like this.

- I can. - You might.

You're probably the only one who can do it.

Listen.

The night you left the Senate without voting,

a baby froze to death.

He'll be buried tomorrow, it would be good if you came.

You're dreaming!

It's always the same!

They see human tragedy through their statistics.

One shouldn't cry looking at figures, but behind coffins!

Forgive me.

I'll just finish.

You would be welcome,

we know that this was not what you wanted.

Come along, don't say no a second time.

He won't go.

And you, Paul, what do you think?

That the Figaro does not publish texts that condemn

the governing authorities so harshly.

That's what I think.

Very well.

I understand.

I must seem rather naïve.

No. Very naïve.

Or...

Very clever.

Deleu, speaking, put me through to printing.

The full version?

When I saw you at my door, I knew I was in trouble.

I have to say, this time, you're spoiling me.

Hello, old friend.

Change of plan.

I know.

I need...

Four columns on the front page.

Hello?

Good morning, sir.

No.

I'm telling you that Mr Letellier is out.

Yes.

That's right, goodbye, sir.

It's ridiculous.

Is this fit for a minister?

Hello?

Yes, dear friend.

- No one. - Of course, I know.

Yes.

He's just left for the Ministry.

Of course, he won't be going.

All right, dear friend, see you soon.

The president wanted to know what you intended to do.

Seven calls in one hour, it breaks the record.

Really, the front page, the limelight, it's very exciting.

Marie-Claire, don't be cynical.

I don't like you being humiliated by a bunch of...

They didn't humiliate me.

They invited me to feel their humiliation,

it's not the same.

See you tonight, dearest.

Gilbert...

You won't be going, will you?

Gilbert!

Thank you, thank you.

I won't reply to your letter, I don't want any polemics.

Neither do I, Minister.

This is beyond polemics.

It's only a gesture.

No, he's also promised to build the first emergency lodgings.

Bless the Lord.

- On Plessis-Trévise. - When?

He has to release some funding.

I see.

- Don't tell me this is the post. - It is.

- All of this? - Twice as much as yesterday.

In that case...

Delivered by courier,

Mrs Hélène Vannier, landlady of a hotel in Paris.

"Very moved by the letter in the Figaro,

"sending you a big cheque."

50,000 francs.

It's very generous of her.

And she's offering something else.

She'd like to put some of her rooms at your disposal.

Are you sure?

Yes, I was surprised too.

Just here.

Here.

I'll go and see her tomorrow.

What else?

What else...

Some bills.

Not so pleasant.

Here, put this round your neck.

It's going to be tough, tonight.

You can say that again, minus 15.

You work day and night, in your trade.

- If you came here for a holiday... - No, but there are limits.

No one forced you.

Where do you come from, anyway?

I thought you didn't ask any questions.

Make yourself useful.

He gets on my nerves.

Don't panic, Castaing, we're all like this, at first.

Thanks.

Castaing, is that your name?

Castaing, also known as Fisticuffs.

If you want a taste, just let me know.

Don't take any notice, he's out of his mind.

- I'm not after a fight, you know. - That's it.

Don't do anything that could harm your health.

You're right, that's all I've got left.

I didn't even have that.

Sick as a dog, riddled with bullet holes.

Look at me.

You're on top form.

When I got here,

I was a human wreck, wasn't I Raoul?

You've certainly got better.

I'm just saying

that now you've joined the darkest depths of hardship,

you'll have to muck in.

I'm not scared of hard work.

Working day and night is a lot, but I'm not slack.

All done, I've loaded the stock.

One moment, we're getting acquainted.

- My name is Jean. - That's all right.

I see you've met everyone.

How did it go?

Wonderful.

It's the tracts, they're starting to...

- You don't sound too good. - I'll be better tomorrow.

- I'm not bored, but.. - Let's go.

We should have produced tracts before.

Yes, but we also have to give them out.

When would we have found the time?

In-between two jobs.

If you want a fight, I'm right behind you.

Did you see that?

Young people don't want to fight any more.

About time it happened.

There's coffee and soup.

And bring the flasks back, this time.

Where's the cobbler? Here he is.

In you get.

No, you've got a cold, jump in.

No, father, you get in.

Out of the question, hop in.

Let me take this one.

Come on!

Go on!

Go on.

We've made up a prayer for you.

I'm listening.

Dear God,

give us the strength to live each day,

and to endure the nonsense the father asks of us,

in the name of his bloody poverty.

Amen!

You're mad!

I love it.

It suits you.

- Are you ready? - No, not at all!

Do we really have to go out?

- Charmat will be here any minute. - Him, again?

I told you.

That we were going to the opera, you didn't say he was coming.

I'm furious.

I'm sorry, but this time...

Come on, come on, let's hurry up!

Let's not go.

Jacques, this man is a dreadful bore.

Tell me the truth.

The truth is I hate him.

And you hate him too.

It's true, what does a man like you do with this...

Senator?

I need him.

You?

You need someone?

I need you, tonight.

Think of Verdi.

At this rate, he'll be the only honourable man left.

Stop!

Stop.

Go back, there's something.

- I didn't see anything. - It's just a load of rags.

In the corner.

- He was right. - Unbelievable.

He's on the ball.

He's very sharp-eyed. Come on, cobbler, pass it here!

It's not much, but we thought that a bit of hot soup...

I wouldn't say no, father.

Would you like some soup? You're cold.

- Hey, there's booze. - Here, give some to your friend.

He's not my friend, and he doesn't want any.

Is he sick?

Of course not, but he's had a skinful.

- We can't leave them here. - Especially with the child.

Well well,

they say that one swallow doesn't make a summer.

- What's going on? - We must take them somewhere.

Where?

The police station or a night shelter.

Everywhere is full, father, even the hospitals.

There must be somewhere.

The mortuary, when they're dead.

That's all we can do. Good evening, father.

It's a disgrace!

There are dog shelters,

and you can't even do the same thing for men!

Shall we take them?

- To the railway station? - It's better than here.

I'll go and suggest it.

I'll have a look round here.

Wait, I'm coming with you!

If you'd said that to me, one hour ago...

- What? - This man, with his wife and kid.

We had a chat, he works in a factory.

He works all day on the production line.

Come the evening, he can't pay for a room for his family.

Did you think that homeless people are all tramps?

Yes.

Castaing's right, where do you come from?

From the Limousin.

A country bumpkin in Paris! Makes sense.

Bring the van over, I found a nest!

Come on, Lucienne.

Come on.

Go on!

I'm not going.

Don't wait for us.

We'll stay here.

As you wish.

- What's the matter? - His wife is scared of the van.

Scared of the van?

They had a ride in a P45 police van and were dropped off

250km away from here, in the middle of nowhere.

So they're not too keen on car rides.

God...

When there are too many of them, we hide them.

Good evening.

I bet you one tin of tobacco that he brings her back.

The new collection is exhausting me.

Where do you work?

- Jacques Fath. - They call this work.

They put a 300,000 franc dress on,

and they cross the room, showing their...

Their teeth?

I'd call it a slave market.

What an idiot!

He can't even stand up!

Good evening, dear listeners, here is the latest news.

First of all, this awful cold spell.

The temperature dropped

to minus 15 in Paris, and minus 30 in the Alsace.

Unheard of since 1880.

In Dunkirk, even the waves froze.

50 today, 150 tomorrow. They've started evicting again.

Pardon?

Listen to this.

The Ministry of the Interior sent this circular.

"Ignoring eviction orders is prejudicial

"to the authority of the State."

What about prior for re-housing?

They don't care!

- It's an enormous blunder. - A blunder?

An error of judgement, you have to be diplomatic.

It will make a lot of noise in parliament.

Anyway, for us, it's rather good news.

And what about them?

A journalist, he's after a Mr Buron.

- Good evening. - Good evening.

- This is Camille Arnold. - Good evening, father.

- Good evening. - Robert told me what you do.

It would make a fantastic news report.

It's very kind.

But it's not just about the picturesque side of it.

It's a chance for you to speak out.

Camille... Is it Camille?

Yes, father.

The other day,

someone said something really touching.

I was told I was the voice of all these silent people.

You, Camille, will have to be a pair of eyes,

for all those who enjoy the luxury of blindness.

- Is it this one? - I couldn't get here any faster.

- Hello. - He's my assistant, so...

Sir...

All right, we'll be off. Bye, father.

I was very pleased to meet you.

Thank you very much!

- Thank you! - What?

You look like a clown.

I'm dressed as a tramp, you can't find real ones.

- Film me instead. - I don't agree.

- We've done it before. - Not this time.

Seen the time? We'll be at it all night.

Here?

You offered to put people up here?

- We're very quiet at the moment. - It would indeed be more lively!

It's like helping a colleague out.

In his own way, Abbé Pierre is in the hospitality business.

In his own way, yes.

Heating all these rooms for nothing is nonsense.

Absolutely. Absolute nonsense.

They'd take the furnishings off to sell them on.

You were joking, weren't you?

- Not at all. - You're testing me.

- I'm not. - Edmond, you've gone all red!

Let's have a dance.

I need my walking stick.

Do you want to dance?

You look stunning.

- I'm so glad you're mad. - I knew you'd appreciate it.

Yes, all these poor people, dumped here.

Completely out of place in this luxury.

Superb.

Very daring of you.

What were you saying?

Nothing, just remembering old memories.

- What of? - Of shame.

- More champagne? - Yes.

Already?

Long enough to get the better of the most enthusiastic dancers.

- He hates it. - I really do, I always have.

All in all, there are very few social activities I enjoy.

Fate has relieved me of my chores, I'm making the most of it.

That's it.

Let's drink to our pains and to the good they do us.

The good they do us afterwards.

I hope you've made her see sense.

I don't intend to.

For once a woman can afford her whims.

It's not even a whim, any more.

It's a crime.

I totally agree.

Cheers, Senator.

To our crimes, and to the good they do us.

Well done, I find your idea wonderfully romantic.

Which is exactly what's wrong with it.

Say something, Jacques!

What can I say?

When provoked,

it's not the response, that matters.

It's the provocation.

Father?

Wake up, father, we're here.

Have you come to pay me?

No, I...

Sam, I know I already owe you a lot of money,

but I need tents, large tents.

These women and these men are on the streets.

They are our brothers, we're united in hardship.

Just a few tents, Sam.

It would be a beautiful gesture.

Appealing to my sense of aesthetic?

You forget that nothing can impress it, any more.

You forget that what men can do to each other

can no longer surprise me.

Father!

Isn't it what they call you?

It is.

Go on, now!

Push!

All right, that's fine.

If you could put a...

Yes? I'll be back.

Somebody wants you.

It looks official to me.

They took their time.

I went to Renault for a job, they gave me a roasting.

Sign up over there, they've got lists.

- Do they have jobs? - And rooms.

We still have to unload the vans.

And the canteen, still not ready?

I know, I didn't sleep either, but the heaters have turned up.

- Morning, father. - Commissioner.

Take a seat.

Quite remarkable.

And in a matter of hours.

It had to be done.

- Here? - It's where they were.

And what do we do, now?

Stop the evictions.

- Minister's orders. - Re-house them.

- I'm not able to do that. - Do you think I am?

You got yourself in this vicious circle.

Someone had to do something.

They're all yours.

You can evict them from here too, but it won't solve anything.

Please excuse me, I have a lot to do.

Don't go, father.

You're a nuisance, you're provoking us.

- Not at all, it's going well. - It won't last.

Just while it's cold,

until we get the 3,000 lodgings promised by Mr Letellier.

A minister's word,

at a time when governments keep being overthrown.

- Do you believe in miracles? - Yes.

Obviously.

We can't blame a churchman for looking after the poor,

- it's in the order of things. - The order of things?

Careful, Commissioner, things are changing.

Order remains.

What order?

This kind of poverty is not a charity matter, but a social one.

- Words. - No, actions.

Don't go too far, father.

How far is too far, with the help of God?

We're fighting the good fight, to gain freedom for humankind.

Never mind if we shed our blood on the cobblestones.

Mind yourselves, soldiers, middle-classes,

and you, the well-fed and the clerics.

The young guard,

the young guard is taking to the streets.

Good God!

It's warmer here than on the banks of the river Marne, believe me.

Well, then, Nosebleed, what do we do in such cases?

Er, a chain?

Come on!

Come on, get out of here, lad! And all of you!

- I'm staying here! - You have to wait your turn!

We're not going anywhere!

What are we doing?

That's enough, do you understand?

Don't worry, there'll be space for everyone.

Come on, get out of here! Clear off!

Keep going!

Is Abbé Pierre over there?

Hello, there. What are you dressed as, today?

Very funny. I'm looking for Abbé Pierre.

He could be over there.

I don't know what got over me.

I feel a lot better, already.

Thank you, Doctor.

Don't thank me, I'm doing you a disservice.

I'm just a bit tired.

- It's nothing. - Lying to yourself is a sin.

Do me a favour, get some sleep, if only four or five hours a week.

Good evening, father.

Yes, typical superman.

No sleep, no food,

until you take the last train to glory, like the boss.

- Raoul! - Bound for eternal life.

And we get lumbered with the campsite.

- I'm in very good shape. - That's right.

Shaped like a coat hanger, you're all skin and bones.

The more tired you are, the more you do.

The more we do, the more there are.

How far is this going to take us?

Honestly, I have no idea.

Doesn't even care, no sense of responsibility.

- Me? - Look around you!

The tents are completely full, and they keep coming.

We're swilling the tide with a teaspoon.

- Do you have a better idea? - I do.

Stop, while we can.

We can't do it on our own, it's a mathematical issue.

We didn't get in it to get out of it, logic issue.

Just lie down.

- Have you seen Abbé Pierre? - He can't stand up, any more. Why?

Camille has something to show him.

I'm coming.

- Did you come by car? - Of course.

Let's go.

Thank you.

Make sure you bring him back in good shape!

After we'd seen you, we walked up the Sebastopol Boulevard.

It's here.

Look at this woman carefully.

And here, she...

See the piece of paper, in her hand?

Here.

It's the end.

Did she die?

As we were filming.

And the piece of paper...

Is here.

EVICTION ORDER

You're mad, this is impossible.

We can't let just anyone make a statement.

"Anyone", you know what I mean.

Yes, from an administrative point of view.

We can't just make a last minute change to the news.

- We have to do it. - One day, we will.

Some wonderful geezer will make a broadcast, be sacked,

and therefore able to join your wonderful geezers

under a bridge.

45 seconds.

- Nice studios. - But you understand, don't you?

I do, you're too scared for compassion.

Except they are cold, and they die.

And no one can help them because no one knows,

in the absence of information.

And you won't give me a few seconds to ask for help.

It's a nightmare,

we're not allowed to cry for help when people die on our streets!

15 seconds.

Go on, then, father.

Go ahead!

10 seconds.

It's what you wanted, so go on!

Right now?

Concentrate, father.

My friends, come help...

A woman froze to death

on the pavement of Sebastopol Boulevard.

She was clutching the eviction notice

which had made her homeless.

Each night, in Paris,

more than two thousand people endure the cold,

without a roof, without bread, unsuitably dressed, and sick.

Tonight, everywhere in Paris, we must open aid centres.

I told you it was Abbé Pierre.

We must hang signs under a light in the dark,

at the door of all the places

where there are blankets, soup, and straw to sleep on.

And everywhere, these aid centres, these fraternal centres,

must take in all those who suffer, whoever they are.

They should find shelter, there,

to sleep, eat, and recover hope.

They should know that we love them,

and that we won't let them die.

The forecast is for weeks of fearful cold.

Minister of the Interior, I beg you to stop the evictions,

at least while the cold lasts.

Reopen the underground stations,

they'll provide excellent shelter for the coming nights.

And all of you, who are listening,

please help us help the homeless.

We need 5,000 blankets, for tonight,

300 large American tents and 200 catalytic stoves.

We also need the warm clothing you no longer use.

Through to Radio Luxembourg, please call again after the news.

- Hurry up, Ginette! - What's the matter?

It's panic stations!

Radio Luxembourg, good morning. No, madam, stay on the line.

Good morning!

Henri, he must give an address, we can't cope, here!

Radio Luxembourg, good morning!

Hurry up, Henry!

Keep calm! Am I losing my temper?

I know it's hard to go out...

Incredible!

...when it's so cold, to give old clothes to strangers.

But I beg you,

don't think about it, just listen to your heart.

Come and join us, so that, thanks to you...

No man, and no child, will die in the street, tonight.

You can bring your donations to the hotel...

Hotel Royal Haussmann,

92 Boétie Street, 8th arrondissement.

That way, in the depths of winter,

you will have redeemed the spirit of France.

Thank you in advance.

Finished with it, Minister?

Yes.

- Did you hear it? - In my car.

Does he think he's de Gaulle?

I have your information.

Come in, then!

Who's this man?

A fanatic, an anarchist, what?

A priest.

I know.

What else?

Grouès Henri, also known as Abbé Pierre.

Ex-chaplain in the Vercors Resistance,

ex-deputy at the National Assembly,

ex-secretary of the National Defence Commission,

ex-chairman of the executive committee

of the World Federation of United Nations Associations,

- ex... - Enough of the ex, what about now?

Leader of the Emmaus Community.

I see, he's an eccentric, which is good, in a way.

To end up watching over a bunch of scrap merchants

after all this, he has to be out of his mind.

Untouchable.

No one is untouchable.

Miss!

Call Radio Luxembourg back.

You can't get through, Minister.

Could you tell me why?

Their switchboard's tripped, Minister.

Here we go.

I don't like it, dear friend.

Or this.

You allow strange things to happen, in our beautiful capital city.

I was there yesterday, I'm in control.

You think you are?

You're personally being blamed on the radio,

in front of 20 million French people having their lunch,

- and you're in control? - You're the one being blamed.

A few dead people.

A few people die on the roads, every weekend.

Yes.

But this time, you were in the driving seat.

War kills thousands of people.

Why shouldn't peace kill a few?

Listen to me carefully.

If we allow this man to keep playing God,

he's going to have so much popular support

that we won't be able to stop him.

Isn't it already the case?

You're the peaceful type, Commissioner.

It's a good thing.

You should be calm,

when you're in charge of public order.

But there are times when you need to hit hard.

Hit the head.

It's not got to this.

Your city has a fever, can't you feel it?

It's in the air.

A hint of electricity,

a slight tension in the air, like before a storm.

That's what insurrection is.

I don't agree.

What do you suggest?

Wait.

Fever goes down again.

Too risky.

Take measures.

You can choose your weapons.

And I'm spoilt for choice.

We all have our cross to bear, dear friend.

And don't forget, this man is dangerous.

You found him touching too.

Very.

At least, we will have tried.

Thank you, Camille.

- Bye, father. - Bye.

There was a traffic jam, I left your car further up.

We'll walk, it's not far.

I gave the address of the hotel

but I haven't had a chance to warn this Mrs...

- Vannier. - That's it, we must warn her.

Yes, we must.

Yesterday's expenses are not what we need.

Sam's tents, how extravagant!

Sam gave them to us.

Even so, I cancelled so many house clearances,

we're going to miss the money, father.

- I know, I know. - I'm a bit cross with you.

No, miss, not you, not now.

No, but it's robbing Saint Peter to pay Saint Paul.

Where shall we put...

Father, I'm so happy to meet you.

- How can I thank you? - My house is your house.

Things started piling up before you'd even finished talking.

- Are you cross? - Not at all.

You're doing what you think is right.

Taking your cufflinks?

Yes.

Don't be offended, but over the next few days...

I'd rather go back to mine.

You understand?

Very well.

It's crystal clear.

I want nothing to do with this...

Mess?

No, circus.

I don't need to invite tramps round for a cup of tea,

to be aware that they exist.

What's happening to us?

We're turning into bastards. You, especially.

That's how it is.

Shame.

For the poor.

This way, miss.

Excuse me, sir, I'm looking for room 412.

- Er, this way. - Thank you.

- Excuse me, father... - Yes?

Forgive my ignorance, but are you Abbé Pierre?

Yes, what can I do for you?

I'm the ambassador of Holland in Paris.

Our queen heard your appeal

and asked me to bring you this cheque,

out of her private funds.

Goodness, all this money!

Saved, we are saved.

We'll never manage it.

- Yes, everyone will help. - Who is everyone?

You can't put the lads up to their necks in this.

It would be tempting the devil.

You don't mean to say...

That we're dishonest?

No, of course, but other people will.

I don't want to upset you.

But not every one likes us, right now.

We have to sort out the cheques, the money,

add it all up.

An army of mathematicians couldn't do it.

Good idea.

Hello, miss.

Please put me through to the polytechnic college.

They could do with a hand, as well.

So, while you're at it, how about a few Scouts, too?

I'm looking for Abbé Pierre, miss.

Room 412.

One moment, please.

Please don't give his room number to just anyone.

I'm so sorry, sir.

Security!

- Sorry... - No, don't worry.

We're here to see Abbé Pierre, we're his friends.

He's waiting for us.

Are you cloth-eared or something?

We are the Emmaus ragmen and builders.

Let them come through.

Good afternoon, gentlemen.

Ma'am...

Let me take you.

Here they are!

How are you? Come in!

The phone is disconnected, madam.

I've asked for five extra lines, they're working on it.

You're really fantastic.

They give all sorts, they've even sent a mink coat.

- There's plenty more, downstairs. - Just as well we brought the van!

I hope you parked round the back.

We did, ma'am.

It never stops!

Mrs Vannier?

- Mrs Vannier! - Yes?

- I had an idea. - The housewares fair badges?

It would help me.

It's the end of a great institution.

Plenty of room, go!

See you again, lads!

I doubt we'll be back.

- We look silly with these on. - I quite like them.

You're putting on airs.

What? I like being with you, is it a crime?

Of course, it's easy, now, we just have to rake it in.

Excuse me, I've never worked so hard!

What do you mean, then?

I don't know, I just feel, er, useful.

Yeah, well, hurry up, useful dimwit,

because given how fast it's coming in, we're not done.

By the way, what does Emmaus mean?

What did they teach you, at school?

The thing is, when it came to school...

You tell him.

It's the name of a village, in Palestine,

where the disciples met Jesus.

- How come? - They were fleeing from Jerusalem.

And just like that, he appeared in front of them.

Why were they fleeing?

- The Romans wanted to kill them. - Why?

Because of Jesus.

At the time, being his friend was frowned upon.

That's it.

And in Emmaus, he cheered them up and sent them back to Jerusalem

to announce he was resurrected.

Get it?

Not at all.

Hope, kid.

Hope.

Your life seems over, a hell of a mess,

and you only need to find a friend, a bit of warmth, anything.

Even the tiniest or vaguest glimmer of hope.

And nothing scares you, any more.

As for the Romans, you eat them alive.

It's a great story.

I don't mean to boast,

but the Gospel is full of stories like that.

I thought you didn't believe, any more.

Only fools never change their minds.

- Why would they stand in my way? - They see you as a threat.

They've sunk really low.

No, you've raised an army, look, it's a tidal wave.

They should follow the flow and help us.

- They will, in the end. - When?

They always do, when they have no other option.

Yes, when the law has been passed, and until then...

All I know is that the commissioner has summoned an urgent meeting.

- As we speak? - Yes, emergency meeting.

Let's go!

You just can't do that!

Wait! Wait!

Where are you going, father?

They'll tire of it before we do.

They are the ones who are outside.

That's the problem.

Without the cold, Abbé Pierre is nothing.

We only have to wait.

What's the forecast?

We're plagued by bad luck.

The forecasters are on strike.

Nonsense!

Is there a thermometer on the balcony?

Bring us our coats.

All we can do is wait for the situation to deteriorate.

Minus 17 degrees.

I hear you have a few problems.

One, mainly.

- It must be a misunderstanding. - No

- Mister? - Delmont.

Leader of the Ministry of Interior.

There is no misunderstanding.

You're constantly acting unlawfully.

My unplanned housing?

This and everything else.

Let's be really honest, then.

What bothers you is not that I give them a roof,

legally or not, it's the fact I talk.

- You certainly do talk too much. - To ask us to house those...

Those tramps?

It takes three days, sir, to make a tramp,

from the minute he doesn't have a roof over his head.

You should try, if you fancy it.

A few nights under a bridge,

no shaving or change of clothes, you'll be surprised.

You know full well what I mean.

You're granting them rightfulness.

Wasn't it granted by the fact they are human beings?

Take a seat, father.

I came to talk about peace.

After all, you bring social order,

and I'm fighting for social harmony.

- We should get on. - Yes, and complement each other.

Every time we take someone on at Emmaus,

it's less work for you and the authorities.

Your statements are not those of an ally.

My statements are a cry for help.

Some people know how to take them, why not you?

Join us.

Help me.

I knew it.

What do you want, today?

The old Orsay station, to store all the donations.

They will soon add up to tons.

The Haussmann Hotel won't be enough.

I'm sorry, father,

but the station is now used as a garage for 200 army lorries.

I was going to ask for them as well, to transport the load.

You always go too far.

Consequently, thanks to you, we're sitting on dynamite.

Don't light the wick.

MONEY IN CASH

Sore feet?

Come here, Lucie!

- What's the matter with her? - Never mind, come along.

Mrs Vannier?

My God!

I'm sorry, father, it's nervous laughter.

I shouldn't have dragged you into this.

Yes!

Now the clients have left, it will be easier.

No...

It's better like this, before the hotel collapses.

No!

Yes. The floor...

We're going to end up in the cellar.

We must do something right away, move all this out.

Don't worry, we've already seen to it.

- Are you sure? - I promise.

The hardest part is done,

some people are going to be impressed.

All the same, I'll go and see how it's going.

No, stay here.

While you have nowhere else, and for as long as it takes.

All right?

No, it's madness, I have no right to accept.

Nor the option to refuse.

I beg you, father, stay.

And how about René Coty's letter?

Delivered by his driver.

The scent of the president's residence,

smell it.

Beautiful.

"And when we think about you,

"we can't help but quote Mr François Mauriac."

"No love, no friendship, can cross the path of our destiny

"without leaving some mark on it forever."

That's class.

It's so true.

Look at us, for instance.

Without you, I would never had known

that ears are shelves for fag ends.

These, and a few others.

- The old ragman's showing off. - You may mock.

But without the old Raoul and his oddballs, we'd be gone.

True.

Saved by the bone grubbers, it's glorious.

Here you are, father!

The first sorting.

Urgent cases in here,

and here, important people, so to speak.

Tell him who, miss.

President Auriol.

Ex-president.

Let's not split hairs over a few days.

Please come with me, father.

We're not opening any more, for today.

- What figure have you got to? - 80 million.

80 million?

I wasn't expecting this either.

And it's not over, yet.

Not a bad day, for this time of year.

Bad news, we have 1,500 cheques to endorse.

1,500 cheques?

The best bit of bad news I've heard in all my life!

And there's all of this.

And all of this.

Look at all this dosh...

We're loaded.

Stop dreaming, Nosebleed, it's not for you.

It's as good as spent, already.

It's almost enough to start the work at Plessis-Trévise.

There you go!

Imagine that, a president of the republic!

- Good evening. - Evening, ma'am.

Two presidents!

I'm going to stop them dreaming,

bring them back down to the ground.

To earth. Bring them back down to earth.

- Yes, all right. - Fine, I'll shut up.

To think of all this dough, in there!

Jean, darling, my advice would be

that you ought to think of something else.

Given our immediate reinvestment policy,

it's back to scrap metal, no later than tomorrow.

But it will never happen again.

Now that people know us, they'll help us.

After a good night's sleep, they'll have forgotten us.

Yeah...

And we'll think it was all a dream.

Come in!

Morning, father.

I thought you'd like a cup of tea.

You're very kind.

What an uncomfortable room!

Not at all, look.

Here we are.

- Let me. - Thank you.

- You're an early bird. - So are you.

I didn't sleep all night. Neither did you.

Mrs Vannier!

Mrs Vannier!

- What's the matter? - Quickly!

Same thing, again!

Same thing!

Look.

The fibre cement panels are fixed together in groups of three.

One door on one side, two windows on the other.

- Who did this? - Marcel.

Sold.

- Well done, Marcel. - Thank you, sir.

It's really clever.

Let's go for 50, they'll make excellent site huts.

They could even be used for housing a family.

Excuse me?

A stopgap measure, of course, just to help them out.

Don't you start!

We're all going to get down to it.

If you provide the materials, we're prepared to do it for free.

When, though?

Have you seen the order book, until the end of February?

We're happy to do it on top of our work time.

- Overtime? - Yes.

If we all give a hand,

we can have 250 shelters ready in three nights.

You're amazing!

So is that priest.

I thought only old Thorez could do this.

Thorez is not exactly God.

When it's about life and death,

baptised and Communists work together.

We're all concerned.

All right.

He said yes!

Yes.

We can be proud.

The French National Railway has reached

a new rail speed world record, at 243 km an hour.

Our country contributes significantly

to the progress of progress.

But speed isn't everything.

In a society, there is a basic rule.

That the speed of a convoy be set by the slowest wagon.

What is the good of a machine's performance,

when the social outcast are left on the roadside?

Politics is nothing

but the art of making possible what is necessary.

Which is why, tonight,

I will only be proud on two conditions.

I'm asking the Minister of the Interior

to stop evicting without prior re-housing.

And I'm asking you...

Forgotten us, father, only care for the Parisians?

- Gaby, so much has happened! - I know.

What a stench!

Makes you wish you didn't have a hooter.

What's this?

We don't just salvage things, we also salvage blokes.

He thinks two mad ones will make one fit one.

Except that for him, we'll need more than two.

They voted it!

At last!

Unanimously.

And, not one billion.

Ten billion.

They passed it!

They passed it!

Not before time!

The mutes always have to bawl.

HELP THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING FIRST, THIS IS THE ESSENCE OF PEACE.

SUBTITLES: RED BEE MEDIA FRANCE

THE CHARACTER OF HÉLÈNE EXISTED,

BUT HER STORY WAS ROMANTICISED FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE FILM.