All language subtitles for Low.Life.2011.WEB-DL.x264-gooz.eng

I am Ophelia.
The one the river didn't keep.

The woman dangling from the rope.

The woman with her arteries cut open.

The woman with the overdose.
Snow on her lips.

The woman with her head
in the gas stove.

Yesterday I stopped killing myself.

I set fire to my prison.

I throw my clothes into the fire.

I wrench the clock that was my heart
out of my breast.

I walk into the street
clothed in my blood.

I am Ophelia.
The one the river didn't keep.

The woman dangling from the rope.
The woman with her arteries cut open.

The woman with the overdose.
Snow on her lips.

The woman with her head
in the gas stove.

I'm alone with my breasts,
my thighs, my womb.

I smash the tools of my captivity...

On the table, on the chair,
on the ground.

I wrench the clock that was my heart
out of my breast.

I walk in the streets
clothed in my blood.

I destroy the battlefield
that was my home.

You're crazy!

I fling open the doors
so the wind gets in and the screams.

I smash the window.

You know your lines.
Quit rambling.

Leave me alone.

Do I bug you when your guitar practice
keeps me awake?

That's different, I'm not heavy.

- To you, it's life or death.
- Oh?

And music isn't to you?

I don't know, I've never wondered.

You look lovely tonight.

Hi, how's it going?

I hope you all know
what we have to do.

Of course.

We'll return to black nights,

we'll gaze at the sky,

see the stars and not fear
the feeling of floating in space.

That's right.

And we'll party, dammit.

We'll make music,

dance, paint...

write...

Find what has been lost
in places of art...

I believe in nothing else.

A territory where this loss
will be remembered.

No life insurance, no retirement.

- No organized trips.
- Territory?

You mean somewhere to settle?

To hunt?

Wander?

Hide?

There's no such place.

It's now called a reserve.

Few people can be artists.

The rest are at the office.

You show your true colors.

Julie dreams of being an artist.

No.

I'll surprise you.

I don't want to do anything,

just feel good.

I've met some amazing people.

I'll show you.

I took photos.

Everyday shots, in the street,

in the subway, where they live,

in squats, garages, lousy hotels...

What'll you do with them?

Don't know yet.

Looking at them feels odd.
They have such hard lives.

They're like war photos.

That's it. An unseen, hidden war.

A civil war.

You didn't know
but there's a civil war on.

It's crazy that no one realizes.

Keep quiet and listen!

Have you heard the rumor?
Rumbling beneath our feet...

Stop it.

You go too far, you don't get it.

Carmen, our great war reporter.

La Pasionaria!

Eviction at La Guillotière.
The cops are there.

Since Carmen moved out of my bed,

I hear her voice at night.

Our spirits communicate.

Right, Carmen?

You want to leave me?

You're distant, I can't bear it.

I love you, Charles.

I don't get it. What's wrong?

Are you coming?

I don't know.
Will there be many cops?

"It's war," she says. "War!"

Strangers persecuted,
the informers flourish.

"O my friends, there are no friends."

You're a jerk.

Tell everyone you know.

Wake them up if necessary.

In a war, woe to he who sleeps.

Alerta!

"As the earth tears itself apart,
I laugh with lead in my guts!"

Where are you going?
Have you seen yourself?

You think I can't fight?

No, but there's no one here.

Come on, they've all left.

I don't care.

Carmen's gone.

She doesn't want to save the world.

She just doesn't want to see me.

Do you hear me?

Carmen just walked out of my life.

It's too much for me.

You want me to lie low?

Leave me alone, you're my friend.

Is everyone here?

Let's go.

We take all night if we have to.
Let's go!

Did I wake you up?

No, I'm not outside your place!

We have to fight the police off
at La Guillotière.

Can you come?

That's great.

Any other teachers who might come?

Do you mind calling them?

Thanks.

Who called the cops?
What happened?

The kids in the squat
tangled with some guys.

Then it all went off.

The neighbors called the cops

then this shit happens.

Back off!

Come back, Pétain,
you forgot your dogs!

Forward ten meters. Ready...

March!

Leave her alone!

This is fucked up! Stop!

Stop it!

Extinguisher!

Fire extinguisher, quick!

You OK, André?

No!

Take him inside.

You alright, man?

Come.

A glass of water.

Coming?

Here, this'll make you feel better.

Have they left?

Not yet.

Stay here.

Julio.

It's over.

Go in quietly.
There are cops in the kitchen.

They took Noëlla.
Is her daughter with you?

Mathy? Where are you?

What was that explosion?

I don't know.
Something from the street.

The injured are in the kitchen.

Take Mathy to her aunt.

Come on.

Let's go.

Put the lights on.

I need some fresh air.

Are you alright?

OK, flip the switch!

We'll wait for you by the river.

Do you live here?

No, just visiting.

I sometimes drop by after work,

to help out.

I've never seen so many cops.

It's daunting.

Does it often happen?

Not quite like this.

But yes, cops turn up,
checking on people.

Do you live here?

Yeah, it's OK.

Really.

We get organized.

You're Djamel's pal?

Yes, we're university buddies.

I'd better go, I'm expected.

Bye.

You're wondering where I am.

My head underwater,
as if in your lap.

Waiting for you, Carmen.

Can it be? Is it a dream?

Tell me.

You realize we are alone, Charles...

and you can't bear it.

Remember the man
who cried out in his solitude,

not to awaken the sleeping

but to awaken himself
and break out of his captivity?

I haven't left you.

The love has gone.

Don't act the fool.

- You were at La Guillotière?
- It was scary.

Stay away.
What happened to you?

- In the panic...
- Let her speak.

I was thrown against a wall.

Lift your arms.

Empty your pockets.

Keep them up.

- What's this shit?
- No idea.

Yeah, right.

Mayombé Gaston, a friend of yours?

No.

It's in his name and you had it.

An official document banning him
from French territory.

- So who is he?
- I don't know him.

Give me your jacket.

Take him away.

This is crazy.

You hang out in squats

with your friends.

Yeah, so what?

Quiet! Or we'll have you up
for assaulting a police officer.

OK?

Are you OK?

I was lucky.
Police bikers are dangerous.

Here, check this.

Look, cigarette burns
and stains everywhere.

What is this shit?
"I cast a Force of Death..."

Let me see that.

"This spell can be neither undone
nor deferred."

Check Mayombé Gaston,

born 23 February 1982
in Kinshasa, Congo.

Messing up an official document.

Threats. Who do they think they are?

- I don't like this stuff.
- Me neither.

Shit! Hey, Alain!

I cast a Force of Death on you.

Must be true.

You mean real?

Never real, always true.

Any news of Charles?

No. He was totally drunk last night.

It's not too deep.
No need for a medic.

Sure? It hurts like hell.

Let's see.

There's a big bump,
that's what hurts.

Disappointed, Julie?
Did you want a big wound?

A huge wound
I wouldn't recover from.

Yeah, I saw you the other day,
in the woods.

I wasn't there.

Yes, I'm almost sure it was you.

I don't think so.

She didn't even recognize me.

Oh?

I don't know if I was there or not.

What were you doing there?

I'll tell you about it sometime.

Are you injured, Julie?

Any deaths last night?

I didn't know you were here.

Yes, lots.

Dead bodies everywhere.

You should've come.
It was brilliant.

I'll tell you about it.

You're pale, what's wrong?

I was dead, I got up, and here I am.

Right, I'm going to bed.

I just finished my work training.

Made loads of new contacts.

It was enriching
after all that theory,

applying what I'd learnt.

What do you do?

I'm in business school.

How about you?

I'm doing a thesis.

Right... About what?

It's really complicated.

I'll leave you to it.

You're drenched!

Where were you?

I went to the river.

Since you'd left,
I had a dip in the Saône.

You're crazy!
The Saône's disgusting.

No, I swam.

Met some big fish.
Three-meter long pike.

Huge silurid.

Bullshit!

You'd have loved it.

If you'd been there,
you'd have jumped in naked.

Maybe.

Did I hear right?

Last night, you said you loved me.

I didn't imagine it.

No, you didn't.

How about telling me again?

Just once.

Won't you?

You can't, you're not sure.

Last night, it was still possible.

How can such lovely eyes
hide such horrible things?

Tell me what scared you.

You won't be mad?

Why would I be mad?

Tell me.

We were in each other's arms.

You were caressing me. I felt good.

I drew closer to kiss you.

Your eyes widened, like a zombie's.

You said: Be careful.

There's someone hiding
under the bed.

Run, it's your enemy.

I got up, shaking.

The guy jumped out. It was you.

I panicked. You were smiling.

You're not saying anything.

I'm listening.

I was wondering how love starts.

It can't be explained.

Maybe by chance.

Desire.

Attraction.

Turn the light off, I'm exhausted.

I'd rather be alone.

Really, I'm in pain.

You're throwing me out?

We just sleep apart,
it's no big deal.

What's going on? I don't get it.

Like I said...

we were together, the cops
searched us and took Georges.

You'd say if he was with a girl?

Sure I would. I was with him all night,
no girls were there.

That's weird.

He's still with the cops?

You'd rather he was with the cops
than another girl?

Stupid! Why do you say that?

You should understand.
You're pathetic.

You drink too much.

Give me a break.

Couldn't you bear him
being with another girl?

Doesn't seem to be going too well.

I'm going to bed.

Charles has flipped.
Can you stay with him?

- Yeah.
- Good night.

You're right, Sophie,
love is beautiful.

She's great.

I wouldn't mind fucking her.

Who the hell are you anyway?
Beat it!

- What's wrong?
- You're a triple asshole.

One, I'm her friend,
two, you spout clichés,

three, you make me want to sock you.

The desire to share equality.

Keep on sharing, right?

OK, Emma, tonight you win.

Tomorrow you'll have
another tiny victory.

But what will it change?

Nothing.

And what next?

No one's answering.

Victory? You're dreaming.

Try to save something.

When the place is up in flames,
all you can save is life.

I proclaim love

and happiness.

No one can take that away.

Friendship.

The rest, forget it.

Friendship, OK.

What's a friend?

Someone who's on
the same level as you.

The African working in a kitchen,
the Moroccan digging a hole,

we live in the same world.

Just say it: there's one world.

Well now.

Only you forgot to mention

that the global horizon
of democracy is war.

The worst has begun,
we ain't seen nothing yet.

All the things
that now give you hope

we'll soon be sniggering at.

To rid the world of all this shit,
we need terrible violence.

You're going too far.
What's this?

Ah, cheap wine.

Drunkenness, Charles,
is illumination!

I contest nothing,

claim nothing.

It's clear,
we're born into a disaster

with which we have
a strange relationship.

Promising the worst.

Charles is right.

It's possible that, deep down,

man wants only destruction.

Not the good life or brotherly love.

Do you believe in it?

I think the opposite is happening.

We're dancing on the edge
of a precipice.

Where do you stand?

With women,

on Earth's side.

Rotten though it is,

pillaged good and proper,

I love it.

The forests beautiful as ever,

blueberries aplenty,
but no one can pick them.

Who's to blame?

Only ourselves.

Yesterday the world around us
was like sky or air,

as if someone had given it to us
forever, to exist forever.

I loved lying on the grass
in the woods, admiring the sky.

I felt so happy
I forgot who I was.

Children now grow up in houses,

without forests or rivers.

They only see them from afar,
in their imagination.

They are different children.

What?

You're a fool.

Hey, don't preach.

We know, we're involved
in the networks.

The resistance,
the great cause.

I have my survival networks.

I earn my money underground.

A capitalist resistance fighter.

- Your shit in my closet!
- Not at all.

I just put my stuff in your room.

Sugar, please.

Well, well.

Is there a spoon around?

You get worked up for nothing.

I don't believe in this crap.

Good conscience,
helping your fellow man...

You want to help your brother? Look.

Any friends who might be interested?

I forgot to tell you.

In the lakes and rivers
are pike without heads or fins.

Seriously.

Swimming stomachs.

Experts have observed beasts
in the woods

suffering from radiation sickness.

They prowl around sadly,
their eyes afflicted.

Which woods?

In the Ukraine,
but it's a planetary thing.

Go on.

Hunters take pity and spare them.

The animals are no longer
afraid of man.

Foxes and wolves go to the villages
to play with children.

The instinct to be submissive to man
has gone.

The borderline between the real
and the unreal is vanishing.

A prof told me
it'll take thousands of years.

It takes a billion years
for uranium to decay.

For thorium, it's 14 billion.

Fifty, a hundred,
two hundred years...

But beyond that...

my conscience can't grasp it.

They said they'd come.

I need to see her, speak to her.

You'll stay with me?

Yeah.

That's good of you.

It's good to know you miss me.

Your dad called me again.
It's a drag.

He's hassling me. "Your exams!"

I switched my cell off.

He has me policed by his sidekicks.

Look, his last message...

"Drop out if you want to,
it's up to you but I'll cut you off."

Charming!

He believes in his money.

But he wouldn't dare.

I've seen you before.

We met the other night.

Yeah.

In the street, with the cops.

We nearly got hit by a petrol bomb.

How's it going up there?

Cool. They're leaving us alone.

You know the DJ?

Never heard of him.

I was told you'd be here.

Do I know you?

I don't think so.

- Where could we have met?
- I don't know.

I can't place your accent.

Egyptian?

That would make life simpler.

It's trickier for me. I'm Afghan.

I was surprised,
I think just the opposite.

On the contrary,
we're stuck in the darkness,

as the world gropes its way

through vulgarity and selfishness.

It's not too much light
we suffer from

but too much darkness.

Two things, though.

First, I began by talking
about visibility

to give the effect of a threshold.

What can seem obscene today

is being plunged directly
into things.

Talking about lightness or darkness

is a way of preparing ourselves
to enter a space,

ushering ourselves
into the matter of politics.

Hence light and darkness.

You open up a space,
independent of topicality,

rather than being fixated on life...

You step back with that image.

It's putting the imaginary
into the real, not taking a step back.

I introduce the imaginary,
acknowledge it, I double it...

Where are you going tonight?

Where will you sleep?

Tonight?

In your bed, with you.

Otherwise, in the street.

Quit being provocative
and we'll communicate.

Yes, love never quits.

It's born or it dies.

I'll go home.

Oh?

Yeah.

You say such dismaying things,
without realizing.

I know, it must be hellish.

I can't help it.

Can't help it?

Can't help me?

I'd like to know
what's in your heart.

My grandfather freaked me out.

He told me, "Go live in Israel,
what are you waiting for?"

Imagine him saying that!

He never regarded himself as a Jew.

He never tolerated my questions.

What did you tell him?

Nothing.

I'd thought about it,
but coming from him...

It was like my whole family history
falling on top of me.

Like asking me to carry a history
he'd refused to pass on.

Didn't you ever discuss it?

Hardly.

We talked about the Resistance.

His whole family
was in the Resistance.

Most were deported and died.

He never said anything.

Try talking to him about it.

Ask him if, before the War,

Jews were nostalgic
for this homeland.

I didn't want any fucking DNA test.

They extended my custody

and I got hit with a crazy fine.

Someone stuffed a paper
in my pocket.

What kind?

Some guy at the squat
wanted rid of his expulsion order.

Know what they call it?
Their "death warrant".

Gaston Mayombé is a real joker.

If I ever find him...

Show us what they did.

It was worse when I came out.

Fucking bastards.

Animals!

The cop was young and overexcited.

The experienced ones
don't leave any marks.

I'm thirsty as hell.

Nothing left to eat?

Not a thing.

Give me some dough,
I'll go get some food.

Coming with me?

Sophie, come here.

Are you mad at me?

That girl didn't mean a thing.

Why didn't you come for me?

I was expecting you.

I needed you.

- It's you I love.
- Oh yeah?

That girl... another girl...
I don't care.

I don't want you anymore.

I don't trust you anymore.

Have him if you like.

I'm going to bed.

Why is she saying that?
Your girlfriend's crazy.

Want some?

Thanks.

You're writing a poem?

- Djamel says you want to be a poet.
- It's true.

That's heroic.

What language do you write in?

Persian.
It's hard for me in French.

Poetry reminds us
that things can be different.

Have you been writing long?

I've always written.

I can't recall a day
when I didn't write something.

A thought, a feeling...

Here, I can write all the time.

And over there?

I dreamed of myself,

of my family.

I never dreamed of the enemy.

And yet we lived in terror.

Half the population there
is faceless.

How can a people survive that?

Since I've been here
I only have nightmares.

At night I'm haunted by thousands
of imprisoned faces.

When I'm not on campus

I spend my time on café terraces,

in stations, on trains...

Looking at faces...

It soothes me.

Seeing joy, sweetness, sadness,

melancholy...

I was writing about...

the abandon of your friend's
sleeping face.

Sophie is defenseless and fragile.

It's troubling how she's there
and yet not there.

You know, some faces slip inside

and remain there.

You're very pretty.

Shall we go?
There's nothing to drink here.

No, I'm out of it.

Wait, I'll get some smokes.

You know, I've realized

that you meet the prettiest girls
early in the morning.

So I'm going hunting.

And it makes you cry?

Sure it does.

It's awful.

Carmen's with that guy,
and I'm not crushed.

Actually I'm breathing easier.

There's a deep hole right here.

Feel.

To hell with everything.

You stopped loving her?

But I do love her.

It's me I can't stand.

My stupid, middle-class sentiments.

My retarded prejudices.

Be careful.

Prejudices are tough.

Very tough.

Bastard.
Don't be mean and discourage me.

I'm a realist.

I have a tough battle ahead.

The only one that matters,

implacable, within,

the definitive one.

To live according to my desires,

not constantly flirting
with giving them up.

Come on, I'll take you.

Sorry, Hussain,
your bedroom door was open.

Julio's unwell, I don't know
what's wrong with him

but he's stopped eating.

It's like he can't hear anything.

He's kept his eyes closed
and said nothing

since he left the hospital.

Why was he in the hospital?

The cops called
a couple of days ago.

This was around midday.

Julio was stopped in the subway.

He was out with his class.

He showed the police his ID
but they were suspicious.

And?

They cuffed him and took him
to hospital to check his age.

What did they do to him?

I don't know.

He won't speak.

Julio.

Tell me about it.

What happened?

Can you tell me?

Did you fall out with a friend?

I forgot, this is for you.

I have to go.

Here... keep my key.

I'll be back to see him.

Do you love her?

Are you in love with Carmen?

Sure, what do you think?

There's desire.

Feelings, but no horizon.

When my life is decided for me,
is that called love?

What does that have to do with love?

You mean plans? A future?

I've never thought like that.

Carmen is my sole horizon.

Isn't that a heavy burden for her?

I mean being free to walk around,

to go where I please, like this.

Without a piece of paper
to say whether I live or die.

Would you marry
if it was the only way?

Haven't considered it.
It wouldn't be my solution.

Maybe Carmen's?

We don't discuss it.
No point dreaming.

You don't just get married.

What about you?

Your exams...

How's your career shaping up?

Why do you ask?

You've made Carmen
your sole horizon.

What about your career plans?

I have none.

The future my father planned for me
died a long time ago.

You've lit a fire in Carmen's heart.

- Not only in her heart.
- Please...

Do you love her?

You haven't answered.

Do you love her body?

You're not answering.

I know Carmen. Be careful.

When she's on fire,
nothing can douse her.

I don't like your questions.
You sound like a cop.

Don't, Robert, allow me.

You're a dear for coming.
I was worried about Bruno.

My cab's here.

- Oh yes.
- See you soon.

Goodbye.

Madam, watch out!

Think she's dead?

I don't know, there's no blood.

Have you been here long?

No.

For some reason
my heart is filled with light.

How about going out?

Why not?

What were you were writing?

Things.

Something wrong?

You seem somber.

Maybe, when I'm writing.

They say poets are a little sick.

Why do they say that?

In that case,
the reader becomes his nurse.

They also say that poets
console humanity.

I want you to teach me Persian.

With pleasure.

I want to be your nurse.

I want to read all that you write.

How about I console you?

Are you through yapping?

It's OK, he isn't vicious.

I'm looking for Rue Carrefour.

No. 81 is the immigrants' hostel.
It's not far.

Straight on, second right.

Thanks.

Did he bite you?

No, it's OK.

I dreamed of you, Bison.

Your soft, strong eyes.

You told me:

I am strength.

Your strength.

Remember, long ago,

we were running together,

through the meadows

and forests.

You can't stay this way, Julio.

What are you going to wear?

Carmen can wait downstairs.

Julio!

Speak, don't be afraid.

The women doctors were staring.
Three of them.

They said, "Get undressed,
take everything off."

I was naked as a plucked chicken.

A chicken sold at market.

I was afraid.

They measured my bones,

like a wart hog
ready to be chopped up.

They looked at my genitals,
my body hair.

Lots of questions about my genitals.

I was scared,
like it was the devil.

The devil is scary.

Then machines looked inside my body.

I don't know what they saw.

The policeman said,

"You were born in 1992, not 1994."

Machines are powerful.

They know better than me
or my mother

the day I was born.

It was like a fire in my head. Panic.

Everything turned black
and I collapsed.

I no longer remember
my mother's face.

I can't hear her song.

I've forgotten the garden,

the smell of the house.

The river I played in with friends
after school.

I've lost everything.

When I sleep, I no longer dream.

They say it's a curse when dreams stop.

That's why I want to go back.

My mother didn't lie.

The day I was born,

she carved it on the door.

I want to see the fields
around the house again,

run with the bison god,

listen to the wind
and the sound of the river.

Julio...

A gentleman came yesterday
and left this for you.

He found a letter
in his wife's handbag.

He wanted to see you.

I noticed his wrist was injured.

Look, the letter is bloodstained.

I hope Julio eats this evening.

Did you lose it?

What is it?

I've waited 3 years for this reply.

They rejected your request
for asylum?

Yes.

That's the way it goes.

Sent a week ago.
Why didn't you tell me?

It's a nightmare.

Suddenly I've no right to be here.

No studies, no nothing.

What am I to do?

We could both hide.

I'll go to the shop now and again

and hurry back to your arms.

You can write all day long.

You can write about our secret life.

We could go to Paris.

It's crowded, easy to hide away.

Promise me something.

What?

Don't hide anything from me.

Meaning what?

The problem with ID papers.

Oh yes.

Promise me.

Won't you?

You don't like promises, right?

Yes, I do.

Here, check this.

Come on, up against the wall!

Legs apart.

Apart.

Get back here! Stop!

You scared me.

I dreamed you'd gone.

I was looking for you.

I had to find you,
hold you in my arms again.

To kiss you like before.

I'll always be with you.

Whatever happens.

If you suddenly had to go,

don't leave me in a void.

You know I'll never abandon you.

I saw my father.

Good. And?

We drank some great wine.

Anything else but tea?

I don't know. Look.

He's in bad shape.
He lost a lot of money.

Some of his friends
are in deep shit.

Actually, he wants to sell
the house in Toledo.

He wanted my opinion,
he needs my signature.

What do you think?

Of your mother's house?

Her parents', my grandparents'.

Nothing.

You're hard.

It's full of memories.
We met there.

Remember the night
you went to the squat?

You saved me, I wanted to die.

I don't believe you.

Drowning isn't easy.

I was lying in a fountain.

While I breathed in water,
I could hear your voice.

I remember.

I was worried,
I thought I'd find you by the river.

What was I saying?

The only words
that could make me want to live.

You didn't want to die.

I was thinking about the man
crying out in solitude,

not to awaken the sleeping

but to awaken himself
and break out of his captivity.

Are you waiting for him?

I'm scared to death.

He had an exam.

He could be arrested at any time.

I'm scared he'll never come back.

He hates me worrying.

You love him so much?

Oh, Charles.

I'd love to meet you
now that I'm losing you.

If he doesn't come back...

I'm going to need you.

I won't leave you alone.

What makes you think
he won't come back?

I don't know.

You inquired about marrying him?

Yes. There's no point.

It takes three years
to qualify for residence.

Three years.

Meanwhile he could be repatriated
at any time.

What can you do?

I don't want to lose him.

Let me show you something.

Look what I found,
hidden in his case.

But why hide it from you?

The cop went for some poor guy
he should have let go.

For sure. Anyway they're both dead.

Where's Carmen?

What's wrong?

I had to make a detour
to avoid checks.

I'm getting paranoid.

No need to go out anymore,
it's too dangerous.

How did your exam go?

Very well... I thought about you.

I did my presentation
on Hölderlin's silence.

Want to hear it?

Alright. Go ahead, I'm listening.

I started like this...

Let's talk about Hölderlin's silence.

We still have words for that.

I'll get dressed.

I don't know what to wear.

Why get dressed?

I like your legs.

Your feet too.

There's nothing I like.

How do you manage?

I don't know.

I got up and wanted
to put these pants on.

No others.

Just these.

Why?

If a girl falls in love,

she can fall in love again.

You see?

Danger!

Girls in your country
can't express their love for a man?

Never.

Everyone would find out
and no one would want her.

Modern youths think that way?

They play the game.

Deep down they don't believe it.

They know that taboos
are there to be broken.

What are you doing? Are you crazy?

Let me finish.

What does it mean,
a man shaving his head?

That he's so handsome
he doesn't need hair.

He wants the woman he loves
to see him naked.

Completely naked.

Women shave their sex organs.

Alright.

As long as you do it.

Me?

Why not?

What about this one?
Isn't it pretty?

- Yeah, why not?
- I'll try it on.

Where are you going?

Out. I can't take anymore.

I'm going to the library.

What?

You're mad!

I'll drop these off
and get some more.

It's afternoon, I'll be fine.

I forbid you to go out!

Djamel can take your books.
You want to get arrested?

What the hell are you doing?

Drinking at this hour?

Give me a break.

Leave us alone!

You can't forbid me anything.
You know it.

Why don't you go out anymore?

You stay locked in.

Are you scared I'll leave?

Have you got me under surveillance?

She was asleep.

Come in.

Come on.

Hello.

- Carmen Alvarez?
- That's me.

Can we see your ID, please?

Yes.

Seen it?

Hello.

Yes, you left it in the kitchen.

Partying is exhausting.

Tired from getting up early
as much as going to bed late.

Often they're the same.

They look shattered.

It's true.

Look at this one.

And this one.

It was 6 a.m.

You can tell
by their shirts and ties

they're on their way to work.

It's a notification to attend
the 2nd district police station.

May I ask why?

Ask the officer there.

If you won't be able to attend,
drop by with written proof.

Do you live together?

Is 4 girls together so surprising?

Not at all, we're all for it.

Glad to hear it.

I'll show you out.

Thanks. Bye.

Come on.
I made you something to eat.

Help me.

You're kind.

Make an effort.

You're heavy!

I'll get your bag.

I'll be right back.

If anyone comes, don't answer.

Do you hear me, my love?

You can hear me.

Emma, I can't.

I can't, it's too dangerous.

I left my folder on the bed.

I'll get it.

Carmen?

Sometimes we didn't bother to wake up.

I never noticed
when we went to sleep.

After lovemaking we slipped blissfully
into sleep.

When I opened my eyes again

the world seemed a joyless place.

All old and worn out,
disgustingly so.

We soon plunged back

into this sensitive, happy world

where all men sleep
on equal terms.

We call this place Low Life.

The big, egalitarian sleep
of the whole wide world,

shared by those who sleep together.

No more sorrow, no more past,

nothing to distinguish me
from other sleepers,

plants, animals, rivers...

Sometimes a shout awakens me
in the night,

a shout I cannot let out.

And this shout weighs heavy on me.

Hi.

I'm off for a rest before my tour.
It isn't easy here.

Carmen thinks she's Antigone!

There are two plain-clothes cops
down there.

If they think he's here...

Sure? How could they know?

I've no idea.

We need to find
someplace else for him.

I know. I'm waiting on contacts
in Paris and Marseille.

I'll see.

I have a surprise.

I got the tickets for Tunisia.

And they left the return open.

We can come back when we want.

So we can return via Egypt?

Whatever we like!

Don't mention the cops to Carmen.

That summons is making her ill.

Sure.

What's going on?

It's in case the cops turn up.

Cops don't just turn up!

They need a warrant.

From the prosecutor.

Who'd apply for one? And why?

They're safe in the apartment.

Thanks, Djamel, but leave me alone.

I don't want to see anyone.

I'm having awful nightmares.

I see myself murdered, dead.

Yet the blows keep raining down.

They stamp on me.

- What did you do?
- What?

I've been summoned.
What happened?

Nothing, just fines.

Did you sell your cellphone
and fake stuff?

Sure. Why, do you need money?

Maybe you were spotted.

Carmen, there's a foreigner here.

An illegal immigrant.

That's what screws things up.
Don't give me a hard time.

You sound like a jerk.

Sorry but it's true.

Someone had to turn us in.

Someone reported us, I don't know.

Maybe neighbors.

I might need your car.
Your dad's car.

What for?
I don't want to see the guy.

For Hussain.
Don't mention the cops.

Are you asleep?

No.

When I go out,

you'll stay in the bedroom.

Sure I will.

I'll push the wardrobe across.

No need.

Yes, it's safer.

A wardrobe can't hide life.

It can hide a bedroom, though.

Can't it?

If everything vanished...

if tomorrow not a single person
was alive,

I'm sure

that nature would soon take over.

Trees, animals...

Forests covering everything.

Are you asleep?

No.

Forests would cover everything.

We'd travel with the beasts.

In the beasts.

In their world.

In their cocoons.

We'd walk in their hideouts.

The animals would look at us,
curious and scared.

For us, the last ones,

the late-comers...

Why did we come?

We might wonder

if we'd come to rid ourselves

of all the burdensome gifts
of existence that preceded us

and accompanied us

for so long.

Carmen.

Are you asleep?

On September 3rd at around 7,
there was a police check at Valmy.

Do you remember?

That day, a policeman drowned
in the Saône.

Remember?

You were there with a friend.

He was chasing
an undocumented immigrant.

You know what happened next.

Our colleague, aged 32...

Two kids...

Sit down, you'll see better.

You're looking down.

Don't you want to see?

There's nothing to see.

This is all about surveillance.

There's worse things than CCTV.

Like the death of a police officer.

We found this on his body.

Look at it...

No, don't touch.

The water has made it illegible

but the lab has ascertained
the name and address.

Mr. Khadra Hussein.

- Do you know him?
- Yes.

He's had an expulsion order.

Yes, I know.

So he's been breaking the law
since August 17th.

The law states

that anyone aiding or abetting

the admission, free movement or stay

of an illegal immigrant in France

is liable to 5-year prison term
and a 30,000-euro fine.

I know.

But I also know what people did

to help Jews pursued
by the Vichy police.

Nonsense!

That's a stupid analogy.

I don't care what you think.

Or what your colleagues
thought back then.

That's enough.

You acknowledge
that you broke the law.

I can hold you while we investigate.

We're looking for Mr. Khadra.
Given your relationship...

Precisely, and that relationship
will always be beyond your control.

I won't leave here convicted,

certain I've acted illegally.

To keep your figures up,
you'd even make love a crime.

You can't ask a woman to denounce
or evict the man she loves.

Didn't you know?

Accusing me is like saying
you can't love an illegal immigrant.

It's meddling
with people's private lives.

The law can't do that.

That's what civil disobedience is:

breaking the law in the greater interest
and thus with impunity.

The status of common-law wife
is enshrined in law.

And I should accept a conviction?

Your business doesn't concern me.

What does
is Mr. Khadra's illegal presence

and ensuring he leaves the country.

Then why am I here?

Why the talk about custody
and convictions?

Because I can hold you
for questioning if I like.

This is a very serious matter.

Something is definitely afoot here.

This is the fifth murder
in two months.

All occurred during police checks.

I want to know why.

We'll end this slaughter.

Your activist friends, your networks...
the police know them all.

It's over. You can do nothing more.

Tell your friends.

As for you... we won't let up.

Take her to get a sample.

She persists in being obstinate.

She's tough.

No more than that.

We need to get Djamel, he's the one.

He has a lot to tell us.

He's holed up there,
he knows the Africans,

all that witch-doctor stuff.

They call themselves brothers.

They've got contacts everywhere:
Marseille, Paris, Brussels...

They're plotting the Afghan's escape.
We must act.

Well?

He left before I got there.

It was all getting too difficult.

He was sick of putting us at risk.

He left out of love.

Last time I saw him he said,

"Loving a foreigner means
sharing their battles."

He wanted to spare Carmen.

Hope he hasn't been arrested.

I'll try to find out.

Charles,

we think that if we close our eyes
to certain things,

they'll cease to exist.

But they continue to devastate
what remains of our humanity.

I've seen how surveillance pictures
can seize our lives,

rob us of our smiles, our movements,

disfigure everything
till we don't realize

who we are and how lost we are.

Who is watching us?

Who controls
our well-trained bodies?

Who enjoys making fun of us?

"For your own safety," they say.

Meanwhile we walk...

walk...

Subtitles by Kevin Smith

Subtitling: LVT - Paris