Original subtitles

TRISTE-LE-ROI, AROUND PARIS, AUTUMN, 1947

Mr. Franch has arrived.

A punctual man is good.

Bring him in, Lin Yu.

Mr Franch, I suppose?

Yes sir.

I thank God, Mr. Franch,

for allowing me to meet you.

Lin Yu, tea, please.

I asked for tea.

Do you prefer something stronger?

No, thank you, tea.

Did you have trouble finding the castle?

A little.

I was told... you didn't come by car.

No, I took the train.

I'm curious, Mr. Lévy.

This name, Triste-le-Roi, where does it come from?

I chose this name,

but I didn't invent it.

I discovered it in a story I read.

It was very interesting.

I'm talking about the story, of course.

Chess is the mirror of the world.

I've been a die-hard gamer all my life,

and on the chessboard,

the king,

I do not really know why,

always seemed like a sad room to me

compared to others.

That’s why the name appealed to me when I discovered it.

Sad King,

the sad king.

It's pretty, isn't it?

And I called this castle that.

I bought it years ago, on a whim.

I never thought I would end up living there.

I was even close to selling it,

but I'm glad I didn't.

Don't worry.

Among all the people who have crossed my life,

and there are many, I only keep Lin Yu.

He sees everything, hears everything,

but will never say anything.

He is a wise man.

In this case, we can start.

Yes.

Mr Franch,

I called you

because I want to charge you with a mission.

I want you to find someone.

But why me ?

There are professionals dedicated

to solving these kinds of cases.

Professionals are used to resolve

certain problems, the most obvious,

but when it comes to something, let's say,

more subtle,

they don't do much good.

For example,

they do not know what it

means to fight for an ideal.

But you, you know,

is not it ?

For that, I think I can trust you.

And not just for that.

Money matters too.

I don't act lightly.

I found out before calling you.

I know from a reliable source

that you prevented many Jews from falling

into the hands of the Gestapo by helping them

to cross the Pyrenees.

You're tired of struggling

and you would like to have a normal life,

is not it ?

It all depends on what you mean by a normal life.

We may not have the same idea.

I'm talking about what most people want,

a job, a family, good health,

good friends...

Does it ring a bell ?

- Yes, of course, but... - You're not going to tell me

that you didn't get any of that?

If,

but it didn't last long.

Well you see,

This is how we look alike.

Yes, you are tired.

It doesn't matter whether you recognize it or not,

it shows.

There's nothing to be embarrassed about.

You lost your war

and General Franco is not ready to leave.

Yes, yes, smoke.

It's even a good idea.

I will accompany you.

Breathing a little

smoke will do me good.

No thank you.

I'm the only one who smokes cigars in this house.

It's really a shame that such pleasure

gets lost.

It is my duty to oppose it.

Let's get straight to the point.

Mr Franch,

if you accomplish the mission I want to entrust to you,

I am ready to help you rebuild your life.

You will get back what you had and lost.

You will also do a good work,

maybe you will win a place in heaven.

If I may, the last part,

let's leave that for later.

Thank you, Lin Yu.

Don't play tough with me, Mr. Franch.

Deep down, all anarchists are Christians.

They don't do it to me. You know why ?

Because I am a Sephardic Jew.

I was born in Tangier,

but my ancestors always kept

the key to the family home.

She was in Toledo.

I changed my name four times,

Lévy is the one that lasted me the longest.

It is also the heaviest to carry.

I guess I'll be buried with him.

The doctors were rather stingy with me,

they only give me a few months left,

so I have no time to waste.

Mr Franch,

I want you to go to Shanghai,

to find a person.

If you find it,

you will have to bring her back here.

I want to show you something.

It might not be of much use to you.

but it's the only thing I keep from her.

It's my daughter.

Her name was Judith when we took this photo.

She must be fourteen now.

His mother's name is Cheng Jing.

She worked at the Théâtre des Chattes,

that's where I met her.

She had a favorite number

which had earned him a certain fame

and that she always ended with the same gesture.

The Shanghai gesture.

The Shanghai gesture.

Judith,

I sang to him songs from my childhood,

but his mother had taught him this gesture.

This movement...

Cheng Jing changed my daughter's name,

she called her Qiao Shu

before taking him away.

I never saw them again.

No.

No.

Keep it.

But above all,

don't lose it.

Judith is the only person in

the world who carries my genes.

You understand me, don't you?

I know you have a daughter too.

I want to see mine again, Mr. Franch.

Please find her.

Can I ask you why this need to

see her again after so many years?

Your reasoning is correct, Mr. Franch.

I spent my life

surrounded by people all the time

and without letting anything show.

You don't know how tiring it is.

But it's over.

So I'm going to tell you the truth.

I want you to find my daughter

because he is the only person in the world

who can look at me differently,

in a unique way.

This is what I want from her:

his look before I died.

Her stare,

nothing more.

Very good, Mr Lévy,

I will go to Shanghai.

His name was Julio Arenas.

This is one of the last shots he filmed during his acting life.

He died in 1990, while

working on The Farewell Look,

a film that never saw the light of day.

He was thought dead,

but his body was not found.

MADRID, AUTUMN, 2012

Good morning. Unsolved Cases, please.

- This way, I'll open it for you. - THANKS.

UNRESOLVED CASES

For the casting, it's on the first floor.

I'm Miguel Garay, I have a meeting with Marta Soriano.

One moment please.

Marta, Miguel Garay is here.

Miguel, come in.

These are the conditions discussed on the phone,

an amount for your time and tomorrow's interview,

and another for the rights to the film material.

It's great that you have this.

It's not much, just two complete sequences,

that's all we were able to shoot.

Is the equipment in good condition?

I think so, but I need to check.

It's film, celluloid.

We will move it to digital.

Do I sign each page?

Yes please.

You will have the interview questions later.

If you want to remove some, no problem.

And if you ever have any material from the filming...

I don't know, it's possible.

Photos of Julio or the other

actors, all that can be useful to us.

One copy for you, and the other for me.

Is the hotel suitable for you?

Yes.

I'm very happy that you want to

be on our show, and that you're here.

We had trouble finding you,

we thought you lived in Madrid.

I forgot, we're going to pay you a per diem.

We still have a lot of work to do.

Your interview, for example, is going to be the first.

By the way, among the film crew,

Who else could we contact?

I don't know.

The producer, José María Blasco, died, right?

Yes, three years ago.

Like Luis Arroyo, the cinematographer.

And Ferrán Soler, who played the role of Monsieur Lévy.

There aren't many people left.

But you could contact María Rivas,

who played the little girl in the film.

I will take it into account.

On the other hand, we found Tico Mayoral,

the journalist from the magazine Interviú.

A hell of a number.

Mayoral spread the rumor that

something was being hidden, right?

Yes, a real soap opera.

That was all we talked about

at the time, even at home.

To disappear like that, overnight, without

a new lead for more than twenty years,

Nothing.

For me, this is truly the most

interesting mystery of the series.

What could he be thinking?

Who could have imagined what would happen?

THE LOOK OF FAREWELL

I'll probably start the episode with these images.

They give off a feeling of everydayness.

It's important to include them

with some of the footage you shot.

There it is you, hard at work.

THE LOOK OF FAREWELL

FURNITURE STORAGE CSALCALA

THE JULIO REHEARSAL LOOK

We're going to give it a try, Julio, I'm recording.

Try to say your dialogue in a neutral tone.

As neutral as possible.

Like I'm reading the directory, right.

I'll give you the answer.

"Mr. Franch, I want to charge you

with a mission, that you find someone."

"But why me? There are professionals

dedicated to solving these kinds of things."

No, not “things”, Julio, “business”.

“This kind of business.”

"...who are dedicated to solving these kinds of cases."

Julio, you have to say that in French. Listen to me,

“Sad King.”

“Sad King.”

UNRESOLVED CASES

How was your film?

I don't know what to answer you.

It was my second film.

A rather classic adventure film.

Julio Arenas was your friend, how did you know each other?

During our military service, we were in the Navy.

Then we saw each other again in Madrid.

I have a photo of you two here. You were very young.

It's curious, it is taken in the courtyard of a prison.

It is noted: “Carabanchel prison courtyard,

football match between workers and students.”

It's a famous photo,

it has been published several times,

but not because of Julio or me, but

because Paco Maldonado who is on it,

became a minister;

and Asensio founded the Nueva Frontera publishing house.

They were a little older than both of us,

and they already had political ambitions.

Julio is there, in the position he liked the most,

that of the goalkeeper.

Julio and I were second class inmates.

And we were neither workers nor students.

But why were you arrested?

Public disorder,

illegal propaganda and illicit association.

The usual panoply at that time.

Poor Julio had nothing to do with it,

but since we lived together, they took him too.

During interrogations, he declared himself apolitical

and say he didn't know anything about anything,

the Social Police thought he took them for idiots.

And since Julio was often arrogant, he stood

up to them and they gave him a real beating.

He didn't tell them anything because he didn't know anything.

They sent it to Carabanchel because of me.

But once there,

he became an indispensable

mechanic, he was a handyman.

He repaired all the civil servants' cars.

They reduced his sentence, he got out after a year.

Me, after a year and a half.

You gave him the lead role in

your film against the advice of some.

Yes, but I shot a few scenes that convinced everyone.

Some witnesses, members of the team, said

that the last week of filming was complicated.

Arenas seemed nervous, he couldn't concentrate.

There was nothing unusual.

These things happen on almost every set.

Filming was interrupted

and The Farewell Look Was Never Finished.

For what ? Were there no other solutions?

I had written the script with Julio in

mind, it wasn't easy to replace him.

And if we found another

actor, we had to film again

all previous scenes.

You haven't directed a film anymore?

No, I didn't have the chance.

I didn't really look for it.

Because you were a writer, weren't you?

You won the Café Gijón prize when you were

younger, with your first novel entitled The Ruins.

Then you published two other novels and a

collection of short stories written in Paris.

You devoted yourself to the scenarios.

Yes, for a time.

But back to our subject,

among the articles on the disappearance of Julio Arenas,

some, especially those in the celebrity press, do

not hesitate to say that he had personal problems.

It's true ?

Julio could be a difficult person,

but he was also very generous.

He lived at a hundred miles an hour.

Yes, he had problems, but who doesn't?

Your friend's body was never found.

What do you think ?

An accident, a suicide?

What do you want me to tell you?

You know more about mysteries than I do.

Thank you very much, but I would like your opinion.

All assumptions are valid.

SO...

There was a time when

Julio couldn't stand life.

He tried to hold on thanks to cinema,

but he didn't always succeed.

That's all.

Thank you, thank you very much.

Very well, cut!

You were perfect.

I wanted to ask you :

Do you know Ana Arenas, Julio's daughter?

Yes of course.

We tried to contact her several times.

It would be great to be able to count on her,

but she always refused.

It's really a shame.

Maybe you could talk to him?

You got the scoop on our show, and it’s also a

tribute to the great actor that his father was.

Maybe you could talk to him about it.

I haven't seen her for a long time.

I don't even have his phone.

I can give it to you.

Could we try?

All right.

I can ? THANKS.

- Who is it ? - Max?

I open to you, unbeliever.

I was waiting for you.

Max, how are you?

A little rusty with the damn humidity.

Come in, come in.

I hear you're going to be on TV?

It seems, yes.

Well then.

But where do you get this gabardine from?

From the storage room.

It reminds me someone.

Now, we store the films on a hard drive.

And I tell them that more than 90% of the history

of cinema is on film or photochemical support.

So what do we do ?

I don't see anything on the memory cards.

The image is no longer the same.

I don't know what to do with all these copies.

I haven't decided to close up shop yet.

It was never a golden deal, but today,

it's ruinous.

People who want to watch these films can no longer do so.

Almost no one has a projector anymore.

It has become industrial archaeology.

Archeology, Miguel, like you and me.

Here they are.

The farewell look, two boxes.

Sad King.

One of them contains the rushes.

And the other...

yes, the standard copy.

The standard copy of the two sequences

that you insisted on adding sound to,

and for which I had to pay...

the wrecks of the shipwreck.

This way, the movie, on the left.

THE LOOK OF FAREWELL

- They are very well preserved. - Did you doubt me?

Stopped.

Keep on going.

Are they going to include them in the program?

It seems.

I'll just give them the first sequence.

You are so superstitious.

Let's hope they respect the framework.

Don't worry, I'll leave a note. They will.

I'm not so sure.

AIE Aie Aie.

It doesn't say whether you can

control the editing of the interview.

That doesn't worry me, I only told the truth.

Marta Soriano is dangerous, she is very smart.

Don't be so suspicious. She seemed friendly to me.

It's best not to let your guard down.

If you had listened to me, you would have done better in business.

- Don't scold me, Max. - “Don’t scold me”…

Keep it handy.

How long have we not seen each other?

Two years ?

At least.

Are you getting away with it?

I know what you're going to answer me.

Good,

anyway, you know I'm saving you a place here.

Thanks, Max.

- You allow ? - Yes. And is your novel progressing?

What novel?

Weren't you writing?

No no,

I write some short stories,

but it's just to pass the time.

With a novel,

it's not a joke.

Certainly.

You changed the posters.

You replaced Faust with Ray.

I love anything German, as long as it's silent.

But finding this poster was

one of my great successes.

I have a copy of the film in 16mm,

and I like seeing the poster on the wall.

On the other hand, I remembered,

seeing it again on the moviola,

that good god Arenas was a great actor.

But he accepted all the roles that

were offered to him, he refused nothing.

But that wasn't the worst part.

It was his way of approaching the final question.

That's to say ?

To get old.

Think of all the young lead roles

he played, it wasn't easy for him.

I can understand that, but

I'm talking about everyday life,

of his loves, of his

womanizing affairs, of all that.

There, Arenas was lost.

The young women no longer

looked back as he passed.

I've always been ugly, I've never had this problem.

Knowing how to age,

that’s the question.

And you, do you know how we do it?

Of course, without fear and without hope!

Ana?

Hello, it's Miguel.

Miguel Garay.

You remember me ?

PRADO MUSEUM

They already called me, but I don't want to be on the show.

You do?

I thought a lot,

and I ended up saying yes.

We recorded the interview yesterday.

They promised to include some of what we filmed with Julio.

There was that and the money, I'm not going to lie to you.

For the film rights.

Do you think we remember him?

Not everyone, but more people than you think.

We never talked about what happened.

Finally, about what could have happened.

I talked about it with your mother, but never with you.

He would have been seen during his last car trip,

he had company, he was with a woman.

This is what the Interviú magazine published, but...

the journalist is not trustworthy.

But if it were true, who could this woman be?

There could have been several.

Your father was like that, you probably know that.

Yes.

If it existed, why did it not appear?

Many people prefer not

to be involved in a scandal.

I often dreamed that my father was alive.

Every day I try to chase this idea away.

You might as well not think about it.

If he's alive and doesn't come, it's because he doesn't want to.

He doesn't want to know anything about me or anyone.

I barely talk to my son about his grandfather.

He knows who it is, but nothing more.

If his films are shown on TV, I don't watch them.

Him, I don't know.

I saw them when I was little, but not all of them.

Cinema is strange,

we see a character, we tell you that it’s your father.

We see him from head to toe, and we hear his voice.

What I recognized best was his voice.

Not his image, but his voice.

The one I heard when he called.

His image was almost that of a stranger,

always disguised, always...

He always played a character.

He would appear, then disappear.

He took me for walks, we went to lunch together,

and he left again.

He never came to pick me up from school,

I never traveled with him.

I discovered I had nothing of him.

How is it possible that he left me nothing?

Finally Yes,

he left me a doll.

He gave it to me when I was five,

but I didn't realize it was from him.

I was little and I believed in Santa Claus.

I kept it.

And you what are you doing ?

I live in a village, on the coast.

I missed the sea.

Don't you write anymore?

From time to time,

but without expecting much.

It's an exercise like any other.

I mainly do translations,

cinema books for a small publishing house.

I go fishing almost every day.

I also have a vegetable garden,

a small vegetable garden.

Look what I brought you.

She was in mom's stuff.

You look similar in this photo.

We had no choice, with these

ridiculous caps on our heads.

There is a date on the back.

“April, 1967.”

I was one year old at that time.

Mom was a kid when I was born.

They separated after two years.

Keep it.

I have to go, another group is waiting for me.

Distinguished tourists.

Don't you like your job?

Let's not exaggerate either.

But it gets boring to keep repeating

the same thing in front of a board.

At first, when I started, it was different, but...

I loved being surrounded by so much beauty

for hours, but when it becomes routine...

Good,

I may be exaggerating a little.

- It was nice to see you, Ana. - To me too.

If you go through Madrid again, tell me,

I would like to introduce you to Carlos, my son.

I promise.

- Bye. - Bye.

BOOK FAIR

- Good morning. - Good morning.

Do you have Calligraphy of Dreams, from Marsé?

I'll take it.

Do you want a bag?

THE RUINS

For Lola, to all the suns we have shared. Miguel.

Madrid, December 1977

Excuse me.

The number you dialed is not assigned.

The number you dialed is not assigned.

Wait...

Here it is.

If it was an accident,

why was the body not found?

Logically,

the sea should have given it back, but it didn't.

They found a camera in the car.

They developed the film, but they

paid no attention to the content.

They said they were photos from the shoot.

I certainly shouldn't have had access to these photos,

but I am a journalist with resources.

Julio Arenas was with a woman,

younger than him,

elegant, very pretty.

Why did she disappear?

Why didn't she say anything?

Julio Arenas did his own thing, as always,

and seduced a married woman.

It wasn't the first time, but this time,

the cuckold was not easy.

Surely someone...

high up,

very high-ranking,

and in the heights, dishonor is difficult

to tolerate, you know what I mean.

And it cost him dearly.

We made it disappear.

This is my version.

But anyway, let's see, the

story of the shoes was a set-up.

They were taken away from him and

left where the police would find them

and would come to an easy conclusion.

The names...

What do you think ?

Spit out Tico Mayoral.

He seems convinced of what he says.

And it makes you think.

It's true that Julio would have loved the high-ranking cuckold's move.

What a story !

I'm convinced the episode is going to be great.

It's a shame that Ana Arenas refuses to participate.

I understand it.

I believe the show will air in two weeks.

Our editor showed me the scenes you shot.

But there is only the first. You know why ?

- Because of Max. - Who is Max?

The editor is a friend.

Too bad you didn't finish the movie.

Here are the press articles that we found.

They were very useful to me in preparing for your interview.

BALLOON DANCES “LA CUMPARSITA”

Learn to dance tango in 15 days

Who gave it to you?

A friend, a collector.

It is a wonder.

Mario Guardione, tango teacher.

What we didn't do to survive...

- Do you want to know my opinion? - Go ahead.

These two sequences deserve something else,

be seen elsewhere.

On the screen of a cinema,

and in full.

You read the contract, Max. They pay me.

And then, each one is worth what it is worth.

No one saw the one movie I finished.

Of course, almost no one saw it,

but they released it on the

sly just to meet the quota.

Like many others,

good and bad films.

Let go.

When do you leave ?

After tomorrow.

We'll see what the show does. I will look.

Max, do you remember Lola San Román?

But of course ! The girl from Buenos Aires.

The most beautiful girl to go through the Conservatory.

She sang very well.

She was dating you, right?

With me and with Julio.

Of course,

with Julio too.

You two were so modern.

Have you heard of her?

Not much, apart from the legend.

It seems that one day she went to

California with an American singer.

She left broken hearts behind,

not just you two oil kings.

Unbeliever, give me a little more of this remedy.

I heard Lola was here.

Right now ?

Yes.

In that case, you know more than me.

I had never seen this caricature.

Very similar.

Yes, your son had a gift.

He drew so well.

The last time he passed through here,

he forgot his motorcycle gloves.

He called me the next day to tell

me he would come pick them up,

but it never arrived.

Damn driver who hit him!

I kept his gloves,

and all the comics he made.

I always pissed him off:

“Mikel, enter the École des Beaux-Arts competition.”

But he never listened to me.

Neither you nor me.

Hello ?

Yes hello.

I like ?

Yes, it was me who called you. Miguel Garay.

Gary.

Yes, I taught you how to play poker.

Yes.

No, I haven't played for a long time.

Yes, excuse me, Jaime, I'm half asleep.

Yes, I'm passing through Madrid

and I'm trying to find your sister.

Lola.

I was told she was here on vacation and I would like

to see her before she goes back to Buenos Aires.

Where ?

But it's in Segovia.

I spent many summers in this house.

Since 1976,

when we escaped from Buenos Aires.

Fortunately, my brother didn't decide to sell it.

I like to spend a few days there when I come back.

Memories.

Even if they are not all good.

My parents' separation turned everything upside down.

The divorce didn't do them any good.

I've never seen them argue!

It was worse for my mother.

She couldn't hold on, she let herself die.

It was his piano.

I learned to play on this keyboard.

And you ?

Do you live with anyone?

It's strange, but I was sure of it.

It's too much work.

And what has become of Odette?

I haven't seen her in years, since Mikel's funeral.

I think she lives in Brittany, she remarried.

I live with my second husband, with Diego.

It's been 18 years, do you realize?

The first, the American, do you remember?

He became a motivational speaker on

TV, giving advice on how to live happily.

We are nothing.

Yes.

And what are you doing ?

I fish, I read, I write from time to time,

and I let time pass.

It's not so bad.

I'm still in music.

But with Warner, as a talent scout.

My thing is Latin American music, of course.

I have to return in a few days.

Remind me what the show is called.

Unresolved cases.

Wow !

What did they want from you?

That I'm talking about Julio.

I rewatched some scenes

that we had shot, ten minutes.

Julio played really well.

Do you know he called me during filming?

No.

He called me in California just before he disappeared.

My birthday.

He never forgot.

You, yes.

Do not talk nonsense.

Julio was a born seducer.

Yes.

"Mario Guardione. Learn to dance tango in 15 days."

And to think that it was you who taught him.

He learned very quickly, unlike others.

Compared to Julio, I've always been clumsy, it's true.

I often thought that was why he

danced better and you left me for him.

You are stupid.

You are stupid.

He really liked his role in your film.

He had a bad time, but

he got back together,

ready to continue fighting.

It didn't last long.

He started drinking again,

like he did when he hit rock bottom.

All the time.

And in the middle of filming.

I didn't know anything about it.

Behind it all, there was a secret story.

It happened overnight, the last week of filming.

I did everything I could to keep the team

from noticing anything, but they did see...

Julio was starting to forget the dialogues.

Two days before he disappeared, I had to send

him back to the hotel, he couldn't stand up.

It wasn't a classic actor's nervous breakdown.

It was like always.

He had fallen in love.

Yes.

From a woman who drove him crazy.

This woman existed,

but I never knew his real name.

And everything went wrong.

Three months in a gym,

no more alcohol, we repeated every day.

We had a pact.

I lost my best friend, but also my film.

Well, everything.

I finally accepted that it was an accident.

We told so many things.

The most annoying thing was

what people said, even his colleagues.

Some people thought that Julio had left on a

whim, that he had disappeared, just like that.

You know, that doesn't seem so absurd to me.

I thought about it, too.

When he was depressed, I often heard

him say that he wanted to disappear.

The idea of ​​changing one's identity,

to start a new life somewhere else.

Do you remember ?

Sometimes we dreamed of that when we were young.

This place that we never want to leave.

Yes, where we would like to stay forever.

I did not find it.

And you ?

Me neither.

After California, I returned to Buenos Aires,

I at least found my childhood neighborhood.

You were luckier than me.

Why not ?

Think for a moment, Lola. Why not ?

Maybe Julio just wanted that.

Disappear,

Without leaving a trace.

I'm not talking about the actor,

he had the films, but

of the one he really was.

If you only knew how many times I've imagined that.

What ?

The scene. The moment when everything went through his head.

The last night of his life.

I have the impression of seeing him on the cliff.

The sea was rough.

His shoes were bothering him, he had taken them off.

It started raining.

And it's here,

at that moment, the idea came to him:

give an arm of honor to the whole world.

Disappear,

but without having to die.

If the others thought he was dead,

too bad.

Or even better,

yes, so much the better.

He mulled over the idea until dawn.

His car was a hundred meters away,

but he no longer saw her.

He only saw the ball and the player

behind him,

about to shoot.

His destiny tossed a coin.

But did it really happen like that?

You know what ? You continue to make cinema.

I brought you something.

Your Ruins.

They were at the Cuesta de Moyano. There is a dedication.

"For Lola,

to all the suns we have shared."

So pretty.

The most beautiful dedication anyone has ever made to me.

The journey this book had to take to get there.

I swear I didn't sell it or give it away.

I left for San Francisco with

nothing, I left everything to my mother.

The apartment was sold when he died with everything in it,

even these suns.

They are yours again.

But don't read it again, I tried last night and I couldn't.

Do you remember this song?

Which ?

The one that I liked so much.

Hold on.

No, not that one.

That one.

Today the time has passed

Today that life has passed

Today I laugh when I think about it

Today I forgot this time

I don't know why I wake up

Deep in these empty nights

Hearing a voice that sings

And who could

Be mine

I would like to die

Love right there

Just so you know...

My darling: here I go, aimlessly, like the Flying Dutchman.

I will find my way, and when I arrive, I will remember you. Dad.

Kali, Kali.

Are you okay, my darling? My Kali...

Hi, Mike.

- Hi, Tony. - How did it go in Madrid?

Better than expected.

Did he behave well?

It's a brave beast, we can barely hear it.

But he didn't move from your corner, he kept watch.

Thank you for taking care of him.

- What time is it ? - Almost eight hours.

Almost eight hours?

I go to Calahonda to the market.

And Teresa, how is she?

She feels better; but she has desires all the time.

Here, to celebrate the event, when the time comes.

Coming soon. Thanks, Mike.

Thank you. See you later.

Hi.

Mike!

We watered your vegetable garden. You're starting to have tomatoes.

THANKS !

THE CASE OF THE MISSING ACTOR

Hold.

Are you doing the classics this evening?

For me, it is clear:

Esmeralda or Estrella.

Don't start, her name will be Juana.

It's a corny name, my dear. Aunt Jeanne, what do you say?

You, Mike, what do you think? What do you prefer ?

The one you decide together.

I don't like people having names for things.

Names are names, period.

Paton is right.

Some of us have had the misfortune of having

a name given to them without thinking,

and which has nothing to do with our real name.

They named me Rufino.

Almost no one knows.

What a fucking name, "Rufino".

But they call me Patón, fortunately.

Did the same thing happen to you, Mike?

Not really...

Mike is Miguel, but in English.

When I arrived here, Charly, the crazy American who

lived next door, started calling me Mike all the time.

And it stayed because of that.

Teresa,

don't rack your brains too much, the little

one will have whatever name God wants.

Juana!

Here, I'll leave it to you, Mike.

Come on.

Play us the song we like.

The one from the film.

I come with you.

How is it again?

In the west the sun rises

The cattle go down to the stream

The bird sits in its nest

The cowboy joins the world of dreams

The purple light

In the canyons

It's there that

I would like to be

With my three

Faithful companions

Just my gun, Toni

And me

I will hang

My hat

On the branch

From a tree

I'm back

My love

Just my gun

My pony and me

The night owl

In the willow

Whistle a sweet

Melody

And that I run away

To Amarillo

Just my gun

My pony

And me

No more cow

To... To attach...

No more vermin

On my road

The bend

She will wait for me

My gun, my pony and me

My rifle

My pony

And me

I'm going to bed.

Honey, are you tidying up?

Good night, friends.

We won't be long.

Don't be in a hurry, I'll read a little. See you tomorrow.

See you tomorrow.

- Rest well. - I'm coming.

Tomorrow at five in the morning.

Art doesn't wait, you know that well.

Count on me, Patón, I’ll be there.

- See you tomorrow. - Good night.

By the way, Toni,

and melodrama?

Do you have news ?

Not really...

Let's say we're still at the same point.

The other day, Matías' old gossip came by.

He told me "like a friend" that the owners

had finally reconciled and agreed to a truce.

We don't know how long it will last.

They want the same thing: to sell the land.

He told me not to rely too much on the

trailer, that we were coming to the end.

We expected it.

Maybe Matías was trying to pull the wool over my head,

but it looks like it's for real.

Teresa and I left as soon as the little one was born.

And what are you going to do?

I don't know.

I'll start fixing the car just in case.

It's a good idea.

I'm going to bed, Toni, it's late.

- Good night see you tomorrow. - See you tomorrow.

And health!

"Why did the artist Michal Waszynski one day decide

that his masterpiece would not be a film, but his life?"

Toni, drop that guitar

and come to bed.

The show will air tonight at 10 p.m. Martha.

Here, Mike, this is for you.

Fulge, it's going to rain. Bring in the chairs...

Got it.

... alarmed by a column of smoke

coming from a plastic warehouse.

The fire, now under control, caused no injuries.

Chano Rodriguez.

THE CASE OF THE MISSING ACTOR

His name was Julio Arenas, he was an actor.

One of the most admired and famous of Spanish cinema.

But he disappeared

overnight, 22 years ago,

during the filming of a film.

How was your film?

I don't know what to answer you.

It was my second film.

A rather classic adventure film.

Julio Arenas was your friend, how did you know each other?

During our military service, we were in the Navy.

Then we saw each other again in Madrid.

I have a photo of you two here. You were very young.

It's curious, it is taken in the courtyard of a prison.

It is noted...

Hi, Max.

Just a little, I couldn't see it all.

No, I expected that.

Yes, it could be worse.

Did you record it?

As far as I'm concerned, you can delete it.

Delete it.

Good night, Max. Hi.

Do you want a piece?

- It's really good, I have another one. - How are you.

A sip ?

Even less.

Marta, hello.

No. Everything is fine. I'm listening to you.

What ?

Is she sure?

The network is not good, I can hear you very badly.

Yes, send me the photo.

I call you later.

I call you later !

Yes of course. I will call you back without fail.

Don't forget to send me the photo.

See you later.

Someone died?

What ?

What if someone died?

No.

Marta, it's me. Can you hear me better?

I was at sea, I couldn't hear you well.

I can hear you a little better.

Yes, I saw the photo.

Yes, he looks a lot like him.

Enormously.

It was when ? Four days ago?

No, I don't know this village.

It's not far from here, I can go there.

How ?

Belen. Belén Granados.

A social worker.

Yes, in a retirement home.

Is she convinced it's Julio?

All right. Thank you, Marta.

We got screwed, Kali,

we really got screwed.

Teresa!

- Don't spoil him too much. - No.

When are you coming back, Mike?

Soon, I hope, but honestly, I don't know.

- Hi, Teresa. -Hey, Mike.

RETIREMENT HOME

- Belen? - Yes, Garay, the director?

Yes, my name is Miguel.

Miguel, delighted. I'm glad you came.

Come on, let's go in.

How are you ?

- Yes. - Did you have trouble finding it?

A little, but not that much.

Good morning.

- Hello, Diego. - Good morning.

- How is it going this morning ? - GOOD. And you ?

- Alright. - THANKS.

This way.

- Good morning. - Belén.

- I'm listening to you, Vicente. - I need to talk to you.

- Wait for me here, I'll come back. - It's certain ?

- Yes. Everything is fine ? - Yes.

Good morning.

Good morning.

This way.

- Belén. - Yes ?

When are you going to talk to Diego's family?

- Tell them I'm coming. - All right.

Hi.

- Good morning. - Hello, Belén.

- Hello, Carmen. - Good morning.

Between. Leave your stuff here, if you want.

Yes.

SO...

You're finally here, Miguel.

I explain to you.

I don't watch much TV, but I like this show.

And when I saw the actor's episode, I couldn't believe it.

I couldn't believe it.

I watched it several times,

I thought I'd get some ideas.

But not at all.

This actor was indeed the man I saw here every day.

He wasn't dead, he was here.

I tried to speak with

Marta Soriano, I called her.

At first she didn't answer me,

but I'm stubborn, so I wrote to her.

So I sent the photo. She called me right away.

In the end, everything went well.

Did she send you the photo?

Yes, that's why I'm here.

Everything happened a long time ago, he lost his memory.

He doesn't know who he is, he doesn't know anything.

But I think it's him, it's Julio Arenas.

I'm sure of it because there is other proof.

Another one ?

The photo of the little girl we see in the show.

It's the same one, I saw it.

He has the photo.

He had almost nothing when he arrived, except this photo.

Are you sure it's the same photo?

The little Chinese girl with the fan.

He keeps it in a

calligraphy notebook.

I have seen him very often with this

notebook open, he is looking at the photo.

I don't think he knows who it is or why he has it.

Can I see her ?

But without him realizing it.

We're not doing anything wrong, are we?

I sure hope not.

Of course, you have to see the photo.

Yes.

But I should see him first, don't you think?

Miguel.

It's him.

He takes care of general maintenance.

He's the king of DIY, as they say.

He is given a roof over his head, food, and a small salary.

Just enough to buy cigarettes.

But he agrees, he never complained.

We call him Gardel.

Why Gardel?

Because he often whistles a tango tune.

I would like to see it closer.

I have an idea.

He eats at the employee table.

What if you had lunch with us?

Good idea. It's possible ?

But yes !

He's going to go buy some lime.

Come on, let's take advantage of it, I'll show you where he lives.

He immediately loved this place.

The sisters offered him a room, but he refused.

He came back there and created his workshop.

He sleeps there.

Let's go.

You were right.

It's him,

It's Julio.

Yes.

What surprised me the most was his look.

when he crossed mine.

He looked at me like I was...

person.

I need to call Benavides.

The neurologist, Doctor Benavides.

The sisters are waiting for us in the garden.

You come ?

Yes let's go.

Maria Amaro. You are expected at reception.

You have a visit.

Maria Amaro. You are expected at reception.

You have a visit.

What do you say his name was?

Julio. Julio Arenas.

He was an actor.

Could you tell us about him?

I could tell you lots of things about my

friend, but I don't know anything about Gardel.

What have you learned about it?

We were told he was an undocumented immigrant.

But he was a strange undocumented immigrant, he didn't speak often,

but he always did it in Spanish.

Three years ago, we found him in Motril, he had sunstroke.

They took him to Santa Ana Hospital, to the emergency room.

He had no papers, just a bag with

some clothes and a couple of things.

Did we find out where he lived?

No.

In Motril, some assured that he was passing through.

Someone said he was seen at the port,

that he was waiting for a boat to go to Ceuta.

It could be true,

because he was a sailor.

Once,

we were walking on the beach,

and he stopped suddenly.

He looked at the horizon for a moment.

Then he pointed his finger, and he said:

“I have been to every country in the

world that had a port, without exception.”

He would have a navigator's log.

No nothing at all.

When we asked him his name, he

gave us one, and the next day another.

It didn't seem like he was lying.

It was thought that sunstroke had caused

him to lose his mind until Benavides saw him

and finds he has a brain problem.

Sister Consuelo gave him this name.

She is so happy with her Gardel!

Yes, it's true.

I called him Gardel because I heard him sing tangos.

Today, not many people

know what a tango is.

But when I was

young, I danced tangos.

That's why I called him Gardel.

SO,

you who come from elsewhere,

tell me,

Did I do well or not?

You did very well.

Do you know if he has any family?

A daughter, Ana. She lives in Madrid.

We must warn her.

Poor little girl ! She will be happy!

This might seem weird to you.

but I would like to stay close to

him, see what he does, what he says,

what he remembers, if he remembers...

Come whenever you want.

I mean, I'd like to stay here

for a few days, if you don't mind,

until his daughter arrives, like another boarder.

He could sleep in Araceli's room.

It doesn't hurt anyone, sister.

Okay, a few days should be fine.

You are Gardel...

Here, they call me Gardel.

That's not your name?

I do not know.

But you know who Gardel was?

A man who sang, Gardel.

Do you sing too?

Yes, a few times.

And what do you sing?

Small path that time has erased

who saw us pass one day

I'm coming back for the last time

I will be back...

I come to tell you my pain

Little path that was then

Sprinkled with clover

And reeds in bloom

You will soon be nothing more than a shadow

You will soon be nothing more than a shadow

A shadow like me

You are the man who sang,

the one who sang before me?

No,

I'm Miguel.

Miguel?

Here it is.

Here it is.

Put the.

It's always the same thing. How many times do I have to tell you?

Come on, be nice.

You realize ?

He spends his life barefoot!

It's a mania.

Ana.

It's him, it's your father.

An unread message

I just spoke with Benavides. He's waiting for you at his house at noon.

I first saw it about three years ago.

He was in intensive care.

I have been diagnosed

with a neurological disorder

caused in part by alcohol.

He may have had trauma,

what is called retroactive amnesia

and which can wipe out a whole life in one fell swoop.

But when do you think it happened?

The moment he disappeared,

or after ?

Logic makes us think it happened when he disappeared,

when he was unable to return to the set.

Why are you asking me that?

What do you think happened?

It comes to mind sometimes,

when I put myself in his shoes.

But if this is so, his

disappearance would be voluntary,

before the trauma.

Why did you come to this conclusion?

I do not really know.

Besides, there was something else with him.

We didn't know its roots.

But now everything has changed,

we know his real name.

And what is a name?

It's a good question.

We see that you are a writer.

This file does not contain your friend's entire life.

You can do something for him.

Help him get back what he lost.

Don't forget what I told you.

Memory is very important, yes,

but we are not just memory.

There are feelings,

the sensibility.

And that's where you and his family play a role,

you can move him,

awaken his soul.

His soul ?

Yes, although it may seem to you

a somewhat old-fashioned way of expressing it.

No not at all.

I remember when I went to see him at the retirement home.

I asked him for the first time

if he felt alive.

He did not answer me.

I insisted.

He told me he didn't know anything about it,

that he didn't know what that meant.

I can help you ?

Sister Consuelo said it would do me good.

What exactly do you know how to do?

I have a vegetable garden.

So go take care of it.

I can't. I have to stay here for a while.

There's only one place and I don't intend to die.

It's for the little old people, they're the ones who die.

Show me.

Show your hands.

Your hands !

It's good,

you have the hands of a worker.

Almost like mine.

You do not recognize me ?

You do not recognize me ?

I don't know.

Come on,

we're going to whitewash a wall!

Go get some water.

Gardel!

Where did you learn to tie these knots?

I do them automatically.

Do you know what they are called?

Sailor knots.

We learned to do them in the same place.

Look at,

first class sailors.

On the "Rayo",

our boat.

Look at the name on the cap ribbon.

Tape ?

Yes, on our caps.

What's marked? “Destroy Rayo”.

There, it's me, Miguel Garay.

And here it's you, Julio Arenas.

It is not me.

No.

And it's not you either.

It's not me.

The bowline knot.

- Ana! - Hello, Miguel.

- Did you have trouble finding it? - No.

Have you moved into the retirement home?

I wanted to be near him.

The sisters help me a lot.

I booked three nights, I don't know if it will be enough.

Look at.

What is this picture ?

It's Qiao Shu.

She was in the movie. He has the original.

He must have taken it during filming.

The most incredible,

is that he kept it for

more than 20 years.

But does he recognize you?

Sometimes I think so.

But maybe it's my imagination.

It only lasts a moment.

Most of the time he looks at me like I'm

a wall, or he doesn't look at me at all.

I don't really know why I'm here.

Why are you there ?

Because maybe he's my father.

It's your father.

Yes.

Maybe he will recognize me and come back to where he is.

But I'm afraid I don't recognize him.

What if it's all for nothing?

It's possible.

But I think we have to try.

Are we going to the retirement home? It's not far.

Yes let's go.

There is light, he must be awake.

I prefer to go alone.

It's me, Ana.

It's me, Ana.

Good morning.

Do you like the cat?

Yes.

I feed him every day.

Have you always been here?

Who, me and the cat?

No you.

Not always.

I've had to live in a lot of places,

even in China.

I like it here because there is the sea.

Do you have children?

No I do not have any.

Well, I don't know anything about it.

Do you know how old you are?

I was told almost 70 years old.

They say it like that, they don't know it.

Me neither.

Here, it's full of old people.

You're not a sister, right?

No.

I'm just passing by.

All right.

I'm coming.

Good evening.

How did it go with Gardel?

Alright.

Belén told me that Ana was planning to go back to Madrid soon.

It's a shame.

Tell her she shouldn't worry,

she can be calm.

His father is very well here, I'll take care of him.

Tell him.

I'll tell him, sister.

Give him that from me.

These are the things Gardel had with

him when he was found in the street.

They were sent to us from the hospital after a while,

and I kept them.

I had almost forgotten them.

I think it's better that Ana keeps them, right?

Yes, I will give them to him.

If you're cold, ask me for another blanket.

We don't have a lot of money,

but there's no shortage of blankets.

This is Max's answering machine. I am not available.

Please leave a message after the beep.

Max, sorry for calling you so late, but it's very important.

I have to ask you a favor.

Take the two reels of my film and bring them here.

I want to do a screening.

It's for Julio.

Yes, Julio, you heard correctly.

He is alive. I'll explain everything to you.

I'll send you the address, it's a retirement home.

I'm counting on you, my friend.

Do you know what surprised me the most?

The scapular.

This king.

My father played chess?

No, not in chess.

Should I take all this?

Sister Consuelo says it's for you.

My father left one day, he never came back.

I don't think he'll ever come back.

Wait, Ana.

The storm woke me up last night, I didn't sleep anymore.

An idea came to me.

I can't get rid of it since I saw this king.

I believe that in your father's head,

something is about this photo

he has kept for all these years.

It's the photo and the king.

Sad King,

it was the setting for the film we were shooting together.

“The sad king.”

I believe it's a sign.

- A sign of what? - That's what I want to find out.

Your father has lost his memory,

but perhaps not his conscience.

What would happen if he saw the footage from the last movie he made?

There's little left, but it's crucial because it's the end.

He's never seen anything, not even the rushes.

And where is he going to see them?

- Here. - Here ?

Yes.

I called a friend last night.

He will be here in a few hours,

with this sequence from the film.

I wish your father could see it.

- Could that help? - I do not know,

but in this scene he is with

the little girl who is in the photo.

They are together.

They talk, they move.

He will see himself again as he was.

Think about it, please.

If he returns to Triste-le-Roi, he will understand one thing:

where does this photo come from

that he kept with him for so many years.

I do not know what to tell you.

We could show it in a cinema.

There is one very close to your hotel.

It is closed, but it is still in good condition.

One second, Marta.

Don't go, Ana.

I'm listening to you.

You have some ideas, buddy.

I almost didn't arrive with all your stuff.

With a traffic jam of more than twenty kilometers.

Miraculously, the Comanches did not attack.

CINEMA SQUARE

I'm going to light it up.

You'll see, it's a bit dilapidated.

Everything has remained as it is since we closed.

Come in.

My grandfather created this cinema, may he rest in peace.

He started very young,

he projected everywhere, he came and went in a van.

What do you think ?

It's in better condition than mine.

This one still works.

I can ?

These projectors showed all the images

of the filming that took place in the area.

It's been a bunch of years. They were filming every day.

The rushes.

That's what the Provini said, they were all Italian,

the kind who move their hands in all directions.

They made westerns.

He's perfect, Rafael.

I don't see where you're going with this, old man.

That a film works a miracle? Stop, buddy.

Miracles in the cinema

are over since Dreyer died.

It's me who tells you, a

practitioner, but not a believer.

I wonder what world you live in.

Arenas is no longer there, but he knows very well what he wants.

I understood last night, when we had dinner with him.

He only trusts the good sister, as if she were his mother.

Don't scold me, Max.

"Don't scold me, don't scold me..."

Hold ! Sweep a little, it will do you good.

I'll get the battery from the van.

I'll be right back.

I don't know how you managed to do that.

Gardel, for the first time, with her good sister!

Even the Soriano is there.

I couldn't refuse. She wanted to see Julio.

And the end.

The end of what?

From the movie.

Of course. We don't smoke here.

Forget what I told you this morning.

Thanks, Max.

Everything you told me,

your endless stories,

dear believer,

are no longer of any use.

Do what you have to do,

once and for all.

Come on, they're waiting for you.

- Hello everyone. - Good morning.

Thanks for coming.

Sister Consuelo, please. My sister, come closer.

Sit down, please.

- Belén. - Yes ?

Martha.

Sit down there.

THANKS.

Ana.

Sit on the fourth seat.

Gardel.

Gardel.

Rafael, the door, please.

Max!

Go ahead.

They are there.

Mr. Lévy.

Judith?

My name is Qiao Shu.

My little girl

My dear daughter

So be it

Don't throw yourself away

At the sea

Because

The sea

Is unleashed

She will take you away

Let it take me away

And drags me

So be it

Seven fathoms deep

And that swallows me

A black fish

To save me from love

CLOSE EYES