All language subtitles for 1969 La femme au couteau

Cette restauration fait partie
de l’African Film Heritage Project,

une initiative créée par le World Cinema
Project de la Film Foundation,

par la Fédération Panafricaine
des Cinéastes et par l’UNESCO,

en collaboration
avec la Cineteca di Bologna,

pour aider à localiser, restaurer
et diffuser le cinéma africain.

La restauration en 4K
de "La femme au couteau" a été réalisée

à partir des négatifs image et son
originaux.

Le négatif image original, endommagé
par la moisissure et la poussière,

présentait aussi des rayures et a exigé
une restauration numérique importante.

Le réalisateur Timité Bassori
a supervisé l'étalonnage.

Film restauré en 2019 par La Cineteca
di Bologna/L'Immagine Ritrovata

et le World Cinema Project
de The Film Foundation

Restauration financée par
la George Lucas Family Foundation

THE WOMAN WITH THE KNIFE

This woman is a double
from the afterlife.

Every person on earth has a double
in the world of the dead.

Usually, they are the same sex
as their earthly counterpart.

But sometimes, as in your case,

they may also be
of the opposite sex.

And that creates
emotional problems.

These doubles are very jealous.

This woman, aside from
her bouts of jealousy, is a guardian.

She protects you from any danger
that might befall you.

You must learn to understand her
and accept her ways.

For she is very demanding.

Do not fear her.
Her presence is beneficial.

But I don't want
to influence your decision.

If she scares you so much
that you never want to see her again...

you'll never see her again.

But if you want to see her more
and strengthen your bond...

I can help that to happen.

Before we begin, I'd like you
to weigh up the pros and cons...

because once the work is done,

I cannot undo your decision.

So think it over for a few days.

This is all so silly.

I can hardly believe it myself.
And yet I know I saw her.

She came towards me...

with a knife in her hand.

It's quite possible,
and I take your word for it.

The surprising thing

is that I instinctively went
to the witch doctor.

It's a side of me
that I wasn't aware of.

I was so sure
that I had left superstition behind.

And then, at the first sign of trouble
I run to the witch doctor for comfort.

It's embarrassing.

You know, if you'd gone to a shrink,
he would have talked nonsense too.

Let's be honest,

at least there's a certain romance
about seeing a witch doctor.

You did what any scared person would:
we cling to our beliefs.

What matters is what you feel,
what you yourself believe.

This vision has shocked you.
Find out how it relates to your past.

Are you able to take control
of the situation?

Control? Control what?
I don't even know what I'm afraid of.

Well, perhaps.

Maybe once I collect my thoughts.
But right now that's impossible.

I can't stop worrying
about the next apparition...

of that double
from the afterlife.

I'm too scared to take a shower
or close my eyes.

I'm scared to death.

Sometimes when I'm alone,

I feel a presence
close beside me.

The problem is,
how do we find out the truth?

How do we explain this phenomenon
and with what evidence?

Where does she come from?

Who is she?
What does she want from me?

- What are you thinking?
- Nothing.

About what you said.

Sir, if you don't know the name
of the person you want to see

then I can't find him for you.

How can you know someone
and not know their name?

Well, you see
it's quite complicated.

I was a boy when I knew him
but I never knew his name.

I used to call him Uncle.
He was a family friend.

And he has been here
for three years?

So they say.

I'm not from here.
I've been travelling.

I'll do my best,
but don't get your hopes up.

Do you see him?

There. I recognise him.

So it's him, the man
with the leather bracelet.

Like everyone here,
he has a story to tell.

Good evening.

You don't seem pleased
to see me.

I have something to give you.

Take good care of it.
It will be of great help to you.

So when I got there,
I was still very innocent.

One day a friend said,
"Time to pop your cherry!"

They took me to a brothel.

Brothels over there aren't like ours.
They're beautiful houses.

Inside, they have thick carpets
and mirrors all over the walls.

Like palaces.

So they took me there.

We went in
and were greeted in the lounge.

They showed us pictures
of the women to choose from.

When you've made your choice
the girls are called in.

Boy, did we have fun!

We drank the finest wines,
ate wonderful food

and danced.

The girl I picked...
She was a real beauty.

Her chest was like this!

And her eyes...

When she looked at me
and she raised her eyebrows...

a shock ran through me and I wanted
to ravish her there and then!

She was fantastic.

Her name was Lili.

Was she white?

Of course. It's their country.
All the girls are white.

Who do you think work the fields,
wait tables and sweep the streets?

White people.

There are rich and poor people.

The poor are just like here,

but the rich are richer
than you have ever seen.

Over there, the rich people
are seriously rich.

Have you been to Paris?
Do you know France too?

That's not quite how it works.

Paris is a city
and France is the country.

Like here, Ivory Coast is the country
and Abidjan the city.

I've been to many cities.

I know Marseille, Toulon, Nîmes,
Fréjus, Bordeaux...

and Paris, of course.

And plenty more.

Will you ever go back there?

To live in those countries
you need a lot of money.

And I've got none.

You must go when you're young.

That way you can learn
all kinds of things.

Just by walking through Paris,
for example, you learn French history.

Good evening.

Don't move.
Sit down.

May I sit?

I am your wife
from the hereafter.

Don't be so impatient.

You'll destroy the love
that is growing between us.

You cannot touch me.

I am only the light
by which you can see me.

Like a flame you long to touch,

it will burn you
or you'll snuff it out.

You must wait
until I materialise.

Until I physically come to life.

The other night, I gave you
my leather bracelet.

It will be
the only material thing

that you possess of me
while you wait.

I must leave you now.

Sleep well.

I will come back.

It will be a surprise.
See you soon.

Let me go!

I'll smash your face in!

I'm not a "darkie"!

I've been to Paris and Marseille.
You're a disgrace!

I won't be bullied
by fools like him.

Good evening.

Don't be afraid, it's me.

Don't move.

I will stay close to you today.

I told you
it would be a surprise.

I've come to tell you,
you can summon me when you want.

Just take the bracelet
and I will be there with you.

Would you like that?

Then just take the bracelet with you,
and I will be there.

Sweet dreams.

Good night.

It's so great to be taking
this trip together.

- What did you say?
- I wasn't talking to you.

Take us to the veterans' home.

Yes, sir.

This outing was
so important to you,

I could hardly refuse to come.

You should enjoy it too.

I'd feel bad if I thought

you were only here for my sake.

Of course I'll enjoy it.

Don't worry.

If you don't mind,
I'll just be a minute.

I have to drop this
at the police station.

It's just across the street.
Thank you.

Good day, officer.

There's a strange man
in my taxi.

He keeps talking to himself,
as if there's somebody with him.

He's scaring me.

I want him out of my taxi.

The police shouldn't let
these people roam the streets.

Are you complaining
about a customer or the police?

I'm sorry.
I didn't mean to offend you.

But that man
is still in my taxi.

What do I do?

Don't bother me
with something so small.

Just politely ask him
to get out.

But he's crazy!
He could be dangerous.

Alright, don't cry.
I'll help you to get rid of him.

Wait here.

Where has he got to?

Taxi drivers are so impolite.

Can you believe it?
He just gets out and leaves us here!

Let's go on foot.

That will teach him
to abandon us.

Here he is, officer.

But... where did he go?

Is this some sort of joke?

Perhaps you think
we don't have enough to do?

Don't waste my time
with this nonsense.

I'm so sorry.

I swear on my father's life,
I had a lunatic on board.

Don't mess me around!

Where is he?
Did he just vanish?

Perhaps you're
the madman after all.

Is everything alright up there?

I had a madman in my taxi!

A madman, or a ghost.

My God!

Maybe he's right.

WAR VETERANS' HOME

Won't you have a drink with me?

Here's to love.

May I?

Bastard!
How dare you!

Get off me!

What did he want?

I have no idea.

I just picked up
that empty chair over there.

- Look at what he's doing.
- Who is he?

I'm sorry, my dear.

People can be so rude.

They have no respect for others.

Inspector, there are
dangerous madmen on the loose!

It's a disgrace.
Do something.

This is intolerable, Inspector.

Madmen in the street!

What about our safety?
What are you going to do?

I have a big family.
My wife and children are in danger.

What can I possibly do?

What has this poor man done?
I can't arrest him without cause.

I'm telling you, he's nuts!

Today he attacked three people
on the café terrace.

If what you say is true,
then we have to act quickly.

That changes everything.

One moment.

What do you want?

Let go of me!

What an incredible story.

Asylums are full
of incredible stories.

Thank you so much
for helping me find him.

Sir!

Tell him
to give me back my bracelet.

You refuse, too?

What's wrong with them?

Has everybody gone mad?

Give me back my bracelet!

Give me back my bracelet!

Sorry, sir...
Oh, it's you!

Look how grown-up you are!
You're a real woman, now.

What a sight.

Now I remember.

You and I used to play together.

You've changed too.

You've become a real man,
with that voice.

Yes, but I'm older than you.

Yes, and you always used
that advantage to beat me.

Still angry about that?

Of course not.

Let's not part like this.
Why don't we get a drink?

I'm sorry, I can't.
I'm meeting someone.

Okay, some other time.

Mind if I walk with you?

Strange, how long it's been
since we saw each other.

What are you doing?

I'm still in school.
Sixth-form.

Do your parents still live
in the same building?

Let's meet up again, and soon.

How about dinner?

I'd love that.

When are you free?

I hope you can fit me in
one evening.

I'm all booked up this week.

- Then lunch, tomorrow?
- Fine.

I'll pick you up
from that bar at 12:30.

Perfect. 12:30.

- How beautiful you've become.
- Thank you.

I have to go.

- Bye.
- See you tomorrow.

See you soon!

- Don't forget.
- Don't worry.

Why am I giving you my life story?
What good will it do you?

Don't worry.
I'm not a father confessor.

That's not my style.

I was asking for myself.

For yourself?

Even if you're happy with your life
and the goals you set yourself...

you still have to compare them
with people you know.

You scare me
when you look so serious.

I'm serious, but there's
no need to be scared.

I haven't been
at my best lately.

And to me,
you represent reality.

You're bursting
with life and energy.

There's no miraculous reason.
It's very simple.

I accept life as it comes
and find happiness in that.

I can't do that,
even though I know you're right.

You have to take account
of society around you,

even if you disagree with it.

Otherwise
reality leaves you behind.

I'm terrified
of getting left behind.

Of missing out.

It makes me feel
like I'm getting old, dying.

That's why I need
to see you living.

You're reality.
You're youthful.

Your company
makes me feel alive too.

You're making life so complicated.
These are artificial problems.

Not to me.

My life depends on it.

We should meet again.
Would you like that?

- If you like, sure.
- Thanks.

You can always come round.
I'm always home after work.

- To your place?
- Don't worry.

I'm a decent man.

Here...

That's my address.

Time to go.

Waiter!

- Good evening.
- How are you?

Aren't you ready yet?

I'll only be a minute.
Don't get angry.

I'm not angry. I'm just remarking
that you're not ready.

Have a seat.

While I get ready, how about a drink?
What would you like?

- Nothing, thanks.
- Fine. Up to you.

You know,
I saw Kofi this morning.

- Kofi, who?
- The boy who used to live with us.

Oh, him.

We fought all the time as kids.

Honestly, you weren't
always very nice to him.

What's he doing?

He has a family
and works to provide for them.

Bravo! How touching.

We had a chat,
talked about this and that...

You, for instance.

He said you hadn't been
in touch for ages.

True.

He asked if you were
still just as strange.

How ridiculous!
Anyway, he's not the only one.

Some people say I'm pretentious.

Kofi says
you give yourself airs.

Well, we don't share
the same concerns or hobbies,

and we define happiness
differently.

Well, well...

That's odd.
I also knew a strange man.

When I was a boy, I used to see him
on my way to school.

In the same spot.

There was something odd about him.
At least, that was my impression.

You know what happened?

He went mad.

He spent a lot of his life
in Europe.

When he returned,
he couldn't adjust to life here.

He spent most of his time
in bars,

getting drunk and bragging
about his Parisian adventures.

Back then I didn't realise,

but he was one of the first victims
of those two worlds colliding.

Why are you telling me this?

When you mentioned Kofi,
it reminded me of this man.

All too often
people stumble through life.

They have no conception of things
that exist outside their world.

I refuse to live like that.

I do not accept
the life I've been given.

So kill yourself.

No, I can't.

For two reasons.

Firstly, I don't have the courage
to do something like that.

Secondly,
it's against my religion.

My own religion, obviously.

My life transcends my person.
It's part of a greater whole...

which I call
the energetic element of humanity.

That element must evolve
to a higher level...

which is total perfection,
the end, the absolute.

I don't know how to explain it.

Here's an example.

Frogspawn becomes tadpoles...

which in turn,
grow into frogs again.

That's the highest level
of that species.

Not a single frog can exist

without passing through the process
of spawn, tadpole, frog.

In my case...

my life becomes
an element in the process

that leads to man's
highest level of evolution.

Because it's necessary,
it is therefore essential.

Premature death,
such as suicide,

impedes the natural progress
of this evolution.

Whether a life is rich or not,
fulfilled or unfulfilled,

it makes an equal contribution
towards that evolution.

It constitutes
a useful experiment.

So you're too chicken for suicide,
despite your disenchantment with life?

You don't understand
but it doesn't matter.

- How time flies.
- You're right.

Back in a minute.

I always enjoy taking a walk
after dinner.

Yes, doctors recommend it.

That's why there is often dancing
after posh dinners.

Just a quick ten-minute session!

Look out there. A ship.

It travels to other countries,
other worlds.

I'm so jealous
of people who travel.

Come on.

Poor me!

I can't.
I'm exhausted.

I'm staying here.

You can't stay here.
Come on.

We're almost there.

Come on, now.

You'll wake everybody up.

Wait, I know what to do.

See? No need to panic.

And there was light.

Don't fall asleep.

Wake up.

Wake up, you wimp!

What's going on?

Her again, isn't it?

You need to rest, you know.
The doctor says so.

If you're tired and want me to leave,
just tell me. No problem.

What happened?

They found a woman screaming
like crazy in your room,

and you were out cold.

They took you both
to the hospital.

The woman has already gone home.

As for you, you've had
a terrible nervous breakdown.

They gave you sedatives
to let you sleep.

You've been asleep for 12 hours.

She came back, didn't she?

I don't know.

I don't remember anything.

Everything is happening so fast...

that I'm quite dizzy.

My God...

I wish I could make
all this go away.

He's delirious.

He still has a fever.

In a way, it's a good thing
that the vision keeps returning.

You'll get used to it,

and you have to learn
not to fear it,

now you know
it's a hallucination.

You must also try
to see Mah again.

I know it's hard
but you have to.

There must be a link
between Mah and your vision.

And you have to find out
what that link is.

Maybe it's true what you say.

But I don't think I can bear
to see that vision ever again.

Or to see Mah.

Give me some time
to clear my mind.

Don't take too long.

It's now or never.

There you are!
Nice of you to come.

You aren't leaving already?

Is your glass empty?
There's plenty here to eat and drink.

Thank you.

I have time.
The night is still young.

Enjoy yourself.

You're all alone.
Are you bored?

Not at all.
I'm having a great time.

- No!
- I have it on good authority.

Is it true what they say?

What do they say?

That you don't like women!

That's easy to check.

If you'll allow it,
I'm at your service.

So they arrest the killer,

and the superintendent, outraged,
shouts furiously at the defendant,

"Are you proud
of what you've done?

"You sexually assaulted her,
strangled her and cut up the body.

"It's beyond belief."

Then the killer
shrugs his shoulders,

and says, "If you can't
even flirt these days..."

I'll tell you straight,
this country is ours,

and we can't put up with being bullied
like we were in the past.

She says it like a challenge:
"Come to my place if you want to meet."

So I told her I would visit
if she gave me a date that suited her.

I went to her house.
Luckily her husband was out.

After we've had our fun,
I go to the sitting room.

I've just sat down
when her husband comes in.

"Finally, there you are!"
I say.

"I was just passing
and dropped in to say hello.

"But your wife was shut in her room.
I was about to leave."

He asked how his wife was.

When he heard she wasn't sick,

he told her off
for not taking care of me.

Eventually we broke out the whiskey
and had a great time!

Still alone? Let's sort you out.
I'll find you some company.

There are two girls
who would love to dance.

I don't feel like dancing.

Don't be silly.
You can't leave them waiting.

I'm not in the mood.

Come on, you're here
to enjoy yourself.

No, I really don't want to.

I don't believe this.

You don't want to eat,
drink or even dance.

You shun the other guests.

Why did you come here?

That's true. I just asked myself
the same question.

Perhaps I should be on my way.

Thank you for inviting me.

I had a good time.

Good bye.

You little jerk.
I ought to beat you to a pulp.

If you weren't
my guest tonight...

Piss off!

And never come here again.

You're taking this
the wrong way.

Such a nice restaurant.

- Shall we dance after this?
- No.

- What's wrong with you?
- Nothing.

You've been acting
so strange lately.

Like I get on your nerves.
My presence seems to annoy you.

You're wrong.

I'm depressed, that's all.

You think I'm a fool?

I know you're hiding something.

Whatever it is,

I expect to be treated nicely
on a date.

What do you want me to do?
Kiss and caress you in public?

Keep your voice down.
We're not alone.

Then stop nagging me.

I understand.

I don't need you
to tell me a second time.

Mah, wait for me.

Don't touch me.

Wait for me!

Well, if that's
what she wants...

Let me in.

I'm so sorry.
It's all my fault.

I don't know what you see
in a fool like me.

- No, wait!
- What's the matter?

No!
Don't come any closer.

Kafouri! Kafouri!

She's still there!
Stay away!

Not a step further
or I'll beat you!

I'm telling you, stay back!

What's wrong with you?

Did you want to kill me?

So that's what it was.

Suddenly it's all clear to me.

That face is none other
than my mother's.

But how could it have become
so depersonalised?

I still remember that day.

It was raining.

I was sheltering
with a girl of my age,

by a fence
in the corner of the yard.

We felt so happy
as the rain fell around us...

and we felt safe.

So we fell
into each other's arms.

I don't know how they found us.
We were well hidden.

But I still remember
my mother's furious face above us,

saying these words:

"Little boys who play dirty games
with little girls

"will be snatched away by Death
and never see Mummy or Daddy again."

Those words took root
in my subconscious...

and haunted me
every time I fell in love with a girl.

All the pretty faces that might lead me
to those "dirty games"

became obscured
by the mask of Death.

That fear has taken on the face
of the woman who haunts me.

Do you understand, Mah?

I don't blame you.
Quite the opposite.

Thanks to you, I have escaped
from this nightmare.

Mah, forgive me.

Don't you believe
what I just told you?

Calm down.

My love, don't leave me.

No more crying.

It's over.

It's the emotion.

You acted so strangely.
I really thought you had gone mad.

- Who is Kafouri?
- Kafouri?

- Where did you hear that name?
- You said it when you called for help.

- Really?
- Of course.

Don't you remember?

I don't remember.

Kafouri... he doesn't exist.

How come?

He's a figment
of my imagination.

My love, did you need all this
to fight your loneliness?

I always found reality
difficult to handle.

It hurts me.

I can't communicate
with my peers.

I can't touch them.

The contact sears my skin.

So I chose an unreal world.

In that world I feel alive.

That's where I feel
like a free man.

- Are you that unhappy?
- No more than anyone else.

To me, it was a way
of adjusting to reality.

I hope it's all over now.

Yes, it is over.

What's wrong?

Are you sure I exist?

And that I will always
exist for you?

Yes, all my life.

Now, I can face reality head-on.

With you, I can set out
to reconquer the world.

Subtitles: L'Immagine Ritrovata
Translated by David Buchanan