Original subtitles

All my life I have fought against hunger,

cold,

poverty

and loneliness.

I did everything I could to help others.

Was it enough?

Did I manage to change things, even just a little bit?

Let me

a slightly better world behind?

1937 - CAPUCHIN MONASTERY, CREST

TEXT

Lord Jesus,

why did you

Your divine majesty hidden

in the poverty of the manger

and the horror of Your Passion?

Why did You keep the ignorant company,

You touched the lepers

And did You eat at the table of sinners?

Brother,

I need to talk to you.

To achieve the greatest humility,

must the Capuchin friars deprive themselves of everything.

Yes, father.

For that, you have demanded much strength from yourself.

Your father is in charge of the Rhône foundries.

You had more to lose than most of our brothers.

I have no regrets.

I gave up all my earthly possessions to devote myself to God.

That's not enough, brother.

You can no longer stay with us.

You are not strong enough.

You are constantly sick.

Why don't you seek a quieter priesthood

in your wealthy neighborhood in Lyon?

You were not made for the Capuchin order.

You will be more useful elsewhere.

After seven years with the brothers I expected to find answers.

Becoming a better person.

Far away from the bourgeoisie and wealth.

I didn't want to live a privileged life.

I wanted to be a saint,

But I am not capable of that.

What will become of me now?

Why are you trying to escape this world, Henri?

With dictatorships popping up everywhere,

the world needs needs men like you and me.

A priest and a soldier,

strengthened by faith,

here,

in real life.

I dreamed.

I was alone in the desert.

I was surrounded by light.

And a voice said:

"You stay."

Crowds marched

And a little man led them.

- Was that you? - No.

I signed it.

It was so obvious.

So bright.

You think you are St. Francis of Assisi.

The same black beard, same gray tunic

And the same birds around him.

You're making fun of me.

He also came from a wealthy family.

He took a vow of poverty.

Just like you.

And he had doubts, before he found his path.

Now you are the one doubting me.

I really did have that dream, François.

He scared me.

The fate of the world Does not rest on your shoulders.

Saint Francis of Assisi is Saint Francis of Assisi.

You are Henri Grouès.

Now it is my turn to be mobilized.

The nightmare returns, François.

APRIL 1940 THE FOOTHILLS OF MAURIENNE

How did we end up here?

My detachment

is now moving toward the Maurienne Valley.

We've been marching for weeks

toward an enemy we do not see.

Mr. Grouès,

a message for you.

We just got our orders.

Tomorrow we will be on the front lines.

The Germans destroyed cities in the east,

kill men, women

and children.

They spread terror everywhere.

I'm afraid, François.

Before this war.

For this rank of non-commissioned officer which I never wanted.

To face the enemy

And having to kill so I can live.

In my mind I am always with you. Never doubt that.

Even if my insignificant life ends here.

Thanks.

My friends,

Tomorrow we will reach the Italian border.

Our comrades Who have been waiting for reinforcements for weeks.

The Italian armed forces Are superior in strength

and in number.

Some of us do not return.

But we will fight for each other.

We will win

for our families

and for the future of our young people.

I made you a bed.

Here it is better for you.

Shall I go?

I have to sleep with my men.

That's my place.

Thanks.

You have a fever.

Good night.

Good night.

Do you really believe what you told them?

That they survive Because their cause is just?

Because the others are assholes?

That's not exactly what I said.

My husband believed that too.

His body was never found.

If God wishes, tomorrow we will both be dead.

No one will ever hold us in their arms again.

Ever kiss.

It will be dark.

And cold.

- Look, they're ours. - Our planes.

- Long live France. - They are ours.

Stop. Make room.

Backwards.

Get a nurse.

- Water. - Get the nurse quickly.

I wanted to love before I died.

I know now that, for the rest of my life,

relinquishing the tenderness of a woman will be painful.

My body shames me.

I abandoned my men.

Why does that happen?

Is God sparing me from another fate?

Or does He show me what I am?

Not strong enough, always suffering?

A meek priest From a wealthy neighborhood.

PONTARMÉ - 5 PARIS - 37

My dear believers,

my very dear believers,

Marshal Pétain sacrificed himself for France

To ease our calamity

and has honorably signed a truce.

Let us be worthy of his sacrifice.

Let us expel those, from our common home,

which over time

our great nation into decay.

Work, family,

land. These three words are ours.

And with the help of our German brothers,

who protect us now, we pray

for the restoration of this Christian France that we love,

in the purity of the French people.

Now and forever, centuries and centuries.

Amen.

Thanks.

You're welcome.

My friend...

Thanks.

Thank you. Don't get killed.

It was an honor to know you.

- Continue to help our brothers. - I will.

Go on, guide them.

In 200 meters you will be in Switzerland.

Thank you very much.

Are you okay?

Oscar was touched.

- Where are they? - On the left.

- How many are there? - Four or five.

Damn.

Hide, damn you.

On your right.

Gabriel. The priest was touched.

Take cover, father.

Hide.

Find cover.

Gabriel.

Gabriel. Hey.

Stay with me.

Can you hear me?

Stay with me.

Gabriel.

Gabriel.

Help me.

Our men are coming. Over here.

They are dead. Don't shoot.

Gabriel was touched.

Stop shooting.

Don't shoot.

Here. Gabriel is here.

We have to carry him.

FRENCH RESISTANCE PALACE VERCORS

We are fighting villains.

Against tyranny.

And hatred.

We are afraid.

We are risking our lives.

But the hardest thing is not being without shelter

or family or safety.

Often without bread.

The most difficult

Is to be betrayed.

No.

The militia said that they would shoot only Jews.

Let me go. They threatened my family.

I didn't want to.

Let me go.

JULY 1943 LYON

She is at the end on the right.

What can I do for you?

It's hard to explain.

It is complicated.

Go ahead.

They sent me to you.

They said you could help me.

I manage the sector in Grenoble.

The contact person of the Resistance informed me.

With so many forced labor refusers

you guys are busy.

Exactly.

Most of them are very young.

And they are determined.

They refuse to serve the enemy By working for them.

They are in hiding, hunted by the police.

We must lead them in resistance,

But I cannot move freely.

You have been noticed.

That's what it looks like.

Does that startle you?

I'll take care of that. It will be fine.

Go now. Come tonight

To the Pasquier Passage.

Fine.

You are acting tough, but people say you are exhausted.

The thousands of resistance pamphlets and articles we publish

take up much of my time.

You are doing great work.

But if you are known, you can no longer save anyone.

You need a new identity.

Fine.

Let's begin.

Hair color?

Brown.

Eyes?

Brown.

Brown...

I really need someone.

A secretary?

You are blocking the light.

Sorry.

- Are you? - What year were you born?

1912.

I spent my youth sprawled out on a shelf.

Tuberculosis.

My church friends brought me to Lourdes.

I didn't have much confidence in it.

But I had nothing to lose. The doctors gave me no hope.

And once I got there,

I felt a tremendous warmth

A fire spread through my body

for three days.

And a tremendous peace.

It was...

It cannot be explained in words.

I began to feel a tingle

in my legs, so I stood up.

Completely healed.

September 21, 1921. I was 22 years old.

You are a miracle.

It worked.

He obviously had a different plan for me.

There is no other explanation. I live with that.

Since then, I have tried to to be useful.

It feels like a kind of guilt.

Okay.

I will help you.

Thanks.

Thank you, sister.

My name is Lucie Coutaz.

'Sister' is to fool Krauts and traitors to fool them.

They can't imagine That a nun is cheating them.

Do you like "Abbé Pierre?"

'Abbé Pierre' is good.

'Pierre.'

This is your last visit.

You have 10 minutes. That's all.

There they are.

The Jews.

Thank you very much, brother.

Peace be with you.

Forward, boarding.

Faster.

Forward, boarding.

Hello, little fellow.

I can't do anything. They are watching.

They tortured him for days.

They hung him from a rope and

let the dogs loose on him.

My God...

And they broke his bones.

He can't take it anymore.

Please.

Help us.

Giving cyanide to people who have become dying animals.

Putting an end to their martyrdom. That is what we have become.

Who do we help first? Him? Her?

Baby, daddy, mommy? They all die.

They all die.

If they survive the torture, abuse and disease by miracle survive,

it becomes Drancy and the camps.

With the blessing of France.

With Vichy and the police helping them.

I saw them with the Krauts.

How can we have hope at the sight of it?

The Resistance has been attacked.

They fought like lions.

Hundreds of German soldiers

against 30 of our young people.

A punitive expedition to

terrorize the people.

With unprecedented cruelty.

They were shot at with machine guns.

Relentlessly shot at.

I feel so bad.

Those who surrendered themselves, were burned alive.

With flamethrowers.

With the village women.

PARIS FREE

The war ends with its millions dead

and murders.

The world is in ruins.

I don't remember anything, François.

Where is my place now?

Help me.

Members of Parliament, Ms,

the only thing more precious than bread for the people

is their freedom.

1947 PARIS

But at certain times

there is something even more precious to them.

The least reason to live.

Fathers don't have jobs.

Families are homeless.

Prices shoot up.

The unfortunate suffer.

They turn to you.

We have to build up. And you do nothing.

We are all parliamentarians. I get thousands of letters.

A wounded soldier came to me.

He had walked 50 kilometers

To say he had nothing.

His family is dying of cold, hunger and disease.

He needs everything. Everything.

What are you going to say? Didn't you know?

That you have not seen them?

All your Marshall Plan money disappears

To your Indochina war. It is a disgrace.

Bravo.

Bravo.

Men in power have gone deaf.

They went blind.

And that has made you all oil stupid.

Priests to the sacristy.

He is right.

Some of you will be glad that a priest like me

joined the resistance with communists and Jews

To help them cross mountains and escape the Germans.

No rich person is preaching to us.

That's terrible, sir.

Outrageous.

De Gaulle was right.

This Fourth Republic leads the parts and their arrangements.

Where are you taking me?

It is a ruin.

No.

It is a beautiful, spacious, sturdy and welcoming house.

Like when I was a kid.

I didn't know that you grew up practically homeless.

Since the war and Nazi barbarism

young people are afraid.

They are lost, depressed

and search for meaning.

We will find those for them.

Can you explain that?

We are placing the kitchen in the basement.

Here

a large dining room.

Upstairs bedrooms.

Very simple.

And in the attic...

I signed this for you.

We are creating a small chapel.

Here above our heads.

In winter it becomes a meeting place

and a place of study for priests.

For intellectual reflection,

for example.

And in the summer it is the perfect youth hostel.

What do you think?

Is politics not enough for you?

I just get yelled at and insulted.

You have seen that.

Are you not happy there?

I feel...

How can I say this?

I feel out of place. That's it.

Do you understand what I mean?

Yes, I think so.

6 MONTHS LATER

I have a confession to make.

In parliament

all I could think about was to be with you again.

I can see your life force.

You are going to change everything.

Rebuild everything.

You are the future, my children.

What does it mean to lose hope?

You risk becoming like the two apostles

On the way to Emmaus,

Who don't even recognize Christ.

'A traveler approaches...

"What do you mean?"

There.

A home where we find hope and courage.

Great.

- Hello, Julien. - Hallo.

Hello.

Are you the priest who hosts people for free?

Yes.

I work in the hospital.

I have a man named Georges Legay.

He poisoned himself.

Let me see him.

Hello.

What can I do for you, my friend?

He is not very talkative.

He comes from the penal colony.

I don't dare leave him alone.

- He doesn't want to live anymore. - Okay.

So, Georges...

Will you join us?

We will take care of you. Come on.

Why were you there?

In the penal colony?

I killed my father.

I was given a life sentence.

But did they let you off the hook?

Is that right?

I saved a security guard from a fire. Therefore

they released me.

Go on, Georges.

I went home

And found my wife with a man.

What happened?

What did you do to him?

I am a murderer from the penal colony.

I lost my wife and daughter.

I want to kill myself. Leave me alone.

I want to die.

Do you understand that, father?

What about you?

I want to die.

You are unhappy. There is no doubt about that.

So.

Listen...

You want to commit suicide, right?

You want to die.

Nothing stands in your way.

Before you do that, let me suggest this.

Come and help me, in exchange for room and board.

And my friendship.

Sorry to say,

But you are delusional.

You grew up protected. You do not know such a man.

What do you think?

Every Sunday morning my father would go to the slums of Lyon

To treat the arms. To wash and cut them.

Taking turns he took my brothers and me.

When it was my turn, I didn't sleep all night.

At social services it was more than a Sunday.

In all of that, I grew up.

Father...

I like you very much, you know that.

About your hostel For alienated middle-class children,

I already had my doubts.

But now I am not going with you.

We did what we had to do,

But now I'm going home.

You are right.

I was wrong.

Emmaus is not for scholars

or the citizenry,

Or our best scouts.

That's all over.

We are changing course.

Emmaus is for those who have nothing left.

Who have lost all reason for hope.

Just like you.

Just like Georges now.

We get them back on their feet.

But for that, I need you.

So?

Hello.

What's your little beauty's name?

Annie.

It's the rats, father.

Do you have any other children?

Two.

Last winter they died.

We buried them in the woods.

Don't stay here.

3 MONTHS LATER

We are taking on more and more families.

The neighbors complain.

We will be thrown out.

The police and bailiffs come here too often.

The police department interferes....

Lucie thinks it turns into an argument.

That rhymes.

I will arrange the money.

Or I ask my brother.

Your brother is very nice,

but sooner or later

he says, "Stop."

How long do you think we can keep it up, at this rate?

You need rest and meditation.

You have to find yourself again.

You cannot carry everything on your shoulders.

You are here.

Yes, but I'm not trying to save the world.

See.

So...

Could the beard be a little pointier?

Where?

Here.

No more.

He is so vain.

Perfect.

- Battle him. - Come on, kill him.

- Come here. - Do you think I'm afraid of you?

Come here.

Come on.

Collaborator.

Collaborator. I will take you all on.

One at a time.

He is the collaborator. All of you.

All of you. Come on.

Worthless comrades.

Come on.

I'll get you too. What?

Yes, I was with the Krauts.

I cooperated. They also gave me a gift.

What did you think? That it was love?

I'll get you all.

Come on.

Come on.

Finish that bastard off.

Finish him off. Yes.

Come here.

Cease.

Stop.

Are you hiding again?

Calm down.

That's enough. Reverse.

You too. Reverse.

Are you people out of your minds?

What possesses you?

He helped the Vichy sisters.

Entire families linked.

Traitor.

Aldo has as much right to be here as you do,

you, or you.

- Is that clear? - What?

Are you defending a traitor?

He is a dirty traitor.

Do we fight for scum like him?

We should have killed them in '45.

Dirty collaborator.

Fine.

Go ahead.

Go ahead.

Finish each other off.

People like you have no use for me.

- Rot up, whore. - Turncoat.

Collaborator.

- They're all crazy. - Yes.

Imbeciles, murderers, losers, scum.... That's how it is.

- You take someone on... - Save me your sermons.

Your facility is not even meet hygiene codes.

You are putting these people in danger.

Are you saying that to us?

In Paris, there were sixty

crammed into a courtyard with one toilet.

You know they are better off here.

What do you do for them? Nothing.

What does he want?

I am aware of the housing problem

what the French people have to deal with.

But rebuilding costs money. Treasuries are empty.

In wartime there is always money to destroy the other.

One does not tell soldiers: 'Give it up. We have no more money.'

Why not in peacetime? Fighting against

cold, hunger, loneliness, poverty?

It's not that simple.

They shame you and scare you. That is the truth.

You won't get away with this. I promise.

If an employee on minimum wage

cannot protect her child's cradle,

it's not building without a permit which is illegal.

The law is illegal.

All their names are there.

License to live. Families: Porte...

Get rid of the police.

- Away with the police. - Rot on.

ABBÉ PIERRE: VOICE OF THE VOICELESS?

I run a homeless shelter.

Thank you on their behalf.

I run a homeless shelter outside Paris....

Excuse me, ladies...

Do you have a coin to spare?

Lord, help us to give bread To those who are hungry

And to give hunger To those who have bread.

Amen.

Father, you were seen last night in Paris.

You were seen begging.

What is the problem?

- That's not possible, father. - Well, I'll do it.

That is.

And never like anyone else.

You prohibited them all from begging.

You said it was degrading.

And you do? Secretly?

You tear up bills, you insult bailiffs...

That's easy. Lucie will clean up the mess.

Who works his ass off To make sure we have soup.

You are an exceptional person. We all know that here.

But now... I'm sorry.

I can't do it anymore.

This morning the water was shut off. What should we do now?

Holding up our hand? Is that your solution?

She's right.

I thought.

I am just a petite citizen.

A clueless man who made himself out to be...

I have nothing left.

I can't help you anymore.

Emmaus is over.

Father...

We know that your parliamentary salary

helped us all.

Now that you are no longer in parliament,

we are broke.

It is now up to us to help you.

So.

We came up with a plan.

We are the rats of society.

But rats are smart.

Before he joined the Foreign Legion,

Philibert had an occupation.

He was a rag-and-bone man.

And Auguste

Was a peeler.

With their help

sort the trash cans.

You find nice things in the garbage of rich people.

And we sell that.

That makes money.

Because a good number of us aren't allowed in Paris...

I am not the only one who has come into contact with the law.

We are going to browse through the trash

in the suburbs.

If you make sure that we don't spend it all on booze,

it should work.

That won't be easy.

But it should work.

It has to work.

- Bring the wheelbarrow. - Coming.

1952 SUBURB OF PARIS

The rest is there.

PAPER, RAGS, METAL - WE TAKE WHAT YOU DON'T NEED

THE RAG FARMERS AND BUILDERS OF EMMAUS WELCOME EVERYONE!

We're not going anywhere.

We like it here.

Music. Keep playing.

This is good.

Take out the nails.

Then sort the soles and leather by color.

Well done.

- Found something you like? - He has a cart full.

Full load.

Is that all yours?

- Great. - Thank you, father.

That's 5,000 francs.

1000...

2000...

- 5000, perfect. - Okay?

- Are you happy? - Very happy.

- Are you coming back then? - Yes, soon.

Have a nice day.

Who is the redhead dancing with Jules?

- Sylviane? - Yes.

She was a seamstress for Skolni.

She rejected the foreman's advances

and was fired.

Mrs. Coutaz?

May I?

One dance.

- You can't refuse. - For me.

WINTER 1954

- Wait, please. - Let me pass.

You can't go in there. Sir.

One of the 90 billion. That's what I asked for.

One billion for emergency housing.

On a budget of 90 billion.

Was that too much for you and your parliamentary friends?

Guess what happened

While you refused to give a penny

for emergency housing.

At that time, where I live,

is a three-month-old baby frozen to death in an old rust bucket

with his mom and dad.

His parents are not vagrants.

They are not delinquents.

They are workers.

They lost their home

and cannot afford a hotel.

What do you think?

Like thousands, they wait

That you provide us with a loan

To build a roof over their heads.

I'm very sorry about that.

- Send my condolences to the family. - His name was Marc.

The first child born into our community.

He will be buried on Thursday at 2 p.m.

Will you think of him?

Let's go, children.

Hurry.

Hello.

Sir, ma'am...

We want to help.

You are not alone.

We have what you need.

Are you hot?

Here's some bread.

Please.

Careful, it's hot.

Here's some food.

Come to the fire.

Don't stay alone.

There are shelters for animals.

And nothing for them?

We have what it takes.

It will be fine.

Ms...

Ms.

Ma'am?

Boys.

I told you he needs us.

That is not the role of our radio station.

We broadcast entertainment, not politics.

Then come count the dead with us.

That will be entertaining.

My friends...

Help.

A woman froze to death last night,

at 3 a.m., on a sidewalk in central Paris.

She clamped down

to the deportation order that she

received two days ago.

How many does it have to be before it's your turn?

Do they all have to die?

Come with me.

Every evening

curls more than 2000

up in the freezing cold

without a home

and without bread.

Some are almost naked.

Listen to me...

In three hours

the two first aid centers were created.

One in a tent

On the Rue de la Montagne Sainte-Geneviève.

The other in Courbevoie.

They are already full.

We have to open them everywhere.

Tonight,

in every city in France,

in every district of Paris,

signs must be put up,

in the evening,

above the door of spots with blankets,

straw and soup.

And those signs should say:

'Brotherly Assistance Center.' With these simple words:

'You who are in pain,

'no matter who you are,

'come in,

'sleep,

'eats,

'get hope again.

'Here you are loved.'

Meteorologists are predicting freezing temperatures for an entire month.

Before their brothers die in poverty,

only one view should should exist among people:

the will to make it impossible to allow this to continue.

I beg you.

Let's love each other enough

To do so immediately.

May all this pain create something wonderful:

the common soul of France.

Each of us can come to the aid of the homeless.

What we need,

tonight

or tomorrow at the latest:

Five thousand blankets.

Three hundred big American tents,

200 wood stoves.

Bring them as soon as possible to the Hotel Rochester,

Rue de la Boétie 92,

That the owner kindly

placed at our disposal.

Thanks to you

no human being will

or child

on the streets or wharves of Paris sleeping tonight.

Thanks.

SEND

Radio Luxembourg.

Anything you can spare, ma'am.

- Radio Luxembourg. - Moment.

- Hotel Rochester. - Oil lamps.

- Blankets. - Everything to keep them warm.

It's incredible.

Yes, diapers for children.

- This way, ladies and gentlemen. - Thanks.

Clothes on the right, blankets on the left.

Thanks.

Excuse me.

Excuse me.

Thanks.

Really...

What is happening is insane.

- Thank you. - It's fantastic.

Enter.

- Where do I put them? - Wherever you can, Philibert.

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.

Please.

Abbé Pierre.

An explanation?

You asked for a billion. The government gave ten.

Have you performed a miracle?

A little backwards, please. My friends,

all of us together

refused to accept this world

in which most of us suffer.

Where the masses cannot aspire

to a minimum life, a minimum home.

Every man and woman among us

must now consider themselves mobilized

Against injustice and suffering,

So that this nightmare is finally over for good.

Thank you. Good day.

Abbé Pierre.

Abbé Pierre,

Are you at war with poverty?

3 MONTHS LATER

Gentlemen, first of all thank you

for attending this first board meeting.

Thank you for your generous donations.

And to help each of you

your way,

I took the liberty...

I have taken the liberty to make notes

as a reminder

to the prevailing rules in our community.

One,

place above yourself He who is less fortunate than you.

When someone arrives for the first time,

is the only question they should be asked:

'Are you hungry?

'Are you tired?

'Would you like a bath?

'Come in. We've been waiting for you.'

Two,

We work to earn our living.

We refuse grant

From the local or federal government, or the police.

And finally three,

we share.

The strongest man, who works hard for the community,

has no more than the unproductive, little old man.

Father...

Yes?

We all agree with these lofty principles.

But with so many donations

good will is not enough.

How do you plan to manage that money?

Growing it in a sustainable way grow?

You are right.

We can offer our experience in business to offer.

I have absolute confidence in Miss Coutaz

To manage our accounts

with its characteristic accuracy,

while keeping the Emmaus spirit intact.

The money should not be a distraction

or our community rot from within.

The money,

nor our cooperation with you,

all notable financial experts,

may cause us to deviate from our state of mind.

We have to spend it all.

Everything. Absolutely.

Buying land.

Building again and again,

houses and homes. Now.

My friends...

My very dear friends...

This is our dream, here,

coming out.

After so much sacrifice,

sorrow and suffering,

will be our first urgent housing facility, in a few weeks,

welcoming the first residents.

Never forget,

If this achievement is to the credit of those who made it possible,

it is the shame of the world,

Where speculation encourages luxury housing

while he

the crowd of humble workers homeless.

Let us all together

don't expect this to be over.

May the wave of goodness that we have seen

are not a fleeting whim.

CONSTRUCTION OF 150 EMERGENCY HOUSING UNITS

Let's build more urgent housing.

Let's open more communities throughout France.

Let's never stop.

When it comes to a man's home,

If he works a full day,

he has the right to house his wife and children.

After the rise of goodness,

if forcefully executed

and the necessary speed,

Will the rise of justice

inevitable change

In the rise of anger.

MARSEILLE WELCOMES ABBÉ PIERRE

ABBÉ CAPTIVATES THE CROWD

We want homes for these unfortunate people.

If we don't help them today,

tomorrow we will pay for our stupidity

And our selfishness squared.

SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT ON THE RISE

You won't be in action a year from now.

You are getting into action now.

Our investors disagree.

- The investors don't decide. - No, but they invest.

What were they thinking?

That poverty would disappear and they could buy a clear conscience?

It is not over. It is an ongoing struggle.

We need to build solid, comfortable houses,

even if it takes a little longer.

When we make things

which collapse months later...

- That's a waste of money. - Wasted?

And what do the poor do in the meantime?

Dying for your churches?

'My Churches'

will outlive you for a long time.

They are not dependent on the whims of a star

Who communicates with his audience,

That's a bunch of groupies.

I don't have time for this.

- Your blood pressure is low. - I'll rest when I'm dead.

The elation...

The elation of those who win

by cunning

and ruthlessness,

That disgusts me.

The basis of an ideal society

is exactly the opposite of natural law.

The law of the strongest,

Of the hierarchy of success, of the ego,

Of the classification of people depending on what they possess

Therein lies the evil of humanity.

Possessions. Always more possessions.

And more.

Mr. Chaplin.

Here, Mr. Chaplin.

This way, please.

CHAPLIN MEETS ABBÉ PIERRE

Abbé, this money

is not a gift.

I give it back.

It is from the little tramp

who I once was

And which I played on the canvas.

Now it is for you.

Look at the camera, please.

2,000,000 FRANCS

Isn't that Abbé Pierre?

Wait.

- Hello. - Are you the Abbé?

Yes, I am.

- For your charitable work. - Thanks.

Five minutes.

Ladies.

Leave him alone.

Go back to the theater.

He is coming in a moment.

Enter the theater.

He'll be there in ten minutes.

ABBÉ PIERRE IN PARIS

Abbé.

I am not a Frenchman coming to talk about France.

I am not a priest coming to talk about religion.

I am in America,

but I won't talk about America.

I am just a man

who comes to talk to other men

About what is destroying us today,

everywhere, in every country.

Any country that does not mobilize To help the most unfortunate,

is doomed to failure.

I'm not here to ask for money.

No.

But for so much more.

So,

Mobilize you, not for money. You already have so much.

Mobilize out of love.

You should not have gone to New York. You are exhausted.

Forward. Say.

I know that reproachful look.

The board thinks you are spending too much time with the media.

They want to talk to you.

And they are not wrong.

You are turning Emmaus into a political platform.

People see less and less charity and benevolence.

If you advocate for the independence of Algeria or Tunisia,

you alienate everyone. Do you realize that?

Not the Algerians and the Tunisians.

What do you want?

Doing everything by the book?

Align with the Vatican?

To please whom?

Our dear board of directors?

The bishop? The pope?

All those people who don't want to change anything.

People are leaving our ranks.

Many are gone.

That's how life is. People come and go.

Resolved.

Do you have my vitamins?

They are not vitamins.

It is a drug. It's dangerous.

Father, are you all right?

How are things at home?

Good. But don't expect to see Gégé Porte not to see him. He is gone.

Poor Janine.

She knew he was dissolute, but dumping her like that,

After all they have been through.

Gégé loves the females too much.

Father?

Are you okay?

Father...

Father...

Father...

Father...

Father, answer.

Answer.

Where am I?

In Geneva, at the Pragins Clinic.

Don't you remember?

I operated on your dental abscesses

and your diaphragmatic hernia.

You need rest.

I want to go home.

You can't, father.

Too many sleepless nights And too many amphetamines.

You had no strength left.

You will never be the same again.

It is time to lay down your pilgrim's staff down.

My teeth?

They make a denture for you.

They operated on you 25 times.

We fought every day.

They have taken over our communities

And all your money siphoned off.

They keep saying that you are incurable, that you have gone mad.

I wanted to come earlier, but we didn't have a day's rest.

Write them...

A message... From me.

It won't.

They threw me out.

They don't have that right.

You are

the founder of Emmaus.

Just like me.

I'll be back.

We'll get you out of here.

Robbing each other,

the treasury, violent volunteers,

even civil servants.

Even with your blessing.

It was our duty to intervene.

I give everyone a chance.

Sanctions are beyond my authority.

How do you expect these companions whom you blindly protect

caring for others,

While they themselves have drinking problems

and psychiatric problems?

With ever-increasing budgets.

There it is. The money.

Emmaus needs to become professional. That's clear.

Yes, we need more money, more communities.

But those who have done nothing

Or claim they can do better,

should keep their mouths shut.

So yes, gentlemen.

I agree. I have made mistakes.

And to solve that,

you used the 18 months that I was my will had been hospitalized,

supposedly for my treatment,

to include certain conditions in my will.

There were no plans at the time of your death.

We acted to preserve Emmaus.

Do you want me to say it? I can understand that.

Thank God I will not live forever.

But how can you fire a woman

who for more than 15 years participated in all of our battles?

A woman who, not like you,

has known poverty and the price to overcome it.

A woman whom God brought into my path

And without whom I would be nothing.

You now own the money

and we don't always agree on how to use it.

It doesn't matter, as long as it benefits those who need it.

But we are never

a bank

or a shopping mall.

The spirit of Emmaus must return.

The war on poverty continues.

And Lucie Coutaz must return to us.

It would have been nice if you had met him.

He loved the desert and that's where he died.

Strange, isn't it?

He passed that passion on to me.

The wonder of being alone

In the midst of that immensity.

François owned

modesty,

wisdom.

Without him, I would be lost.

Then we would never have met.

I would have liked your François.

GARBIT François 2nd company commander, BM3 in Chad

DIED FOR FRANCE DECEMBER 7, 1941

I give the baby to you, Mrs. Coutaz.

I looked death in the eye.

The countdown has begun.

I have no more time to waste.

What are you talking about?

The communities that are forming in the world need me.

In Africa, South America, everything still needs to be organized.

I leave France to you.

Urgent action without a penny. I know how to do that.

Here they are right. I have changed

into a showbiz star.

I constantly protect myself

For my loved ones, my enemies, myself.

There is no progress in that, Lucie.

Will you leave me alone with those men?

After all they have done?

You will do much better than me.

You have more tact.

And more patience.

Are you dumping me

just like that?

And if I refuse?

That is your right.

But no one else can do the work, you know that.

You can't dictate people's lives not dictate like that.

We expected it.

The Six of the Common Market agree...

JULY 1963

on future interactions with Britain.

The framework for that interaction is the Western European Union.

One agreement. But still no

in Moscow, with a break in the Sino-Soviet talks.

Until tomorrow. Meanwhile, in the Soviet capital...

An update on the shipwreck of Ciudad de Asunción.

Armand Ladidi reports.

This morning at sunrise, the Ciudad de Asunción,

which sails between Argentina and Uruguay,

transmitted an SOS signal.

Among the casualties are 50 deaths and 20 missing.

Among them

is unfortunately located

Abbé Pierre.

As soon as we heard about the shipwreck

and Abbé Pierre,

went our reporter,

Georges André to Emmaus

and spoke with residents,

The once homeless souls whom Abbé Pierre helped 10 years ago

by building emergency housing with his own hands.

We have just informed you...

Come quickly. He is alive.

Captain.

ABBÉ PIERRE RESCUED

ABBÉ PIERRE RETURNS TO FRANCE

Father, you have been abroad for years and now we almost lost you.

- Was this a miracle? - No.

No, please.

You thought I was dead.

And because you have known me for so long,

talk about it.

But think of the tragedy that has taken place.

Think of the victims. Pray for them, not for me.

Would the movement you created disappear without you?

Isn't he already slipping away?

Why that question?

Your communities embrace the extreme left.

Weapons are provided

to Libya, Nicaragua and other countries.

Doesn't that bother you?

Doing nothing to fight poverty is what bothers me.

Are you condoning violence?

You, Abbé Pierre, a man of the Church?

- Should we infer that from this? - Listen...

Waging war on poverty, wherever it may be...

I have always preferred to nonviolence

instead of violence.

And I will tell you,

I prefer violence to cowardice.

Thank you for your questions. Let father go home now.

Father...

I have been waiting for you.

Always everywhere and nowhere, reprimanding people.

He is never where he should be, that Abbé Pierre.

Don't talk nonsense.

When you took me in,

You could have given me everything,

work,

bread, money,

but I still would have committed suicide.

What I needed,

were reasons to live.

And you gave it to me.

The idlers that we are....

We helped others, right?

Yes.

Father...

I had only you on my side.

Good.

1976 CHARENTON HOUSING PROJECT

What is it?

Are we going back in?

You are tired.

Lucie, I'll make a nice cup of tea for you.

But you ate all the cookies.

- Really not. - Yes.

No, I...

I have a supply.

Do you realize?

We built all of this.

To last.

To house all these people.

Yes.

This is true.

I love living here.

With them.

And with you.

Likewise.

Shall we?

And we are much better equipped than in Neuilly-Plaisance.

Ravioli.

I miss Georges.

I was not very hospitable to him.

Of course it does.

May I?

Caution.

So, very good.

Watch your arm.

Very good.

Thanks

for everything.

Good night.

I turn off the lights.

I have seen many people die.

I took care of the wounded.

I have

accompanied the dying.

The absence of those whom we loved

is painful.

But now,

Mrs. Coutaz,

is for me...

That loss is even greater.

As you can imagine.

She was the amazing gift

From God to my life.

We worked together.

We

Have lived together,

for forty years.

I would have liked so much

That I have her

the world without poverty could give,

where she

did not dare to believe in.

She was always more reasonable than I was.

I'm going to miss her terribly.

Our Father, who art in heaven....

I am doubting my faith more and more.

What is the point of living without those we love?

What good is believing if nothing comes?

My God, why?

Why human existence?

There is hunger again in France.

Those who empty the serving bowl on their plate

leave everyone else's plates empty.

Having everything,

they say, acting justly

and with a good conscience:

'We who have everything

"are for peace."

I have to yell at them:

'The first sign of violence,

'the instigators of all violence are you.'

And in the evening, in your beautiful homes,

do you put your children to bed

With your good conscience.

But in the eyes of God

have you probably

more blood on your unconscious hands

than the desperate man

Who takes up arms to escape his despair.

I appeal to the authorities

and to all of you, watching from home.

Come and help us.

Help us. We need all of you.

And I will shout it.

You,

the rich,

it is your duty to spend money,

for wealth

must be shared in difficult times.

Of course I will continue with my fight against poverty.

I never stopped.

You are the most popular figure In France.

That offers you great freedom of expression, but

As our former Prime Minister, Michel Rocard, says:

France cannot take in all the poor of the world.

Century

we were on their property. We took everything with us.

Are you surprised that they are coming here now?

Honestly...

'France cannot take in all the poor of the world, ' you say.

But we are the world.

We are all part of the same humanity.

People say, "France is for the French."

But what do they want?

Arming border guards with machine guns?

To scare away the hungry?

In the name of what?

Our supposed supremacy?

It is unthinkable to seek shelter in our comfortable life

and ignore the poverty spreading on our borders.

Jean-Marie Le Pen disagrees on that subject.

Against Jean-Marie Le Pen

I can only say, "Shut up. And I keep repeating that"

As long as there is breath in my body.

I don't waste my time On hatred or stupidity.

What keeps me alive today,

is the good that humanity is capable of.

Is it so hard to have compassion?

Like it or not, some of your writings

or recent statements have shocked people.

You have even been accused of anti-Semitism

For supporting one of your friends with revisionist theories.

I supported a friend Without even reading his book.

I apologized for that.

You know,

I am well aware that my strength is waning.

And that my popularity is history.

The attacks are increasing.

At first I was criticized that I am a dreamer, a utopian.

And now they're accusing me of something much more serious.

That hurts me very much, believe me.

'Help the poor and in turn they will help the poor.'

Were you not wrong in the end?

As if you don't want to see that

that human nature is not as beautiful as you imagined?

We must believe in sharing.

And in love. Yes.

To build a more humane society building.

Isn't it?

Let's have the courage To just do that.

Share and love.

For me

That I continue to love humanity

and want to help them with all my soul

And with all my strength,

With all the rage I am capable of

Against poor judgment, contempt and indifference.

What would you like people to say about you?

That you are a peacemaker?

Yes, that would be fine.

But don't forget to add That I am the brother of the poor.

Good, Abbé.

Thank you very much.

- Thank you. - Thank you.

ESTEVILLE EMMY COMMUNITY

Your interview was powerful.

And very moving.

You have not dealt a single blow to Le Pen.

There will always be men like him.

We must fight against his hatred.

Whatever your religion.

I don't believe.

Excuse me?

I am not religious.

Really?

Sometimes I envy that.

For me

Is my religion Supertramp.

- Pardon? - Supertramp.

It's a rock band.

Breakfast in America...

Give a Little Bit...

- Give a...? - Little Bit.

Geez.

Father, it's in English.

- It's English. - Okay.

If it is in English, I'm not interested.

When I listen to a song, I want to understand all the nuances.

And Gregorian chants? Do you understand the Latin nuances?

Right.

- So, no Supertramp? - No, thanks.

Elvis Presley?

Don't know.

Bob Dylan?

No.

The French...

Piaf.

- No? - Even less.

You must know Michael Jackson. The king of pop?

Oh, he...

No.

- It's a disaster. - I know.

Hello.

I am unforgiving.

- Marlene. - I haven't given you a kiss in months.

How nice to see you.

How are you, dear?

Fine. But because of work, the kids...

My goodness, yes.

A newcomer, I see.

That's all my husband thinks about.

That's what it looks like.

Sit down. Make her a cup of coffee.

Sit here.

How nice to see you.

- How is it? - Similar. Good.

You look good.

Do you know Ahmed?

No, Ahmed...

Come here. Thank you.

Ahmed leads our community in Brest.

He fought for Larzac, and then

he dropped everything to come here.

I love him very much.

I was reminded of him for my housing foundation.

I need someone reliable to develop that.

- Congratulations. - Thank you...

- But that's news to me. - Now you know.

But, Father, I still have so much to learn.

Then learn faster.

The light dims for me.

It is time to make room for young people.

How do you think she learned?

Marlene.

Her mother came as a newborn to Emmaus.

I found Marlene's grandparents

with their baby in the woods.

Picture this.

That's where she came from.

And she made it.

Very simple.

Are you Annie's daughter?

And Janine's granddaughter.

You catch on quickly.

Without him, I wouldn't be here.

And I'm not the only one.

He's great.

But don't tell him, otherwise he'll yell at you.

Yes, tell me about it.

Tell me about it.

After a while it becomes a little tedious.

Then you get fed up.

But once in a while it's nice. It's flattering.

Oh, children...

Shall I be honest?

I haven't made many decisions in my life.

I could just go with the flow.

The ideas of others,

especially the ideas of my companions,

guided me. But I...

There is nothing miraculous about me. Nothing at all.

Above all, I didn't do enough.

Want some tonic?

That's fantastic.

- Please. - Abbé, how are you?

2003 PARIS

I am glad to see you.

Is he your son?

He's cute. How are you?

We made delicious mint tea.

Right, Ahmed?

Hello. Give him a napkin.

Why are you doing this at your age?

Because no one else is doing it.

Would you be here with those cameras

if the phenomenon of the mythical Abbé Pierre was not there?

- Are you strong enough? - Should I abandon them?

To twiddle my thumbs until I die?

Just do your jobs.

Film them.

Shows that people are still hungry in France.

It is unacceptable what a war costs today.

At least a billion euros a day.

Look at them starving.

That is their daily life.

My friends,

let's shake off this inertia that destroys us from us.

Let's take action.

It is not up to our governments

To determine our solidarity.

Our job is to tell them

What kind of society we want.

1954-2004 EMMAUS IS CALLING YOU (AGAIN)

Father...

Shall we go inside?

So.

- Thank you. - Stay put.

- Shall I take this one? - Yes.

- Can I help you? - No, I'm fine.

Yes, please.

Here we go.

They called me "the voice of the voiceless."

This one is strong.

Like you.

They sang my praises,

applauded.

But did they listen to me?

Have I been able to give meaning to my time on earth?

Is all my hope

accomplished?

Or did I betray them along the way?

Why are you crying, Henri?

Is that really you?

Why?

I failed, François.

That poverty

around the world.

Those children

dying, the total indifference.

That selfishness

that poisons everything.

Myself, François...

I screwed up so many things.

I have

made so many bad decisions.

I have made mistakes so many times...

Remember

what name I gave you When we were Boy Scouts?

Yes.

The "meditative beaver."

It was prophetic.

I have spent my life

with building homes and

analyzing human nature.

The meditative beaver

Was very preoccupied with himself.

With his calling.

With his doubts.

And with his legacy.

Yes, you failed, Henri.

You have not changed human beings.

You didn't make him happy.

You didn't make him happier.

You have done much more.

You loved him.

Just the way he is.

With its shortcomings.

His agony.

His weaknesses.

His imperfection.

The adversity he carries within him.

Which we all carry within us.

I tried.

I have lived so many lives, François.

And here we are.

Now

I can take a long vacation.

It is the end.

JANUARY 22, 2007 NEUILLY-PLAISANCE EMMAUS COMMUNITY

My dear companions,

my friends,

Don't be sad.

I beg you.

And never forget

That we have two eyes.

One for the good

and one for evil.

One that sees the worst in us.

And one to see the sun,

the flowers,

the stars.

François, Lucie, my companions,

I think we should continue

To help them.

Brotherhood knows no rest.

I HAVE HUNGRY

ANYTHING TO EAT

The Abbé Pierre Foundation was honored for its success in February 1992.

The struggle continues daily so that everyone

can have a roof over his head and can live in dignity.

Emmaus has nearly 300 buildings in France, including 126 communities

and 100 more in 40 countries around the world.

It employs more than 40,000 companions, employees

and volunteers.

More than 4 million people in France live in substandard housing.

And 330,000 people are homeless.

Worldwide, 800 million people live live on the streets.

As Abbé Pierre wished, the the Emmaus movement independent and free

And continues to serve those who are less fortunate.

For Colette and Simone.