Original subtitles

Have a look in the pigsty.

Five pigs, Mr. Laborie.

Five pigs?

These peasants are richer than me!

Five pigs? You owe half to the Count.

- Bring three to the château. - But...

I said three! Two and a half doesn't count!

Don't forget the Mass tonight!

1st Episode "Sharecroppers of Nanzac"

Mom!

Mom!

I saw the manager and Mascret.

My God!

And your father is at home...

Come.

Haven't you been poaching today?

Ah, yes, of course...

It's a holiday.

Hey, can't you answer me?

You have eight sheep... You'll bring four to the château.

I owe just two. I've given two in the fall.

In the fall?

I've already given two in the fall.

These are all lies. You owe four sheep!

I owe two. I’ll bring two.

You'll bring four. And that's an order!

You have no right.

What did you say?

I said you have no right.

And you? So you have the right to poach?

Thief!

Martissou!

Rights!

What right? Yes, the right to shut up!

Hello, Marie.

Hello, Mr. Laborie.

I told your husband he owes four sheep to the Count.

Four sheep?

For the day after tomorrow.

Okay. The day after tomorrow, Mr. Laborie.

Bye.

Remember Mass tonight.

I won't bring them.

- You have to. - No!

- They are thieves. - I'll bring them myself!

Nothing we can do about it.

I can't take it any more, Marie.

I can't take it any more.

As far back as I can remember,

my family has been unhappy.

We were sharecroppers of the Count de Nansac then,

the richest lord of Haut-Périgord.

That night was not a night like any other.

It was Christmas Eve.

It was in 1819 and I had just turned 8 years.

That night, my mother had made me a promise.

A wonderful promise.

And I was waiting.

Mom, when is Mass?

Soon, my child.

How impatient I was!

All the gestures my mother made, seemed to last an eternity.

Soon: When is that?

In a little while.

This midnight mass was my 1st visit to the château.

My mother had promised me.

She went to see the time, by looking at the stars.

It's time.

Sit down.

Is Dad coming with us, Mom?

If he gets back, yes.

Will we go see the baby Jesus?

- Yes. In his crib. - And the ox and the donkey?

And the black kings.

Come. Give me your clogs.

I'm gonna warm 'em up.

The nativity scene of the young ladies of the château!

Mïon had told me so much about it!

A nativity scene with a donkey in a church.

How beautiful that must be!

Why isn't it Christmas more often?

It's because baby Jesus was born that day. He was born only once.

Ah...

Here.

And Dad? Where is he?

In the forest.

But why tonight? This holiday is for everyone.

Not for him, my boy.

Here.

Come.

Your father will find it there.

When he returns.

♪ He is born, the Heav'nly Child, ♪

♪ Oboes play; set bagpipes sounding. ♪

♪ He is born, the Heav'nly Child. ♪

♪ Let all sing His nativity. ♪

How beautiful and warm I found the château's church,

with all those candles!

I was happy. I thought I was in paradise.

♪ 'Tis four thousand years and more, Prophets have foretold His coming, ♪

These were the lords de Nansac.

And their children with them. How well dressed they were!

♪ Oboes play; set bagpipes sounding. ♪

♪ He is born, the Heav'nly Child. ♪

♪ Let all sing His nativity... ♪

Even Dom Enjalbert, the chaplain of the château,

looked beautiful that night.

He, who usually looked so ugly...

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, amen.

Glory to God,

Who sent us his son on this blessed day,

So that mankind might be saved...

and extirpate the bad seed from their heart.

Let us thank God,

who allowed in his great kindness and justice,

to reinstate our good King Louis XVIII in the kingdom of France...

and to chase away the Corsican usurper!

And all men without faith...

who for nearly thirty years...

held our country in misfortune.

On this Christmas Day in the year of our Lord 1819,

let us rejoice, my brothers,

in the universal message of brotherhood brought by our Lord Jesus.

That our hearts will tremble with joy...

and forget all the grief of this world,

because God gives us eternal life.

Let us accept our suffering, like our Lord Jesus Christ...

who suffered on the cross. Our salvation is the price.

Because after this vale of tears, God's elected will see...

the gates of paradise open for them...

and will sit at the Lord's right hand.

Now, brethren, let us celebrate the divine sacrifice.

I didn't understand much. I was only thinking of the nativity scene.

When were they going to show us?

First there was communion.

...ad vitam aeternam. Amen.

Corpus ...ad infinitum. Amen.

The people of the château didn't move.

And appropriately, the chaplain brought them the Good Lord first.

In Corpus Domini...in infinitum. Amen.

Men and women of the countryside waited.

After the lords it was the servant's turn.

Laborie, the manager, with his hard and deceitful figure...

He also took communion.

I don't know if it pleased the good Lord.

I don't understand why Jeannette had started to cry.

Communion still continued.

My mother didn't go. She didn't have time to confess.

And I waited. I waited for the moment to see the nativity.

Now let the children approach the nativity.

For Jesus has said, "Let the children come to me."

Finally, I saw it! It was so beautiful!

It looked like a cave filled with moss,

branches of boxwood and nice smelling fir.

Before we part, our children will sing...

"He is born, the Holy Child."

Stand up.

One, two, three.

The children are singing "He is born, the Holy Child" in Patois.

That's it, everyone.

Come on!

I had never seen the Nansacs so close-by.

Why did the Count have such white hair, like floured?

Mïon!

Did you see the baby Jesus? He moved!

Yes, my little Jacquou. Merry Christmas.

Where did Jeannette go?

To the kitchen, getting fire.

I'm going too.

Someone's waiting for you?

No. I'll take the back road.

- See you tomorrow. - Until tomorrow.

Can't you be careful?

I don't want to tell you again! If not, you'll be in trouble!

I thought I was in a palace. And how good it smelled!

I had never seen such things!

It was even more beautiful than Mass.

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas.

Good evening.

They said good night to you!

Can't you reply?

Especially on Christmas Eve!

Good evening.

Don't stand there doing nothing!

Hello, Marie.

Hello, Mr. Laborie. Jacquou, say hello to Mr. Laborie.

Hello, sir.

Are you alone? Your husband didn't come to Mass?

He was working.

What a good husband you have!

Courageous, worker, but mostly a thief.

- Martissou is an honest man. - And a poacher as well.

- I know well. - I have to go.

Say, Marie...

You know I respect you.

Because of you, I close my eyes.

We can't manage. The share is too heavy.

It's the same for everyone.

Yes, but... Our farm is so small that...

It's true, it's small.

But it is not the smallest.

But I am willing to help you.

The four sheep... I'll redo my accounts.

Maybe I was wrong, after all.

Yes.

It suits you?

Thanks.

Ah, you see...

between honest people, we can get on.

Yes. Now I must go home.

Marie!

No, thank you, Mr. Laborie. And Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas!

Mascret!

Hey, Mom...

was baby Jesus alive?

No.

It's mechanical.

Mechanical?

Yes.

Tricks, if you want.

It's to make believe in a miracle.

What is a miracle?

A miracle is...

if the little Jesus would be alive.

Really?

Why do the Marquis and the Count have white hair?

Because they wear a wig.

As in the old days. Before the Revolution.

Why?

To show that there was no revolution for them.

What's the revolution?

Revolution is when there isn't a king.

And is there a king now?

Yes.

So there's no revolution?

No.

Come. Let's go.

Soon we'll be home.

Don't be afraid.

It will not dare to attack us.

Hold that.

- Mom! - Stay there.

Mom! I'm scared.

Don't be scared. It won't come near.

Come quickly. It won't follow us.

The fire went out.

That's a bad sign.

It'll surely bring us bad luck.

Mom... I'm hungry.

My poor boy.

There isn't much here.

Here. Eat some bread.

It's very cold tonight.

And you, Mom? Aren't you eating?

I'm not hungry. I'll wait for your father.

Me too!

No. You go to bed.

Get in your bed, you'll be warmer.

Go!

Hey, Mom... there were nice chickens at the château.

Yes, my son.

And turkeys and truffles, more than they can eat.

Why do they have so much?

Because they're rich.

And why are they rich?

Because that's how it is.

You know, mom, I believe that in all this,

something is not quite right.

You'll understand later.

Now you must sleep.

He should be here.

Yes, well, he isn't.

Let's go.

Talk about a Christmas Eve!

Martissou!

I was worried.

Why?

I don't know.

What do you think can happen on Christmas Eve?

I don't know.

You're so cold!

But no.

And Jacquou?

He's sleeping.

Dad!

Dad! I'm so happy to see you!

My son!

You caught all these?

Yes, as you see. Last night.

What is it?

A blackbird, a thrush,

a quail, another thrush, two pigeons,

and then two hares.

How did you do it?

I used snares for the hares,

traps for birds and then I waited.

Ah, I'd like to do like you!

Why do you never take me?

You're still too small.

I'm big! When will you take me?

Let me tie these.

- I'll help you! - If you want.

Come on! The soup is ready.

I'll get at least 60 sous in Montignac.

What if the Count's people see you?

I'll go to the innkeeper at the market. He knows me.

Here!

You did well last night.

I have no clogs anymore. I broke them when scaring off the wolf last night.

I'll get you some more. After I've sold my catch.

Otherwise, I haven't a sou.

What's wrong?

What's wrong, Jacquou?

I don't want to sell them!

But we have to, my child.

At the château they eat them!

Listen, Jacquou.

If I sell them, I'll buy good flour.

And with that we can live at least 20 days!

Otherwise we’ll soon have nothing.

So we have to. You understand?

Yes.

What a sad Christmas Day!

My father had gone to Montignac.

I spent my boredom beside a pond...

hidden in the forest where I often liked to take refuge.

There I listened to the birds.

And I watched the water quiver under the cold winter wind.

I forgot anxiety.

But I was always worried...

when my father was away from us.

I wondered if other children had fun that day.

The day was soon coming to an end...

and my father still hadn't returned.

Here. I made skittles for you.

With a potato, you can play.

Thanks, Mom.

It was a nice gift.

Potatoes were scarce at home.

And those skittles were great!

Dad!

For me?

Yes. For Christmas.

Just for you!

Dad!

Thanks, Dad!

And then...

This is for you.

Oh, they're so nice!

They must have been expensive!

Twelve sous. And seven sous for the nails to shoe them.

You shouldn't have, Martissou.

Okay!

And here's the flour.

You see, Jacquou?

Enough for at least a month.

Yes!

If only there were hunts like before!

But stealing the game...

Don't say that, Martissou.

You're not stealing. You take back what they steal from us.

That's true, Marie. You're right.

I'm not stealing.

I sold the game for 65 sous.

I bought the twist, the clogs, the flour: 40 sous.

I paid the debt to Mïon on the way back.

We have 20 sous left.

Here. Take it.

If you had seen at Mïon's...

It wasn't a holiday for them today.

Poor Jeannette!

All because this Laborie believes he can get away with anything!

Because he's manager of this bandit, the Count!

Did you see him at Mass?

Yes.

And did he say anything?

Just his usual pleasantries.

But you know, I can defend myself!

That womanizer!

One day he'll have to answer for it.

Pujol! What does he owe?

Pujol... One sack of wheat, three ducks.

One sack of wheat and three ducks.

Go! Hurry! Next.

I don't want to spend all day here. Now what?

What are you looking at me for? Next!

Who are you?

Come on, hop! Oh yes! Come.

And how much does Barjol owe?

One sack of wheat, three ducks.

You have a sack of wheat? You have three ducks?

Come on, hop!

This was the 1st time my father took me to the share.

All Nansac's sharecroppers trembled before Laborie.

Go! Next!

Yes, Chignac. How much does he owe?

Three chickens, 2 sheep.

Do we agree?

- Agreed. - Well done!

That's how I like to conduct things. Next.

Go, take it!

The next.

Martissou!

Martissou from Combenègre. He owes what?

Four sheep.

No. I checked my accounts.

- It was you who was right. - Ah?

Yes. You owe two sheep.

Here they are.

- Only 2? - I owe 2.

I only now said two! You had to bring four!

- Four! - But you said...

You must obey first!

Obey, you hear? And protest later.

You, if you continue,

you won't keep the farm at Combenègre very long.

And it's what you deserve!

Right, Jansou?

There. Look at Jansou.

He envies your lot. Right, Jansou?

Wouldn't you like the farm at Combenègre?

Answer!

Yes, Mr. Laborie.

Ah, see?

I hope you understand now. Is it clear?

Okay now... two sheep.

Hey! By the way...

As you handle accounts so well...

Do you remember that you borrowed a sack of wheat?

Yes.

- You should return it right now. - I can't.

I don't care.

- The harvest was bad. - I don't care..

For the Count it was bad as well.

You are associated. Don't forget.

You should return it right now.

Then give me half of the fodder.

- What? - Half of the fodder!

- It's up to you to feed them! - Why, if you take half?

- The land belongs to the Count, not you! - It's me doing the work!

It's the law of sharecropping!

The law of misery and hunger!

You gonna shut up!

There's only one who complains, talks, protests, that's you!

I'm starting to get tired of it!

Hello friends.

Mr. Count.

What is it, Laborie?

I have a dispute with this tenant.

You know, Count, about a sack of wheat.

Who are you?

Martin Ferral.

Ferral?

Sharecropper of Combenègre.

The last farm before the forest.

Yes, I see.

But tell me...

Are you related to Ferral Le Croquant?

He's my great-grandfather.

You're not an ordinary farmer. What was it he did?

He burned down the château of Vitrac.

Yes, that's right. A peasant revolt, right?

Yes.

Yes. How sad to end like that...

But Vitrac was very tough, I believe. Was he hanged?

- Vitrac? I don't know. - No, your grandfather.

Yes.

In those times brave men were needed. We committed abuse.

Fortunately things changed.

You're not exploited at will any more.

You are free now.

Free to accept or refuse a sharecropper's contract.

- And that's fine. - If you respect the contract!

He doesn't want to return the wheat he owes.

- Why Ferral? - I don't have it. Mr. Count.

- He's lying! He has it! - I don't. With all you're taking from me?

I take nothing from you.

You give me half.

Even without sharing, our farms are not enough for us to live on.

It's true. Between the share we owe you,

the fodder, bad harvests, what's left for us?

Nothing.

But the land is cultivated as good as possible. The way you want.

That's fine, Ferral.

But there are too many farms.

I know.

I don't have enough land.

There's so many of you. I'm sharing between you.

I thought I'd acted for the best.

I'm surprised, you know. Very surprised by your comments.

And again, you're not all sharecroppers.

There are day labourers among you.

You surprise me. I thought you were more charitable.

Unfortunately we went through troubled times,

and it was hardly profitable for us.

Disorder never is.

Each of us has to make an effort to provide.

It is never good to let illusions lead you.

Wanting to change the world! How vain!

No, the world is what it is.

And it was God who created it, don't forget.

And what God has made, man should not undo.

For God has said: "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread."

That's wisdom.

We must work together orderly and peace will be restored.

And thus the fate of all will be softened. And believe me...

I'm taking pains to do so.

That's what I wanted to tell you today.

If some of you have any comments,

I will listen.

Good!

I won't delay you any longer, Laborie. Continue.

Good bye, sir.

See you again, Ferral.

You can be sure that the relevance of your comments...

added to the satisfaction of getting to know you.

So Martin, this wheat?

You'll get it.

Good.

My father brought them our only bag of flour...

in exchange for the bag of wheat.

Again there wasn't much at home.

I helped my mother as best as I could.

Laborie wants you at the château.

Me? What does he want?

You'll see. Run!

Go home.

- I'll take the wood on the way back. - But Mom...

Go. Don't you worry.

Dad!

What is it?

- Mom is at the château! - What?

- Laborie called for her. - What for?

He didn't say. I came to warn you.

- Long ago? - No. I ran.

Go home!

No, Daddy! I want to come with you!

Martissou!

Marie!

Marie! What happened?

It's awful!

What happened? What did he want? Tell me!

The bastard!

The bastard! He will pay for this!

- No! Don't go! - Let go of me, Marie!

- I beg you! - Let go of me!

Trust me, don't go! Nothing happened. He didn't do anything.

You can trust me.

- Nothing happened. - Why did he make you come?

- He's chasing us away. - What? What for?

Because of the dog.

We have no right having a hunting dog.

We have to cut his hamstrings.

He doesn't have the right!

He does Martissou. It's the law.

- The farmers have to do it. - And I'm gonna let them?

Martissou! Calm down!

She's right. Go back home.

I'm going to complain!

The police will stop you.

There's nothing we can do.

You already tremble when you see Laborie within 100 m!

Yes, I tremble. I'm not a brave farmer.

I work by the day. I have six children.

I beg you!

What's there to be afraid of?

I'm starving on his plot of land.

I'm working and he's getting rich.

There's always an owner.

We were told that all men were equal.

You believed it?

Yes! And I still believe it.

We all believed it.

So you accept everything?

The misery, blackmail, the threats to our women?

You're right. We are cowards!

Yes. Cowards.

Yes! At my place he strangled two sheep...

because I didn't bow low enough. And I accepted it.

One day the Count let his dogs eat my grapes.

I said nothing.

This can't go on! We must speak up!

The château guards are coming!

Let's hide!

No! I don't care! I'm staying!

No! For Jacquou!

For Jacquou!

No! I don't care! I'm staying!

Quick!

- Do it for Jacquou! - Dad! Don't go!

Don't go.

For Jacquou.

I'm begging you.

Yes. My father was right.

I knew it. I was scared...

but I was with him. The others had left him.

He was alone.

All alone.

And life went on at our poor farm in Combenègre.

My father had taken the dog to a cousin in Cendrieux.

How empty the house seemed without her!

I'll never see her again.

I didn't understand why they made it so hard for us.

Dad!

Are you Martin Ferral, tenant of Count de Nansac?

That's me.

This is a warrant to leave the farm.

But I have a contract.

You didn't honour it!

You have no right.

A hunting dog without cut hamstrings is prohibited.

- I got rid of it. - That's what you say!

The dog is in Cendrieux at my cousin's. I obeyed.

Too late. The warrant has been signed.

There'll be hell to pay!

How brave my father was!

I admired him.

But I was scared.

Listen!

It's the dog.

What are you doing here? Why did you come back?

My dog!

I told my cousin to tie her up and lock her in.

I knew she'd come and see me. My dog.

The rope was cut.

I've a bad feeling. We must leave, Martissou.

No.

- Let's leave the farm tomorrow. - No.

I'll take her to Cendrieux at dawn.

That day, I'll remember all my life.

My dog. My only playmate at this sad farm.

They wanted to take her from me.

I resented my parents...

for accepting this injustice and for being indifferent.

I didn't understand.

I didn't understand why we couldn't have dog?

The Count had so many himself.

I'm leaving now.

Give me my jacket.

Come on, Jacquou...

I'm taking her.

Yes.

Come on, let her go.

I knew it.

Hold the dog!

Martin Ferral of Combenègre, sharecropper and poacher.

Today it's not the bailiff. It's me: Laborie.

I'm warning you. It won't be the same.

What do you want?

You'll find out. Give me that.

- Where is your dog? - I haven't one.

Ah?

You're lying!

You take me for a fool? Give me your dog!

It's at Cendrieux.

At Cendrieux? We will see.

Marie!

Bastard! You'll pay dearly.

Martissou, save yourself! They'll come to arrest you.

Yes.

He was asking for it.

Yes. He was asking for it.

It had to happen.

Martissou! Mascret went to warn the Count.

You have to go.

Yes.

Yes, Dad. You have to go away.

Come on! Go.

All the neighbours came running. Laborie, dead.

There he was, lying in front of them...

and they couldn't believe it.

I pity you and Martissou for the consequences.

As for that rascal, he had it coming.

Well, Jansou, come closer!

Don't be scared! He's dead!

Yes, he's dead.

Yes, he was dead, this wicked man. He was punished.

Despite the anguish I felt for my father,

I couldn't help but to rejoice.

My dad had done right. I was certain.

And I thought they would acknowledge him quickly.

Jean?

Where is your father?

Over there, in the forest.

Let's put him on a stretcher.

For the first time I felt hatred.

Hatred for the Count.

It was because of him that all of this had happened...

and that my father had gone into the forest.

Where was my father?

All alone. How I wanted him to be saved!

Well?

Nothing, monsieur.

I didn't requisition you to take a walk!

- He can only be in the forest. - Yes, my lord.

Go ahead, everybody!

You as well Mascret. He's a criminal, an outlaw!

He'll be trying to escape. Shoot him! Come on!

Subtitles by Subransu, editing by Oliverio