Original subtitles

Why didn't you say it was you?

You being here is no accident.

What? Something to write. OK, I got it.

Alright. Wait...

Here. Look.

Here. Talk to me.

Wait. Let me help you.

"Permission...

"to see you...

"before... leaving...

"but...

"burnt in a tank..."

"Baby?"

She's upstairs.

Her name is Françoise.

She looks like you.

Are your burns... serious?

"My throat...

"I won't be able to speak ever again".

As long as you can write, it's as if you were speaking.

A French Town

The Group

He... He's dead, doctor.

How did that happen?

I don't... I don't know.

He just stopped breathing.

I asked you to watch his pulse and his breathing rate.

He must have...

Why did you remove his bandages?

It doesn't matter...

- I must speak to Kruger. - No. Don't do that.

There's an emergency exit downstairs...

Gustave is alone. You could run away with him.

I'm tired of always having to run away.

He was my patient and he died.

You're not God almighty, you know?

Thank you for that.

Wait. What about him?

The unknown guy?

Why do you call him that?

That's what Unbekannter means in German.

Bekannter, known. Unbekannter, unknown.

He's not unknown for everybody.

- What can we do for him? - Not much.

What if he's important to me?

You said it. I'm not God almighty, Mrs. Bériot.

Change his bandages and see the extent of his burns.

If it's over 50 %, there's no hope.

- Captain. - Doctor.

Helmuth is dead.

There was little hope.

I told you. I'm not a surgeon.

Go get some coffee!

I don't know where to find it.

There's ersatz in the drawer in the refectory.

It's bad quality, but it's black and it's hot.

Captain, please let my nephew go.

If you really want to kill someone,

kill me.

I don't like killing people, doctor.

I'm a soldier.

I'll let your nephew get hanged somewhere else.

Come here.

I can go?

You can thank your uncle.

I guess the war hasn't toughened me up enough.

There's no more to be done.

I can go too?

But first, make an inventory of the injured.

It could take hours.

Yes, well... You better start now.

I'm going to pay a last tribute to Helmuth.

You can stay in my old room.

Remember?

It's going to be alright. You'll have some rest

and I'll take care of you.

Lucienne?

Quickly! Get inside!

- Yes? - Lucienne?

What took you so long?

- What did Larcher want? - He needed help with a patient.

What are you doing here now?

Well... I needed to take something I'd left in my old room.

Something?

Yes.

Music scores. I want to play the violin again.

Now? With the Krauts downstairs?

You know me. When I set my mind on something...

No one can stop you. Yes, I know that.

In the meantime, Fanfan can't sleep.

Well, tell her a story.

That's your job. I'm too old for that.

Dad, you love that.

People of my age sleep at this time.

Dad. Be nice, please.

Tell her a story.

The one I used to like when I was little.

The bear who loved honey?

Yes, that one.

Will you be long?

I just need to find what I'm looking for.

Right. That makes sense.

If Fanfan happens to ask for you...

- Knock and I'll be right there. - Very good.

That was my father. He's left.

The doctor says I have to examine your injuries

and change your bandages.

He also says that if I take good care of you,

you'll have a chance.

It's Dr. Larcher. Remember him?

The ex-mayor.

You want to write?

Here.

"There's no point in treating me".

Of course there is, Kurt.

There is always hope.

Always.

I'm sure you're going to make it.

You know, I prayed a lot thinking about you,

for you. I prayed for you to be alive.

I prayed for you to come back. And here you are.

Here you are.

Injured, in pain, but you're here.

"If I hadn't thought about you

"in Russia, I would have died".

See?

Now I'm going to pray.

Pray for your injuries to heal.

For you to get over this and come back to life,

with or without speech.

Our Father who art in Heaven,

hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive our trespasses, as we forgive

those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation

but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

This coffee is awful. France deserves better.

Please, gentlemen. Please.

The 11th Panzer division is still in Villeneuve.

- How many men? - We don't know.

But they have machine guns, mortars and tanks.

How many men can you mobilize right now?

About forty.

Are they armed? Can they follow orders?

We've been here on our own for 4 years now.

I was here too, 4 years ago, until 1942.

I saw what the Resistance was about: talk,

useless risk-taking and few results.

That is way out of line.

You're insulting our dead. We can't let that guy humiliate us.

"That guy", as you say, was named by De Gaulle.

I don't give a damn about De Gaulle.

What did you say?

- Calm down. - Suzanne.

I don't give a flying duck about De Gaulle

and clowns like yourself.

De Gaulle was not elected by the people.

And neither were you.

- Arrest that woman. - What?

She's against the government's decisions.

Wait a second.

Do you understand what a prefect is?

What the authority of a provisional government means?

Will you arrest her?

That's enough. I think we all got your message.

If I ever see her again, I will have her arrested.

That is abuse of power.

Suzanne. Why don't you go take a rest?

Come on.

I've had enough of that bastard.

Let me tell you, females and politics aren't a good mix.

And to think De Gaulle wants them to vote.

Mr. Prefect, regarding Villeneuve...

Gather 30 men and advance with caution.

I said caution. Is that clear?

I want no direct contact with the Germans.

Thank you, gentlemen.

We need to have a code.

Don't you think?

That means "yes".

And... "no".

Alright?

Do you know I love you?

Liar.

That's better.

I have to change your bandages.

It's the only way to save you.

Besides, you're too weak to stop me.

There you go.

It's going to be alright.

Less than 50% of your body.

Yes. You're going to make it.

I know it.

There you go.

There you go. Come here.

I'll rest your head.

You're even more handsome than before.

Françoise?

No.

No. Not now.

Not like this. No.

Alright.

I'll go and get her.

Mom.

Come here, give me a hug.

There you go.

- Where's Granddad? - Keep quiet. Come on.

What are you doing with her?

- Didn't you hear her cry? - No. You were crying?

Yes. I cried.

I could hear her from back there.

I'm sorry. For once, I was fast asleep.

She's staying with me.

What do you mean?

Well, yes, Dad. You snore too loudly. It keeps waking her up.

She used to sleep well at the farm.

The farm is a big place. Here, you can hear everything.

You really think it's my snoring?

I do. Listen, I'm going to...

I'll cradle her while I look for my scores.

I don't think that will work.

The bed is made, in case she falls asleep.

Good night.

Good night.

I'm not a heavy snorer.

Look. Look.

Say hello to him.

Don't be scared.

He's a friend of Mom's.

Look. See? He's holding out his hand.

You can touch his hand. Look.

See? Touch his hand.

There you go.

There you go. Don't be afraid.

It's quiet. But I couldn't see the school.

Are the Krauts there?

They probably wanted to take advantage of the barracks' equipment.

- Where's Edmond? - He's preparing the Liberation.

At home?

Don't make fun of bureaucrats.

Without them, we wouldn't keep this going.

Right. Let's send a reconnaissance team downtown.

- I'll go. - Not you!

But I...

We've already lost Marie.

I don't want to lose you too.

Choose 4 guys and send them off.

I'm their chief. I have to go with them.

Exactly. You're their chief. We must keep you safe.

If they have snipers, you will get shot.

Why would a retreating unit shoot?

Don't argue!

We've already lost two of our men in Rochefort.

I'm the chief of the FFI. Choose 4 guys and send them off.

There's no need to choose. All I have to do is ask.

I need 4 volunteers to get shot at!

There.

Kurt? What's the matter?

Kurt! What is it? I'll go get Dr. Larcher.

Doctor! Doctor!

- What is it? - The Germans are gone?

Yes. They left at around 5 AM.

I was trying to get some rest.

They're gone for good?

Yes, I think so.

I need your help. Kurt, the burned man, is very sick.

He won't make it.

He has burns on less than 50% of his body. He stands a chance.

In a hospital, in a specialized center.

Come with me. It won't take long.

There's no point.

He can hardly breathe. You can't let him die!

You let Helmuth die.

I didn't take an oath.

- You still believe in oaths? - Sometimes.

It's serious and usual in burn victims.

Maybe it will pass.

On the contrary. It will get worse if we don't do anything.

- He needs oxygen. - Where can I find some?

In a hospital, but he'll be dead by then.

There's only one solution.

Excuse me. I'll leave you for a moment.

Go ahead. It's better for you not to see this.

- Did you take Fanfan? - You are out of your mind.

- Where is she? - In her room.

Probably better than with that guy. Who is he?

None of your business.

I should slap you in the face, but that can wait.

He's that Kraut, isn't he?

The one who was bandaged like a mummy.

Unbe... something. What on earth is he doing in your room?

He's her father.

What's that nonsense?

Her father is Bériot.

Her real father.

She has only one real father. It's Bériot.

For me, it's Kurt.

"Kurt"...

Your Kurt is a bit too German for my liking.

- And? - And?

Sleeping with Krauts was not a nice thing to do,

but that was your decision.

The thing is, Lucienne, the Liberation is coming.

Know what they do to women who slept with Krauts?

You want to turn me in?

Stop saying nonsense. I'm not the problem...

Kurt can't talk anymore.

Without a uniform, no one will know he's German.

I will take care of him,

and when he gets better...

We'll see.

What about your husband?

He might still come back, for all I know.

We'll see.

The war has taught me to think about the short term.

Can I count on you?

For what?

To not say anything.

And to leave me to sort out my life.

Remember last November, at this very same place?

Yes.

Nobody believed in the march.

I'm sorry, but the march is the last thing on my mind.

Besides, she died for nothing.

Why do you say that?

De Kervern says the Americans want the bridge to remain standing.

They don't want us to blow it up. What a pity!

War is always like this.

There are important, essential, vital aims...

for which people die...

And the next day, none of that matters anymore.

I've had enough of the war.

There's one thing I want:

to find Marchetti and kill him. Slowly.

- What would that change? - I don't know.

It might calm me down.

They've left.

- Says who? - Says us.

People saw them leaving the town at 5 AM.

Sidecars, vehicles, trucks...

Villeneuve is free.

They've done this before.

If it is true, we must restore the Republic now.

Simon checked the school yard. No one there.

The police station is empty. The town is ours.

- The subprefecture? - Empty. There's no trace of Servier.

Let's make two groups.

A military unit, which will take

the school, the Kommandantur and the police station.

And a political unit.

I'll go to the subprefecture and sign the first deeds.

We can't hang around. Besides, I have orders.

You and Fernand go with him.

You know, babysitting...

Go. You're going to see how the Republic is reborn.

It only happens once in a lifetime. Take my Sten.

What for?

Because you never know.

Mr. Prefect.

Fernand, let's go. Go that way.

I made an incision to lower the pressure.

He's lost a lot of blood.

He needs to eat.

Liver, sausages, chocolate...

- Things that are hard to find. - I'll find them.

Change his dressings every three hours and apply this cream.

I'm leaving you dressings for two days.

- I'll be back in two days. - You're a nice man.

Don't be so sure. I just can't say "no".

Who knows you're keeping him?

My father.

And you.

Be careful, Lucienne.

There are hard times ahead.

If he makes it through the next two days, he'll live.

You're going to make it.

I'm sure you will.

You must think I was too hard on that woman.

- Who? - Suzanne, the Bolshy, the big mouth.

Ah! I don't know.

She has given a lot to the Resistance.

- A little bit too much. - I don't understand.

There are things I just can't admit.

Her husband was a prisoner

and while he was in jail she was sleeping with another man.

You mean... Marcel Larcher?

Yes.

- He's a hero. - Sure he is.

Women are not supposed to sleep with other men,

even if they're heroes.

Look... Yes, I do think you were hard on her.

You attitude towards Suzanne...

The "female" thing...

You heard that, too?

My sister killed herself.

Marie Germain was hanged.

Women played essential roles.

They did most of the liaison work.

Of course. They were admirable.

Even I was recruited by a woman.

A prostitute.

But today, it's the Liberation.

The world has to return to normal.

I believe politics, sports and the army

are for men. Don't you think so?

It takes balls!

Right.

Gentlemen, let's go.

Oh, damn!

Take cover!

Get out of here!

- The Prefect! - I've been shot.

I said get out!

We need to get rid of your German clothes.

Take that off. Quickly.

Hurry up. I'm sorry. Come on.

There.

I'll take this to basement and see what's going on.

- What happened? -The Milice!

At least 20 men. Heavily armed.

Gilbert is dead. They got the Prefect.

I can't believe it! Take care of him.

Why are they still here?

I don't know. They were going to the school.

The school? What for?

Let's go.

Come here, you.

Move!

What is this?

- He won't let me leave. - Nobody can. I have orders.

I just want to go home.

- Are you deaf or what? - Stop!

- Who are you? - Let go of her!

- You're his mistress? - I'm the principal's wife.

You know this place, then. Where are the trucks?

I don't know. In the barracks, perhaps.

The barracks?

Yes, the school for boys, next door.

If you're lying, I'll make you pay.

- You're hurting me. - Let her go!

What are you doing?

She won't say where the trucks are.

Secure the place with Charlie. Do it!

Denis, take three men with you and go find those trucks.

You, set up a shooting station at the main entrance.

What do we do with him?

Well, well. This guy is a prefect.

He's appointed by the Resistance.

Take him to a classroom. He might be useful.

Doctor.

I would like to go home.

First, you must keep the Prefect alive.

I have no business being here.

Do it or I'll have you executed!

Take the doctor. And keep an eye on him.

Come on!

If they ask me questions, I'll say you're a childhood friend.

A friend from Besançon.

Rémy.

Rémy Langlois. He was in love with me.

Bériot?

He might never come back.

It's a horrible thing to say

but it would make things easier.

Listen, I don't know.

We'll see.

If he comes back... we will leave.

Yes, that's right. We'll leave.

Chief!

There are no trucks.

Goddammit! Schneider screwed us.

- At least we made him pay. - Not us. Marchetti.

- What do we do now? - I don't know.

Come on, guys. Hurry up.

We go back to our families.

- Is there a back entrance? - Yes, in the garden.

Listen up. There are no trucks!

We're going to evacuate right away. Come on!

Come on!

Chief!

There's a hostile group. 15 to 20 armed men.

Stop! Stop the evacuation!

We're stuck here, guys.

Our only chance is to secure the area.

So, we remain hidden,

we strengthen the shooting station,

and we control every blind spot.

Ammo inventory in 10 minutes. Chiefs' meeting in 15 minutes.

Go!

Get into position.

Gilbert, go.

Are you sure they're going to the school?

They were on the boulevard.

It's the only strategic point I can think of.

Either they're hiding or they're going somewhere else.

Is De Kervern seriously injured?

Two bullets, I don't know where.

Alright. Go.

I'll contact the delegate

and ask him to send us another prefect.

I believe there's a phone at the cobbler's.

In the meantime, who's going to be the political and military chief?

Well, let's say it's you and me.

Take cover! There's a sniper!

There's a sniper!

That's a heavy machine gun. Cease fire! It's pointless!

Cease fire!

Are you going to repeat everything I say?

Cease fire, for Christ's sake!

Stay where you are and await orders!

How many are there?

The group I saw earlier... I would say 25.

But they're Franc-Gardes. Well trained, well armed.

- Bastards! We'll kill them. - It won't be easy.

I told you to stay where you are!

Are you tired of living?

Guys! We can get through here. It's open.

Well done, Florent.

- They're not firing? - They're saving their ammo!

I don't understand.

They know we're surrounded. They'll call for backup.

Time is on their side.

So we're screwed?

We're in trouble, but not screwed.

To blow the whole thing up we need a mortar or a tank.

It'll be tricky.

We could negotiate their surrender.

We don't negotiate with them.

We hang them.

But they have the Prefect.

I'll call the regional delegate to see what we should do.

Chief, I've found enough explosives to put on a nice fireworks show.

Finally some good news! Make an inventory of all that.

Yes, chief.

Come with me. Let's go pay our bargaining chip a visit.

What are they doing here?

The wives of two of our soldiers,

Henri and Gallien. They saw us coming.

The 3rd one is a cousin and I don't know the 4th one.

There's a reason why we left our families!

- They thought we were back. - Sure, our big comeback!

- Mr. Prefect. - Piece of shit!

He sounds good.

He's lost a lot of blood.

Is he going to live or not?

I don't know.

Well, hurry up. I don't have time to waste.

Let's go.

20 more comrades have just arrived.

The Spaniards are coming.

Excellent. Put them on the right flank.

Locate the school entrances discreetly.

Don't do anything other than that. Understood?

I talked to Edmond. He'll speak to the delegate.

They care about the Prefect.

- They will negotiate. - See?

It's a stupid idea.

However, if De Kervern is dead,

they demand we attack.

It'll be bloody.

The FFL of Besançon are sending a tank.

The guys in Seurre have fixed up a canon. It should be here soon.

We will have greater shooting capacity.

There might be civilians inside.

- This is war, Antoine. - You said you've had enough.

They helped the Krauts during the hanging.

They know we execute the militiamen.

They won't negotiate.

- Unless De Kervern is alive. - We'll see.

Why not make sure now.

We'll send a representative. I mean, we'll try to.

I'll go. Don't try to stop me.

I don't like babysitting and I won't be nursed.

I had an argument with my father.

It reminds me of my teenage years.

The school is surrounded by partisans.

I don't know what will happen.

Am I hurting you?

Chief! Someone's coming.

- Don't shoot. White flag. - It's Antoine, chief of the Maquis.

Let's kill him.

This is our chance.

Go see the explosives with Xavier.

Yes, sir.

Charlie, put your gun down.

I'm a diplomat. I won't shake hands with you.

I've come to negotiate your surrender.

Do you know we have hostages?

Hostages? You mean, Prefect De Kervern.

And Dr. Larcher,

the teacher, her daughter, her father,

and one injured person.

We're only interested in De Kervern. How is he?

I want two buses and a safe-conduct to Switzerland.

I need 60 seats.

How is the Prefect?

He will be fine if you accept my demands.

I want to see him first.

Bring me my two buses. Anything else you want to tell me?

If the Prefect dies, or if he's already dead,

we'll launch an attack.

We'll be relentless.

I mean it.

I've taken note of your message. You can leave now.

- I can't see him? - He's injured.

Our doctors will see him.

If we hand him over, we will have nothing.

I'll be waiting for my buses.

This is your own responsibility.

Of course.

If we don't save that Prefect, we're screwed.

The explosives?

The explosives will kill us all, including them.

They won't save us.

The Prefect is our only hope.

They don't know he's alive.

We're buying time.

- Go get the doctor. - Yes, sir.

- Well? - They wouldn't let me see him.

- That means he's dead. - No, I don't think so.

Besides, they have hostages.

Mrs. Bériot, Dr. Larcher, among others.

To hell with them.

Mrs. Bériot helped us last year.

That doesn't make her a partisan. What has she done lately?

They have civilians. I saw two women.

Antoine, De Kervern is all that matters.

They will hand him over if we give them buses

and a safe-conduct for Switzerland.

Why not my sister's rump, while we're at it?

The Swiss won't let them in, anyway.

They've got us.

The militiamen know how important De Kervern is to us.

Then what do we do? Give them those buses?

The only buses they will get in are the ones

that will take them to their death.

We'll bring one bus, just one,

and then we'll attack.

I'll call Edmond.

He needs a transfusion.

- A lot of blood can save him. - Do it!

We need someone of his same blood type. Otherwise, he'll die.

He's O. I'm A.

I'm AB.

Xavier, what's your blood type?

I don't know, sir.

Me neither, sir.

Most people don't know. That's the problem.

Go see if there's any O type. The women, too.

Why do you want to save him? It's not like you.

I want to save myself. I mean, us.

If De Kervern dies, they will execute each and every one of us.

They spare you if he lives?

No, but we'll probably negotiate something.

He needs that transfusion.

We're looking for a person with O blood type. Anyone?

Do you know Antoine?

Vaguely. Last year, he took me hostage.

I see.

Why did you resign as Mayor in 1942?

I was tired of being an accomplice to things I was against.

You don't have a high opinion of the Milice.

Quite right.

But nobody cares about my opinions anymore.

What do you know?

We couldn't find anyone with O blood type.

How much time left before he passes?

An hour or two. He's unconscious.

- Xavier, the explosives. - Sir.

Alban, meet me in 30 minutes to plan our escape. Doctor.

Are you alright?

Did I hurt you?

It's not a waste of time.

Being without you

would be.

A woman made me understand that.

She used to sleep here.

You got yourself a tattoo?

It looks like an "O".

Subtitles: Eclair Media