Original subtitles

September 1944

- What are the bastards doing? - Nothing in particular.

Antoine?

He's lecturing the Spaniards at the notary, I believe.

We'll see with Anselme. We need to limit the damage.

That's why we'll wait, for now.

Edmond says there's a lack of fuel. That means no buses.

Prepare the attack.

The DMR wants it to be quick. It makes sense.

- De Kervern? - They think he's dead.

Does the DMR know there are civilians inside?

And it doesn't care, just like me.

A bazooka is ready at the south entrance.

As soon as the mortar arrives, we launch the assault.

A FRENCH TOWN

The war is over, Anselme.

And?

We could just wait...

not do anything at all

for a few hours.

Listen to the birds, smoke a cigarette.

The militiamen will surrender. Why kill people?

Someone must pay for Marie's death.

We won't catch Marchetti. He's already gone.

Those bastards approved the hanging.

They should get a life! So to speak.

You said you and I were in charge.

I object.

I'm the chief of the FFI. So follow the rules...

Or leave.

I love you...

a bit...

a lot...

forever...

to bits...

I love you not.

The girl we saw you with...

she's your wife?

- Isn't she's your sister? - Fuck off!

Lying is an awful thing. Especially when you're going to die.

Shut up, Xavier.

He likes me... a bit,

a lot, forever, to bits...

He likes me not.

You'll die with someone you don't like.

We're not going to die!

We're going to live?

We're going to live a bit,

a lot,

forever,

to bits...

He's getting weaker.

How much time left?

I don't know.

Enough to see you die.

Sir! The explosives are ready.

Good.

Set up a firing system that goes off in 30 seconds.

But, sir... Don't we have...?

It's an order, Alban!

Yes, sir.

How is he doing?

Surprisingly well.

The cream you gave me did wonders.

The rest of us aren't doing so well.

The militiamen won't give up?

He looks pretty good, actually.

This tattoo... It's an "O".

He said it was his blood type.

- Didn't you hear the calls? - No.

The militiamen will blow up the school.

- What? - De Kervern needs a transfusion.

I don't understand.

De Kervern's blood type is "O", like your friend.

It will kill him. You know that.

The explosion will kill us all.

There must be another way.

- I won't let you take him. - He's not yours.

Did you hear?

Kurt! Don't listen to him!

If you donate some blood, you will save us.

They can sort it out without you.

Don't do it. Please, don't do it.

Sir!

The doctor has just started the transfusion and...

Xavier's with the explosives.

He'll plug two wires. It will take 20 to 30 seconds.

Perfect.

But... With all due respect,

blowing up the school...

I want to live, sir.

I want to live, too.

Take a white flag and go see the FFI.

Tell them we have enough explosives to blow everything up.

Take a stick of dynamite with you.

Tell them we're transfusing the prefect.

Yes, sir.

We need to neutralize the sniper.

The FFL will send an expert.

He'll shoot that bastard as soon as he moves.

Then, we'll neutralize the machine gun.

The bazooka needs to be focused on that.

The guys in the north entrance use grenades and mortar.

Those in the south entrance will go through here.

The enemy will withdraw.

Anselme, there's someone for you.

Hi, guys. It's nice to see you.

Hello, son.

Raoul.

I got a message saying my mother had been arrested.

Yes. That was yesterday.

I'm sure there's a way to get her out. Where is she?

I'm sorry, son. We can't get her out.

Why?

She's dead.

It can't be true.

- Come and sit down. - I can stand.

Did you see her dead?

Yes. I saw her.

I don't believe you. It's a lie.

I saw her too, Raoul. She's dead. For real.

How did it happen?

- That doesn't matter. - How?

- She died as a hero. - Goddamn it, how did she die?

She was hanged.

Along with 7 hostages.

She was hanged?

The Milice are moving!

Come on, guys.

- White flag! - To hell with that.

- He wants to talk. - I won't talk.

Beat it!

I have a message.

I have a message, too.

You have 10 minutes to surrender.

If you don't, we'll crush you!

And you have 10 seconds to go back to your den.

Get out of here!

One, two,

three, four...

Unconditional surrender?

- What? - They give us 10 minutes.

- We're dead. - Stop with that.

They want to intimidate us.

No. They would say that to our face.

We're all dead. They just don't want to fight.

I say we go back and keep moving forward.

They won't kill me in cold blood.

What if you're wrong?

You say we're dead, anyway.

No.

We can't go back. That would be stupid.

Xavier, go to the basement.

At my signal, set off the fireworks.

Yes, sir.

I want a good shooter at the bazooka. We don't have 100 attempts.

South team with me.

The north team will stay with captain Anselme.

Be careful. There are civilians inside.

Sir, a mortar is taking position at the north entrance.

OK...

Move the machine gun now. We need to hide it from them.

I want everybody ready, no ammo wastage.

You will aim the officers, starting with Antoine.

I want a report in 15 minutes.

Yes, sir.

- Xavier, can you hear me? - Affirmative, sir.

- Be ready. - Yes, sir.

What am I going to tell my brother?

How old is he?

He's 10. I haven't seen him

since 1942.

He's in a farm in Ardèche.

What about your father?

My father?

My father died at the beginning of the Occupation.

The Krauts killed him.

- The deputy prefect. - He's all I needed!

- You're replacing De Kervern? - Yes.

I was going to be transferred to southeast France,

but the deputy prefect was killed in Besançon.

You're launching an attack?

Yes. That's the order of our military delegate.

- I give the orders now. - In theory.

Where's Edmond Lerbier? I want to see him.

He's on a jaunt. We won't wait for him to start.

There are civilians.

And Marie Germain's hangmen.

What?

The Krauts and Marchetti are the ones who killed Marie.

The militiamen were just the security personnel.

So? Are we going to reward them for that?

There's your wife, too.

My personal life shouldn't be taken into account.

However, I'm open to discussion.

- Even with the Milice? - With everybody.

I can't believe this.

The militiamen sent us an envoy,

but... we refused to welcome him.

I'm going to ask you to suspend the attack.

You're betraying our ideals because of your wife.

Taking revenge is not an ideal of the Résistance.

- People want blood. - What do you know?

People want us to punish the bastards,

the traitors. Starting with the Milice!

We will punish them but now anyhow and certainly not now.

We will act within the law.

For Christ's sake... You make me sick.

Do you know who he is?

He's the son of Marie Germain. He was my student.

I am deeply sorry, Raoul.

I liked your mom very much.

You know you can count on me if there's anything you need.

Come on. Let's get out of here.

Where are you going?

Wherever I want. I resign.

I'm not a chief any longer, I'm not an FFI!

One thing is certain, though. I haven't said my last word.

Let's go.

Anselme!

- Torchand. Moraul. - Anselme!

Coco, Jean, Gaëtan.

See what you did?

- Excuse me? - I would have negotiated anyway.

Now everybody's going to think I wanted to save my wife!

You would've rather not know?

No, but...

How's Lucienne doing?

I haven't seen her. I just know she's in there.

- My daughter? - I don't know.

Listen, if you want to negotiate, we better get going.

- I can go back. - No. I will go there myself.

- You? - I want to put them at easy.

Tell them that De Kervern is out of danger.

- How are you feeling? - Better. I feel almost alive.

Don't get too excited. You'll have to rest for 3 months.

Lord have mercy!

Doctor, can we take the needle out of... the injured man's arm?

Excuse me.

- What? - Cardiac arrest.

- You said he'd be OK! - I didn't say that.

He made his choice.

Come on! Come back!

What's the name of the man who saved me?

- I don't know. - Really? And you still pray?

- How bigoted! - Shut up.

You can take the needle off.

- Here. - Thank you.

Lucienne, he has very little chances to live.

There's still hope!

Maybe he shouldn't make it.

That's none of your business.

I'd like to take him upstairs now, please.

Can you help her?

- You're in charge? - Where are my buses?

I'm Prefect Bériot. I represent the GPRF.

You, a Prefect? The new Republic's very democratic.

I've come to negotiate your surrender... in honor.

- Where are my buses? - There won't be any.

Then we won't negotiate.

Listen...

You're surrounded by 50 partisans,

one cannon and mortars.

The Germans are gone. Time is against you.

Your only chance is to surrender.

In honor.

We have enough explosives to blow up

your cannon, your mortars and your partisans!

I don't believe you.

I whistle, and boom.

- What do you win? - Am I in a position to win?

You could be treated as war prisoners.

Your chiefs are executing every militiaman who carries a weapon.

If you surrender, you won't be carrying a weapon.

Many of us have been executed after surrendering.

I'm the chief of Villeneuve now.

If you surrender, you'll be taken to prison in Besançon.

- You'll be judged there. - And executed!

I can't guarantee the verdict.

But it will be better if you're judged far from Villeneuve,

and not right away.

- I'll have to think about it. - Hurry up. Time is running out.

Many of my men are in favor of a quick, violent attack.

- Give me two hours. - You have 20 minutes.

If you don't raise up a white flag, I will launch the attack.

- Mr. Prefect. - Mr. President of the CDL.

It's been a long time.

November of 42, at the meeting for the unification of movements.

I hear you were talking with the militiamen.

I believe they're going to surrender.

On behalf of the CDL, I beg to protest.

Already? Why would that be?

You haven't consulted me.

You weren't here.

Well, now I am.

And I think we should attack.

Well, you've given your opinion.

- What are you going to do? - Negotiate.

Mr. Prefect, if you want the Liberation to come off well,

take the CDL into account.

Of course.

You represent De Gaulle. We represent the Résistance.

- We need a marriage of convenience. - We do.

I don't like your tone.

Listen, our priority is to re-establish the authority.

De Gaulle's, I suppose!

We need to show everybody, especially the Americans,

that we're capable of getting France on its feet.

A massacre is not the answer.

The militiamen are bastards, but in a Republic, they're judged.

I don't trust him. We have no guarantees.

We have the Prefect's word.

For twenty minutes.

He represents De Gaulle.

- You trust De Gaulle, sir? - I don't trust him, no.

It is in his interest to maintain order.

He must take those who support us into account.

- Many people support us. - I doubt it.

They do. They just keep it to themselves.

Nobody support us anymore after that massacre.

I regret nothing.

We did it for France, for Europe.

I have regrets.

- You have no balls. - Stop!

We shouldn't have done it.

We should've done more. Your godfather was right.

If we had killed all the Jews, we wouldn't be here.

Regrets or no regrets, that's up to you

and up to God.

We can't lay down our weapons.

It's our only chance, Xavier.

Or rather, our only chance.

As a chief of the Milice, my fate is sealed.

But you're still young.

France is going to need you.

I won't comply with an order of surrender.

Never.

Twenty minutes have passed. No flag.

- Let's go. - Let's wait a bit longer.

Are your men ready?

Yes, but I think everybody...

or almost, is hoping for an agreement.

In the meantime,

where and when will you proclaim the Republic?

Nowhere.

It has always existed,

in London, then in Algiers and now in Paris.

I mean, the government of Vichy...

A de facto authority, not de jure.

Vichy is null and void.

They're raising a white flag up.

- OK. - How many men do you have?

Around 40, minus those who left with Anselme.

More than a half.

I want a squad.

Six men, heavily armed. They'll leave in 5 minutes.

Come with me.

Present arms!

Order, arms!

At ease!

Time has come for you to surrender.

Do I have your word that we will be treated

with dignity until our trial?

Yes.

I would like to keep my gun,

without ammunitions, as it is customary.

It makes sense, given the circumstances.

We're going too soft on these bastards!

Granted.

There is still a problem. I can only surrender to a soldier.

You are not.

We won't call a FFL officer for this.

- Why not? - He would take ages to get here.

Besides, you're pushing it.

I won't surrender to a civilian.

- Death to the Milice! - Scumbags!

Close the door. This isn't the circus.

And send two guys to the entrance.

I have police powers.

It's not the same.

All these formalities...

You're in a bad position.

Attention!

Fall in!

Take aim!

- The final bouquet, sir. - Shut up!

Silence in the rows!

I'm Antoine, chief of the Maquis,

FFI captain, 1st French Army of General De Lattre.

I am ready to receive your surrender.

Lay down arms!

Attention!

Two steps forward!

You don't have to shake his hand.

Stay with your men while you wait to be transferred.

- Will it take long? - Maybe an hour or two.

We don't have a choice.

Bring in the trucks.

Evacuate De Kervern and the other civilians

and call a CDL meeting. We have things to sort out.

You two, escort them.

Half right!

Julien, Thibault...

Forward, march!

Raymond.

Can you stop for a second?

You could say hi, no?

I didn't know where to go.

I could be arrested at any moment. I've been arrested twice.

The last time, I had to...

Oh, my God!

How did it happen?

I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for you.

The Liberation is close.

Shut up!

- I'll help you. - No, thank you.

You'll never make it on your own.

Right.

A little bit more.

Jules.

I'm glad to see you.

I'm happy to be here.

Come on in, please.

Françoise's not here?

She's in the room, with my father. She's sleeping.

Your father is here. He's doing well.

I stayed with him for a year after you left.

When did you come back?

Yesterday.

All this time...

You didn't write. Not once.

I was operating in secrecy in Lyon, London and Algiers.

Algiers must be beautiful.

Very beautiful, yes.

Sorry to say this but... you don't seem so happy to see me.

Of course I am.

I'm just a little bit surprised. That's all.

I'm a prefect now. A departmental prefect.

Deputy prefect, I believe. Yes, I heard.

I have power over Villeneuve, including the police.

You've always wanted to do politics.

It's quite a responsibility. I don't realize how big it is yet.

It's normal.

I have things to do, people to see.

I will be very busy the next days. I'm sorry for that.

It's all right.

You're here. That's all that matters.

Since the little room is taken,

I could settle in your old room.

- The one that Marguerite had taken. - That won't be possible.

- There's someone in that room. - Someone?

Yes... An injured man.

It's serious.

He has to stay for some time.

Who is it?

This is taking too long.

It's not easy to organize our transfer to Besançon.

They're organizing our execution.

- Stop. - We shouldn't have surrendered.

What's done is done.

Sometimes...

There are things that can be undone.

They haven't checked the basement yet.

Long live the Liberation. Jesus!

Where did you hide it?

System B.

You don't drink?

I wasn't expecting this.

You were away for a long time.

When you leave a woman...

She can do anything.

She didn't do this because I left her.

It's the other way round.

In the meantime, we should celebrate the Liberation.

I hope you're organizing a party.

Something unforgettable.

Yes.

A big, popular party.

A burst of joy. Such are the orders of the DRM.

Sure you won't drink?

Go ahead.

Regarding the situation here,

what are you going to do?

No stupid decisions, please.

Lucienne is not perfect, but she's the only daughter I have!

Taking stupid decisions is not my job, sadly.

Anyway, I'm screwed. If someone finds out that...

my wife...

Nobody has to find out. That's all.

System B!

The Kraut can't talk.

Kaput the vocal cords.

Besides, he doesn't look like a Kraut.

He looks more like a steak tartare.

Who knows about this?

Lucienne...

The Kraut, of course.

You.

And me.

But I'm discreet.

In fact, I'm going to leave. If I understand correctly,

you're going to need my room.

Hey! Wake up!

It's OK, I got this. Go have a rest.

Can you believe it? We're free.

Yes, well, the war's not over yet.

Antoine.

Did you call the CDL?

Tomorrow at 10 AM.

Edmond wants the municipal advisors to be present.

He gave me a list.

He's pushing it. Right, we'll see that tomorrow.

Two trucks are on their way. Hector is taking care of that.

Get them on as soon as they arrive.

- What about the escort? - I haven't planned on an escort.

Do people in Besançon know that we're taking 15 militiamen?

I guess.

Then we need an escort, or they'll tear them to pieces.

How many men?

Three guys per truck.

Can you take care of that?

Me? Wait, I'm not...

Don't you want to work for the GPRF?

For France?

There's no need to lecture me, Bériot.

I'm tired. That's all.

You can count on me.

Guys! You'll be on transport duty tonight.

We don't want to miss the party. When is it?

Certainly not tonight. Maybe tomorrow.

- Here comes Hector! Get ready. - We're leaving?

In a few minutes.

OK, guys. Let's go.

Hey. We're leaving.

Put that knife away.

Antoine, chief of the Maquis.

Hector Dupuis.

I have bad news.

People found out about the militiamen.

Some hotheads burst the tires.

The mechanic will take some time.

You mean we're stuck here?

At least until tomorrow noon.

We can't leave them here.

They'll be fine.

You gave them your word of honor.

In 42, a group of Jews were left here for three days.

They weren't here in 42.

Whatever. You get the idea.

Will the trucks be here?

I'm not sure, no.

But I hope so.

What if they don't?

We'll figure something out.

Those people are going to sleep here tonight.

We have to tell them. You should do it.

What do I say?

What's wrong?

Things aren't going as we planned.

We can't transfer you yet.

The buses are down. I mean, someone burst the tires.

- Who? - That's irrelevant.

You'll have to sleep here.

Death to the Milice! Hang them all!

Down with the traitors!

We sleep here and then what?

Hopefully, the buses will be repaired

and you'll be transferred.

"Hopefully".

What if they're not?

Don't worry. It's just a mishap.

The prefect?

He's trying to sort this problem out.

He gave me his word of honor!

There's nothing he can do. He's not a mechanic!

I guess you were right, Xavier.

Where is Xavier?

I don't know.

- The basement! - It's for the best.

- Don't go! - Stop!

Wait!