Original subtitles

I AM A NYMPHOMANIAC

Students complaining they have too much work

They threw a garbage can on the Dean's head

In my day, when I studied seamanship, if I'd dared to do that

I'd have been kicked out

We had discipline back then

And no bad thing

In my daym

My father lived in remembrance of his youth

And didn't care about mine

We all lived stuck in his past

And we couldn't escape from his stories

My mother, for the last 20 years, only spoke to him to ask:

A coffee to finish with?

As if she didn't know

The old habits of a master mariner

Coffee, three times a day, and no sugar

Why so keen to stay awake?

He slept through life like during a sermon in church

- Good evening, ma'am - Good evening, Eric

Evening, Mr. Desagne

How are you?

You've come to steal our daughter

Off to the movies?

Of course!

I only saw two films in my life, but they go every week

In my day...

Don't bring her home too late. You promise?

Don't worry, mom. Have a nice evening

And as soon as we left,

they'd talk about my elder brother, killed in Indochina

If only he were here...

she wouldn't need a boyfriend to entertain her

No!

Come, I want to go home

Living without love...

my parents had taught me to hate love

I couldn't even bear the touch of Eric's hands

I couldn't bear the sight of other people making love

Not knowing pleasure I couldn't understand the pleasure of this girl

Look

Wait

Good evening

So guys, would you like to join us?

Another night maybe, we have to go now

Good night

- Here - Thank you

Here, type this up before 12, it's the Insurance's report of Mr...

Hi, Eric

Well...?

Get back to your desk

When employees waste time, the boss loses money

Go on, go on!

So, my little Carole, you still in love with me?

You know what I've heard? People say you missed me

Are you here just to talk rubbish?

What's this?

Are you scolding the boss's nephew now?

You can see I'm working

What a disappointment!

I'm planning our trip to Paradise and now I find a model employee

I'm a victim of middle class morality

See you soon

I'll be back

He's an asshole

Why don't you tell him that then?

And that was my life,

with boring parents, a weak boyfriend

and a tedious job

Mrs Frangois had dressed my mother,

so it was understood that Mrs Frangois would dress me

That's the family spirit for you

You look so much like your mother when she was young

By the way, this wedding with Mr. Eric,

is it soon?

Then, leaving Mrs. Frangois' place...

I saw him,

and it was love at first sight

Did you see the X-rays, doctor?

Yes, it's a miracle she has so little damage

Yes, it's incredible. And about the psychological damage?

Do you think she's normal? No apparent trauma?

Hard to say for now, she's not spoken yet

Hopefully, we'll soon know

- Are you here tomorrow? - I'm afraid not

I leave this afternoon

Have a good trip, Doctor. Thanks and see you soon

But what's this, miss? It's not wise to get up so soon

Be patient, you must take your time and rest

Here... Lie down

Try to sleep a little, you'll see, everything will be fine

My convalescence continued in the family home

And it was here for the first time

I felt the first symptoms of the shameful sickness

that would change my life

I had never thought about my body before

now I found myself thinking about nothing else

Its presence obsessed me

I wanted to touch myself all the time

All the time looking at myself

Surprised by this body which now gave me so much pleasure

Carole!

Carole, dear!

Can you come downstairs?

- Your fiancé's waiting - Let him come up, mom

It wouldn't be right for him to be in your bedroom

- I'll tell him to come back tomorrow - Mom...

You know Eric

And it would be good for me

Eric

Are you OK?

- I had to see you - It's nice to see you...

No, it's not nice...

I need... I want... I wish...

What?

But... here? Just like that?

I'm begging you. It's what you wanted when...

I was so ashamed of myself

to ask him like that

and I felt so sorry for him

A poor guy who lost his temper so miserably

At the same time, the desire was so strong in me

that I couldn't wait

It all happened so fast

Eric, I beg you

What if your mother comes in?

Eric...

No, no!

Are you crazy, or what?

Are you mad at me?

No, but

Suddenly, I was afraid and very ashamed

To provoke him, I said:

You think I'm a whore?

No

No, a neurotic, hysterical...

A nymphomaniac

That's it. You're a nymphomaniac

He looked so devastated that I started laughing

It was nerves... Nymphomaniac!

I didn't even know what it meant, maybe he didn't know either

This first contact with love had not really satisfied me

I had felt a pleasure unknown to me so far, very violent

But I wanted more

I dared not look at Eric anymore

I was embarrassed by him

And I also suspected he was not up to it

You're crying, my darling. What is it?

Did you argue with Eric?

Tell me

- No, mom, no - Tell me, my child

Don't be afraid

It'll stay between us, I won't tell your father

What's it about?

You don't want to answer me?

I'm worried

Since your accident, you're not the same

Before you trusted me...

talked to me

My poor mother,

I couldn't tell her that since my accident

I was seized by a growing madness for sex

She'd never understand

She, who only knew the desire that my father aroused in her

What did she know about love? Nothing?

She'd never been unfaithful to her husband

I couldn't talk to my mother, or to Eric

Why did I confide in Gina?

Because this old schoolfriend

to my teenage eyes had seemed experienced and worldly wise

So, I talked, I told her everything

She seemed to find it all normal

I pressed on...

Before this I had no idea what it meant to feel sexy

A bit of a late developer, then?

It's terrible...

but now I have to resist or I'd always be having sex

- I know it's wrong - No!

Sex is good

But to want it all the time?

Listen, between frigidity and nymphomania...

What?

Of those two words, choose the best

And nymphomaniac is rarer

You think I'm a

A nymphomaniac?

So what?

So what?

Gina was the second to call me a nymphomaniac

I was starting to believe it

Also, my body became increasingly demanding

Though I tried to be careful, the scandal had to explode someday

The next day rolled on, as boring as any other day

But I was afraid

That afternoon, my flesh tingied and urged me on

Would I have the strength to keep resisting?

There, another day over

One more, one less

Here, take these letters for the boss to sign

Shall I come round tonight, honey?

I'm sorry

No, no, please stay

I know you've the hots for me, that's normal

But I've got three already tonight

Oh... really?

With your friend Sylvie?

And me too?

Both of you at the same time?

Sounds like rape

Indeed

OK

Since you bring the girls, I'll bring the champagne

See you later

So, my little Carole? Always young, pretty,

and virginal?

What's up?

You don't feel well?

Carole's not here?

No, she's in the boss's office

Why are you smiling? That's not unusual

Of course

But she's been there half an hour

Does the boss's nephew need so long to sign three letters?

- The boss isn't in there? - No, he left for two days in Paris

Mr. Olivier is here instead

Come on Eric!

Mr. Olivier is signing the mail by proxy

At least try to understand

Understand what?

That my daughter's a whore?

Great! A nympho, a Jezebel!

My God, that this should happen to me!

Let her speak, maybe she has an excuse

There is no excuse for such behavior

She has to go

You don't mean that...

- But where will she go? - I don't care

She was my daughter, she betrayed me, I disown her

I beg you, Bertrand

God asks us to forgive those who offend us

If you want to go with her, please do

Don't get mad, mom

Father's right. I can't stay here

But where can you go and how will you live?

I'm not ashamed to share my remorse with you.

Remorse is not a substitute for forgiveness

She has two days to leave this house

It all continued according to a rigorous provincial logic

Eric forgave Olivier to keep his job

and to avoid the ridicule of my scandalous behavior

Soon, the news spread across the city

I was pointed out as that infamous whore

Mr. Dirgrand, my ex-boss,

was a good man and deplored his nephew's behavior

But how to repair the irreparable?

After all, I was adult

To avoid my shame,

he proposed to my father I should work in Paris for his sister

As she would look after me my mother agreed to let me go

So one day, I left Menton,

tormented by the remorse of having hurt my mother

I don't have the time

Yes?

Wait a second

- Miss Carole is here, ma'am - Show her in

I'm sorry, honey, I'll call you later

Okay, We

- Good morning, miss - Good morning, ma'am

Did you have a good trip?

Excellent, thank you

My brother explained it all

Forget about Olivier

His appalling behavior is even worse than his stupidity

I know you speak English, and have a Bachelor of Arts degree

What do you know about modern art? Never mind

My clients generally are so ignorant that with a little reading you'll soon

have them believe you know more than them

Starting tomorrow, you'll be in charge of the store with my clerk

She will fill you in

But listen to her, because in eight days you'll be alone

Until I find something better, you can stay here

It's OK?

It's very nice. I don't know how to thank you

Get used to not thanking anyone, then you'll avoid many disappointments

- You seem confused - Me? No

What will you do tonight?

I don't know

Muriel had done well

She knew that to seduce me

she just had to give me the best night of my life

The sweetness of her words got me drunk as much as the wine

Cheers

Cheers

I felt so good with her...

- Good evening, Carole - Good evening, ma'am

I was wrong to believe in the sincerity of Muriel's love

Soon I would be the victim of her Machiavellianism

You didn't tell me you had a new clerk?

- She's very pretty, right? - Not bad at all

Thanks

Where did you find her?

My boring brother sent her to me

- The one from Menton? - The very same

Don't overlook the riches of the countryside

And she's...?

I thought you came to talk business

Yes, but tell me about her

Who is she? What's she like?

She's a little shop girl who obeys her lady boss

A little confused, a little romantic

The ideal mixture for a rich Roman merchant visiting Paris

If you can arrange a meeting, I'll buy half your store

Deal

At dinner tomorrow night

There's no better occasion to sign a bill of sale

Tired of this depravity, I was wandering the streets of Paris

I couldn't take any more

I was lonely, tired, sick, nymphomaniac

I said quietly to myself : I'm a nymphomaniac

I'm a nymphomaniac

Sometimes just passing a man in the street

was enough to feel desire surge through my body

What I dreaded was that any man could arouse this desire in me

Sick? Yes, I was really sick

But a disease can be cured, some cancers can be cured

Why not nymphomania?

- This is the first time you've come here? - Yes, doctor, but it's not for me

It's for a friend?

Tell me...

I was so embarrassed I couldn't talk about myself

So I invented the character of another girl

who resembled me physically and morally

It allowed me to tell her all my adventures since the accident

She understood everything, even what I tried to hide

You seem very upset about your friend

You must send her to me

Is it serious? She's a nymphomaniac, right?

Nymphomaniac...

What does it mean?

I don't know, I...

Don't ever use medical terms when you don't know what they mean

Nymphomania...

- It's a serious illness - Yes and no

It takes a few treatments, long and complicated

Both hormonal and psychiatric

But it can be cured

Perhaps your friend suffers only from a slight trauma

that causes a quite common sexual disorder

Anyway miss,

tell your friend that not all tumors are cancerous

There are many less malign and benign

It was the kind of comfort that was offered to those facing death

But I was certain I knew the exact origin of my probiem

Tell your friend to come to me, in total confidence

She need not be ashamed

And until I examine her carefully, I can't say anything about her case

Next please

Muriel had praised Bruno's good education

And I trusted her totally

He was wonderfully indiscrete

He spoke fluently

He was fun, intelligent, gallant. But finally...

I don't think I've had a finer evening

He and Muriel made a very pretty couple

And I wondered if they had been iovers

Then I thought my question was quite naive

And suddenly, with this man and this woman,

I felt a desire so violent...

that I wanted to scream. But I restrained myself

I felt ashamed by this disease that seized me

Muriel seemed to have sensed my bewilderment

I'm sorry

It's nothing

I didn't know your vampiric tastes

Charming

You look so good together

If only Carole was more relaxed

It went very quickly from bad to worse

They undressed and I let them play with me

Unable to resist,

torn between my shame and the desire growing inside me

Unfortunately, desire was the strongest

I was so weak

And they played it so well

I was a prisoner of their desires and of mine

And I was left even more alone and bewildered

It was no use seeing a doctor again just to confirm my dark forebodings

No

Medicine could do nothing for me

There remained one last resort: Religion

So far, all the principles that my parents had instilled in me

had just made things worse

For the first time, I thought belief in God could be my hope for salvation

Good morning, are you looking for someone?

No, I...

Church doors are often hard to open, but come in

After you

What's wrong?

Are you unwell?

Rest a moment

Would you prefer me to stay?

Or should I go?

I can go and see to my flock

Of course

Thank you

So, my child...

Good morning, ma'am

You're late, Carole

It's a fault I can't bear in my employees

But now you're in Paris maybe you're used to going to bed late

To humiliate me, she pretended not to remember our night

Anyway, no matter

Your private life doesn't interest me

But I never want to arrive here before you do

Go and fill the order form for Mr. Garrucci,

- the Italian man who... - Of course, ma'am

Perfect, I like it when my employees remember things

When you're done, you can go home

I'm closing the shop for a month

Muriel was on a business trip to Japan

She offered me a month's vacation

Not out of generosity,

but to prove that I could only be happy living under her control

For a change of scenery,

I decided to take a few days holiday on the Atlantic coast,

which I'd not visited before

Using the car Muriel had loaned me I set off there on a fine morning

I'm going to Arcachon. Is it on your way?

- Yes, I'm even going further - That's great

- Can I get in? - Sure

Thanks

What's wrong?

Are you crazy?

Get off me! Let me go...

Get off me!

Get off me!!

After that I was not the same

I knew my illness was all-powerful

Why fight against the impossible?

The first time it was chance that brought you here

But today?

Do you know where you're going if you don't know who you are?

What is it?

You need my help?

The priest knew some confessions needed God's natural surroundings

rather than the confessional

And I immediately trusted him

To break free of my anxieties, I told my story in detail

How I had lived in Menton,

under what circumstances I had left,

what I had become

Nothing seemed to shock him

Perhaps you consider this normal

But who says that God believes that too?

God always forgives those who suffer the sins they commit

And if I say that sometimes I took pleasure in it?

A fleeting pleasure that you then paid for with much suffering, right?

It hurts so much, Father

The body, the soul, everything in me is rotten

No. You're aware of this evil inside you

What you will need now is the will to fight it

- I feel so weak - God tests you

- He leaves me when I need him... - Don't sin against hope!

To begin with, did you go to see a doctor?

Yes

Well... no

I am sure that a sick body prevents true healing of the soul:

"Mens sana in corpore sano"

You must be active instead of withdrawing into yourself

and your little problems

Yes, your little problems, your very little problems,

compared with the major problems God deals with

What if you had a deadly disease?

- I'd rather... - No, do not blaspheme

He hears you

He is everywhere

Even here

- It only has three leaves - Four

Don't you see the fourth?

It's here...

as is God

Enough talk about him

Think about him, it will be just fine

I think about him but...

Think less of yourself and more of others

I have no-one

One day someone will come for sure

Everything will be better for you

Meanwhile, why not spend your time more wisely

Write a book...

I don't know...

Dedicate yourself to something

Following his advice, I registered at the University of Paris

I started a course in philosophy

I took it very seriously

Unfortunately, my illness was stronger than my will

I went crazy again

Thinking of the evil that tormented me

- Saturday, we go to Deauville - OK

No, no!

It's not my fault!

Yes, take a whip and beat me!

It feels so good

No!

I don't want to see my father again

If he learns who I am...

Yes. Yes, Muriel...

Slowly...

Like... Like that...

You see, father...

Your sermons were useless

However, I prayed, I prayed...

Oh God!

God! Help me!

Save me!

Relax a bit now

You're safe

I'm here

I won't leave you

That's it. Try to stay awake

Too much sleep has drained you. Try looking around

Come on!

Open your eyes

Light will be good for you

Can you save her?

Youth doesn't accept death so easily

To save a body, isn't everything, right?

It's a good thing but you're right, it's not enough

Let us join our efforts if we want her to...

But medicine can do nothing against some disorders of the mind

You know her, father. Tell me about her

Help me to help her

- In her delirium, I heard... - It is indeed a rather special case

Very sad

This girl has...

Don't leave me alone. Alone... alone with him!

I'm lost...

Yes, I'm lost

She says she's a nymphomaniac

As if she's proud to claim this shameful illness

But what does she know?

- A reputable doctor diagnosed... - I think not

But most serious in her case is that she believes she is a nymphomaniac

I think, because of a certain sexual disorder,

she acts like a real nymphomaniac

Is that a psychiatric issue?

More psychosomatic

In her case the treatment could be long and delicate,

With an uncertain outcome

But we must save her

It seems you've taken her case to heart

- I'm a doctor... - Don't misunderstand me

On the contrary, it's a tribute to you as a doctor and a man

- No! No! - Please, relax!

You can do it

You can and you must do what I could not do

She's a lonely girl who can expect nothing from her family

She can't live with me. I'm not married but...

Doctor... I was looking for you

She'd another crisis so I gave her a painkiller

Very good

What else?

Her parents...

The father sent a telegram, he's not coming to get her

What do we do?

We can't discharge her in the state she's in

Very well, I'll take her

But...

- You have something to say? - No, just you're...

- Wrong? - No, you're right

Sorry

I'm afraid that all this...

And I have no fear at all now

Ca role is saved

How I envy your faith in God

In God and in love too

God also needs love

As do I and you and her, all of us need it

Michel kept his word

He brought me to his home

Did everything to make me feel comfortable

I'd never felt so at home in my parents' house

I was just concerned as to how I could ever repay him

and not disappoint him by succumbing again to this disease

We had long conversations about it

What a relief to bare my soul to him

To the doctor as well as to the man

He knew how to listen

He didn't need to say anything

I felt he understood everything, without judging me

He interrupted me only at the end

When I 'd finished

That's it. Now you know everything

I'm an incurable nymphomaniac

You're not a nymphomaniac

I've seen a few

Those poor girls would never have spoken as you did

But maybe, any moment, it will happen

and I'll suddenly want to...

No, Carole

And to be certain...

I'll have you examined very thoroughly

Very thoroughly was right

Michel took me to see many medical specialists

I was examined, analyzed, tested,

interviewed and all kinds of things

No, no

Does it hurt here?

How about here?

Does it hurt?

How about here?

All seems correct

Longer and more painful was the psychiatric analysis

My interviewer showed no mercy or decency

The first time, I didn't answer his questions

But Michel persuaded me

You must answer him, Carole

I can't, his questions are so intimate

and it hurts me to remember those things

But you must

Your cure depends on it

Try to remember

This man...

- You led him on - No!

I didn't want to go there. I felt so ashamed

But my desire was stronger and I couldn't fight it

Go on

I can't do this anymore, I can't remember

You must!

It's the only way

Try again

These sessions exhausted me

Fortunately, he was there

And I told myself that all I did, all I suffered, it was for him

I couldn't have done it alone, but with him...

For you, for you, Michel

Suddenly, I felt the desire to see him, to press my body against him

Was my sickness returning?

Or was an irresistible force drawing me to Michel, and...

Get dressed

Get in

No, you drive

Start the car

Start it!

I was shocked

For the first time Michel had misunderstood my intentions

Because I did know, I had finally understood

The force that had impelled me to enter his room tonight

had nothing to do with the unhealthy desires,

sexual and purely physical,

that had thrown me into the arms of men in the past

The proof? That I no longer felt shame

And I could look him straight in the eye

It was he who looked away from me

That was when he realized I was on the way to being cured

And that's why I guard a memory of that night and this car ride,

a memory at once terrible and wonderful

Some days later...

Was it chance or an unconscious desire of mine?

Whatever it was, my steps took me to a well-known neighborhood

And Muriel...

Carole!

Carole!

Honey!

What a pleasant surprise!

- Why did you leave me? - It was actually you who...

Let's not argue about it

Come on

Are you scared?

I learned about your stupid accident

Thank God, you look great

You look like a girl in love

Tell me?

Handsome, young, intelligent?

He must be, if you love him

And physically... is everything okay?

I see. A few issues

But it's normal, above all, with your special moods

Of course that's between us

We're friends, Carole

Did you know that Bruno is coming to Paris?

He'd love to see you again

Me too

I'm having a small party at home tomorrow night, if you feel...

If your body feels like it, Carole

Of course you can bring your man along

Counting on you, Carole!

It was a mistake to have seen Muriel

I felt uncomfortable facing Michel

Should I speak or stay silent?

I needed to confess to the priest

As if I was foreseeing a danger or a new trap

I looked in vain for him

But I found another advisor and realized where my duty lay

I had to tell Michel everything

To him and to him alone

That's what I did right away

His reaction surprised me a little

You did well to tell me

I knew you were hiding something from me

I'm sorry

You know what to do?

Not go there

- The opposite - But...

What and who are you afraid of?

Bruno, Muriel or yourself?

Listen, Carole,

if l ask you to go to that party it's because I trust you

What ifl let myself be dragged in as before?

No, Carole

You're not the same as before

I realized then that he was right

He was giving me one final test

And I had to act honestly, given my love for him,

and show myself worthy of his trust

I got ready, filled with overwhelming anxiety

Well, look who's here

Fancy that!

I won the bet, I was sure she couldn't resist the temptation

My sweet...

What a joy to see you

You can't imagine my pleasure seeing you again

If your body wants it...

Here, you won't feel lonely with these two