Original subtitles

There are laws of the universe we're yet to understand.

Invisible forces that govern our existence

and can upset the natural order of things.

We are voyagers in a cosmos of incomprehensible secrets.

Simply looking at the sky makes us feel dizzy,

incredibly tiny,

a drop in the ocean,

a speck of dust on a stone...

Infinitesimal.

That is what we are.

Some tend to forget that.

Others try hard not to think about it.

We all lower our eyes and get on with it.

We strive to believe we have a meaning,

a goal.

We tell ourselves stories

and we call that...

a life.

MAY 2nd

Even so, whatever we do,

our lives never resemble the stories we tell ourselves.

They resist,

they escape us.

We shouldn't regret it.

There's so little we decide.

Deep down, our lives can do without us.

Morning!

- Hi, Xavier. - Hi, boss.

Did Thierry call?

What?

Did Thierry call you yet?

Yes, we'll talk tomorrow.

Xavier, your helmet!

I'm finishing up.

Put it on anyway.

We need to speed up.

It's our biggest project.

Our only project.

I'd like them to pay us.

Yes, but don't worry.

Because, right now, cash

is pretty tight.

Yes.

Right then...

And call the architect.

Will do.

Even with all we need to be happy,

there's still something missing.

Happiness is a perfume

that captivates us before we get used to it.

What then?

Keep getting on with it?

A new goal? A new story?

- Hi, Daddy. - Hello, darling.

Can it really go on like that?

We didn't mention...

the ventilation.

No, do your homework.

It's finished.

It's crazy, we can't even open a window.

That's not what I said.

No, you don't get it.

I'm busy. Do your homework now, sweetie.

I've done it.

You haven't.

I have.

I already know that.

Shit!

I'm going...

Bring up some wine.

- I want to see Bubble! - Come back.

Hey!

Go on.

Not you, Tofu.

No!

Dad, when can we get new fish?

We can't, darling. It's tricky with Tofu.

Bubble is all alone.

He likes it that way.

Mia, pass me those pliers on the bench.

I'll be back, Bubble.

Thanks.

Dad?

What is it?

The spider...

What spider?

Kill it!

No, I won't kill it.

Please...

Spiders are useful, you know.

They eat mosquitoes.

Kill it anyway.

It won't eat you.

It won't eat you...

because I will first.

Not the monster...

I'm going to eat you!

Stop it!

Come on.

Go back up.

The mice have gone.

- Daddy said no, Mia. - A tortoise then?

A tortoise is fine.

The cat wouldn't eat it.

I'd take care of it.

Please.

So we'd leave Friday night?

Yeah.

We can't...

Mia's dance gala is on Saturday.

I don't want to go.

- Why not? - I'm not a good dancer.

What? Who said that?

The big girls say we're rubbish,

can't dance,

and whisper too loudly.

You shouldn't talk in class.

They're jealous, Mia.

You know what?

Dance however you like, you dance very well.

Come and show me.

Music!

Fancy entrechat!

See? We can dance as we like!

MAY 5th

Seen my phone?

No.

I'm late.

Have a nice day, darling.

It was due within 30 days, Mr Declève.

It's been two months now.

It's the same for us.

That's it.

I'm counting on you.

Thank you.

Goodbye.

You with us, Paul?

Yes.

I've finished.

Want some yoghurt?

No.

Rehearsed your poem?

Yes.

Pyjamas, teeth, hands...

I won't be long.

Dad, can we do a riddle after?

Not tonight, sweetie.

Tomorrow.

You said that yesterday.

Yes, but it's late.

You could make an effort.

A story.

Of course, the princess built her castle on a shooting star!

That's impossible.

- Impossible. - It's not!

It is, Mia, because a shooting star

is a rock the size of a speck of dust.

Well, in the story, it's a rock big enough for a castle.

Even our princess couldn't do that. And she's very tired now.

- She isn't. - She is.

She's exhausted.

No...

Bedtime, sweetie.

Good night.

Daddy!

No, Mia!

- Come here! - Not tonight.

Please!

You're a pain.

My back hurts.

Come on!

And into bed!

Okay? Good night.

Good night.

- Go to sleep. - Yes.

We keep on imagining what doesn't exist,

the worst and the best.

That's our strength and our curse.

Dreaming of elsewhere,

of changing everything,

of starting anew maybe, as long as something happens.

And something always happens.

Necessarily, things occur.

MAY 7th

I don't get it...

Something's wrong. Look.

Maybe you lost weight.

Don't be stupid. I'm shorter.

Speak to me nicely, alright?

Look, Elise.

I don't know, maybe you're less bulky.

Breathe in.

And again.

That's fine. Let's measure you.

Just here.

1.76 metres.

Are you joking?

You can get dressed.

No, that's impossible, I've never been that short.

I've been 1.80 metres since I was 18.

I've always been that tall.

How much do you weigh?

74 kilos.

74 kilos for your height is fine.

Sleeping well?

Yes.

- Eating well? - Yes.

- Any erectile dysfunction? - No.

You're fine then.

When did you last measure yourself?

I don't know, 15 years ago.

We all get shorter with age, it's normal.

By 4 centimetres?

Yes?

Well? What did he say?

He said I'm fine.

See, I told you not to worry.

Come on, it's bedtime.

No, I'm not tired.

Shall I lift you by your feet?

Now go to sleep!

That's it.

Good night.

You scared me.

What are you doing? It's 3 a.m.

I can't sleep.

- Come to bed. - Yeah.

MAY 20th

Elise?

In terms of metabolism,

we didn't detect anything.

Your tests and bone X-rays are normal.

The CT scan came back fine, the brain MRI too.

You're 1.65 metres tall and you weigh 63 kilos.

You've lost 15 centimetres,

and 10 kilos in a few weeks.

Around 17% of your total body mass.

Have you been exposed to any toxic chemicals?

No.

Fertiliser?

No.

Solvents?

No...

Solvents are used in the workshop.

True, but I'm not exposed to them.

Has anything unusual happened to you?

A traumatic event? An emotional shock?

No.

Have you had cases like this in the past?

No.

So what is it?

At this stage, I have no explanation.

Except for this constant proportional involution.

Which means?

It's as if...

you were in the process of...

shrinking.

Your anatomy and physiology are unchanged.

Your proportions are the same.

Okay.

We haven't noted a change or dysfunction of your genetic code,

or any alteration in your DNA.

We'll run additional tests.

We won't rush anything.

We'll see how it evolves.

When things happen,

it's life choosing them.

Blindly, brutally.

Then we regret the past, the time we wanted to change.

We look away, we flee,

we act as if nothing had happened,

even though we know

nothing will be like before.

You don't want to dance?

When will you get the results?

I don't really remember. Twice now, I think.

Dad, we're home.

Mia, set the table, please.

How are you feeling?

I don't know.

The hospital called again.

What do I tell them?

Nothing.

Let's eat.

Look at this, Tofu.

Our only solution is to sell the house.

My parents can have Mia until we get sorted out.

A new place could do you good.

You never know.

Or we go elsewhere. Where do you want to go?

Where?

Where do you want to go?

To a circus!

Out you go.

JUNE 30th

Here's the house.

Right by the water's edge!

I'll show you around.

After you.

This is the living room,

with its sea-view patio.

Lovely position.

- The open-plan kitchen. - Nice stone.

- Does the chimney work? - Yes, it works.

The appliances stay?

Okay, great.

Next, the master bedroom,

and its bathroom.

Nice and big.

If I may ask, why are they selling?

The husband went away.

His wife doesn't want to keep it. Too many memories.

The other bedroom?

Follow me.

They could've seen me!

What are you doing?

I don't exist anymore?

We could've talked about selling the house.

- We did. - We didn't!

You gave me no choice, you'd already decided.

It's my house too.

My house.

I built this house.

We can't pay for it now.

You understand?

What do I do? You reject everything.

You refuse to get treatment.

Elise, you treat the sick.

I'm not sick.

Stop, Paul.

Look at me.

Look, Elise.

I'm still alive!

Alive!

I'm alive.

I don't want to end up like a lab rat.

- I'm not sick. - Stop, Paul.

- Stop. - Hold on...

Maybe I'm not the only one. Who knows?

Stop!

I'm sorry, forgive me.

I'm not sick!

I'm not sick.

JULY 5th

I like this place.

Very nice house.

Well decorated.

A great view too.

Nice position.

Is it yours?

Is it yours?

You have taste.

A fitted kitchen...

A bedroom?

Someone's sleeping.

My doll.

We wake her?

If you want.

Mia,

put the music on.

What is it, Mia?

Want to play something else?

The monster!

The monster!

No, Mia, not the monster.

Stop, Mia!

It's alright.

Everything's fine, sweetie.

Sorry, Dad.

JULY 10th

Take your shoes off, Mia.

Paul, we're home.

Where are you?

Mum, where's Dad?

Dad?

Paul!

Elise!

Paul?

Yes! Elise!

I'm here!

Paul?

Here, Elise!

I'm down here!

Elise, I'm here!

Elise! I'm here!

I'm here, Elise!

Come here.

Come on!

Come on!

Come on, bastard!

Elise! I'm down here!

Did you do this?

I don't believe it!

Why did you do it?

Elise!

- What is it, Mum? - Nothing.

I'm here!

I'm here!

I'm here!

I'm here!

We have to learn to live again.

Everything around us changes aspect and looks at us with pity.

The familiar things, the happy memories

become painful.

We feel more alone than ever.

Dad!

Where are you?

Dad!

- Come on, Mia. - I want to stay.

I'll find Dad.

Elise!

Help!

We can't just go.

We have to find Dad.

Calm down.

Calm down, sweetie.

No, leave me alone.

I'm worried too.

Leave me.

Come on now.

It won't end here.

We want to believe,

and the only alternative to submission is action.

JULY 15th

What about the toys?

Just take the dolls.

And Mia's things from the wardrobe, please.

Elise!

- What about Paul's things? - I don't know.

We'll see later.

Elise!

Honey!

I'm here!

Here!

Elise!

The basement can wait.

Yes, here! Down here!

Alright, let's go.

I can't face staying longer.

We ask ourselves, "Is this my life now?

A battle lost in advance?

An end that never comes?"

We wanted to live, but we survive.

We no longer act, but react,

like animals,

to thirst, to hunger,

to danger.

So if we are animals, we may as well stop thinking.

But the need to be comforted remains.

I'm the one it wants.

Don't look at it.

I'll deal with it.

Come on.

Gotcha!

Come on!

Yes.

Yes, I miss her.

You miss Mia too?

Maybe you'll see her again.

Tell her I love her.

That I'm alive.

You'll tell her?

I'm alive, okay.

I'm alive.

Am I alive?

JULY 20th

Yes, the green door.

Where now?

I see it.

Yes, it's still here.

Yes, it's alive.

Shall I take it?

AUGUST 2nd

With only the end left, the end still remains.

We can make it beautiful.

One last time, we can raise our head.

Come on!

Looking death in the eye is an opportunity.

It restores the world's original beauty,

which we no longer saw.

They say living means learning to die.

Maybe we need to die to learn how to live.

AUGUST 7th

I had to come all this way to find myself.

To leave my cage.

To free myself of fear.

I am not afraid now.

I am reconciled.

Our life is brief,

a drop in the ocean, a speck of dust on a stone...

Infinitesimal,

yet magnificent.

There you go, Mia.

I'd have liked to tell you all that,

to save you the time I lost.

In our still echoing laughter,

in our moments of wonder

in this sky that we gazed at so often together.

I don't know where I am, Mia...

But I'm here.

THE SHRINKING MAN

Subtitles by Ian Burley & Sophia Till

Subtitling: TransPerfect Media France