All language subtitles for Een vrouw tussen hond en wolf (1979) EN

An André Delvaux film

Woman in a Twilight Garden

Antwerp, 1939

England and France
are at war with Germany

Belgium is neutral

This is where we're going to live.

Where shall we put this family heirloom?
- There, in the lounge.

And this in the children's room ?
- You and your jokes.

And the piano in the loft ?

Our people have always been poor.

We've fought for our own language,
universities, political parties, judges.

God, Adriaan, God.

Flanders, father, Flanders.
- Isn't it the same thing?

Yes, but not for everyone.

Adriaan ? Where does the chandelier go ?

Just above the piano.

How did that mirror end up there ?

Adriaan, you're so bitter.
- Bitter ?

Up to now,
this country has been hostile to us.

The leaders, the bosses, the academics.
The police, the Church too.

No, not all of the Church.
- The bishops.

They're not all the same.

The souls of the people, Adriaan.
That's the important thing.

The soul.

To be true to your ideals
is to be true to God.

To love your people is to love God.
That's the way it is, Adriaan.

You're for and you're against.

You never know with the Church.

These are hard times, Adriaan.
- Dangerous, father.

The war is raging on our borders,
in France, in Germany.

Sacrifices will have to be made,
sooner or later.

We'll have to act.

You shouldn't have given up
your studies.

You should have got your degree.

Now is not the time to study.

We should whitewash it in April
to protect against parasites.

And run away together.

Lieve.

And Adriaan.

One, two, three...

They shall never tame him
The proud Flemish Lion

Though they threaten his freedom
With fetters and with cries

They shall never tame him
While still one Fleming lives

While still the lion can claw
While still he has his teeth

They shall never tame him
While still one Fleming lives

While still the lion can claw
While still he has his teeth

While still the lion can claw
While still he has his teeth

Cheers.

Cheers.
- Careful, Father.

I see. Cheers, Father.

Shut up.

Here's to soup soup soup
Here's to stew stew stew

To molasses for the lasses
Saveloys for the boys

Hooray hooray hooray
Hooray hooray hooray

Here's to soup soup soup
Here's to stew stew stew

Mélanie had a dirty knee
She had to wash it thoroughly

In the Great War, with a German.

A German. An Englishman.
And a Frenchman.

In aline in front of the church.
They counted to three and shot them.

Really. Dead.

That's enough, you two. Stop it.

They're shooting.

They're flying to England.
- I hope nothing happens to them.

There are more. Over there, look.

Why are they shooting at our planes ?
- We're neutral.

What a waste. They can't even shoot
straight. Who's going to pay for this ?

Neutral. Don't make me laugh.

It's war. The Germans are coming.
Everyone get in your cellars.

Come on, inside.

"Present yourself immediately
at Roeselare or Ypres.

With enough provisions
for two days and a blanket."

We ask the population
fo remain strong, proud and calm

during this difficult time.

Called up, father.

Coming back, father, that's
the main thing. Surviving the war.

Do you have enough money ?

Are you sure ?

I might lose them.

Can't I come with you to the station ?

No.

Goodbye.

Will you be away for long ?
- I hope not.

Maybe it won't be so bad.

August 1940. German troops
have invaded Western Europe

Belgium is occupied

Strange. Down there, the heat of
the South didn't bother me at all.

There was a certain purity of air
that lightened one's spirits.

France.

It's the crickets I miss the most.

We heard them every day for three
months. Morning, noon and night.

We slept with blankets because
the nights are cold in Provence.

And we listened to the crickets.

We thought of home.

The countryside, the church bells.
Until we fell asleep.

Beautiful, but sad. That was our motto.

But we didn't like the South.
We're a northern people.

Our poets know it.

We should listen to them
and choose our friends carefully.

The South is our natural enemy.
Our historical enemy.

And if a voice calls me,
1 won't hesitate for a second

for it's the voice of my conscience,
the voice of History.

We are only worth
what we are prepared to sacrifice.

And what do the lives of the few matter
in the eternal scheme of things ?

If 1 go, I go for my country. For you.

My life is your life.

What are you talking about ? Come here.

It's not the first time
you've put those boots on.

It's going to be...

impossible, all that wind,
if the storm doesn't die down.

When I was little, I used to hide under
the blankets when there was a storm.

Sometimes I'd tremble.

"That's the devil coming to get you,”
my mother would say.

"You've been naughty. Pray, Lieve.”

Tomorrow I'll go to the cabinet maker.
- I'll handle it.

If he can't do it, I'll ask your father.

When I get back.

I'm going to Germany. It's decided.

It's your life.

You think it's easy to leave
when you want to stay ?

Stay, then.

I know. "Listen to no one.
Accept no arguments.

Only listen to your conscience.”
Open this jar for me.

How many times have I heard that ?
Why must you be the first to leave ?

Nobody has asked you to.
It's as if you want to do it.

It won't be for long. It's a little war.
It's already won.

If you come back...
If you send me news...

And the piano, are you giving itup ?

Money, ma'am.
From Germany.

I need your signature, please.
- Here ?

And... there's no letter ?

No, ma'am. But you have money.
Count yourself lucky.

Do you want this as well ?
- Yes.

I didn't sleep a wink last night
with those damn lorries.

Because of the depot ?

Yes, of course.

They've been emptying the depot
for a year. It must have been very full.

Your coupons.

He never forgets.

But we all know
what you've got back there.

What do you mean ?

You know very well, comrade.
- There's nothing in there.

Right. Well then, goodbye and thanks.

I kept you a nice piece.

Hello, Papa.
- Hello. Now what do you say ?

Hello, ma'am.
- Hello. Is the younger one nine ?

Ten, ma'am.
- Ten already ?

Can we play outside, Papa ?
- Yes, but don't stay out too late.

My best piece. Twenty francs.

Any news of Adriaan ?
- He's well, thank you.

No, no.

If you need anything else...

I'm getting by. Goodbye.
- Goodbye.

Here are the coupons. 175 grams.

"I know you'll think
I don't write enough.

And it's true, but there's a reason.

But please don't think
I've forgotten you.

I miss you very much.
I also miss my piano.

I have no time for music here.”

I bring greetings.
- Thank you. From Mother ?

From everyone. From Father,
Aunt Anna, your father-in-law.

You're here for the whole family ?

The whole village.

Did they ask you to ?
- What ?

Sorry, I didn't mean to say that.
What do they think about it ?

About the war ?

About...

My child, what do people think ?

Coffee ?
- Real coffee ?

Barley. Or a beer ?

No, I'd prefer something stronger.
A double measure in a large glass.

I used to have to drink beer
for appearances' sake,

but now I'm old enough
to drink what I like.

Will you join me ?

"We must be strong.

In just a few months
it will all be over.

If you're short of food,
go to the house, Father will help you.

Or Uncle Georges, he knows people
in the village. He'll help you.

It's been very cold here
for the last few nights.

Almost as cold as the North Pole,
according to a Norwegian comrade.

He's exaggerating, of course.

We must have faith. In each other.

And in the future.”

1 bring word from Adriaan.

How are things ?

Good, ma'am.

He is our leader.

We all think a lot of him.

He sacrifices everything for us,
for the group.

That's him. Have a seat.

Can I help you with something ?

Adriaan wants me to help you.

Can I do some shopping for you ?

No, thank you.

Are you hungry ?

No, ma'am. Don't trouble yourself.

When do you leave ?

The day after tomorrow.

I forgot the letter.

Do you want me
to take him anything from you ?

1 will write to him.

Tell him I'm well
and all is well at home.

Tell him all is well.
- Yes, ma'am.

Thank you.

Not at all. It's a pleasure.

Ma'am.

Yes ?

Adriaan talks about you a lot.

Truly ?

Yes.

Truly.

Truly.

Hold it. It's curfew. Do you know
what time it is ? Your address ?

I know her, she lives nearby.
Her husband has gone to war.

Go home, madam.
You mustn't stay out so late.

Open the door. Quickly.

Quickly.

We have nothing to fear.
Go away, please.

We'll never find him now.

The cellar.

I don't know you.
I never saw you.

Good morning.

I didn't hear you come down.

Sir, please leave right now.

Right now ? Half naked ?

Take this.
Stay in the cellar and wait there.

My name is Francois
and I will leave this evening. Truly.

Here's something to eat.

Rhubarb jam. Homemade, I'll wager.

When are you leaving ?

10 at the latest.

After curfew, it's too dangerous.

They come in uninvited.
They force the door.

Take this, the nights are cold.

Thanks. Is there a wall
at the end of the garden ?

Can't you go now ?

No, not in daylight.

I have coupons.
Enough for several weeks.

Take them. I don't eat much.
Take them.

Coupons for soap,
coal, shoes, clothes,

fresh meat and cured meat.

Just one day. No more.
- And tomorrow ?

Tomorrow, you leave. I didn't want this.
And I haven't told anyone.

Yes, I know.

They often come early in the morning.

At around 5.
A car, two or three Gestapo.

Sometimes a second car with soldiers.
- Stop it.

Tell them I forced you.

It wouldn't be a lie.

But try to win me some time
when you let them in.

What are you planning to do ?
Shoot them ?

Run.

You must be lonely.

I have a husband.

Yes. His name is Adriaan.

He's bigger than me.

He's broader.
- Shirt size, 16, shoe size...

I 8.

He went east.

You know nothing.

He's their leader.

He inspires young people,
gives his leave to a nostalgic comrade.

Who wants to go home.
- Shut up.

Is that what you call a hero ?
It's a funny kind of hero.

Making attacks at night like terrorists.

It's the victims who pay.

You're insulting an officer.

Show-off.
- An officer of the Resistance.

Show-off.

Should I kneel ?

Yes.

Who is Loesje ?
Just who is that cutie ?

Loesje is the girlfriend
Of the drummer in the band

Look, there's Loesje
You are quite a beauty

Blonde, Germanic
And on the wrong side

On the wrong side, maybe,
but you aren't a traitor.

Are you sure ?

Come on, Loesje
Come on, little cutie

Quick. The cellar.

Turn the light on.
They won't see anything.

The guns are close-by,
behind the railway.

Take the bed, I'll take the chair.

No, I will stay seated here.

You can sleep here.

I'll take the chair.

Turn out the light.

I'm sick of the sight of them.

Tomato salad,
tomato soup, tomato purée.

Why do you never visit ?
- They don't visit me either.

You know how it is. In the village
they're afraid of the town.

And with all these checks...

We need to whitewash this tree.

The blackbirds are here
even though the pears aren't ripe.

Aunt Anna has plenty of pear trees.

I don't want to hear their comments.

We don't talk about Adriaan.
- That's a comment in itself.

What do you want ? They've also
arrested farmer Cobaert's eldest.

No. The blame for the poverty of war
lies with the Germans. No one else.

What about all this smuggling
and swindling ?

How much is a kilo of potatoes ?

Is there a problem ?
- Not at all, Uncle.

Perhaps a little something ?

No, it's much too hot.

Come and see us soon.
Aunt Anna insists.

"Tell Lieve to come and eat,”
she said.

Will you come too ?

Aunt Anna only invites chic folks.

A package for you.

No, it's from Antwerp,
not from over there.

Did you hear the shots,
the other night in Schorpioenstraat ?

What shots ?
- A good night.

Where have you been ?
Haven't you left yet ?

There were shots, the other night.
- Yes.

You happened not to be here ?
- No.

What is it ? What happened ?

I trapped my fingers in the door.

I wanted to shut the door
because of the draughts.

The draughts ?

Sir, the Resistance has caught a chill.

Why don't you escape ?
There was shooting again this morning.

They took away Piet Cobaert.

What will 1 do
when they want to nose around ?

Why this burden ?

Don't worry.
I'll be gone in three days.

But I'll be back.

I have some more coupons for you.
For meat and flour.

They say it's going
to be a hard winter.

There's still a bit of bread left.

And tomatoes, of course.

No, my family was never rich.

When my father was studying,
that was wartime too. 1914.

He cycled 15 kilometres every day

from Leuven to the college
in Thienen, and then back again.

When he became a teacher,
he was the intellectual of the family.

But that family mentality
of submission,

that wasn't for him.

My father wrote letters
to all the schools in the region.

He got his first response
from Brussels, the outskirts.

After a few years, he could write better
French than his former colleagues.

He sent me to a Flemish school,
then a French one.

Then a Flemish one again.

I can understand it,
but he was so demanding...

It was always :
"If you don't like it, you can leave.”

So I left.

I took a few books,
a shirt, and I left.

My family are natural born resistors.

My father rebelled
against his parents. As did I.

My father...
I can still hear him saying :

"As long as you don't turn socialist.”

Don't let the milk get cold.

It's not like in town. We make
everything ourselves, except the beer.

But it's not Uncle Georges' beer.

None of that dishwater.

Are you hungry ?

Not really.

You don't have to be polite.
Eat your fill.

Thanks, Aunt...

Mélanie.

Have you forgotten ?
"Mélanie, with the dirty knee".

Mélanie has a dirty knee...

Is it hard to get food in town ?

Yes, with the rationing, Uncle...

Uncle who ?

Come on, Lieveke.
- Come on.

It's Uncle Odile.

Mélanie, Odile
and do you remember her ?

Susanne.
- We did our Communion together.

It snowed in April and we had to put
newspaper under our clothes.

It rustled in the church
and all the children laughed.

And the priest was furious.

There's bread for everyone here.
Wheat. Homemade, Lieve.

And cheese. Homemade.

This is good land.

The best land in the area.

Before the war,
we were poor peasants.

They'd scrape at our butter
with a coin to taste it.

And spit it out again.
"Farm butter.”

Now they're on their knees
begging for a pint of buttermilk.

It's a good lesson.
But there's always food for you here.

You only have to come. All right ?

Yes, Uncle.
The bread is delicious. And the lard.

What a lovely dress, Susanne.
- The lady I work for made it.

Five kilos of potatoes.

What about meat ?
Is there enough in town ?

The butcher sometimes
gives me what he has left over.

Just like that, without a coupon ?

How's it going at the front ?
Any news from Adriaan ?

Susanne, for God's sake.

Can'tleven ask ?

Idiot girl.

Have some butter and plum jelly.

No.
- Come on. Aren't you hungry ?

Here are some potatoes.
And Susanne has made a tart.

Thank you, Susanne.
- Goodbye, Lieve.

Goodbye, Uncle Odile.

Thanks, Aunt Mélanie.

Bye.
And come back soon to eat.

If the guards question you,
tell them it came from our land.

Thanks, Aunt Anna.
- Bye, Lieveke.

Thanks. See you soon.

My bag.

When are you leaving ?
- In five minutes, ma'am.

I forgot...

My bag.

Oh, my goodness.

You see ? Oh, the shame.
- It's her fault.

A boy who lived near us
used to eat flowers.

My parents would complain when
flowers disappeared from the garden.

Especially poppies.

One evening, I caught him red-handed.
He came through the gate.

I saw him pick two,
three poppies and then eat them.

And I never told anyone.

A cricket.

Like in the South.

Like in France.

No pasaran ?

No pasaran ?

Spain. The Republicans against Franco.
Madrid.

"You shall not pass.”

No pasaran.

That's why I resisted the Jesuits,
as an atheist.

The yellows, the browns,
the blacks, the mutes, the clean.

To remain true to myself.

To do what I want, when I want.

No pasaran.

Lieve.

He may be dead.

Who ?

The boy who ate the flowers.

I never knew his name.

Two peoples together,
Walloons and Flemings...

Come on, Francois.
- I'm coming.

We're coming to the end, I think.

Can you deliver that for me ?

Today ?
- Yes.

Where to ?
- You'll have to memorise the address.

I'm not going to force you.

All right. Tell me.

We no longer have enough meat
or tins of stew.

I've been suffering from gout lately.

You have a lovely home. Truly.
- Beer ?

You know, a house is different
when you have children.

They disrupt everything.

The ceiling is crumbling
and the windows are broken.

You're right. It doesn't matter,
with the Americans in Paris already.

A cup of coffee ?
I have some grounds.

Would you like some for your wife ?

What are you going to do ?

I mean...
Do you have any news of Adriaan ?

Yes.

Perhaps he'll come in time to get you.
Some are leaving for Germany.

I'm staying here.

You know...

The children...
I think about them sometimes.

They don't bother with children.

We've lost.
- What else can happen ?

What if it turns to hate ?

It turned to hate a long time ago,
years ago.

We weren't involved.
- People were arrested in this street.

It wasn't us.
- Right opposite.

It's not our fault.
- Who knows ?

What we've done will always be labelled
as treason, the choices we made.

To them at least.

Sometimes I wake up at night
and hear my wife silently crying.

That's what we've come to.

The children are shunned in school.

They don't talk to them.
They just ignore them.

Customers come to the shop
because they have no choice.

But a "Good morning”
is too much to ask.

These days.

Do you play piano ?
- No, not me. Adriaan.

Do you know someone who could
look after the children if...?

Let's have a coffee.

Silence.

Show yourselves.

Come out.

Give yourselves up.

Come out.

Bombs could go off at any moment.
Are you aware of that ?

Yes, it's not a problem.

Lieutenant Wijgeman fixed that.
He cut the wires of the detonator.

It'll be downstairs or in the cellar.

That's enough. Everyone outside.
- I'm in charge here.

This lady is a collaborator.
Her husband works in Germany.

No, she's with the Resistance.
She's helped us a lot.

This is a collaborator's house.

All right ?
- Yes.

Did you see all that ?
- The war isn't over.

The butcher killed himself.

But it isn't our fault, Lieve.
- He killed his children.

Lieutenant, the jeep's here.
Shall I ask them to wait ?

I'm coming. It's not our fault. Come on,
I'm not leaving you alone here.

Why kill the children ?

First we'll go to HQ,
then to Kattendijk.

The bridge is blocked.
- We'll take another route.

Stop.

Can we bring some more ?
We've got five.

Francois, I can't do this. This is
terrible. You can keep my armband.

They've waited four years for this.
- They're shaving women's hair.

Hair grows back.

Come on. To Kattendijk.

Sorry.

I had to give evidence. Tomorrow too.
- As long as you don't turn socialist.

A coffee.

Tonight, I'll cook you
a good meal. Guess what?

I don't know.

You've been working too hard.
I'l warm you a footbath.

Every place is filled to bursting.

The Engineers' barracks,
St Jan Berchmans college, the zoo.

Prisoners ?

Yes, the latest arrivals
from the suburbs.

You know them ?

Yes, from round about.

I want to get back in my civvies.

I knew it.

Is he...
- Safe and sound.

Where ?

In prison.

They had sent him
to a training camp near the canal.

It's his first statement of of fence.

I'm going to cook chicken.
Do you like chicken, Francois ?

All right. I'll be back shortly.

British and Canadian troops
easily cleared themselves a path

fo the town of Antwerp.

The Belgian Resistance
came out from the cellars

and neutralised the Germans
in a bloody battle.

A few months earlier, no one could have
imagined our town liberated so quickly.

1 will do what I can to see
he doesn't get the death penalty.

I have to keep in contact
with the notary, Donkers.

Antwerp falls back into the hands
of the Allies, intact.

While the enemy is on the run, the bells
are being restored to their towers :

symbols of hope, faith
and confidence in the future.

Suddenly devastation raises its head
again. Thousands of tons of dynamite.

The V1, fatal for our ports,
which the Allies need

in order to refuel for the fight
against the Nazis.

They guarantee
you can get a quick divorce.

Right away ? Is that necessary ?
- Or in a few months.

...the Jews and other victims
of torture and starvation.

British and Belgian politicians want
fo see the atrocities for themselves.

The Belgians didn't need to see this
fo believe in these horrors.

Could he end up before a firing squad ?

No one has any doubt.

We Belgians will never
forget these images.

Thanks for what you're doing.

This ? It's a restaurant
for officers and NCOs.

I mean for Adriaan.

For us.

Tomorrow we'll go to Donkers,
I'll start the process.

All right ?

I'd like to wait before I decide.
- What do you mean ?

I'm listening.
- You know what I'm going to say.

Say it.

When you were in trouble
during the curfew, I let you in.

But now that he...

Now that he...?

You can't mean that.
Tell me you don't mean that.

You want to go ?

You don't mean that.

I was criticised for having married
a man who left for Germany.

And then for not being married
to a man who was hiding in my house.

So that's it. I'm a shirker.
- I didn't say that.

Why do they hold it against me ?
For both one and the other ?

It has nothing to do with love, with us.
Tell me, what am I to you ?

What about me ? What am I to you ?

I can't be without you anymore.
You should stay here.

Even if I want to help him.
- It's becoming an obsession.

But they've got it in for him.
- Yes, and you love him.

You hate him ?
- No, he disgusts me, that's all.

But I'm his wife.

We're closing.

I hate his sort, people like him.

Sir, madam,
you can finish this at home.

Gestapo.
- Whores.

Collaborators. Gestapo.

Sluts.
- Whores.

Gestapo.
- Collaborators.

Vol au vents.

Normandy sole with pommes duchesses.

Brussels chicken with stewed fruit.

Mille-feuilles, fruits,
mocha ice cream.

Bravo.

Mother, can I read it again ?

No, twice is enough.
- Bis repetita placent.

All right, Suzanne.

When are we eating ?

Aunt...
- It sounds delicious.

We still have to go to mass.

I've put them in the bedroom.

Nand.
- Yes, father.

This chicken is better than a kipper.

I have to go. I can't stay. Duty calls.

Thank you for coming, father.

Anna.

And little Sophie.

Goodbye, father.

Take care.
- Goodbye.

Don't rub it in.
- A bit of talc.

Do we have talc ?
- Of course we do.

Come on, Georges.
- Let's go.

Relax, Papa.
You can dance soon.

Bert, my boy.
Here am I all covered in dust.

And full of ginger.

You look well.

Next week, I'll go and see Adriaan.
You can count on it, I promise.

Wipe the slate clean, for you and
Adriaan. Wipe the slate clean.

It's better to commit a sin
than to live in sin.

In my house

The sunlight gleams

1 feel like a little king

With my heavy load

Would we have to suffer poverty

For one extra mouth ?

When people fight

The Lord will aid

When people fight
The Lord will aid

Let's go.

You should rest.
- No.

You're a nurse,
but you're not a doctor yet.

Give me your arm.

Come on.
- No, no.

Let's go out in the orchard,
it's still light outside.

We can't stay long. It's cold out.

Stay close to me.

Our Bert.

Hold me.

Iloved to hear him play.

Come on.

The piano is tuned.

You did all right for yourself.
- Well enough.

How do you want to extend the shop ?

Be careful for the first few weeks.

I'm well rested.

We should celebrate that.

This tree,
you always loved it, Adriaan.

Yes, cousin.

You've never called me that.

We aren't cousins.
- But nearly.

Tell me everything, Adriaan.

Tell me.

Did you know which side you were on ?

Your songs evoke
the great Flemish people.

And yet you surrendered.

"Belgium shall be Latin
or nothing at all.”

Do you remember, cousin ?
You and your cardinal, at Mechelen.

What about communism, cousin ?

For years you preached
against unholy communism

and when we need you, you're no longer
there. What are you doing here now ?

We're on the side of the oppressed.

We were shepherds.

Goodbye, cousin ! Shepherd !

Be patient.

Is this my dinner service ?

How much will you give me...

Five per cent, maybe.
- We're family, aren't we ?

Ten percent, no more.
- That's better.

Do you want it in cash ?
I have a few bottles of wine left.

Very good wine.

Adriaan used to say it sometimes.

That one never can tell with you.

It was an accident.

Mind the door, please.

Hold it underneath and mind the feet.

We know our job.
- And I know my house.

What kind of people come here ?
- All kinds.

Francois took care of the first buyers
and the first furniture.

I mean what kind of customers do you
have ? What kind of people ? Names.

Doctors, architects.

Lawyers ?
- Yes. Among others.

I thought so.

They're making enough money
off our backs. Even now.

Smell.

This isn't for sale.

Of course not.

Parasites.

They're all parasites.

17th century, or I'll eat my hat.

What ?

Perhaps you could get the money
from the other customer ?

It's full of mites.
First we'd have to break it.

How much ?
- Ten thousand.

I'd rather you went. Who is it ?

You don't get out enough. What are you
going to do ? What if I get sick ?

Out of the question.
- What's wrong ?

This prosecutor has already got
12 death sentences.

Try to forget about it. You can't
keep dwelling on it constantly.

I'm going to redo the loft
and make a workshop.

And I'm going to write in here.

Really ? What will you write ?

A journal. For posterity.

What's so funny ?

You said : "For posterity.”

Why is that funny ?

You get rid of these damn mites.
I'll worry about posterity.

Cheers.
- Cheers. We don't see you often.

You know politics is all or nothing.

So that's it, Francois, politics.
- You look wonderful, radiant.

Don't exaggerate.
- I'm not.

Tell me everything about Adriaan.
- It's going well, I mean...

Yes. When is it due ?
- Next month. Around the 15th.

I'm thrilled for you.
- Thank you.

And for him. It will help him.
- 1 almost forgot.

Here, I'm repaying you 25,000,
as we agreed.

No, count it, please.

You don't need it ? Are you sure ?

One year is enough.

25. Thank you.

Are you sure ?
- Please.

If it's a boy
will you call him Francois ?

No chance.

Unless you become a minister.
- Deputy mayor, first.

For finance ?
- No, culture.

Adriaan?

What are you doing ?
- Writing.

What are you writing ?

Invoices for our taxes
and our accounts.

I'll go.

Is he asleep ?
- Yes.

What are you doing ?
- Writing.

What are you writing ?

Notes, memories, my defence.

Could you ?

"Looking back,
and deep inside myself,

1 still don't understand
what it is I am guilty of.”

You never open the window.

Listen, sit down.
- I'll clean tomorrow.

Here's a chair.

"When I look back,
and deep inside myself,

1 still don't understand
what it is I'm guilty of.

They say I betrayed my nation.

But what do those accusations mean ?
I say I served my people.

They say I collaborated with the enemy.

But how can a nation
which has armed itself

to defend the culture of the western
world, be an enemy nation ?

They say that we were thinking
of our own interests.

But how is that possible
when you believe in a new world,

a new society ?

When you have sacrificed
everything for that.

When you have given up your career,
your family...

your own life.”

Are you listening ?

Don't write that, Adriaan.
It's painful.

You don't see the reality of it.

We have to defend ourselves.
- Against whom ?

The outside world.

Wake up. Look around you.

Go away.

Get out.

How lovely.

You rascal. Come here.

My baby. Did you do this
all on your own ?

You made it yourself, it's lovely.

I used to have a dog, an Alsatian.

Max. Every day he'd wait for me at 5 pm
at the level crossing. At exactly 5.

One day, I came home late,
but he was still there.

He was so happy, he crossed
while a war train was passing.

He lay down between the wheels,
head down, and waited.

He looked at me.

There was a chain
hanging from the last car.

We never had another dog after that.

I'm listening.

Apricots.

Apricots.

Abbey.

My love, you can hardly
keep your eyes open.

"A" is for Adriaan.

Over there, look.

You should whitewash that tree.

To protect it against insects.

Yes.

What do you use for that ?

An anti...

An insecticide.

Where can I get it ?
- Anywhere.

Coffee.

Coffee ?
- I'd love one.

All in vain.
All those fallen comrades... in vain.

"He came from the coast,
he had blond hair.

They took him to the whipping post,
but he wouldn't let them tie him

or cover his eyes. I was nearby
and I heard him praying:

Here lie their mortal remains,
like grains in the sand,

waiting to be harvested, o Flanders.

Then the rifles were shouldered. 'Fire.'

He crumpled slowly to the ground.

A thin line of blood
trickled from his mouth.

We had to march past his body
in formation.

Left, right, left, right, left, right.”

Are you listening ?

That's a magnificent ark. What's this ?

The raven.

And 40 days later, he opened
the window and released...

the...

The bird.

What colour is the raven ?
- Black.

And the bird came back with nothing.

And Noah released...

The white dove.

And then she came back
with what in her beak ? A...?

An olive branch.

Noah took the olive branch.

And God said to him :

"Bring your son, leave your home,
and be brave."

You eat too much, Francois.

What will you do ?

Sell antiques.

Or become a nurse again.

I'll call the deputy mayor.
- No.

I don't want you to call him. That's
enough interfering on my behalf.

Sometimes I get fed up with it.

The cowards crawling in the foreground.
The shirking café heroes of 1945.

Rural political manipulators.

And if on top of that you're
not married, rumours circulate.

Do people know you're here ?

I see now what I should have done.
Too late.

I should have taken you with me.
Taken you out of this quagmire.

Far from these vermin.

These vermin ?

Yes, vermin.

Get out, Francois.
Or I'll throw you out myself.

Get out.

"We are the crucifixions of our time.

A part of us has died.

Broken." Are you listening ?
- Dachau. Did you know about it ?

Are you listening ?
- The Jews. Did you know ?

Listen.

Did you know ?
- Listen.

Fifteen years in the life of Lieve

Woman in a Twilight Garden