Original subtitles

This film was restored by Pathé in 2012

Hey, granny, you dozing?

Shut your face.

There's Greenland. Say what you like, it's new.

And there's always Tibet.

You're always thinking of Tibet.

The best idea is the Amazon.

Central Africa, the Lake Region.

Pin this up, Planchet.

Hello, Max.

Hello, Charlotte.

The idea

is to submerge tourists in the wildlife. Volcano Park is untouched.

The savanna and its animal life.

Here, the Great Rainforest.

We open a Club with the usual amenities

and organize safaris to meet the world's most untamed tribes,

the Bambuti Pygmies.

THE AFRICAN

It's Victor. Take down the poles, quick.

Hurry up.

The other side.

Take down the other poles.

Your play, Victor.

Come on, Bako!

I have Valium for the flight.

Anyway, you can relax.

I reserved seats in the back.

Survivors in recent crashes sat in the rear.

This is hardly the time, Planchet.

I'll go buy anti-mosquito spray.

You have intestopan?

Buy it there. It's a capital, not a backwater.

I know where I've been, where I am now...

But not where I'm going... That's a horse of a different color.

Marboune, it's for your father. Tell him to answer right away.

Makao Joel...

- I'm ready, Victor. - Just a minute.

Patterson!

You have the oysters?

I found another slaughtered elephant this afternoon.

The 20th in a month.

With a Kalashnikov.

Ugandan mercenaries.

With the emigration starting, we're in for it.

I spotted some big herds coming this way.

I stepped up the security at all the checkpoints.

No vehicles can get through without a systematic search.

See you tonight.

The onions really came out nice.

Beautiful.

Everybody into the river.

Did you add the manure?

Sure. But how does shit make onions grow?

It's not shit, I keep telling you.

It's the nitric compounds in them.

Leave all that and bring me the machine.

Eugenie...

So, kids, been to see your fathers?

I didn't have time. Besides I'm mad at them.

That's no excuse.

I said it's important children see their fathers.

- How's business? - Picking up again.

What have you sold?

Six cans of sardine, three packs of washing powder and 17 Gauloises.

- 17 packs? - 17 cigarettes.

We're in full economic growth.

How sweet.

Careful, it's not new.

This is your Christmas gift.

A chair.

Where is that letter for the minister...

What's his ministry?

Where are we?

Such a pleasant travel mate.

- What's there to see at this altitude. - Me, for one.

- Where's the letter? - I don't know.

It's up there.

I have a run in my stocking.

Your panty hose.

It's a shame.

It's the minister for nature conservation.

You think that in this heat...

Relax. They were in Cancale only last night.

And it's December now.

A month with R.

Like "oystras."

Oysters!

Or Belons, if you prefer.

Yes, Belons, much better.

I figured. Unfortunately, they're Marennes.

Maleines?

Malwaines?

It's not easy: Ma-rre-nes.

Actually, they're Crassostrea Angulata.

This man knows it all.

How did a scientist like you end up in a hole like this?

Science, Patterson...

Putting names on things, formulas...

Just to stink up the atmosphere. No, thanks. Change the subject.

Look...

But there is a mystery.

How do they get the ivory out?

The southern roads are guarded. To the north is the lake,

then, a forest of pygmies, volcanos

and 1200 miles of virgin forest.

So...

I keep examining the problem.

It's not my problem, you're the park warden.

I'm just a lowly grocer.

A remarkable grocer.

But if I'm here,

it's not merely to sip Chablis at the equator. It's important, sure...

but what's more important is this blessed place

where beasts have all the rights, and not man, for once.

The paradise of elephants.

I admire these beasts.

They have force, beauty, charm.

Something more than other beasts,

more than us, maybe.

That brutes butcher these mountains of muscle and intelligence

to make billiard balls makes my blood boil.

What you need is a woman.

More than that, a wife.

Don't talk to me about that race.

Our country, dear madam, is one of the last nature reserves.

Look at this coast. Chose whatever spot you want.

I was thinking of Lake William.

In particular, the village of Woushango.

It's the rain season. The roads are virtually impassable.

Can't you put a light plane at our disposition?

I'll send a message to my friend, Dr. Patterson.

The warden of Volcanos Park.

An Englishman. Don't worry. He's charming.

- Amadou... - Yes, Mr. Minister?

Get me Dr. Patterson.

Right away.

Take the first domestic flight in the morning.

At Nokolo, a light plane will fly you to Lake William.

Announcing Flight 732 from Nangoy

at Gate 1.

Victor to Nokolo... is that the Greek bastard down there?

Victor, clear the runway, please.

I asked, is that Poulakis?

Rachid, don't move.

Still plying your stinking trade?

I have my export permit. This time, it will cost you dearly.

I'll slice your butt if you keep trafficking.

Captain, arrest him.

The fowl weren't yours.

The "fowl" were nobody's.

But they won't rot in lousy zoos to fill Poulakis's pockets.

I run this airport and I'm ordering you...

You don't run anything. There's no more airport.

I'll revoke your permit.

What did you say?

Revoke my permit?

I'll return your permit.

Consider yourself under arrest.

Don't make me lose my temper.

Can't you see these bastards are ruining your country?

Thataboy, Victor.

You haven't changed.

Come along quietly. We're taking you in.

This crummy equipment is useless.

Do you know this roughneck?

That's my husband. What a coincidence.

Your husband, incredible.

You're married?

Sort of. We have to find a taxi.

I'm going into town, dear lady.

Can I be of assistance?

Yes, thank you.

My car.

Quick, the luggage.

Incredible, meeting your husband. When did you last see him?

Is my private life your business?

- Two or three years. So? - Don't get angry.

We're not angry, just going through divorce.

- Smell those odors? - It's a magnificent region.

Your first time here?

- You've been here long? - Years.

I run a wildlife export business.

Little monkeys to entertain European children.

I love animals and children.

We're almost in the same line.

You export exoticism, I bring people to it.

Don't tell your life story. You never know who you might meet here.

He's charming and he's in business. He might be useful.

We plan to open a club on Lake William.

Nice idea. But Lake William is the end of the world.

Precisely. We want to offer a change of scenery.

We bring tourists in contact with the pygmies in the forests.

The pygmies aren't so easy to approach.

They live in the forbidden zone. They belong to the devil.

The devil?

They're said to live at the gates of Hell,

on the flanks of a volcano.

The blacks are afraid of them.

They think the little men are the Devil's goblins.

They're only legends

but I fear you'll have a hard time.

Then I shook the hut and he yelled,

"Victor, I'll revoke your permit."

What are you telling them?

The dark tale of our life but in a lighter tone, as you saw.

Yes, I saw.

I was relating the airport scene to the commissioner.

He'll work it out, don't worry.

I can breathe easy.

What are you doing here?

I'm going to Lake William and you're piloting us.

I imagined...

Stop imagining things. The world is small.

Take a shower and we'll meet for dinner.

You can tell me what you have in mind.

I'm taking room 16.

It's the coolest.

Planchet? Would you mind eating without me?

I want to discuss things with the "roughneck."

I'm not mad.

I've stopped being offended,

especially where my husband is concerned.

See you in the morning.

Char-lotte.

Not bad for a start, Coco.

You haven't changed so much.

"So much"? Thanks a lot.

But you might've worn a dress. They're very strict here in the evening.

No. I was just kidding.

So tell me...

- What brings you here? - I told you. Woushango.

That's where I live. It's curious...

You're Patterson's pilot. That's what's incredible.

I didn't say incredible. I said curious.

What do you want from Patterson?

I'm preparing a study...

I'm working on... What a cute parakeet.

Charlotte!

To us.

To us.

What happened to our parakeet?

Coco?

Coco flew away while Mrs. Martinez did housework.

She even crushed the iguana while vacuuming.

That's really sad to hear.

Speaking of sad things, the monkey died of pulmonary congestion.

So I gave the jackal to a circus.

You're crazy. All my animals!

You never asked about them, nor about me.

It's over. You used to travel, now I'll travel.

I'll bring elephants to Rue Lepic if I feel like it.

Here comes your...

Let me introduce you.

Paul Planchet, my collaborator.

My husband.

Care for a glass?

What's Rue Lepic?

Where I live.

- And Argenteuil? - You know I hate suburbs.

I love the country. She preferred Paris.

I thought suburbs would be... Logical, isn't it...

I didn't catch your name?

I sold Argenteuil.

- And my lab? - It fell apart.

I'm not spending nights watering your cultures and cucurbits.

- All those years of research... - To find nothing.

Oh yes. A freshwater algae.

It was fantastic.

Inedible. Not bad, but tasteless. We looked foolish.

Who's to blame?

You sell it to the Japanese just as I find a hybrid.

We were broke. I made a great deal with the Japanese.

What would you do, objectively?

You see!

You don't have all the data.

Biological research is long, subtle, dangerous.

Stop that.

- What? - That.

There's a gulf between lab research and the agro-alimentary market.

But you know her.

Expansion, profitability, the concrete.

Always at the basic level.

I'll go have a bite.

- Is he your lover? - That's it.

Stop stirring your champagne. You know how it irritates me.

It didn't last long.

This jacket is ruined.

Maybe we can eat together.

That's an idea.

You look lovely tonight.

If you get foul-mouthed, I'd rather eat alone.

- Foul-mouthed? - The bit on the plane.

I didn't come to deepest Africa to get laid.

- This isn't like you. - There are girls for that.

We have to leave at dawn. Go tell the "pilot."

I'm not sure, Paul my boy,

that I'm going to make it in my psychological conditions.

Your wife wants to know what time we leave tomorrow.

Tomorrow morning, 6:30 am in the lobby.

Good night.

Let's have fun, pirates.

It was a good joke.

Throw it in the fire. It means death.

- Where did you find this? - You know where.

How should I know?

You didn't dare deny you put it my room.

- Where? - On my bed.

You don't realize

this is a strange country with sorcerers and fetish-priests.

Know what it means to find this sort of charming object?

It means a great misfortune is coming.

You swear it wasn't you?

I swear.

I'll take you back.

Then who did it?

Oh, you know, around here...

I drank too much, dammit.

Why do you drink so much?

I don't drink that often.

Tonight, I wanted to forget things.

I'll drive.

What's your room number?

I feel like an old rag tonight.

Where's my hat?

On your head.

And the feather?

In your hat.

I mustn't lose it. It's my good luck charm.

We're going upstairs.

You all right?

I have to talk to you.

I'm listening.

You didn't ask what I was doing here.

There are moments in life when a woman comes in handy.

I've thought a lot about this. I need you.

Sure, things we did together didn't always work out.

But I realize it was my fault. I was too awkward.

You have to forgive me.

But now there's nothing between us. We're friends.

It's like this...

Club Med wants to open a village on Lake William.

With excursions to the pygmies. It could be terrific.

I have a hole in my sock. Is it visible?

Are you listening?

It's your fault too.

You wrote three years ago, "I finally found paradise."

It stuck in my mind. I read up on it.

Now I have to see for myself.

Only you can help.

What did she dream up now?

The Club Med.

For your club, try Patagonia or Outer Mongolia.

There's nothing here. Nothing or nobody.

Your old friend, Victor.

Flying without us?

Read my note?

I demand an explanation.

You want to start a hotel chain among the pygmies.

Not a chain but... Yes.

- Not in my home. - You're not going to stop me.

You came here to annoy me.

I didn't come 3000 miles just to annoy you.

This country needs to take off. It needs investments.

Here we go again. Look, Charlotte,

I found peace of mind and serenity here.

I loved you a lot, true.

I'll never forget you, okay.

But let's face the facts.

The less we meet, the better.

Farewell.

Are you crazy?

You didn't warn us. And the children?

This is an aviation strip, not a rugby field.

I'm beginning to get fed up. I'm confiscating it.

There's no post, Boss.

I'm not the postman. And don't call me Boss.

No one would think of repairing that.

Here's my darling little Victor.

Your darling little Victor wants you to shake it up here.

Wallowing with the brood won't improve business.

We have to think of investing,

prospecting customers... taking the lead.

These goddam negroes...

Beddy-bye

Victor's not happy because the store is doing only so-so.

We have to get the customers to come shop.

No way around it, they're the greatest.

Big winter sale with jazz concert

Ten matches, a candy, three cigarettes and two little cakes.

That comes out to 3.95 for citizen ex-Desiré.

Let's see what you have. You're missing 2.70.

I'll mark them down ex-Desiré.

This Club Med idea is remarkable.

If you need support, Aristotle Poulakis is here.

You have to know the music. There are risks.

I belong to the race that takes risks.

The race of empire builders.

You're very nice.

- Does my cigar smoke... - It bothers me.

- What's in the truck behind us? - Bathroom appliances.

- You sell sinks in the bush? - In plastic.

Women use them as gourdes. You can sell them anything.

I'm not being unfair when I say blacks think like baboons.

The reserve entrance.

Them and their checkpoints. You even find cops in the bush.

Bread for the little pigs.

The little pigs peck.

Why did you say Victor is my husband?

I don't mix business and pleasure.

You certainly don't.

Excuse me. My brother-in-law says...

- What? - You were looking for men to hunt.

You know hunting is illegal. Who told him that?

Rachid, I think.

Rachid is a joker.

I have better things to do than poach guinea fowl.

Come pee with me.

Wait here.

You have a big mouth.

Don't talk like that.

There's something refreshing about him, no?

You mean in personal or business terms?

On a strictly sexual level, of course.

Seriously.

He's like a fish in water here.

Like a shark in water.

Not feeling well, Rachid?

Poor Rachid, the bumpy roads make him nauseous.

Hurry up, Rachid.

Helmut, rendezvous in Woushango.

Don't look at him.

I'll never speak to him again.

A nice cup of tea, Victor?

We have to talk.

You see the couple who arrived by road with Poulakis?

I saw them.

They're the ones you had to fly in.

- I know. - She's divine, isn't she?

Know what Divine is doing here?

A fantastic idea. Open a hotel.

You supervise a natural park.

You hear me, natural.

You're here to protect nature,

from elephants to butterflies and pygmies.

True, but it would bring some life to this hole.

Don't we have our hands full with poachers,

without having Swiss-German clowns in bermudas?

So we should expel them?

In 24 hours, or the country is done for.

Take a firm decision.

Very firm.

But she is divine.

We'll start from here.

Six...

Seven...

Eight...

We'll do the other side.

Over here.

What's so funny?

I'm not talking to you. It's my scarf around your hat.

Want it back?

Stay out of my way.

She's very beautiful.

That's Eugenie.

Won't you introduce us?

I don't see the point.

I won't disturb your happiness.

Stand here.

Watch what you're doing.

Watch where you put your feet.

I'm sorry.

Your apologies won't make my beets grow back.

The old grouch.

- I'll put some earth back. - Don't bother. Not for some poor beet.

This is incredible.

They have all of Africa for their canteen,

and they have to pick mine.

If you want to park in my vegetable garden,

raze the baobab, tear out the banana trees,

cut the hill in two, pour cement over it all.

Here comes Patterson.

I wish to speak you. I have a tough mission...

This is an ideal place for our village.

It is a charming site.

Be firm.

I'll be firm.

I can't authorize you to remain here.

I don't understand.

My friend, the minister, said you are a remarkable man.

I find you're exquisite, too.

Yet you try to expel me after coming 3000 miles to this paradise?

I'm torn in two.

There is the lawman and the gentleman.

The deck is clean.

You've cleaned it three times. Why bother?

To calm the nerves.

She won't be here for much longer.

Let's have a cup of tea and discuss this calmly.

I'll explain our project.

It's to build...

Well?

It's all settled.

But the lady wants to visit the volcanos.

- You see? - Are you kidding me?

Listen, this charming friend loves this place.

This place won't be a place when she gets through with it.

Come and discuss it.

Right, let's discuss the pros, the cons, dialogue...

Look, Patterson,

when you're incapable of assuming responsibilities,

then you should go into politics.

By the way,

here's the flight log, my permit and my resignation.

Find yourself another pilot.

I'm too old to play Lindbergh.

You're in an Irish mood today.

We're sailing downstream, crossing the Atlantic.

In three months, we'll be in the Amazon.

Any plans to carve out an affiliate among the Jivaros?

In that case, we have one solution.

Can I be of assistance, dear lady?

Charlotte, wait.

I'll take you.

What's got into you?

I changed my mind.

Anyway, you always do as you like.

A lift over volcanos can't hurt.

Isn't it a bit late to fly?

It's the perfect moment, my dear Planchet.

In that case, I'm speaking to you again.

I'll drop you off here.

You have a bus every month, five days of road for Nevasha.

From there you can get the train for Nokolo.

Go down the river by boat.

You'll reach the capital in two months. You can start all over again.

But you won't stick a parking lot in my leek fields.

We'll need a good lawyer, alimony.

He'll sell soap bars.

I'll break his neck. No, you'll break his neck.

I swear I will.

But first, we need an inn.

That bastard.

Take it easy. We'll phone Patterson, rent a car...

What telephone, what car? He dumped us in a hole.

Let's be methodical.

Hello, madam. Planchet. I'm delighted.

You have the telephone?

Two: Clear ideas.

- Where are the toilets? - In the yard.

What's it called?

Kiwi alcohol with pepper.

It's strong.

Bastard.

Taste it. It goes down by itself.

I think we're gonna make it.

How, I don't know.

But I can feel it.

Say, madame Bimamba,

the car in the yard seems in good shape.

Why did you convert it?

My husband drove straight into the lake.

I don't know how to drive either.

You have the key for the contact?

I sold two soap bars and a can of sardines.

I left the money in the can.

Where are you going?

Home to mama.

You have madness in your head. You have love for this woman.

Nonsense. On the contrary.

I know. Sick heart, mad everywhere.

We can't do anything. We only have the sorcerer.

But you don't believe him.

It can't do any harm.

It's much better.

I don't care what happens to Charlotte.

You coming, Eugenie?

I didn't give a damn before, but now I don't give two damns.

Let's have some fun.

What garbage.

Djambo.

Beer.

Where'd you leave your wife?

At Butemko.

- That's the forbidden zone. - Why?

The bartender told me Helmut left with Poulakis for the forbidden zone.

Look.

Where is the trail?

Look. Behind the herd.

Look at the map.

Theoretically, the trail goes up to the river.

We have the forest which starts here.

And then...

Charlotte, I have to talk to you.

I've been thinking.

What you need is an environment that is stable

and funny, at the same time.

Complicity, fantasy...

You see.

Do you have a hangover?

No. Do you?

Watch out.

Let's move. To the trucks.

Victor to Patterson.

And that trip?

There's an elephant massacre on the Galana.

What?

I've got him. It's Poulakis.

Dispatch a patrol to Butemko.

The bastards.

More of them.

This can't be.

It's Charlotte.

I ruined my brakes.

I'm so sorry, Charlotte.

I mistook you for poachers.

Nothing hurt, at least?

You okay, Charlotte?

Planchet. Answer me.

My wife isn't wounded?

Screw you.

Your wife asks me to say, Screw you.

What did you say?

And deaf, to boot.

I'm coming.

Victor!

Too bad.

Now what?

Go wait by the track. A truck should pass eventually.

Let's hope.

Since we're in close quarters,

I want to say I'm touched...

The crocodiles. "Victor!"

In hard times, it draws us together.

You're still sulking.

That's too bad

because if you looked at me

you'd see that I'm not bad for my age.

50 years old, my lovely.

All muscle...

or just about.

A character like that is terrible.

The three alligators back there mean business.

Listen, Planchet...

We're in the forbidden zone here where nobody comes.

We'll take a tree trunk and wedge it into the rocks.

You have to come over to my side.

- If it's the solution. - I'd rather drop dead.

We'd rather drop dead.

In that case...

A fresh drop of Tavel wine, a slice of sausage...

We can't spend the night here.

More trouble, dear lady?

May I be of assistance?

Decidedly, Mr. Poulakis,

you are our savior.

Let's get a move on.

It's remarkable to be in the same boat.

But with my brakes busted

I have no room to take off.

Victor to Patterson. Come in.

- There you are. - Patterson's disappeared.

No, he's here. He's not well.

Dr. Patterson just sleeps and sleeps.

The sorcerer made him the poison.

What do you mean?

Poulakis gave him a big gift.

You bastard.

It's his trade, boss.

You give him money and he performs the spell.

But he can't remove the devil.

But I gave him crate from the store. Not everything.

Get him to the infirmary quick.

Hurry, Bako. And come back fast.

We're going up the river. Eugenie, stay here with Patterson.

I can play the nurse at best

while you chase women in the forest.

This isn't the moment.

I make soup, sweep, do the laundry, make jokes...

I never chatted or holler.

But I'm black.

Stop it before you rouse the country.

What will become of me and the kids?

Find one of their fathers. One of the three should make the grade.

Not necessarily.

Hurry up, Bako.

Get rid of everything.

- Did you cast off? - Done.

It's going through.

We're here.

The falls are here.

We should see the pygmies. We're halfway there.

A map doesn't mean anything.

With a fast boat, we can take tourists in a day.

Doing that for the pleasure,

and paying.

Stop grumbling.

Children everywhere would dream of this moment. Be a child.

You're right.

And you forget, for grownups,

the pleasure of being with you.

Thanks.

Made contact with Helmut?

Isn't that one a beauty.

Johnny, prepare him.

To the health of ladies

and men of daring.

What was that gunshot?

How awful.

Pleasant, isn't it? Know it?

Smart idea about the Club Med.

- But bad for your business. - There's no hiding anything.

What is your business?

What's that you have?

It's ivory.

You guessed as much.

I hunt ivory, I hoard it and export it.

You butcher elephants?

A question of words.

I hunt elephants to make bracelets for pretty ladies,

chaplets for bigots and crucifixes for chapels.

My biggest clients?

Lourdes and the Vatican.

And profits?

Huge. But there are risks.

To prove it...

Patterson and your husband want my neck.

So I took precautions.

You are my guests.

I'm not just anyone, I warn you.

And I advise you to shut your trap.

I find you charming but you're not my type.

You're more Johnny's type.

Right, Johnny?

Stop drinking, Johnny.

Drunk, there's no stopping him.

I've always dreamed

of an affair with a blonde.

My flair tells me

she might even be consenting. Who knows.

Who knows.

Time to turn in. We have to be up early tomorrow.

Let's stay calm.

You're funny.

You see Johnny's face?

And Poulakis's face? Want to switch?

Tonight we sleep together.

We can't see anything. Let's stop.

No, we're ten hours behind them.

I'll steer a while.

It's okay.

You asleep?

- What's the tam-tam say? - Boatmen are on their way.

I hope those fools find the depot.

Bebert, get me Helmut.

I'll take a look.

It may not be a good idea.

Poulakis to Helmut.

Not interesting, I don't care.

We're a day from the depot.

Too late? I deliver day after tomorrow.

We're there in two days.

We're leaving now.

The woman's gone.

The jackals can have her. Don't forget Planchet.

Take everything.

We're not spending the night worrying over a woman.

They're taking me.

Send the boatmen to the ivory depot.

They must have camped here.

It's still smoking.

Don't be frightened. It's me.

It's all over.

Bako, they took Planchet. What do you think?

I think you're going to say: We go up the river.

I'll say: Hell, I'm not going on.

But I'll go on and we'll get our balls cut off.

Miss Charlotte who'll suffer who knows what.

Let's get going anyway.

All right, on the left?

It's going through.

It's getting stifling.

If it gets any narrower, we won't go far.

Nobody ever comes here?

I was here a few years ago.

Then it was decided to leave this forest untouched.

One of the last wildlife reserves.

Are there pygmies?

Their territory begins here.

I'd read plenty on the pygmies

but seen close, it must be horrible living here.

Would be better to stuff them into housing blocks?

That's not the issue.

Cut the engine.

Listen.

A pretty song.

But they'll end up in apartment blocks.

But what's the point in hurrying things?

Watch it.

To the left, I said.

Whatever happens,

we mustn't let it get us down.

Poor Patterson always has dinner in a tuxedo.

He had this one sent from London.

But I put on a little weight.

I'm not surprised. If you eat like this every day.

It's very spicy.

You trying to use the situation?

I lost interest in those things long ago.

I called it quits.

That's what you say.

And anyway,

I'm much too old for you.

We always had the same difference.

But a year in the tropics counts double.

I'm totally worn out.

The ideal thing

would have been that you be my daughter.

Incest? Mustn't be too bad.

Never.

I'd like it even better sleeping with my wife.

That's very conventional.

Let's start from scratch.

You dance, Mr. Victor?

You dance well for your age.

Because it's your first date with me.

But you'll wear your feet out.

You live with your parents?

- Are you married? - Alas.

Do you ever cheat on your wife?

Never.

But tonight,

I don't know what's with me.

- Is she jealous? - Very.

Don't tell her. How could she know?

She senses everything.

She's a pain in the ass.

Poor Planchet.

Stop.

Stop what?

Feeling me up.

I'm feeling you up?

Yes, you're tickling me.

Where am I tickling you?

You're tickling my rear.

Holy cow!

Don't go out.

Let me get my pants on.

Stay where you are. It could be dangerous.

I'm filming.

- You're crazy. - Extraordinary.

Wait.

What are they doing?

There are mothers among them. They can be dangerous.

It's dangerous, I tell you.

Get into the tree.

What's that?

I don't know.

Where is that from?

Let's get down.

Part of the mystery is clear.

And thanks to whom?

Why are they going upriver? It's still navigable for a few miles

as far as the falls and then, nothing. Forest, forest.

We have to follow them.

Here's Bako.

What's he doing here?

Come on, Bako.

We have to find the pygmies.

They must have seen something.

They're hard to approach.

I don't see any trail.

We have to enter the forest. The pygmies never come out.

Forward.

Take a look at this.

It's very clear.

Bambuti.

Like a child's foot.

Don't move.

Act natural.

Don't turn around.

- They may be observing us. - Are there many of them?

Something worries me.

Lots of things worry me. Lots and lots.

We've been walking for three hours.

They should have shown their desire for contact.

It's not normal. What do you think, Bako?

I think Poulakis's bastards annoyed the pygmies.

Now the pygmies want to destroy the whites.

Let's move, Charlotte.

I think we should try

the system of progressive integration.

What did you say?

Maybe it's wrong to offer them this bucket.

If that's not acculturation.

What?

- The fading of a specific culture. - I understand.

Let's go.

I'm staying.

You can't stay here alone.

I'm not going without Planchet.

We're all going to die.

Here comes the selfishness. The veneer cracks fast.

What is she talking about?

We're in the heart of Africa,

surrounded by savages with poisoned arrows.

Racist!

Cut it out, Charlotte.

You have reactionary behavior.

You and your gun and grenades.

I'm fed up with your leftist intellectual whims.

What's your gripe about leftist intellectuals, boss.

Then stay here with the pygmies and form a local committee.

It's only the third time you dump me in the jungle.

Oh, look.

The first aid box.

That's a bullet wound.

- Think so? - Certain.

You speak Bambuti?

I tried learning a little.

He seems to understand you.

Victor, come look.

He says the Bambuti never go farther.

The land of bad souls begins. Not for the whites.

The bad whites go there. They took Planchet.

The Devil's mouth vomits the iron bird.

We'll see.

Let's go.

The chief has something more to say.

He thanks you for healing his wounded brother.

The Bambuti have the jungle. The others have the world.

Why do they come here?

No one else will come here.

Look, we're all moved, but if you want to find Planchet...

Bako, if you don't want to cross, we'll understand.

You can be in the shit up to your neck, or even up to your eyeballs.

A pygmy proverb.

I'll go first.

I feel dizzy, Victor.

Kiss me.

We've never been this happy.

True. It really doesn't take much.

You okay, boss?

The routine.

I was afraid.

Why didn't you give me a child?

You're the one who wanted to wait.

At first. But then you didn't.

This isn't the moment.

It never is.

There they are.

What will they do with that ivory up there?

Look.

Get some sleep. We'll do the first shift at nightfall.

You, the longhair, beddy-bye.

Now's the time.

If we don't speak again,

I wanted to say...

Me, too, Victor.

Let's go, Bako.

Pass me your bag, and cast off.

Goddamn hell.

Take a look down there.

Help me, I don't know how to swim.

Never again with you.

On a study trip. I won't insist.

Seen anything?

Dump this ivory in the river. We'll be too heavy.

The seaplane!

Wake up, you morons.

Shoot.

Thieves!

Smugglers.

In the name of all nature-lovers,

whose hearts beat as one,

as one with the universe,

I address my warmest gratitude to our friends...

You know, I've been thinking about your club idea,

it's not bad.

You're sweet, but I think you're right.

It wouldn't work here.

And I feel like stopping.

I'll take up ethnology again.

Remember my workshop at the Museum of Man.

Not a bad idea.

And Trocadero is spacious.

And you?

I'll open a grocery.

At my age...

I think I'll be going.

What time is it?

A quarter to.

I have to go.

Nothing to say to me?

Have a good trip.

You know, you never signed the divorce papers.

Yes, that was dumb.

If you want to start a new life...

Or if I do...

So, you lovers?

The ministry plane takes off in ten minutes.

We could reach Nokolo for the 8:15 flight to Paris.

Unless...

You really are an old pachyderm.

If you're ever in Paris...

you can always give me a child. Boy or girl, I don't care.

Subtitles: Lenny Borger

Subtitling: L.V.T. - Paris