Original subtitles

ALGIERS. JANUARY 8, 1961.

Can you believe all my tenants left over a two-month span?

What the hell did you do?

Sidi Jacky, Algeria's at war. The French are leaving

and the Algerians don't have the money to rent.

War? What war?

The minor events and scuffles in the neighborhood?

They don't know what a real war looks like.

We'll have to go and vote later, Sidi Jacky.

That damn referendum won't pay off my bank loan.

NATIONAL LIBERATION FRONT

So where do we go now?

Rue du général de Bourmont, and then rue du duc d'Aumale.

It's 5 o'clock.

This is your news bulletin for January 8th, 1961.

Today, French voters will be weighing in on the referendum for Algeria.

The question asked is as follows:

"Do you approve of the bill submitted to the French people

by the President of the Republic

on the self-determination of the Algerian people

and of the proposed provisional institutions of Algeria

prior to self-determination?"

This is the news for January 8th, 1961...

André?

-I got your message. -Good. Now you need to send

the Mercaillon file to Dubreuil at the Ministry.

-Yes, but... -You know the one, right?

-On the bottom left side... -Moïse!

There is no file. It's gone.

What do you mean?

There is no file. Someone stole it.

Shit!

Years of work for nothing.

Mercaillon. It has to be him.

-Come with me. Let's get out of here. -No way.

Breaking out would be an admission of guilt.

Where could I go anyway?

We can't just do nothing. We need to act.

We'll get him with something else.

Oh yeah? When?

And how?

Go back to my place and stay put. I need to think.

This is an order, André.

All right.

Hold on. I'd like you to vote for me too.

Here's a fake proxy authorization.

I can't vote, I'm dead.

You'll vote in the 5th arrondissement. They're used to it.

-Really? -Yes. Now go.

-And you'll vote "yes", of course. -Yeah.

If anything turns up, I'll contact you by parrot.

"Do you approve of the bill submitted to the French people...

It was a "Blue night" in Algiers.

At least three buildings have been blown up.

These bombings were undoubtedly criminal. The terrorist organization FLN

has claimed all of these bombings.

Today, French voters will be weighing in on the referendum for Algeria.

The question asked is as follows:

do you approve of the bill...

Vote cast.

REFERENDUM YES

Do you approve of the bill

submitted to the French people by the president of the Republic

on the self-determination of the Algerian people

and of the proposed provisional institutions

of Algeria prior to self-determination?

Provisional institutions of Algeria prior to self-determin...

It's sad that terrorists are targeting

French real estate assets.

Don't you agree, Mr. Bénichou?

When can I expect to be reimbursed?

-Reimbursed? What for? -For this.

On what grounds?

-War damage. -Oh no, I'm sorry to say...

the insurance company won't go for it, there's no war in Algeria!

-No war? What about this? -Events.

This is a real estate event.

Mr. Bénichou, when you act like this

you're not helping the reputation of your people.

-Pardon me? -What about the Crémieux decree?

Algeria's Jews have been French for 100 years

thanks to us, and this is how you thank us?

It goes both ways, pal. Let me tell you something.

You're a non-French Frenchman, Bénichou.

Moktar is a more French non-Frenchman than you!

Nardine bebek.

We really had a lovely service this morning.

REFERENDUM YES

Vote cast.

Father Berthelot's sermon was particularly deep.

Vote cast.

It was brimming with faith, hope,

and "love thy neighbor".

Vote cast.

-Your ballot paper. -Thanks.

STRING OF TERRORIST EXPLOSIONS IN THE KASBAH

Where the hell have you been?

Oh my! It caused quite a stir, didn't it?

Wasn't even worth it!

Insurers are war profiteers,

even when there is no war. What's this?

A gift for you, Sidi Jacky.

For me?

You seemed upset lately, so...

-There. -With good reason.

You can exchange it if you want.

No.

It's very nice.

-Thank you, Moktar. -Hamdulilah.

By the way, Sidi Jacky, what are you going to vote?

I'll vote "yes", what a silly question!

-What about you? -I'm also voting "yes".

If it was up to us Arabs to decide our fate...

"If it were up to us." I've told you a hundred times.

If it were.

We've achieved so much since 1830, but...

the subjunctive just won't sink in.

This is why we need to stay.

If the "yes" wins,

we may self-determine that we don't need to speak French anymore.

If the "yes" wins, it's the General who wins.

Ergo France wins, and the French language wins.

If the "yes" wins, French will take a step back,

and Arabic will take a step forward. What else is there to self-determine?

That Algeria remains French and my tenants come back.

Yatik saha, Mahmoud.

Algeria remains French, with much more power for the Arabs,

so it will be a bit less French.

If you vote "yes", that's what you're voting for.

No, I don't want Algeria to be less French.

You can't say no. Otherwise, don't vote "yes."

Don't confuse me. I'll vote "yes," you'll vote "yes." That's it. Let's go.

So I'm voting "yes" for more Algeria,

and you're voting "yes" for more France.

Let me see the question again.

Self-determination.

Self-determination.

What is this man up to?

No idea.

-I bought some chocolates. -Very well, madam.

Hi there.

Oh! You finally decided to get up?

The phone woke me up.

Good thing your brother is more serious.

The service was so beautiful.

She set one place too many, she's just dreadful these days!

I'm the one who asked her to.

-I've got a surprise. -You invited Father Berthelot

to apologize for not showing up.

I'm out of einkorn bread.

Not him! He's already brainswashed you for a whole hour...

Yvon!

-So who is it? -Maurice Thorez.

The day a commie comes to my house, it'll be in a casket.

Sophie.

Don't bother, Marthe, I'll do it.

Surprise!

André! Well, that's a surprise!

Hello, Madame. Yvon.

Hello sir.

Maurice, are you well? You look like you've seen a ghost.

Are you okay, sir?

-Salam Alaikum, Aziz. -Alaikum salam. Habarat labes?

Labes, labes. How's your family, bikhir?

-They're fine, hamdullah! -Hamdullah, we'll take some meshmesh.

Yes, of course.

-Where are they from? -M'Sila.

What about the ones from Batna?

I like them better, they're sweeter.

I'll see what I can do, Sidi Jacky. Maybe I'll find them.

-Barak Allahu fik, Aziz. -Wafika baraka.

Moktar, I just had a revelation.

What if France left Algeria? What will this country become?

Nothing.

Without France, this country is nothing.

I'll vote "no".

I'm also going to vote "no".

-Saha. -Allah yeselmek.

I can't believe

you have to wait till you're 21 to be able to vote.

Before that age, you're still a child.

You can also bear children.

Sophie!

We live in such a retrograde society!

When did women get the right to vote?

Fifteen years ago!

Poor Mom had to wait all that time before she could express herself.

It's beautiful. Thanks, André.

Don't mention it.

Anyway I would've voted "yes".

I would've agreed with Dad for once.

Voting "yes" shows our support to the General,

who's been guiding the nation for decades.

What we're really voting for is Algeria's liberation.

Unless it's another one of de Gaulle's dirty tricks.

Don't talk about what you don't know.

I'm a child but I'm old enough to understand

that he uses this referendum to divert attention from his coup.

What's with this leftist nonsense?

De Gaulle's comeback in '58 was a coup d'état.

I know you don't like to hear this, but it's the truth.

-You're boring André with your quarrels. -Not at all.

The General was the only man who could lead France

at a time when it was an utter mess.

He did try to wash off the shame of the Vichy regime,

a stain in our history that is likely to be permanent.

Oh, it's empty.

These bottles are tiny, aren't they? Off to the cellar.

André, come with me.

What the hell are you doing here, Merlaux? You're dead!

I got better.

Free Moïse.

Immediately.

I get it now.

-So you're accomplices... -Yes, it's a conspiracy!

You tried to get me killed and arrested Moïse.

Set him free or I'll tell Sophie, Irène and Yvon who you really are.

-I'll also tell Marthe. -Leave my family out of this, Merlaux.

I'll tell them what a collaborator you were.

I know you're the one who denounced my father to the Nazis, Colonel.

Prove it.

Where's the Mercaillon File?

What file?

All those nice pictures showing you working with the Nazis,

-laughing with them. -There is no file.

There's never been a file and there will be no file.

Dad? André? What are you doing?

Free Moïse, or your daughter will hear about all the things you've done

-past and present. -You think she'll believe you?

-Do you want to find out? -Dad?

We're coming, darling.

Yeah, we're coming, Sophie, and we have so many stories to tell!

I forbid you...

Hurry up. Mom doesn't want us to eat too late.

Yes, Mom wouldn't want us to eat too late.

Hold on. You should get a few good wine bottles too.

Look at that, a Bordeaux from 1934.

1938.

1942.

1942 was a very good vintage, wasn't it?

Exceptional, really. Here, take it.

Take a couple, while we're at it. Here you go.

Do you have any idea how expensive they are?

There is cause to celebrate, right?

You'll see, Maurice.

Maurice? How dare you?

The turnout for the referendum is impressive,

but who knows whether de Gaulle will get the overwhelming "yes"

that he asked for to build our future?

The question that...

Hello, Aimé.

Miss Marie-Jo? Why are you here?

I'm here to bring food to Mr. Moïse.

I like you, Miss Marie-Jo.

But I can't let you in. I'll be in trouble.

It's Sunday.

Yes, I know, but I baked him a pound cake.

The poor guy's so lonely. Hey, I got a nice piece of cake for you too.

You're such a sweet girl. All right then.

-But please don't tell anyone. -Yes, and you do that too.

Hush. Let's go.

Hello, Mr. Moïse.

I brought you lunch.

-On a Sunday? -You don't eat lunch on Sundays?

Andouillette.

I know it's not Wednesday at the Modern,

-but I know you love it. -Thank you, sweetie.

Turns out, Marthe had put it in the trunk!

This is a very good wine, sir.

It's supposed to be a long-keeping wine.

Who are we keeping it for?

If you'll allow me, madam,

sir,

I have an announcement to make.

Mr. Mercaillon,

I have the honor of asking you for your daughter's hand.

Come on, Dad, say "yes".

Say something, Maurice.

Dad, an overwhelming "yes".

Yes.

-Irène. -Yes.

To the wedding, on June 3rd.

We don't have any other plans.

It's also the anniversary of my grandmother's death.

Maurice.

Can I call you Maurice?

No.

Don't be so square, Maurice. Take it as a sign of affection.

You're absolutely right. Let me kiss you, Maurice.

You scum.

Mr. Moïse, when I went to feed

your parrot...

He's very cute, by the way.

Parrots are so funny when they talk.

My cousin from Redon used to have one. He'd repeat literally everything.

She had to get rid of it. Such a potty-mouth.

Two men were in your home. I just had the time

to hide. They took a large file

from one of the drawers in your beautiful dresser.

Oh, right! Nothing to worry about, Marie-Jo.

Probably the janitor and his son who were cleaning up.

I'd asked them to.

They certainly didn't look like janitors.

They looked shady.

I know, Miss Marie-Jo. That's because they're from the Moselle region.

But the age difference between both men was too small

for them to be father and son.

-Forget about all this. -They weren't cleaning up at all.

Look, Marie-Jo.

Like all women, you have way too much imagination.

Don't think about all this, go home.

And you should bake more often. This cake's excellent.

Well, bon appétit.

REFERENDUM NO

What do you think. They're tasty, aren't they?

Delicious!

I got them from Boën's. They're terrific.

Yvon, sit up straight.

I'd love some champagne.

Oh, Sophie!

Does anyone have a cigarette? I'm craving for a smoke.

-Thanks, André. -You're being ridiculous, Irène.

-No, I'm having fun. -Certainly not!

Come on, Maurice, if it were bad for you we'd know about it by now!

Finger biscuits, great idea!

Maurice? Are you going to free Moïse?

No.

Irène, I beg you! Salvage your dignity and fix your hair!

If I may,

you look good with your hair down.

You're very beautiful like this.

Thanks, André.

You're sure you don't want one,

-Colonel? -No.

Who is it? Is it the plumber?

I'm no fool, Mr. Moïse.

Vote cast.

Cédric Lionnet. Vote cast.

Vote cast.

-Do you understand the question, Moktar? -No.

Vote cast.

Vote cast.

-We're closing down, sir. -Gimme a second.

Would you approve of the idea of formulating a question

that would present us with a binary choice

rather than formulating a question that includes two sub-questions

that are totally contradictory in meaning?

Oh gosh! I'm so emotional. My little girl's becoming a woman.

Johnny Hallyday, come here. He's only 16, I believe.

Ah, thank you, Marthe.

It changes everything. I'd love to ask him a few questions

but I must warn you first, Aimée,

-he only answers by "yes" or "no". Right? -It's Mr. Yes or No.

Let's dance.

-Sure! -What?

Oh, all right then.

Maurice, you don't mind if we dance, do you?

André, this is such fun!

Watch out when you open it.

-Ah, the glasses! -I've got mine.

And now, the news.

Nothing is definitive yet, as the evening is still young,

but it looks like the "yes" is going to win by a large margin.

If that's the case, General de Gaulle would get the result,

the "overwhelming yes," that he had asked for...

Maurice, come on now.

Turn off the TV and have some fun with us!

Come on Dad, dance with us.

Never!

Come and dance, Maurice.

Will you free Moïse?

You're a pain in the ass, Merlaux.

The director of finance and accounting,

Gomez, who is attending a lace wedding anniversary,

is responsible for the stamping error that led to the demotion

of Deputy Director Moïse.

He will be heavily sanctioned for this.

Consequently, we shall hand back your medals...

and your office supplies.

Office supplies handed back, Colonel.

Georges Préjean, by virtue of the poweres vested in me,

I hereby reinstate your medals and responsibilities.

Justice has been served. It was such a disgrace.

Gentlemen,

the referendum on the self-determination of Algeria has been held.

France has voted "yes".

France showed its support for the General.

France voted "yes" to France.

Citizen Resistance?

No.

Secret Militia.

No, that's not great either.

What is he doing here, by the way?

I can vouch for him. Don't worry.

Underground Organization?

No.

No.

Secret Army Organization?

OAS.

That's very good.

Yes, OAS has a nice ring to it.

We're at war. We need to inform the General

and the insurance companies.

Subtitle translation by Thomas Isackson