Original subtitles

Lieutenant Patrick Durand, on behalf of the President

and by the powers vested in us,

we award you the Legion of Honour.

Lieutenant Christophe Marillier, on behalf of the President

and by the powers vested in us,

we award you the Legion of Honour.

Lieutenant Adrien Fournier, on behalf of the President

and by the powers vested in us,

we award you the Legion of Honour.

THE OFFICERS WARD

There's no room!

He'll soon be back.

Do you think so?

Is he your husband?

Which branch is he in?

Infantry. And you?

Engineers, the smart lot.

Can't you tell?

Excuse me...

Forgive me for insisting but I'd like to buy you a drink.

My last before the war...

Not all of us have a pretty woman to see us off.

Don't you have a friend?

Well?

Shall we move on?

Aren't you singing?

You like war?

- You're going to shoot at strangers? - Want to sing with the Krauts?

- Why don't you like peace? - We're at war!

The Krauts are knocking at our door!

Fighting won't bring us peace.

Doesn't your country mean anything?

What did you learn at school?

Why's the lieutenant so quiet?

He doesn't like war either. He's scared.

Let's go.

Go off and fight!

Go, prove you're a real man!

I don't understand.

Look at them run.

It's absurd!

Go on, catch your train. Leave me now.

Your eyes contain no hate...

You're young...

- I don't even know your name. - Clémence.

No clemency in wartime...

What's going on?

A spooked stallion, sir.

Who requisitioned a stallion? Geld the animal!

What happened?

A stallion, sir. A kick in the gut.

What should I do?

Fetch the chaplain.

Lieutenant Fournier reporting, sir.

At ease...

I see in your file that you've studied engineering...

Yes, sir.

I need a bridge built.

Take a detachment and find a suitable spot near Chaumont.

By the way, you don't happen to be related

to Colonel Fournier at headquarters?

Your father, perhaps?

My father's dead.

How are your men?

A little edgy, sir.

The Germans won't be here for a day or two.

Fancy a glass, lieutenant?

It shouldn't last too long.

What do you think?

He arrived this morning.

No one has dared touch him. Found six days ago...

His lingual artery has been clogged by mud.

He'd have bled to death otherwise.

A pity he didn't...

Is that him stinking like that?

Get him a medal while there's still time.

What does he want?

Do you think he can hear?

You want to say something?

Can you hear me?

I don't think he can hear.

I can hear you!

You're alive, old chap.

You're alive!

Where am I?

The face is split open from the chin to halfway up the nose,

with destruction of upper right jawbone and palate.

Partial destruction of the tongue,

organs at the rear of the throat unprotected...

Am I making that noise?

Clean him and move him to the rear.

I can't do anything here.

I can't speak anymore.

I can't speak anymore!

Calm down.

Let's see...

I can move my feet...

Both of them.

My hands...

My hands are tied.

I can't find my teeth...

I can't feel my teeth anymore!

My teeth have gone...

My palate too...

God, what has happened to me?

It hurts...

I hate that noise.

Has the war started?

Are you all right?

Bit hot, isn't it?

Get rid of these two, they're dead.

We've got two others for you.

Don't worry...

We'll clean you up.

Give them water, they're bloody suffocating!

God, what a stink!

Here, drink this.

How can I make this one drink?

He'll be all right till evening.

Are you in pain?

We've run out of morphine, and all the rest.

Hang on! You'll be in Paris by morning.

The war's over for you.

You'd rather have the rain?

Which one's the officer?

This one, I think.

Are you an officer?

- Shelter him. - He wants the rain, he's feverish.

Take him to the officers' ward.

Are you awake?

You mustn't sleep all the time.

It's midday.

Aren't you hungry?

Let me help you to sit up.

Is he awake?

Good day, lieutenant.

Can you hear me?

Not too lonely?

That'll soon change, I fear.

Are you in pain?

You're not the kind to complain.

This is the plan:

We'll feed you to build you back up.

I'll operate in a few days, to tidy you up.

Then a long rest before we move onto serious things.

You're in no hurry to fight again?

Does that hurt?

Arms or legs are easy, we just lop them off.

A jawbone is different.

A bone graft may well take. It's fascinating work.

More for me than for you, of course.

Concentrate on two things: breathe well and eat well.

I'll see to the rest.

In a few months, you'll be as right as rain.

I'll be in to see you every morning.

Give him morphine if he's in pain.

But don't let him get used to it.

It's in short supply.

Good-bye, lieutenant.

If you want to say something, write it down.

Oh, I'm sorry.

It's not too hot?

That's good.

Let's take a little break.

Is it good?

You can't tell.

Thank you

Anais.

And you're Adrien.

I have a son a bit younger than you.

He's on the Belgian Front.

The news isn't good.

It's quiet up here.

Downstairs, we're running out of space.

I've brought you paper to write home.

To set your mother's mind at rest.

I don't want my mother to see me like this.

Nor anyone else either.

Thank God they're far away.

"Stay where you are.

I'll visit as soon as I can.

Things are chaotic here with all the wounded.

Visitors aren't allowed.

My war's over. I've done my duty.

That's what matters.

No vital parts have been hit, not my eyes, legs or arms.

Just a fractured collarbone.

I'll write as often as I can.

I'm perfectly safe here. Adrien."

"No vital parts have been hit."

The collarbone...

The collarbone's nothing!

Do you think it will last long?

What's all that noise?

They've tied me down again.

Why can't I see anything?

What's that I feel?

Heb operated on me.

He can't have done much, it's still as empty.

And that noise...

I won't speak again.

I'd rather not speak.

There's another man...

They're worried I might scare him.

I'm the one who's scared.

The thought of it scares me.

Already awake?

How do you feel today?

Does it feel tight?

Torn flesh contracts. I've stretched it again.

Now, we can rebuild.

I'll use newborn baby bone.

They'll let us know when one dies.

We have to bide our time.

Breathe well, eat well.

No soup tonight.

You're hot.

You have a fever.

You're hot...

You have a fever.

Only deer antlers ever grow back.

He has to use deer horn.

I must stop thinking about her.

Thaw all dead now.

I must tell him to use deer horn on me.

Excuse me...

Lieutenant Fournier.

Are you family?

We were students together.

I got his letter this morning.

How bad is he?

It's hot. Here.

You have to be brave.

- Is he dead? - No.

Is he going to die?

No.

He needs peace and quiet.

Don't look away, that would hurt him even more.

He's on the second floor. The first ward.

Adrien?

I'm sorry...

You want me to fetch your mail?

The janitor has the keys? I'll go round.

I've brought you some...

Go away

I'll come back soon, I promise.

You're a hero, Adrien, a real hero.

Dementia

Lieutenant Fournier. Wounded at the start of fighting.

The other two men are still unconscious,

Minister.

Lieutenant, I'm here to express

the country's gratitude for the bravery

and sacrifice that you have shown.

Without men like you,

the land of our fathers,

that we must hand on to our children,

would be overtaken by barbarity.

We're proud of you.

Where are you from, lieutenant?

He can't speak yet, Minister.

I hope he can hear me at least.

Your words have been noted for the press, Minister.

Good.

How many weeks will it be until he's up and about?

Months would be more appropriate, sir.

Ready to get back to the Front?

We need men like you.

Good-bye.

Why are you out of bed?

You mustn't. You might fall.

The sight that would have been...

He congratulated you. You can be proud of yourself.

He's already forgotten me.

But I'm grateful.

At least he didn't grimace on seeing me.

"Months would be more appropriate..."

He thinks the war's going to last...

His stomach can't take it.

It's not just my stomach.

I want to know what I look like. I want to see.

You'll feel better in a few days.

Mirror

The doctor said no.

If it was that bad, I couldn't look at you.

I can see your whole soul in your eyes.

What state is that one in?

I won't bother getting up.

I'll see him soon enough.

I couldn't come any sooner.

This is all I found, on the table.

"Dear Adrien, Meeting again would be madness.

Don't be angry. You understand why.

I'll never forget your eyes,

your smile and your touch.

I wish you the best of luck. Clémence. "

I've brought the papers.

Do you read a bit?

No, it tires you.

Should I try to find her?

Berthelot and Roy have hired me.

I design gun barrel casings.

That way I feel useful.

I'm painting again.

It's pathetic in wartime but it helps me forget.

When I paint, I'm in another world.

Draw me

No, I can't.

Why are you here?

You can't stay here.

Off you go!

Why aren't we dead?

I'd just flown over the Front on my way back.

Suddenly, a hail of bullets.

Two Krauts. I never saw them coming.

My plane caught fire.

This tree came up at me.

The rest's a blank.

Your uncle's downstairs.

Please... He wants to reassure your mother.

What shall I tell him?

You can't hide forever.

We'll pull through

"It snowed this morning.

We were at the window like children.

Two nurses threw snowballs.

We almost went and joined them.

Our uncle came. I warned you they'd turn him away.

He left me some ham, sausage and tobacco.

I shared it with the others.

Pierre, a pilot, Henri, a Breton,

and Louis, a new arrival."

I've brought you some cigarettes.

Nice smell?

"We had a proper Christmas.

I'd have liked to be with you.

But the nurses, especially Anais,

helped us forget the war and the ward.

Sometimes,

I forget I've been wounded."

How's the graft taking?

You'll have a Greek nose.

No, a Jewish one.

All right...

So my mother will know me.

She'll know you, I promise.

Open your mouth.

Speak.

What's your name?

Henri...

Did you hear that?

You will too. I'm operating tomorrow.

A baby died last night.

They're preparing everything.

You'll wake tomorrow

with a brand-new mouth.

It's a world first.

Medicine is making giant strides.

Can I speak?

I can't do it.

I'll never manage it.

It's no use...

It hurts.

Are you all right?

There's a corpse in my mouth.

Does it hurt?

I wish it was daytime.

I'm scared.

I'm going to pray

for you.

You'll be all right.

I don't believe in God. It's absurd.

I have to calm myself down.

I've never known anyone so calm.

- What's all this? - It's him.

His face gives me nightmares.

How do you feel today?

They're sending two other girls up.

The chief medical officer blew his top.

There was a bit of flirting going on downstairs.

Cécile...

Adrien's been here for six months.

He's a bit like a son for me.

Flirting while her husband's on the Front?

Clémence didn't even wait.

I'll be right back.

I'll find her.

I'm already old, I'm a monster.

I want to see her fade, grow ugly and wrinkled...

This girl's pretty.

I want to touch her.

Sorry, did I hurt you?

Why is it hurting today?

I mustn't think about the pain.

Is that better?

Her skin's so soft...

Tell me if I'm hurting you.

You're out of your minds!

What have you done with him?

You idiots!

She's mine within a week.

Charm counts more than beauty, right?

Want to bet on it?

Three francs I get her.

She's really hot.

I'm not going. I can't!

Later... When I look different.

He promised me no one would notice.

Your wife's waiting.

I don't want to!

I don't know...

Are the children here?

How do I look?

Fine.

Do you have the sweets?

You'll stay, won't you?

I'm coming with you.

Charles!

Stop it.

Your father's on his way.

Sit down now, please.

Charles, it's me.

Not my daddy!

I fell asleep.

It's my fault.

Promise me you'll never kill yourself.

Promise me!

Turn your head.

Open your mouth.

Why isn't it taking? It should...

Does this hurt?

And this?

Right, we'll start again.

Prep him for tomorrow.

Believe in it, lieutenant.

You have to believe for it to work.

Only a woman's skin can take on me.

We'll try something else.

You don't believe in it, but I do!

Never beaten. Never!

Wake up...

Adrien, wake up.

Can you hear me?

Can you hear me?

It's me, Alain.

You have to wake up now.

You can speak?

You can, you spoke.

I'm not speaking.

Adrien, you're speaking!

I am?

I'm speaking...

I'm speaking...

It's extraordinary.

Extraordinary...

Thank you...

Day...

Life...

Sight...

The Virgin...

I'm carving a Virgin, not a "irgin".

I'm 'arving a 'irgin...

Why do you 'arve?

It's my way of praying.

Praying...

Patience.

Patience.

Patience, good!

Science.

There's a woman upstairs.

And she's not a nurse.

A woman?

A woman like us?

I don't know.

I saw her, she's got long hair.

Go and see.

Patience...

What?

Dance.

Hussy...

A woman, just think!

'Ome of them aren't at the Front.

Some.

We probably look normal from down there.

She's there!

Why a woman?

I think she's the only one.

That's why they hide her.

Henri...

Go and talk to her, you won't scare her so much.

Let me introduce my friends...

They'll be glad to meet you.

Adrien Fournier.

Pierre Weil.

Henri de Penanstére.

The same dog attacked us. I didn't think it bit the ladies.

Sorry, I'm as deaf as a post.

But I can read your lips if you speak slowly.

I won't be able to understand you.

Am I speaking too loudly?

I'm worried I might shout. My ears are humming.

Have you been here long?

Since when? How many months?

Six months perhaps.

I can't tell.

I never see anyone.

What about you?

Adrien, twenty months.

Pierre, thirteen, and me, fifteen.

Were you on the Front?

On the Front?

Noirceur-sur-la-Lys.

Wiped off the map now.

We were operating in a tent...

and a shell fell.

They were all killed.

Except for me. I don't know why.

She has a pretty smile.

And beautiful eyes...

And lovely hair...

He says you have a pretty smile.

And beautiful eyes...

And beautiful eyes.

Thank you.

People said I was beautiful

but it wasn't really true.

You must have been handsome too.

I still dream about it at night.

Do you too?

Do you get used to it?

Life goes on.

What are you doing here? It's not allowed.

Come on, out with you.

Come back and see me. My name's Marguerite!

I thought they were operating again.

I wish you...

a Happy New Year.

Happy New Year to you too.

I hope you get out this year.

Here, I got what you wanted.

Thank you.

Patience...

Well done, that's wonderful.

This will be my last visit.

I'm off to the Belgian Front.

They've accepted me at last.

Not you!

Why?

Because I'm not like you?

I'm going to fight. For you and those who died.

- I won't be called a coward. - But no one...

There have been too many dead.

It's not for you...

I'll see you after the war. We'll celebrate together.

Be careful.

I dreamt of Marguerite.

Me too.

I can't get her voice out of my mind.

What's up with you?

In a bad mood?

No...

I'm thinking.

I need a woman.

We're going to go out. We've been cooped up too long.

It's not healthy.

You had a revelation in the night?

God spoke to you?

I thought about her all night.

We don't accept soldiers.

Good evening, gentlemen...

We have nothing for you here.

I'm not running a charity.

Do you hear me?

We don't have any girls for you.

I'll see what I can do.

Something to drink?

The three prettiest ones.

Follow me.

Aren't you undressing?

Is something wrong?

Want me to undress you?

How old are you?

Twenty-one.

You don't want to?

You don't fancy me?

Close your eyes.

American blend...

A gift from a princess.

You think...

that you've seen the worst...

We'd missed out on syphilis. Now we have it!

- Are you well? - Very well. And yourself?

I saw you go out last night. Did you feel up to it?

We went to a brothel...

to check that we're still men.

He says that...

we have to get used to others looking at us.

What did you do before the war?

I have land in Brittany,

Adrien's an engineer and Pierre a pilot.

Tell her I'll make her fly.

- He says... - He'll make me fly.

The war's over in my ears this morning.

Do you smoke?

You get bad habits on the Front.

I'm from a family of cowards.

My brothers dodged the call-up.

They wanted me to marry another coward.

I walked out.

You could say the war saved me.

These aren't French?

No, American.

They're not bad. Tell me where to find some.

"Tell me where to find some." She's got class.

- She must have been magnificent. - But she's not Jewish.

Never mind. I can see her amid the falling shells...

She runs to me, hugs me, smiles

and, bang, a shell hits us!

That way, I'd be with her for all eternity.

You're raving, you must be feverish.

We'll go to Africa.

Disfigured warriors are lords over there.

And the women...

Front and back, I hear they're...

We'll take two planes, I'll do the flying,

you'll be our mechanic...

What's wrong?

Are you asleep?

Did you see who got up?

I think it's the new chap.

Come with me.

We've all been here... Come on!

You're alive!

The Krauts didn't kill you

so don't do it yourself.

It's over, it's all over.

The war's still on in your mind but it's over.

You're alive!

You have the right to live!

You're going to live.

We have the right to live.

Your sister's here.

Have you told her?

I couldn't.

Why?

It's not possible.

Don't keep her waiting.

Why?

She's your sister. It's dreadful not knowing.

Much worse than seeing you.

I've only known you like this.

But when I wake up each day,

I'm eager to see you.

Come on. Shall we go?

I'd rather go alone.

Is something wrong?

Are you all right?

I'd forgotten how pretty you are.

Will you be out soon?

Four years is a long time.

I still need more operations.

I thought that you were dead,

that someone else was writing.

I have died a little.

What do I tell mother?

The truth.

I don't want her to come.

Nor our uncle either.

Can I come back?

You can, yes.

Look after grandpa and mother.

I'm very fond of you.

Me too.

There are uglier men than me.

Aren't there?

This face isn't that bad...

That's enough. The major might come in.

Adrien!

I'm Adrien.

Yes, that's me.

- No more operations. - Come on now.

My turn...

- One last look... - Just a second...

There, that's enough now.

Oh, no... Come on...

Stop it now!

What's wrong?

Alain's dead.

My friend...

What is this war?

What use is it?

He wasn't supposed to die.

I've always protected him

but I couldn't stop him from going.

I didn't tell him that I needed him alive.

They've signed! It's all over.

Look...

Adrien, it's over. The war's over.

Listen to this!

The Armistice was signed at five o'clock...

It's all over. France is victorious.

Monday, November 11, 1918... A red-letter day!

What's happening?

What's all that noise?

They've signed.

They've signed...

It's over?

It's over?

It's over!

What's wrong?

Nothing.

It's over.

You look good from behind.

Not everyone can say that.

Smile. Think of the women waiting for us.

Is that a smile?

You'd better forget the smile.

You're a hero, that's enough.

Women like heroes.

- I'll miss you. - I'll be out soon.

We didn't fight for nothing.

Today's the big day.

We made it!

I owe you everything.

Too bad you have to hide behind that patch.

I can take it off. I wear it for others.

Once you accept yourself, others will accept you.

One day, you'll no longer need it.

Good luck, lieutenant.

We'll meet again.

I'll be waiting for you.

I've spent 1,640 days here.

It's worth being alive.

Good luck.

My uncle...

Anais.

I'm scared.

You'll be all right.

People aren't all like you.

I'll often think of you.

He'll like mashed potato...

He loves roast lamb too.

- Can he eat that? - Yes.

I'll cut it up tiny for him.

Will I know him?

Stop worrying, it's silly.

- What if I don't know him? - Stop drinking!

I won't show anything.

Here they are!

Come in.

I'd know you anywhere.

It's him. We'd know him anywhere.

Say something! It's him.

- We'll get used to it. - Mother, please!

I knew him...

It's nothing.

They've done quite a job on you.

I was worried

I wouldn't see you again, I'm not so young now.

Do you think there'll be mushrooms this year?

There could well be.

Lucie, is that right?

Cécile...

Cécile...

I'm not the only one who's changed.

The last time I saw you,

you were this high.

And now you're pretty young women!

You'll make them blush!

It's true, they are pretty.

So are you.

Here.

I was keeping it for today.

Welcome home, my boy!

Here's to France!

Where are you?

Clémence...

Are you all right, Adrien?

I'm all right.

I'm all right.

What's the matter?

Nothing. I've had too much to drink.

Who's Clémence?

You called me Clémence.

Have you been waiting long?

I couldn't find a cab.

Thank you for waiting 'til dark.

It's easier for me.

I couldn't face them by the light of day.

It can't be worse that what we've known.

Sorry...

Mademoiselle...

I didn't know you were coming tonight.

Come in.

I'll let Madame know. She may not be able to see you.

What's this woman after?

Monsieur, she's your sister!

What are you doing here?

Come in.

Are you going to stay like that?

Take me away from here.

You mustn't.

You can stay here.

What about you?

I can't live here now.

I hadn't even planned to come back.

There's linen in the cupboard.

No, forget it.

Why?

Let me help you.

For tonight at least.

The war will be over

when we live normally.

With a man for you and a woman for me.

No man will ever want me.

Don't say that...

It doesn't matter.

You'll find someone,

I'm sure of that.

Women are different.

Different things matter for them.

I'll always be here.

What's her name?

Her name was...

Clémence.

Have you seen her again?

I don't even know her surname.

Her husband was a musician, that's all I know.

Clémence...

I'm sorry, have we met?

Forgive me, I'm so sorry.

Did I hurt you?

I should have looked.

Have I hurt you?

D'you know what you've done?

Forgive me...

What can I do with a face like this?

- It's not my fault. - It is!

I just opened the door...

I'm disfigured now.

You're not.

- I am, I'm disfigured. - Not at all.

I don't scare you?

I'm not a monster?

Could you say that again?

You're not a monster.

Again.

You're not a monster.

Again!

Again...