Original subtitles

CHASING BUTTERFLIES

Written by Otar Iosseliani

Cinematography by William Lubtchansky

With Narda Blanchet, Pierette Pompom Bailhache,

Aleksandr Cherkasov, Thamara Tarassachvili

Sacha Piatigorsky, Francoise Tsouladze

Production design by Emmanuel de Chauvigny

Music by Nicholas Zourabichvili

Art direction by

Produced by Martine Marignac

Honored friend, it's always

a pleasure to welcome you.

CHASING BUTTERFLIES

Film by Otar Iosseliani

Did you sleep well?

Such weather!

A lovely autumn.

And him? Is he up yet?

We'll wake him up now.

He's still asleep.

I'm not surprised.

Go on, my son, light up.

Please read - sorry I'm late - this epistle.

"Paul's Epistle to the Romans." Chapter 12.

Hello. How are you?

Not bad, thank you.

Well, I'm going.

Waiting for me?

Come in.

Again!

What were you going to do with all those teaspoons?

Must I lock everything up?

-And Madam? - I took her to the garden.

-You think I'm a thief? -And the porcelain, the Chinese bowls,

the Etruscan vase?

Waxed the salon, as I told you?

Go on, wax.

Five persons were killed when a bomb exploded early Friday morning in Lima.

The police claim the van contained 1500 pounds of explosives...

Five police and a civilian were killed by a bomb

Is the fishing good? Excellent. I caught three.

Here's the third.

Why bother with these creatures?

Your guests are vegetarian.

I must tell you something.

Your tenant farmer's tractor...

drove over my land there,

marked by those three stones.

You're forever moving those stones.

Tell Herve he mustn't drive past the three stones.

The notary is complaining.

It will be a lovely souvenir. Tomorrow you'll each have a copy.

Someone stay with me.

- Don't they tire you? - They're so cheerful.

Like grasshoppers. They eat everything.

Stan with this one.

Next, take...

...this one.

Then...

I'm getting mixed up.

- First this? - No.

Yes, this first.

Then...

...this one.

Then this, but not right away!

And this one, last.

Some bread and butter?

Yes, thanks.

-You changed them! - I take this one after.

So, I start on the right, and finish on the left.

Very well.

Sorry.

Good.

May I?

We have two magnificent armchairs to show you.

-What kind? - Portuguese. White. Very lovely.

17th century. I'll have to see them.

Take the lady up to the first floor.

- In the library? - No, the boudoir.

We'll talk about the wardrobe too.

- It's cleared up. - Good.

- Thank you very much. - Not at all.

What will we get? We'll see. That's her business...

...and she's good at it. She has a lot of taste.

Taste?

She brings yellow flowers, on a Wednesday!

Obviously, for flowers she's a zero, but as for antiques,

she knows her business.

- I thought they were worth more. - It's a good price. They're hard

...to sell these days, believe me.

They're fragile.

- Damn! Now what have you done? - It's rotten!

Be careful.

- What'd you pay? - That's my affair. Careful.

We'll cover them.

I told you they were fragile...

- Ready, Father? - I've got a headache.

- I drank too much again. -Another party?

Just a small one. I do have self-control...

But a birthday's a birthday.

They kept on arriving. What could I do?

One glass, then another...

- How often do you have birthdays? - Too often, sadly.

-I need a drink...

Just one.

Good afternoon.

Fresh as a daisy.

He drank too much.

No more wine. A grappa to start.

Will you wait for me?

Not long.

- They're on time! - It's their 12 o'clock walk.

Excellent.

We make them ourselves.

This is the one. -You're joking! I can't sell that!

I can't sell that!

Look what shape it's in!

- Look at the wood! - It's totally rotten!

Yvonne, these chairs are simply splendid.

- Repaired, they're worth a fortune. - You gave the price?

I must be going. Excuse me.

You know my conditions...

The lady can think it over.

A pupil.

Not that way. Straight ahead.

Watch your step.

It's just been waxed. Wipe your feet, it's a parquet.

You can't imagine what the upkeep on this property costs.

I have a house guest. The Maharajah of Mullakh.

He's very rich, a childhood friend, really quite nice.

It may be interesting

for your spiritual concerns to meet a genuine Maharajah.

This is my son.

Come here, please.

Your Highness, my friends.

I'd like to know my tessitura. I have a metallic ring in my voice,

like Chaliapin.

Not there! I just had it revarnished. That's the most fragile chair.

And why is this lamp on?

I'll just change.

Attack! Dolores, over here! Out!

They don't recognize friends.

But they know how to protect me.

Please don't put anything on the piano.

Darling...

...when did you get in?

What were you up to? At 4 am. you were still out.

Yes. We went dancing and joked around. We drank, it was quite nice.

I admit I got in late.

There's no reason to get dramatic. Like you always do.

I'm not getting dramatic.

I'm not chiding you, I simply consider you a whore.

And you're a pathetic cretin.

A moron I should have left!

How dare you talk to me like that!

Your horses! Your friends! All you do is drink and lay about.

I'm fed up! You bore me shit less!

Come in, please.

Good luck!

The Chateau Crouilly, in perfect

condition. I think it's magnificent. Something you can do wonders with.

The price is negotiable.

The Chateau of Baron Otard, which you visited.

I believe it didn't meet your requirements.

The Chateau de Bayonette, late Renaissance,

anticipating Vaux-Ie-Vicomte or Dampierre. A magnificent style.

But it's not... it's not... not for sale, unfortunately.

That's what's in our region.

This one: $ 2.5 million. And this one: $ 1.5 million...

I just told you it's not... Doesn't he understand?

He insists on this one.

19 people were killed and 17 wounded...

...by the bomb explosion at Jakarta supermarket...

That's her.

Here they are again!

The chateau's still not for sale.

It's still the same. Nothing's changed.

Dear Madam, we don't wish to buy your chateau immediately,

but to arrange its acquisition by our company

after the regrettable but inevitable death of your cousin.

It's nice of you

to think about her death, but she has no intention of dying.

In our family we live to a ripe old age.

They may have to wait another fifty years.

We can wait fifty years.

- It's the third time! - I can do nothing.

They insist.

What an insolence!

Never saw anything like it!

Well done. Good answer.

It's horrible.

They'll kick us out of here.

Sudden inflation in Italy...

threatens many Italian families.

Well, goodbye.

Bon appetit! Bye.

-You are always missing! - Don't teach me!

Bye.

Let me see.

Fine.

Come on, come on.

The salon for high society meetings.

The dining room.

The general, my grandfather by marriage. Gainsborough school.

Note the proud hearing. The colors are unusual for the school.

Anonymous. But the somber brushwork,

the tormented matter

and golden touches are in the Rembrandt style.

The subject met a tragic end.

A commemorative work. Discreet color, execution a bit stiff.

It has the charm of a Van Dyck. A copy is at Chambord.

One of my great-great grandfathers.

Come in, please.

- Feel better? - I'm trying to recover.

I already told you

that the boundary problem only exists in your cousin's mind.

This is my land. The tractor was on my land.

Exactly. We warned him.

Valerie told you not to pass the three stones.

I never heard.

That proves you lied.

-What's going on? - Leave me alone! I have to go.

It's good that you are leaving.

That'll be better...

...there's nothing you can do here. Sorry.

It can't be helped.

You're leaving too? That's good.

We can see we're imposing.

We are here.

I was in the washroom...

I went upstairs...

A call from the provinces... Bad news, I think.

When did it happen? How?

We'll try to come right away.

Kvartal 2. 403...

...Block 5.

Entrance 11, apartment 513.

17 words. I'll see what it costs.

That's 103 francs. It's expensive to Russia.

Thank you.

Calm down. It's unbearable!

Stop shouting!

Stop shouting! Get out!

Thanks.

What happened?

- It's mud all over! - Why are you shouting?

What are you doing here? You forgot turn of the light again!

Can I read it?

Calm down. Sorry, but can't be helped.

I'll call Olja.

Olja! Fastova! The phone.

What happened?

Mama called. I'll tell you later. I'm in a hurry.

Don't worry. Go.

Read it.

Sit down.

Which one?

That one.

She's a beauty.

Well...

we must go.

Sit down.

Where to?

- To the funerals. - Funerals?

Olja! The phone!

- Hello! - What's up?

- Sit there! - Hello!

I hear nothing at all.

I hear nothing.

-Who's is it? - Elena.

- Louder, please.

I hear nothing at all. Bloody bureaucrat, bloody spy, bloody idiot!

Remove all the covers, please.

Breathing all this... It's full of dust.

I'm glad to see you.

Sorry for this bother, but I'm all alone.

Sit down, please.

I didn't forget you.

How nice, the whole family's here.

They all came. I don't like that!

Well, that's it.

That's better.

Come look...

Look who's there. Elegant as usual. The dandy...

- Still handsome, isn't he? - He doesn't age.

Let's have a drink.

Sit over here.

A good thing you're here. It's good to sit down.

Could you turn on the radio?

It's time for the news, the delicious news...

We have lots of people. Listen to that.

Three French soldiers in the UN forces in Yugoslavia

were killed Sunday in a road accident...

Is everyone here?

You can begin.

In my function as executor,

I shall proceed to the reading of the deceased's testament.

"I, Marie-Agnes de Bayonette, "being of sound mind and body

"and in possession of my faculties, do decide

"to bequeath my goods

to the following persons...

"My chateau, along with all adjoining land,

"all furniture, paintings,

table-service, silverware, "and all objects

"in my possession at the time of my death,

"to my sister, Helene von Zastro, nee de Bayonette.

"As for all money in various bank accounts opened in my name,

"I also bequeath to my sister, Helene von Zastro."

Helene von Zastro."

Such stupid and revolting people!

Please, behave correctly!

Can't say I loved her.

- Why did you come then? - Because it was my duty.

Mine too, but I could have done without it.

- Disappointed? - Not at all.

Anyway, it's falling apart.

Let's walk.

- How did they all take it? - Badly. They're furious.

All disinherited.

Try to console them. It's not my fault.

I'm sorry, dear Madam...

Anyway, I never inherited anything.

Here's our notary.

I congratulate him for... for his skill

in the reading of the will. It was magnificent! Congratulations!

May I borrow this gentleman?

- What do you think, my dear? - Many of us buried...

...our husbands years ago. There are only old women left.

It's unoccupied now.

It's locked.

I'll see you later.

I'm going to my seat.

They're here.

Put it over there.

The suitcase.

Open it.

Here you are.

Some respect!

I've nothing to say to you!

Will you stop it!

Come over here!

I do as I like!

Don't order me around!

You can't imagine my life

with him!

Sit down, please.

Not a very nice family...

You too?

Good night and thank you for this charming evening.

You too? Maybe you are right.

I'll be back in a minute.

That was upsetting. It didn't surprise me.

Valerie, I'm waiting for you!

All's gone.

What a shame the night of my sisters' funeral

should finish so badly! - You know this family is impossible!

It's nothing new. They're a pack of dogs.

Stan with the glasses. I'll be right back.

- Don't bother, please. - I'll help you.

- Mama! -Valerie, come here!

Let's go to bed.

- I'll clear the table and go to bed. -You must not do that.

- Someone must do it. - There are domestics here.

I'll take the glasses, you do the dishes.

You are not a servant. It's indecent.

-You know what is indecent, and I don't. - You can't do that!

Let's go to bed.

I see those asses of cousins of yours stole the silverware.

Valerie, look me in the eyes.

You can see it wasn't me.

It wasn't you. Get down.

No self-control, that Mr Xavier.

But he's not unpleasant. He's very unpleasant.

Boorish and pretentious...

In this family they're all crazy.

- Maybe you've forgotten. - I've forgotten so much...

But why are you leaving tomorrow?

I decided to.

Not in bed yet?

How did it end?

Let's go to bed.

Good night.

Good night.

Just a nip.

Drinking, girls?

Yes, and you too.

To our trip!

Let's say goodbye.

I'll write you.

The above act was read to the parties

by the notary, Henri de Lampadaire.

Full signature here.

The purchaser.

I keep the original.

I'll send you notarized photocopies.

The keys.

You forgot them.

You are now the owner.

The explosion and ensuing fire were the probable result of a bomb...

Among the victims, the Maharajah Dhevi.

The bodies of three women have not yet been identified...

The explosion literally pulverized the passenger car...

Now, photo, please.

Come here.

Everyone look at me!

- It's very simple. -I know.

- How much? - 20.

I'll take this one.

This one.

Not that.

Those too.

For any alterations, feel free to call on us.

The phone.

Hello?

- Not so loud!

No, they moved. I don't know.

Out of my house! Quick!

I'll show you. It's very simple.

See what I'm doing?

Try it yourself.