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ANNECY FILM FESTIVAL 2019
OFFICIAL SELECTION

A FILM BY JEAN-FRANÇOIS LAGUIONIE
AND XAVIER PICARD

THE PRINCE'S VOYAGE

When I regained consciousness,

I found it hard to tell
if I was amongst the dead

or the living.

Above me,

a large flower lit up like a sun,

then went out,

presumably to let me sleep.

But I didn't sleep.

Shadows came and went around me,
and I tried to follow them,

but moving my head
was very difficult.

The rest of me refused to move.
I must have had broken bones.

Since I wasn't permitted
to know any more than this,

I decided to continue to play dead,

a thing I did better
than anyone in the world.

In reality, the shadows
were monkeys like you and me,

but their behavior was most strange.

Their main activity was note-taking.

He's opening his eyes?
Quick, take notes!

He's moving his head? More notes!

Nelly was the most pleasant.

She came at the crack of dawn
to watch me closely

and take notes.

Elisabeth was not so pleasant.

Preoccupied with little plants

to which she gave
every care and attention,

she gazed upon me

as if I were an embarrassing object

that needed to be gotten rid of
as soon as possible.

That didn't worry me.

If they were going to kill me,
they'd have done it already.

Everything about me
seemed to puzzle them,

especially my clothes,
which they examined

with great curiosity.

But it was impossible to understand

a single word
of what they were saying.

The next arrival
is easier to describe.

Nelly called him by a savage's name:
"Professor Abervrach".

And Elisabeth called him
"Victor" or, sometimes, "my friend".

He nodded constantly,
as if he knew everything.

I've known "superior" monkeys
like him at the castle.

They believe in themselves

more than the science they practice.

But since he seemed to accord me
considerable importance,

I felt the time had come
to introduce myself.

What do you want with me?

Cut my throat at once,
or leave me alone!

And stop taking notes.

I am not some strange beast!

I am Prince Laurent,
King of the Laankos!

What did he say?

Golly, I really don't know!

An archaic language, one might say.

Untie me from this table.
I'm not going to fly away!

He possesses language.

And he seems
to express himself with clarity.

Where could he have come from?

Did you see his clothes?

Finer than the finest shirt
from the best districts.

We're in a fine mess, in any case!

What'll we do with him?

Elisabeth, you have a gift
for seeing the bad in everything.

I sometimes wonder
why you chose science.

What are you afraid of?

I will have to rekindle my Latin.

He used a phrase

that appeared familiar at the time.

Where did I put
my old Latin dictionary?

He has a lovely voice,
don't you think?

Don't be silly, Nelly!

Help the professor
to find his dictionary.

He'll fall!

I think you have something
far better here to understand him.

Tom?

What do you want to hear?

I told you earlier:
I am Prince Laurent.

-I rode for many days.
-"Many days"?

-I swam.
-"Swam"...

-I am here now.
-"Now"...

-I look around me.
-"Around me"?

The light is too bright. I am tired.

What more could I say to him?
He couldn't understand me.

Suddenly,
perhaps because of the resemblance,

I mentioned Kom.
At first, he was surprised.

"Kom?" he said, shaking his head
and touching his chest.

Not Kom, Tom.

We had found him in the forest
whilst I hunted the tiger.

He had fallen from the land above,
the Woonko land:

that strange land,
on top of the trees, the Canopy.

My hunters were about to kill him

as we would a wounded animal...

No.

...when I had the idea
of taking him to the castle

and looking after him.

He was curious about everything

and surprisingly intelligent.

One evening, for my entertainment,

I had him brought up to my chamber.

You should have seen him marvel
at everything he saw:

the hangings, the paintings,

the models of my flying machines.

When he'd finished looking around,
he looked at me and said

with disarming ingenuity:

"You know, Prince,

"before, I didn't know I was a monkey

"nor that monkeys
were capable of such marvels."

While I taught him many things,

he made sure to teach me

what he knew.

For example, his people used cries

in addition to their language.

They had hundreds of cries...

including the defense cry
that made an adversary freeze.

Brave little Kom.
He was nearly your age.

How could I not think of him

whilst I find myself
in the same situation

being examined like an animal.

There. Have I said enough?

Thank you, Prince.
Please continue tomorrow.

I know enough for today.

How come?
Do you understand my language?

He laughs like a monkey.

Look no further, my friends!

We have here a fellow monkey!

You doubted it, did you?

Nelly, go down and see
if Tom has finished for today.

He came across the sea.
I don't know how he did it.

Probably using the ice.
But he crossed the sea!

The stranger does not want
to stay in the laboratory.

He calls it a kitchen!

My lab, a kitchen! Whatever next?

Where shall we put him?

My research is secret, my friend!

If they find out
we never left the museum,

it won't be disgrace we face,
it'll be the labor camps!

He is injured, Elisabeth!

Tom is sure he won't run away.

And, to reassure us,
the stranger himself suggests

that we put shackles on his feet.

This monkey is able to reason

and even to compromise...

Let us take care of him, my friends.

He can stay in the museum.

He won't be seen. It's all locked.

Tom will visit him every day

and tell us
all we need to know about him!

What'll you tell the school?

I'll talk to the director.

Tom is fascinated by this stranger.

He's the only one
who understands him!

Every day, we'll know more
about his land,

his customs, his gods
and who knows what else?

Don't you realize?
He crossed the sea!

He's a monkey from another land,
Elisabeth!

The theory we once supported,
long ago!

The Academy will hear about this.

I'll resume my report.

They will have to reinstate me!

Whilst I recovered
before being presented to the Court,

Tom had managed to have me
transferred to another prison.

The place where I was
to be shut away for a while

seemed strangely deserted to me.

But it was vaster
and more pleasant than their kitchen.

The paintings showed how skillful
their painters were,

and they were
astonishingly realistic,

given that they contained
no color whatsoever.

Tom visited me each morning.

We would chat

or write
in the little notebook he'd given me

that never left my side.

He'd ask me
a thousand questions about my land

before answering my own.

Since he'd got it into his head
to teach me his language,

I tried my hardest
to answer his desire

and, although I wasn't as gifted
as him, I made rapid progress.

Whenever I struggled, he'd hold
my hand, like on the first day.

Do you try as hard
with the birds and squirrels?

I'd like to, but it's hard.

I learn their language
by listening to them.

I leave my boarding school
before dawn

when the animals return from hunting.

There's music all over the forest!

I get the impression
you do whatever you want here.

Do your parents agree
to your having so much freedom?

They're not my parents.
Elisabeth found me.

I was... how do you say? Abandoned.

They are still your parents.
Are they tender toward you?

Tender? Do you mean "kind"?

Animals are tender
toward their young,

but the monkeys here are not.

We don't show our feelings here.

Plus, my parents don't have time
to look after me.

Their work is very important.

What is this work
that is so important?

Right now, it's you.

The professor must know everything
about you to build his report.

A report?
What will he do with that, by Jove?

I want to be presented to the king!

Even if I'm your prisoner,
I should be listened to

and treated with dignity!

A report!

Once I have seen your land,

we'll leave here,
and I'll take you to my castle.

Wait till you see
the welcome you get!

In my land,
monkeys respect strangers.

At noon, Nelly would come
and take my pulse

and give me strange food in return,

in the form of plant medicine,

that I never got used to.

In the afternoon, I had to undergo
the professor's assaults.

From day one,

I realized that
the young monkey wasn't relaying

half of our conversations to him

and that he kept them to himself,

to the extent that poor Abervrach

hardly made any progress
with his report.

I could have helped him,

but his behavior
always annoyed me so much.

I don't want to play with you.
I want to meet your king!

We don't have a king here.

What did he say?

He says he's happy to see you.

He doesn't look it!

Since I was a primitive being
in his eyes,

sometimes I enjoyed playing dumb
to prove him right.

I feel better!

Nothing beats a really bad mood

to get you back into shape.

Right, kid! Get me out of here.
Show me your land!

No, we must wait
for the end of the report.

Not that report again!

Look, I've found my legs again!

Still a bit weak, eh?

The forest has swallowed up
another 10 meters of parkland.

The museum
will soon be attacked on all sides.

It's as if it's sparing
the big greenhouse.

You know, Nelly,
I disgust myself at times.

If I'd guessed
I'd be using my knowledge

to make poison one day,

to fight the forest
I loved more than anything else...

It's as if I was asking
it to turn against itself.

But if you succeed, Elisabeth,

if you save the city,

it will be real freedom
for the Nioukos, won't it?

Have you seen the professor today?

No.

Where is he this time?

I'm sure he has gone over there!

To the Academy?

I know what he's doing.

He's hanging about the corridors,
chatting to the scribes.

They remember him.
He'll buy them a drink at the café.

Are you afraid
he'll mention the prince?

No, but he might do
something else stupid...

like present his case.

It's not his case.
It's both of yours, Elisabeth!

You've always worked together!

And he didn't find the stranger.
Tom did!

But he wants to cause a scene!

He says
the Academy owes him an apology!

He'll lead us to disaster,
you'll see.

He is so naive...

Even the stranger sees it.

Here. Look what I found yesterday.

I scared you, didn't I?

No, not at all.
What kind of cry is that?

It was young Kom who taught me that:

the paralyzing cry!

Come, I've made other discoveries.

Is that your land, Tom?

What magnificent towers...

All those lights...

How long did it take you
to build that city?

We learn at school
that it was created in six days.

In six days? Extraordinary!

The monkeys in your land
must be proud

to have built a city
more beautiful than anywhere else!

What a wonder!

Anywhere else? The Nioukos
don't believe there is anywhere else.

Only this wonder exists. No other.

The Laankos thought they were
the only ones in this world too.

But, in the evening, from my chamber,
I could see the sea

turning red like an ember.

Was it the sun
casting a farewell glow?

No. There was something else.
There was another world.

All night long, in a sort of fever,

I'd draw machines to cross the sea

or to fly across the sky,

The floor of my chamber
became covered in paper dreams.

Alas, in the morning
when the mist covered everything,

I came back down to Earth

because I knew
my people wouldn't follow me.

Why? Were they scared?

No, but they're lazy.

They are philosophers.
They would say:

"What's the point, Lord?
We're happy here."

What is a philosopher?

Someone who does nothing
but has an answer to everything.

Your philosophers are right.

Why just two worlds?
Why not three or four?

You're right, kid.
I think we're going to get on well.

But, for now,
your world is enough for me.

It looks admirable in all aspects,
and I can't wait to look around it.

Take me out of here!

No one will know. I'll be quiet.

And we'll come back here before dawn.

Let me see your land, my boy.
I beg you!

What a pain in the neck...

What a wonderful idea
to have drawn straight alleys

with such precision!

What simplicity!

They just needed
to raze part of the forest,

build a tower, and copy it
with a few variations,

like in a child's game.

Soon, we came across
the first Nioukos.

They walked quickly and confidently.

Their conscientiousness and dignity
were admirable.

They paid no attention to us,

which I regarded
as a sign of the greatest civility.

The Nioukos
are peaceful and charming.

Do they not talk to each other?

They're going home after work.

They have nothing to say.

They do the same thing
morning and night.

Why do they lock themselves
behind gates?

Are they afraid of thieves?

There are no thieves in the city.

Everyone has the same things,
all made in the factories.

But the Nioukos
have a need to be afraid, Prince.

The gates are for that.

Look down there.

That is a factory at work.

The goods are constantly renewed.

Clothes, furniture, everyday items.

Watch out!

What bad manners!

A real infernal machine!

Look, there's another!

Come on, kid!

Good evening, gentlemen.
Don't mind us.

My respects, ma'am!

Not very chatty either.

Look, Tom.
That's a fine factory, isn't it?

No, it's the place where we buy

goods that have just been made.

Even if they're still
in good condition,

the Nioukos must throw them away
and buy new ones.

That's the organizational work
I learn at college.

It's called PO: Planned Obsolescence.

How admirable!

Look, they don't look
like they're having fun, eh?

Those Nioukos have been punished
because they don't work hard enough.

They've been given weapons?

They're going to fight the forest.

See how it's trying
to take hold of the city?

The Nioukos have to push it back
day and night,

or the city will disappear.

What's happening, kid?
Everyone has left the machine.

Must we get off too?

No, the tram is going too fast!

Where is it going?

I don't know. It's the first time
I've ever been on it!

It's like we're going back in time!

Look at that castle.
It looks like the ones in my land.

Why has the forest taken hold of it?

It's like it's rebelling.

Some say it is getting its revenge
because the city has expanded,

but that is not true.

Where are the Nioukos
that were pushed out?

In the city center.

They had to build new floors.

That's why the houses
keep getting higher and higher!

Hey! We went past here earlier.

The machine's going back into town!
Does it never stop?

I went from one surprise to another.

The blind machine
continued its tour of the city,

going down the same alleys
but in the other direction.

And those who had gotten off
got back on,

but, this time,
they behaved very differently.

Well, well!
Where does this lot come from?

They're the same monkeys.
Don't you recognize them?

They're dressed up
to go to the Fear Festival.

At night, the Nioukos
are allowed to have fun.

Well, let's go with them, kid!

To the Fear Festival?
Children aren't allowed!

To hell with the rules!
You're not a child anymore!

Come, come closer

Never forget what you see

You'll tremble with fear all night
Guaranteed

At the great circus of fear

At the great circus of fear

There are plays
That might touch you

But your health is not guaranteed

Thus strikes the hour

The great circus of fear

Thus strikes the hour

The great circus of fear

Victor! Victor!

Victor!

Victor!

THE BEAST FROM ANOTHER WORLD

CINEMATOGRAPH

THE BEAST FROM ANOTHER WORLD

Prince! Monsters, look!

What happened that night will remain
etched on my memory for a long time.

I had seen many marvels already,

but I didn't think
these people were capable

of such an extraordinary invention!

Sir!

-Leave, sir!
-Get out!

Go!

Unbelievable!

What do you think
of that invention, Tom?

I liked it. How about you?

I did too. Although the dream
was in color on the poster!

I'd heard of it, but our teachers say

the invention
is dangerous for young brains.

Dangerous?

Come on!
The monster was hardly frightening.

Plus, there are a few flaws
in that dream, eh?

In the end, I didn't believe it
for a second.

You don't think he'll eat her?

Of course not!

It's obvious
the monster is in love with the girl.

He's certainly not going to hurt her.

The whole audience
was scared for her.

Everyone was looking at us.

You promised you'd stay quiet!

We had a good evening, didn't we?

Yes, but can we go back
to the museum now?

Run for it!

Why? What's going on?

The cry, Prince! The cry!

Victor!

Ah, there you are, finally!

What are you doing in this closet?

What is going on?

Your prince has left the museum.

He has run away!
I've looked everywhere.

I've questioned Nelly.
I can't find him!

He couldn't have gotten out.

He has gotten out, I tell you!

Your protégé is walking
around Niouton right now!

He can't have got far.
Where is Nelly?

She's looking for him in the park.

I knew he'd cause us trouble!

No, leave them!

So, this is where you hide your work?
My poor friend!

Yes, in my closet, as you say.

My work and, above all, my records.

They are safe here.

Unlike my savage!

I'll question Tom in the morning.

If he took the prince out,
I'll give him a talking to!

He won't say a thing.

Don't worry, he's the same with me.

My little Tom is so distant now

since that stranger came here.

If only you knew how lonely I feel!

Come on, Elisabeth, I'm here!

Listen:
my report is at its second reading.

Isn't that good news?
They haven't forgotten me, Babette!

I've been a bit wily with them,
but it's for a good cause!

When they see my specimen
for themselves, I'll be reinstated!

Don't tell me...
Have you lost your mind?

What is wrong with you?

I'm scared.
That's what it is. I'm scared.

Scared? No, not you, Elisabeth!

You used to always say:

"That's exactly
what they expect of us: fear.

"That's what they use to govern us."
Do you remember?

You're the one who scares me.

All you care about

is getting back
your chair and cushion

with your name embroidered on it!

You love that cushion, eh?

Of course!

Tomorrow,
I'll be an Academy member again!

I can't wait to see their faces!

Tomorrow, they'll find out
we're secretly living in the museum!

We'll lose all we have left!

Which isn't a lot, alas.

But what about my research?
And my lab?

Get back to your lab, then!

I have my Academy presentation,
and no one will stop me going!

You have your research. I have mine!
Good night!

In the morning, Tom had disappeared.

I didn't think anyone
would've gotten wind of our escapade.

Where had he gone?

Why wasn't he with me?

I realized that a sort of bond

had developed
between the child and me,

stronger than I would've wished.

They didn't fall
from the moon either!

Throughout the day,
Tom still didn't appear.

It was becoming a worry.

Where is Tom?
I haven't seen him today.

I knew enough words
to question Nelly,

but the girl didn't know.

However, she had
some great news for me.

I was to be presented to the Court,

and I had to get ready for it.

My blue notebook that
had disappeared a few days before

had been used by the pilfering rascal

to make a doublet
that actually suited me rather well.

And now, time for a wash!

I was in an embarrassing situation

for a prince of my rank.

Elisabeth
could not take her eyes off me.

Those eyes were like daggers

that she would have happily stuck
into my body!

Did you not drink your soup?

Why? What is in the soup?

So, you were seeing
if your experiments worked!

What an honor!

And which cabinet would I have had
the privilege of being in?

Drawer 23? Black label?
Dangerous species?

To be eliminated?

Let go of me!
Why didn't you run away last night?

You just don't get it!

Yes, you are dangerous,
for a different reason:

you'll destroy everything here!

I crossed the sea at my own peril
to meet your king.

I won't give that up
for your pretty eyes! Where is Tom?

You'll never see him again.
Go back where you came from!

Where is he?

You're ready. That's good.
Let us hurry!

I want Tom with me. I need him!

Of course, of course.

He'll join us there.
Quick, they're waiting!

Abervrach and I agreed

that he should give
his presentation to the Court

before I made an appearance.

I let him have that pleasure

and found myself
in the position of an old actor

waiting for his cue to go on stage.

To be honest,

I hadn't imagined the court
of this land would be like this.

I was looking for their king.

There wasn't one.

It looked more like a theater hall

where a few dozen old men
had clearly left their dignity

in the cloakroom.

Was this the whole moral authority
of this new world

gathered before my eyes?

My dear colleagues!
My dear colleagues!

Come, come, a bit of silence!

Today's meeting is rather improvised.

Professor Abervrach,
whose scientific audacity

we all remember,

has asked me to revisit the debate
that we had in this very room

a few years ago
in light of a strange discovery

which he is going to present to us.

Professor, over to you.

Be brief, eh? Be brief.

My dear colleagues,

eminent members
of this noble Academy of Sciences.

15 years ago, as you reminded us,
dear President,

for want
of an example to the contrary,

we concluded
that we were alone in the world.

Instead of making a big speech,

and to sum up my report

that you may not
have had time to read,

I would like to draw your attention
to a simple drawing.

The line I am tracing here

represents the sea.

On the horizon, I draw a land
representing our land, Nioukos,

and, on the other side,
an unknown land

where other monkeys inevitably live.

No! No! That's enough!
We're not going over this again!

Ridiculous!
Stop this, dear friend! Stop!

That was my theory!
And you quite rightly dismissed me

because I was unable
to provide proof!

Well, that proof
came to our northern shore

a month ago.

This is the monkey who crossed
the sea when it was frozen

and introduced himself to me

as the Prince of the Laankos.

Professor, do you realize
what you are suggesting?

Perfectly, President.
The report in front of you

describes in detail the studies
I have conducted on his subject

and the different tests that...

Come, come, dear colleague!

Let's not waste time.

Allow us
to address your "specimen" directly!

You there, first of all,
do you understand what I'm saying?

Yes, my Lord.

Good. Would you show us how you walk?

In fact, apart from his outfit,

your foreigner is no different
from a Simius Sapiens here!

And he speaks our language!

In what way is he so remarkable?

Because he comes from another land...

..."that is beyond the sea."

Yes, we understand your theory!

Even though no one has managed
to catch a glimpse of this land

"with strange but similar monkeys

"capable of reasoning, arithmetic,

"and even humor."

Indeed, dear colleagues! Indeed!

The monkey you see before you
is able to solve

a complex equation,

and he played dumb for a whole month
without me noticing!

He continues to do so, it seems!

Professor Abervrach!
This whole thing is ridiculous!

Scientific proof?

This is clearly a poor wretch

who was hanging about the gardens
of the museum after the festival!

He has fooled you!

Are you trying
to do the same to this Academy?

No, Professor,
we will not be so naive!

This is what we do
with reports like yours!

The spectacle was pitiful.

Five, ten of them, ganged up
against the poor report

that I suddenly identified with!

Even if it was a heap of nonsense,
it was about me, good Lord!

Gentlemen, you do not need a report!

I am here, before you.

And Professor Abervrach is right:

I do come from another land!

And I'm trying to understand you.

Have you, too, ever dreamed
of discovering

other worlds?

I will tell you what I dreamt of
when I was a child.

I dreamt of a horse!

-What did he say?
-A horse?

Yes, a horse, with wings,

to fly up to the clouds!

No, not at all. It's not a dog.
It's a lot bigger!

-And what is it called?
-A horse.

And can you get on it?

Yes, but only if you're a prince!

It's time!

No, not you!

Professor Abervrach,
you have prepared your case well,

and your protégé
is a talented entertainer.

But how can you claim,

as you do on page 125,

that he is like us in all ways?

Let us concede
he is a foreigner, so be it!

But he is brutal and primitive,

close to nature.

We are cultivated beings!

We are, therefore, different!

My dear colleagues, we closed
this debate a long time ago.

Our moral superiority is the result

of our cultural
and scientific evolution,

what we call civilization,

which elevates us above nature,

above other species!

My dear colleagues,

you may laugh at this foreigner
if you like,

but look at him.
We mustn't be afraid of him!

He came here empty-handed to meet us.

As he told you, they are poets!
Almost children!

He came empty-handed, did you say?
Seize him!

Catch him!

-Clear off!
-He's a monster!

Catch him!

This is a scandal!

Bravo!

How long did I remain that way?

My body in pain like an old beast

because those rascals
ended up beating me.

Later, it was the children,

for the park
had been opened to the public,

probably in my honor.

SIMIUS BARBARUS
DANGER

They threw stones at me.

But the stones hurt less

than the silence of the adults
who stared at me

without the slightest expression.

Like that old man, one day.

He stayed a long time.

I finally recognized him
as one of the academicians

who'd assessed me silently.

His smile was still as sad.

Please...

Tell me how it all ended?

Very well! As predicted.

You scared them, and they used that.

Fear, as you must have noticed,
is their favorite tool.

You came along
at just the right time.

They should have honored you
rather than lock you up.

Will they slay me?

Certainly.

Even locked up, you are
still a danger to the Nioukos.

They need no more than your image!

Then he walked away,
shoulders hunched.

I gave up trying to understand
the politics of that land.

I had but one desire left:
to see Tom again before I died.

BE READY TONIGHT!

It'll soon be day.
You can't stay here!

Nelly will keep them back.

They won't dare follow you
into the forest.

Go with him, Tom.

I believe you were right: he is good.

And the forest will protect you.

What will become of you?

The Academy has allowed me
to continue my research,

as long as Abervrach keeps quiet!

So, what is he doing?

He is incorrigible.
He has begun another report.

Right, go!

Let's just wait here awhile,

whilst the Nioukos forget me.

They won't forget you.
They've decided to kill you.

We must go further!

What will we find further on?

Trees and yet more trees.

They're getting
closer and closer together!

Do you think
we'll still be able to see the sky?

I don't know.

In reality, Tom had an idea
of what he was doing,

but he said nothing.

Too busy battling the brambles,

I followed him
without asking questions.

The next day,
Tom was behaving strangely.

He had never been here before,
yet he looked about

as if he was trying
to get his bearings.

Daylight finally disappeared
altogether,

replaced by a sort of golden glow
coming from the ground.

It was as if thousands of flowers
had just bloomed,

and we were up to our ankles in them.

What is it?

You're looking at those flowers as if
they were telling you something.

Don't tell me you talk to plants too!

They're the same ones!

Last year, in the attic at home,

I found my cradle
from when I was a baby.

In the bottom,
there were dried petals.

These are the same. I'm sure of it!

She found me in this spot!

Elisabeth?
Wasn't she afraid of the forest?

She has never been afraid
of the forest.

When I ran away,
she always knew where I was.

But she would never tell me
where she found me.

Whoa!
We're not going to climb that tree!

It's easy, look!

Why do we have to climb up there?

I don't know! Come on!

Stay strong, Prince.
We've made good progress today!

Leave me, Tom. Continue on your own.

And stop looking after me.
I'm sick of it!

Listen!

The forest is talking to us.
Can't you hear it?

Could you live here?

With the wild animals?

Sure!

I know you understand them
more or less, but come on!

You're not an animal.
You're a monkey!

What's the difference,
in your opinion?

What do you know about lemurs,
for example?

They suffer, they love,
they know they'll die one night,

just like you!

Don't move.
I'll look for an easier way.

No! I'm coming with you!
Do you hear me, kid?

I'm coming with you.

How many times
did I nearly give it all up

and abandon my heavy body,
my equally burdensome life,

to the void?

The boy's agility annoyed me.

The higher we got,
the more easily he moved.

So, I forgot my pains

and, once again, I tackled a branch

as if my soul depended on it.

It's an old platform!
An abandoned structure!

It's no miracle, Prince.
A monkey's hand has fashioned this!

The land of Canopy...

I stayed and rested
with a charming couple,

Rose and Julius,
and after several days,

I was on my feet again.

One morning,
Rose smiled and took my hand.

Come, I'll take you to the garden.

Careful.

It's a balancing act.

We use the gondolas
to cross the valley,

but the garden is just nearby.

And how does all of this work?

By sun, wind, water,

and good old gravity.

We have all we need: food, energy,

and transport.

What miracle
made you aware of our arrival?

We have ornithologist colleagues

who have been studying bird language
a long time.

Thanks to their work,

we know nearly everything
that goes on down below.

Birds are so curious!

And chatty too!

Following your adventures
was child's play,

except for what happened
at the Academy,

where communication
is not good at all.

You had
a few disagreements, it seems.

Oh yes!

They're as stubborn as asses!

And slightly backward.

We left them 15 years ago,

and they're still harping on
about the same things, eh?

When they have evolved a little,
we'll get back in contact with them.

For now, it's pointless.

So, why continue to watch them?

For entertainment.

Plus, we have a friend at the museum.

Elisabeth is a remarkable botanist.

How did he end up with the Nioukos?

By accident.

His mother was picking vegetables
on Level C

with her baby on her back.

We saw her lose her grip
and disappear.

The protection system didn't work.

Elisabeth found the child
in the ferns.

He was lucky.

How he survived is a mystery.

Do you hunt?

No, the gardens give us enough.

So, what do you do with your days?

Nothing.

Really?

Yes.

I feel listless, kid!

How dare he talk of that to me!

Julius is old, tired maybe.

Good Lord! I'm old and tired too.

So what?

Did you know
he's counting on living 150 years?

What will he do with all that time?
Yet another philosopher!

At night, he waits for the stars.

He invited me
to contemplate them with him!

Knowing that Orion
will return in 60 days' time

to the Alcibiades Galaxy
and that it will meet whomever

doesn't excite me in the slightest!

What about you, Tom?
What will you do in this paradise?

I feel at home here,
and there's lots to do!

The village will expand,

and their communication system
is a bit old.

It works well with the birds,
but we can go a lot further.

I'd like to help them understand
the language of the trees.

Well, I'm happy for you!

Rose brought me some herbal tea.

She told me
to watch out for depression.

She said that, in Canopy,

a monkey can suddenly
get a tender look on its face

and such a soft feeling in its hand
that it lets go

and disappears.

But that wasn't my style.

In reality, I was picking up
the pieces of my soul.

Standing apart from the village

was a big workshop
that they didn't need anymore.

Tom helped me put my bed in there,

and I set to work!

"Tom,

"I'm leaving you this little notebook
that has never left my side.

"You'll find the drawings
we did together

"and also the notes that I've used
these last weeks.

"The problem has always been weight.
You and I discussed it.

"The balsa wood
you helped me find in Canopy

"is much lighter
than anything I used long ago."

Well, well! You'll blow them away!

Ah, you're here?

I'm ready. I'll circle the village
two or three times

and land straight after. Don't worry.

I'm not worried.

I hope you haven't told anyone.

No, I haven't, but you know
what the birds are like!

My dear Tom,

my little companion
to whom I owe so much.

I don't know
what your life will be like here,

but if it seems burdensome one day,

I know that you, too,
will be able to spread your wings.

It's not about imitating the birds.

They will always be superior
to monkeys in this domain.

It's just about borrowing
a bit of freedom from them.

James Perry
Subtitling: Hiventy