Original subtitles

Subtitles by explosiveskull www.OpenSubtitles.org

Fabrice!

Where's your lieutenant?

We're going up.

- Not at 8 o'clock? - We're not waiting.

Our cannons are falling short. Get ready.

Georges, wait!

Masks! Put your masks on!

Jean!

Georges!

- God, you're OK! - I was at first aid.

- How many men left? - Dunno.

Bring your section out.

- Your hand. - It's OK.

- Get it seen to. - It's OK!

You're not up to it.

Don't go without me.

Not without me.

I'm up to it, I swear.

- Sir! - I'm coming!

7 minutes. See you soon, little brother.

C'mon, lads.

Fuck Pétain! Fuck Nivelle!

Stop it.

- Fuck your wife! Fuck France! - Calm down.

Fuck Foch! Fuck France!

Shit!

Raulic, don't walk on that shell.

Don't worry, Captain, my time's not up yet.

Raulic!

CEASEFIRE

Hello.

Marcel...

Mrs. Vial.

Remember?

I'm used to it. It's OK.

Hello, Marcel.

M-A-R-C-E-L.

I'm Hélène.

I'm here to talk to you.

If you don't look at me,

it will be very difficult, you know.

What are you looking at?

There's nothing to see in the street.

She's gone. Are you happy now?

You idiot!

Hi.

Do you prefer it like this?

Me in the street, you behind the window?

Good idea.

This way, you have something to look at.

OK?

Let's carry on.

I'm Hélène.

Don't just stand there, pal. Go on!

Come dance with this little lady. She'll set the pace.

What's your name?

- What? - Madeleine.

Very good.

This handsome fellow is Marcel.

Madeleine and Marcel, dance!

Set the pace.

The pace!

Very good.

How about it?

C'mon, sweetie.

Priority to the disabled.

What?

What did the Boche get? Your balls!

It stings, but it smells good.

This will calm you.

They're here, Philippe.

- How is he? - He'll live!

You're in good hands! Come on.

You can come back. That cretin got thrown out.

Don't let that bastard get to you.

That's you!

You already looked a dreamer.

Do I know him?

Philippe?

And him?

Don't dwell on it.

It won't bring them back.

Isn't she pretty?

I could die tomorrow.

Die.

Me, die.

What'll you do on your own?

Georges?

Georges, look after you?

Any news?

UPPER VOLTA, 1923

It'll take a month to get to Bobo.

The blacksmith at Diougani will repair it.

Repair the shaft? He's never seen a motor in his life!

He's telling his ancestors.

Spirits of the skies.

Spirits of the land.

Invisible spirits.

You...

I sense anger in you,

dark shadows fighting in your heart.

Drink.

You'll have a good journey.

I hope it holds out.

You should've drunk the rooster's blood.

- Leave it. I'll do it. - I've finished.

How was Timbuktu?

Hot.

Very hot.

Did you hear my impromptu?

I practiced it for you.

Thank you.

You look silly in that bowl.

Do you know what?

We're going back to France. For good.

Dad wants to sell radios. He says it's the future.

Happy?

Angèle!

Do you intend to stay here forever?

I like it here.

Dad says it's a waste.

We need men like you in France.

- Why? - To take part in progress.

- What progress? - The progress of mankind.

You're being called.

- Do you think I'm ugly? - What?

Think I can't see it?

Nothing touches you. Not Schubert,

not great ideas, nothing.

Angèle!

You're the prettiest girl in Bobo.

Yeah! Stay in your rotten hole!

Listen to me.

Listen up. All that is said

is nothing but truth.

Combat helmet!

Bayonet!

I'm telling you,

at the Battle of Verdun,

I skewered 2 Boche.

In 1 go!

Like 2 big chickens.

What I saw, not even God saw!

Captain Laffo's Lebel!

The rifle of victory!

Attack of Hill 154

by brave Captain Laffo.

The Military Cross! Legion of Honor. 5 citations.

Military Medal.

Into battle for France!

He crawled, crawled...

He stayed down.

Grenade!

Eiffel Tower...

The magic Eiffel Tower.

They can't hurt Diofo!

He dodges the bullets and grenades.

So, I recaptured Douaumont Fort?

It's the honest truth.

Next I'll have imprisoned the Kaiser!

Good idea, Captain!

Say what you like, but don't fire the Lebel.

They like it.

Leave it in the trunk so you're not tempted.

A gun is made for firing.

I don't want to see it, OK?

What's up?

They're Dozos. They're against forced labor.

They say: "Release the villagers."

Are you in charge?

Listen, I don't work

for the French, understand?

Those villagers are volunteers

to work in the cocoa plantations.

Wait... Volunteers, OK?

To earn money.

He says you're taking them to build the railroad.

We're going to the Gold Coast.

The railroad's that way.

Stop!

Get back in.

Diofo, stop them.

They say they'll be killed.

They must go back!

Nonsense! I'll save them from forced labor.

Put 'em back in now!

I'm not scared of you.

Wanna shoot? Go on.

Shoot.

- Diofo! - Come on!

What're you doing?

I'll show you how it works.

Untie him.

Even with this,

compared to Captain Laffo,

you Dozos could never kill as many birds

in your whole lives.

The victory mask.

Magic!

Captain Laffo leads his battalion.

The Battle of Verdun.

The queen...

who turned him into a tiger.

The one who killed the most men...

in the war in 1914.

Great Spirit!

Sanem and Contron!

Great Spirit, capable of wonders,

2 uninitiated want to join your brotherhood.

Here is the water

to ask your way,

to allow us

to accept them among us.

Thanks to you.

Good.

All Dozos are brothers.

All without exception.

You must be brothers.

- Can you be? - Yes.

- Can you follow rules? - Yes.

- Can you obey? - Yes.

Isn't this the life?

I'm scared of the Mamiwata.

The little mermaid who grabs your feet?

What?

Fortune and misfortune

coexist in the same person.

The Tukulors say that.

To the flag!

How are we different?

In lots of ways.

There's one big difference: the bugle.

I won't salute it again.

At ease.

- Does it look good? - Yes.

Chief!

Here's Captain Laffo's mask.

It's the victory mask.

Swap it for one of your masks?

I think we can.

We can?

Diofo...

Tell him my son Seydou was killed in the war

by a rifle.

At night, his spirit haunts me.

I want to make peace with him.

He says his son Seydou was killed in the whites' great war.

At night, he sees his spirit.

He says: "Captain Laffo, you're a commander.

Tell him to make peace with me,

because I gave him to France."

Captain Laffo doesn't command spirits.

Captain Laffo knows Seydou.

He was a good soldier.

He got a medal.

He'll tell Seydou to make peace with his father.

That's good.

We fight for France!

Diofo runs, not scared!

He runs, dodging bullets.

Diofo isn't scared. The Eiffel Tower's with Diofo.

The Eiffel Tower!

See this piece of iron?

He who touches it...

will have the power!

6 times 9?

34?

6 times 9?

34.

No, 54.

Do it again.

Captain...

Diofo...

What is it?

Captain...

Who did this?

Shit!

I'll take you back.

My Eiffel Tower...

Stay with me.

Look at me, dammit!

It's the war...

The war has come for me.

Once there was a little boat

That had ne-ne-never sailed

C...

D...

E...

E.

Albert!

- I'm sorry. - He's no bother.

- Say goodbye. - Goodbye.

Cat.

The mouse is scared of the cat.

The cat is scared of the dog.

The dog is scared

of the wolf.

The wolf

is scared

of the man.

The man.

And who is the man scared of? Or what?

The man

isn't scared?

Yes? Of everything? Of nothing?

Of women?

Of mice?

The man is scared of the man.

It's me.

Hello.

I'll leave you.

Marcel...

Do I look like a ghost?

Georges!

Shit!

Mom...

Mom... Are you OK?

You big idiot!

You're not very talkative.

It takes time to talk about 4 years.

When you came home on leave...

I've just arrived.

Well, I'm interested.

Please...

He's changed.

He's broadened out.

There's more.

Didn't they say it'd come back?

That it'd just take a few months?

- What does Dr. Gagneux think? - Nothing.

The neurologists don't know either.

- What does he do all day? - Hangs around with Philippe

or stays upstairs.

And he has his lessons.

And Madeleine.

- Is it serious? - Very.

What's she like?

A simple little widow.

Very kind.

That's good, then.

2 months ago, he nearly drowned.

In the middle of the night.

That's for you.

It's my lucky day!

Your father would've been pleased.

Thank you.

The granaries.

My truck.

A celebration.

My boat.

On the Volta.

That's Diofo.

And you...

Not got any photos?

Of your girlfriend?

Madeleine.

No photo?

They say she's pretty.

When will I meet her?

Meet her?

Will I?

When?

Miss!

A word.

Sorry, I'm late.

Listen...

Your lessons are fine, but Marcel will recover.

- Pardon? - He'll be able to speak again soon.

- Really? - Of course.

It's a mental block. My brother will soon talk again.

- And? - And sign language is a bad idea, see?

- No. - It keeps him disabled. That's bad.

- I should stop the lessons? - Yes.

- Mrs. Laffont knows? - I'll tell her.

And Marcel?

I'll explain.

I answer to your mother who employs me.

I'll pay for all the lessons.

You're incredible!

- Miss... - Madam.

Goodbye.

Your brother had a rough time in their psychiatric center.

It was more to root out supposed fakers than to make people better.

They didn't make anyone better.

In fact,

there are still lots like him.

The blind, paralytics...

Chronic shakers.

Completely shell-shocked.

Can't it come back?

It's just a matter of luck.

120 over 80.

What about you?

Not too many nightmares, dark thoughts, phobias?

No.

Is that recent?

A month.

What was it?

Just an accident.

With a blade?

Who stitched you up? What a mess.

Be careful.

Ask your mother to do less

for her charity. With her heart...

What charity?

The families of the missing. Maybe she'll listen to you.

Take your brother as he is.

- There's nothing to be done? - At least he's alive.

Nothing's more important, lad.

- Take care. - Goodbye, Doctor.

What're you doing?

I'm writing to the Ministry.

They want to stop the identifications.

General Weygand wants us to cherish

the Unknown Soldier as our own.

What an idiot!

Who had the idea for the lessons?

The doctor.

- It won't help him find a job. - It does him good.

Are you going to learn?

I've started.

Madeleine, too.

He doesn't seem hooked.

She's what he needs.

Patient and sincere.

She has her feet on the ground.

And a widow's pension.

Ideal!

Why didn't you keep in touch?

- I did. - 3 postcards.

Wasn't one missing son enough?

Time flies over there.

Not for me.

- Don't start. - It's true though.

- Want me to go now? - Can't I say anything?

What do you intend to do?

Find a job.

Where?

In Paris or anywhere they need engineers.

And your brother?

Isn't he getting married?

20, 21, 22, 23...

24 hours.

"A day

to remember.

A day that will never be forgotten in the history of automobile racing."

Can you drive?

Don't you want to learn?

I'm sure you could.

I'm going to learn to drive.

Yes, I'm going to.

What?

You think women can't learn to drive?

Of course.

Women will drive.

And one day at the 24 Hours

of Le Mans.

And they'll win!

- Where is it all from? - The Boni region.

The Bouabas don't part with them easily.

Did you buy them?

Exchanged them.

- For what? - Other masks.

What kind?

Masks.

- Do you have any more? - No.

You're not going back?

Oh, the Kara-Wemba.

To honor the mother. Superb.

I fought hard last night!

Do you sleep well?

I have nocturnal ghosts.

It's worse for our wives.

Shit. Sorry.

It's OK. Ancient history.

Where is she now?

Now then...

So... I work in the red zone.

It's like the moon. Totally destroyed.

120,000 hectares. An endless job.

I have these plots here.

It's full of crap: ammo, weapons, iron, all kinds of debris.

The stuff we fired!

There's tons of lead in the ground.

What's the job?

Clearing shells.

Cleaning the soil and putting it back in.

We recover the metals.

- Not my field. - I don't care.

I need someone to organize and manage the workers.

I have 500 men.

Coolies, Kabyles, Senegalese, Italians...

I'm in no fit state.

- And the bodies? - Bodies?

The corpses. The 400,000 missing men.

They've looked.

There must be more.

What about Jean?

Heard anything?

You don't mind making money from it?

Why should the shirkers get it?

They got rich while we fought!

No, Georges.

It's ours.

We belong there, believe me.

Want my ID number?

Or my citations?

I'm talking to you.

See you outside, asshole!

She's killing me!

Labadou...

The best exhumer!

50 francs a body.

He dug up over 60,000!

Work it out.

Who cares?

Let's dance. It's a foxtrot. C'mon, it's easy.

Come on, Georges!

- Come dance! - Come on, Georges!

There you are.

I shouldn't.

Soldier!

Attention!

What's your problem?

- OK? - Yes, I'm OK.

Wanna see my medals?

Can't stand up?

You bastard!

You little prick!

C'mon, get up!

Leave it.

Go home.

I've skewered 12 like him!

Oh, I'm shaking!

Go back to the trenches!

Georges...

Georges, stop it!

Georges, stop it!

Hey, African!

You've made a fortune!

What a beauty, eh?

Let's go for a ride in the country.

You and me, we'll go for a drive.

We'll go to St Aubin.

It's a sunny day. We have time.

You didn't get that job?

I have other plans.

What did you do in Africa?

Oh, a bit of everything.

Crawfish.

Crawfish, yes.

What do we do?

They're under the stones.

That?

And which

of the 3 brothers was the best?

Best? Strongest?

What was your father like?

He was strong?

He was tall?

Strict?

Straight?

With him, we always had to be "up to it".

That was his expression: being "up to it".

There are lots.

Come on.

Stubborn as a mule.

Keep away. I hate them.

- It's nice. - No.

Look.

It's waving at you.

- No. Stop it! - It wants loving.

- Holy cow! - It got you?

Damn creature!

Think it's funny?

Thanks for your note.

Changed your mind?

How do you do "Georges"?

It's how we sign your name.

It means?

The ghost, the phantom.

Marcel came up with it.

- Do you know Madeleine? - I teach her.

He seems to be hiding her. Is she a monster?

No.

Can she make him happy?

She's learning to talk to him.

It's a good start.

Would you teach me, too?

That's up to you.

- Gently, I said. - Sorry.

That's it.

- Where are you from? - Lyon.

What brought you here?

My husband.

But we're separated. Do I change gears?

Change down.

I think I'll love it.

OK? Not scared?

The news, the stock exchange,

the race results, concerts, 4 dance shows a week - all for free...

if you buy the radio, of course!

And there's the argument of the Eiffel Tower.

The transmitter at the top.

- Can I come in? - No.

The effect is magic. Some buy it just for that!

I said you'd come back.

Leave us.

You didn't come back for her?

Europe doesn't disgust you so much anymore.

We'll see about that.

Will you chat more to clients?

I promise I will.

Pity you didn't bring good ol' Diofo. He'd have been a hit here.

You won't sell radios forever.

Fine by me.

A man like you? We'll see about that.

Stay for lunch.

Bravo.

That, I can do.

I had a dugout canoe.

- A canoe? - Yes.

Canoe.

Do you miss it?

Yes.

So, why come back?

No more for me to do there.

Let's put the hood up.

Give me a hand!

"Where the sun

from the proud mountain

shines

It is a little valley

bubbling over

with light

A young soldier...

open-mouthed..."

- Is it funny? - No.

I wonder how you'll do "two red holes in his right side".

Where did you learn all that?

At Bar-le-Duc during the war.

From a man with no mouth.

Why were you with him?

I was a nurse.

My husband's pension isn't much, so I work.

And it keeps me occupied.

Thank you.

That's how I met him.

I sewed his medical officer stripes.

We had a small wedding soon after.

His family didn't approve.

We married when he was on leave.

It was very happy, very short.

We hardly knew one another.

And he didn't want children. Not during the war.

- Sorry to receive you like this. - Don't be.

I'm excited to meet you.

Did he mention me?

Your mother mostly.

Marcel always has a photo of you on him.

Of the two of you. At school, I think.

That's so like him.

Secretive... sensitive.

That's what I like about him.

You know,

I understand Marcel.

With or without sign language.

I understand him.

It's a bond between us.

This was Jean's.

I'd burn all this.

Look.

You'll take it up again.

Why don't you propose?

I could go with you.

Won't you?

I'll come...

with you.

Me with you. And you...

ask for...

her hand.

You don't need to learn sign language

Won't you come to Africa with me?

You just came back.

It's too small here.

I'm not used to it.

And I sleep badly.

Because of me?

What would I do in Africa?

You'd see amazing things.

What about your brother?

He'll get married soon.

I'm married, too.

Divorce him.

Do you still love him?

Haven't we earned the right to be selfish?

Will you be selfish with me?

We'll be selfish together.

That's what the colonies are for.

I hardly know you.

Marcel!

Damn!

I don't understand. Explain!

What's in your head?

Tell me. What about Madeleine?

Answer me!

What are you doing here?

What happened to your man?

What happened to you both?

You won't tell me?

We married in 1914.

He left in 1916.

It was the beginning of the end.

When he came home on leave, it was as if he blamed me for staying behind.

I don't know, he imagined things.

So, I wanted to get closer...

to the front at Bar-le-Duc hospital.

It was hard to see each other.

And when we did...

I didn't recognize him. He lost interest in everything, even me.

I didn't know what to do. Then, the Armistice came.

- And you left him. - No.

We got back together.

But he was a different man, so you left him, as I said.

It had become sheer hell.

- Not interested in the rest? - I know it.

- What is it? - You know about hell, do you?

Should we have returned

in a good mood, smiling, as if we'd been on a day out?

I know you suffered.

- I saw it up close. - What? Were you in the trenches?

It was there, on the front line.

Treading in shit and rotting flesh!

Shells landing. 10, 20, 50 every minute!

For hours, days on end! Not knowing who you were.

You had to tie up terrified men.

And this - do you want to know how I got it?

A fragment of jawbone!

From a pal who blew up right in front of me.

- Stop. - Know what it's like?

A moment later, the guy's gone.

Stop!

His brain runs down your neck.

That's just one example of what I saw.

Not to mention the fear.

The fear of the shells, the mines, the bullets.

Know that?

The fear of going over the top and being cut down.

And death.

Your death.

Your own death.

You often felt it coming?

How many times?

That's where we come from. You know nothing.

No-one knows. No-one can know.

Go...

Go.

You bastard!

You shit!

I'll kill you!

You can't hurt me, Captain.

I have the Eiffel Tower.

INSTITUTE FOR THE DEAF

Hélène...

You won't see me?

I can't.

What is it? Tell me.

Say something.

I need peace, Georges.

That's all.

Peace, Georges. Know what that is?

Damien... I'm here.

Laffont, Jean, 2nd lieutenant Died for France

I entrusted him to you.

Hush.

You promised me.

What did I promise?

I lost half my company that day.

Our cannons firing at us.

What could I do?

I come back.

And you still blame me for it.

Shit.

Don't be surprised I went so far away.

But some made it back.

What do you want?

Should I swap places?

Sometimes I wish I could.

He visits me at night, too.

Every night, actually.

Forgive me.

What happened with Marcel?

Nothing. We argued, that's all.

I worry about him.

Don't ask me to protect him, too.

He's shut in his room and won't come out.

Open up, dammit!

What is it?

You don't want to see me?

You want me to go back to Africa?

Marcel, I'm sure you can hear me. Say something!

It's over with Hélène.

Over.

Are you pleased?

Aren't you happy?

You don't care?

Jean's ID was found. Jean, dammit, Jean!

You don't care either?

You can speak...

You can speak.

You can. You just called me.

You just said "Georges". You said "Georges".

You hear me?

You hear?

It's OK.

It'll be OK.

You will speak. You'll speak.

He said "Georges".

You still want to?

Sure?

God, you're handsome!

Lovely house.

He said: "Lovely house".

It comes from my husband.

You're better at it than me.

I have good reason to try.

You don't need to.

Marcel can speak.

Marcel can hear.

He said "Georges".

That's marvelous.

The doctor says he'll progress.

Marvelous. But I'm not surprised.

You and me...

Let's get married.

Yes.

Come on!

2nd section, action stations.

Marcel, darling! Marcel!

Seen Farge?

Walk. You'll get double rations.

Hill 304 ahead. Quick!

Scared or not, move!

Shut up!

When you see the lads of the 65th

You think "They're not scared of hard work"

If they go into battle, their hearts so brave

It's to save Alsace and Lorraine

Lorraine and its plums

Plums, plums, plums

And if we fall in Argonne or Aisne

Under a hail of bullets one moonless night

At least we know we won't have died for nothing

But for the plums of Alsace and Lorraine

Are you going back?

Not without you.

I've been offered a post in Saigon Hospital. I took it.

Oh, great!

I said no a few months ago.

And your husband?

I've asked for a divorce.

When do you go?

This week.

We'll write.

No, no letters.

I'll think of you.

You'll be useful here.

Yeah, sure!

I'm 37, I'm a wreck.

What good am I here?

You'll find something.

When will I have the chemist?

Mr. Laffont!

For now, keep blowing up the mustard gas shells.

The wind's turning.

What do we do?

We stop.

Stop!

Hey, guys.

- Hello, sir. - OK?

Yes.

Mr. Cottereau is in charge now.

Hi, André.

- OK? - Yes.

- Mr. Cottereau. - Hello.

Mr. Cordier said it'll take centuries to clean it all up.

We'll stop before that.

Soon we'll plant trees to hide all this.

Shells in the forest, soldiers in the ossuaries...

We'll move on.

Mr. Laffont...

- OK, lads? - Yes.

Mr. Cottereau.

The new chief engineer.

Welcome to the moon.

Good luck, men.

Goodbye.

Are you going back to Africa?

Did Fabrice tell you that, too?

No.

I'm going to Saigon.

What'll you do there?

Live, old chap.

Live.

It was impossible to come back whole.

With a tongue to speak, a mouth to sing,

lips to kiss, ears to hear, eyes to see...

legs to dance...

hands to caress...

arms to build...

a head to dream...

a heart to love...

Soon we'll speak, Georges.

We'll sing, we'll dance,

we'll work, we'll sleep, we'll dream,

we'll hope, we'll love,

we'll live.

Soon we'll have done the impossible.

To Léonce and those who did the impossible

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