Boris Without Béatrice (2016) - full transcript

-Were the shirts to your liking?

- Yes, thank you.

- Did you find what you needed?

- Yes.

What's with the harp?

It's our fifth anniversary

The harpist will be here all week

All week?

That's something.

We have a survey

for our customers.

- Would you care to take it?

- No, thank you.

You could get a 15% discount

on your next purchase.

- That's all right

- OK.

These are beautiful shirts.

We just got them in.

- How will you be paying?

- Amex

I'm sorry, we don't take

American Express.

Mister...

Malinovsky.

Would it be possible

to have your email address?

I'd rather not, thanks.

OK. In that case,

I'm making a purchase.

Isn't that enough?

Yes, but it's for our statistics

But I'm not interested

in giving you that information.

It's really annoying

Would you like your shirts

in a plastic or paper bag?

I'd like you to take

a piece of paper.

Write down your name,

your boss's name

and your boss's phone number, OK?

All right!

It's no secret.

You all know what's going on

My wife Beatrice has temporarily

stepped down as minister.

She's not doing well. She's going

through a difficult time.

We have a country house.

She's resting there.

I have no other details to provide

on the situation.

I'll be gone for a while,

and I don't know when I'll be back.

I have complete faith in Celine.

I've seen the numbers.

It's not too bad.

We have three big contracts signed.

I'm very happy about that.

In short,

we'll be able to get through this.

And again, I have faith

in all the team leaders

and in Celine.

And that's it

Are there any questions?

Mr. Malinovsky, I've been asked

to bring you up to speed.

Michel is in the hospital.

The diagnosis is very bad

Michel?

Michel Malki, the building engineer

He's in a coma.

What happened?

He fell at his home, sir.

At home?

I wish him well

I'll try to visit him.

I'm sorry.

Thanks for letting me know, Moussa.

Would anyone else

like to add anything?

OK, stop!

It's not even well written.

It's crap.

Where'd you find that?

Yeah, Dr. Miller..

Thanks.

I like your hair like that.

Thank you.

You handled the meeting

pretty well yesterday.

You think so?

Everyone understands, you know?

It won't last

They'll crucify me soon enough.

I don't care.

I won't go back for a while

Do what makes you happy, baby.

This room isn't bad.

I'm not even sure

this is a four-star hotel.

- We deserve better

- You're so bourgeois!

"Hatred of the bourgeois is

the beginning of virtue," my dear.

Flaubert. Don't become virtuous.

You'll break my heart.

I hate it when you use quotes

to judge me

You big jerk!

- Celine speaks well of you.

- Good.

She says you're often late

So I'm bothering Celine.

- Aren't you tired of hiding?

- Am I hiding?

Yes, you're hiding with me

in love hotels.

We kiss in your car behind

the factory like teenagers

- I can't bring you home.

- Why not?

I could pretend to be

a Jehovah's Witness!

Yeah...

A pizza delivery girl.

A distant cousin from the US

Big man!

You're my big man.

They stopped talking about her.

On TV, in the newspapers.

They'll forget about her

How's Dr. Miller? Is she good?

No, I don't like her.

I don't want to be there

when she comes. She watches me.

I trust Klara.

She knows all the medication

She's perfect.

You like when people

take charge, huh?

Why are you always judging me?

You're proud.

You're handsome.

My boyfriend's seeing a shrink

- Tristan?

- Yes!

- No.

- What?

That's a shame!

Whining to someone who pretends

to listen, but who doesn't care

who makes assumptions

and condescending remarks,

convincing you

that he understands.

That's enough

Sitting down in a shrink's chair

is admitting defeat.

It's stupid, but..

I feel like I can't handle him

touching you anymore.

Mr. Malinovsky,

it's nice to see you again

On behalf of the council

may I ask after your wife,

Beatrice?

Hello, Mr. Mayor.

She's not doing well

I'd like to thank everyone

for respecting our privacy.

We appreciate it.

The community feels for you,

Mr. Malinovsky.

Yes, OK. Well...

I wanted to bring your attention

to an ongoing problem.

You promised to pave a stretch

of dirt road near my home.

Have there been any developments?

It's just 100 metres, you know?

That's among the work to be done

in the next year, Mr. Malinovsky,

but there are more urgent issues

to be dealt with first.

I promise

we'll get to it, though.

With all due respect, Mr. Mayor,

may I know what

these more urgent issues are?

Yes!

At the moment

we're reviewing

the area's cycling network

As you know, we have

a large student population.

It's starting to bother me

that I can never get a real answer

to questions

that seem legitimate to me.

The mayor just told you

that there are more urgent issues.

Your problem is concrete,

and we've taken note of it, OK?

I know what your allegiances are,

Mr. Mayor

I know about your conflicts

with Beatrice

You use your leftist politics

to get the student vote

and the green vote.

You speak to me

in a haughty tone.

The land is within the city limits.

What I'm asking for is nothing.

This is the third time I've come

to ask for a little asphalt

and each time, you treat me

with condescension, Mr. Mayor

Why do you feel like you're

less equal than everyone else?

Take care of your wife

instead of wasting our time

with your fucking pride.

Francois,

watch your language, please.

Go back to your damn mountain!

You're as rich as Croesus!

OK, whoa! That's enough!

Let's maintain

a bit of decorum, please.

Boris, we understand

what you're going through,

but you don't have a monopoly

on suffering.

I aim to respect democracy

and treat each citizen equally.

We'll pave your

stretch of road, Boris,

in due time.

Hello?

Yes, I'm Malinovsky

What? What are you talking about?

You're coming to the country.

We'll talk tomorrow.

I won't say a word in the car.

I promise.

Did you sleep well?

I never thought

I'd say I was ashamed.

What was the protest about?

Dad, don't play dumb.

It's the same one every year.

It's against police brutality.

- Your annual tradition.

- Dad..

What do you do?

You march, you scream?

Yell slogans?

Break windows?

Have profound discussions?

You can't and don't want

to understand what it's about.

Right. I'm just your right-wing dad

who you call to pay your bail

That's it? No fighting?

No arguing?

You don't want to tell me

about injustice?

It's embarrassing to see you

wailing against the system

I'm fighting for social justice,

equality, fraternity.

The state needs to intervene

to guarantee human rights,

redistribute wealth

and regulate the economy

The police is being militarized.

I went out and said so

Happy now?

You must be able to understand that.

You've clearly

learned that by heart.

It's the party line

recited by a little soldier.

You're the one

being militarized.

I'm taking a shower,

then I'm out of here.

Hi, Beatrice. It's me.

I slept here.

- Can you give me a lift?

- No, not today!

Public transportation is great,

isn't it? It's green!

Dear Monsieur Malinovsky

It makes perfect sense

that Beatrice's health

matters greatly to you

Consequently,

I would urge you

to meet me tonight

in the quarry

at 11:00 p.m.

Come alone, without fear,

with an open mind

that you can take pride in

and that may reward you.

Beatrice?

Does this message

mean anything to you?

Good evening

May I call you Boris?

Come a little closer, Boris!

Yelling would be inconvenient.

Who are you?

I don't have time for niceties

Finding that message

on your private property

may have seemed inappropriate,

even alarming.

I'm sorry about that.

But I couldn't think

of a better way

to ensure that this moment

would be confidential and private

What do you want?

You will have to abide by

a certain etiquette in my presence.

As dramatic and charming

as this location is

I'm not in the habit

of coming here for pleasure.

I come out of necessity.

Beatrice is an intelligent woman

who has faced many challenges

in this government

All the stress

of our modern world...

Even the strongest are sometimes

brought to their knees, right?

What do you want?

Whatwould you say if I told you

that Beatrice is ill because of you?

You have no answer, Boris?

There are two reasons for that.

You have no answer

because in your ivory tower,

you aren't responsible

for anything bad.

You're convinced of it

But you also have no answer

because buried deep

in your subconscious,

you're aware of the extent

of your vanity

and of your influence over others,

isn't that right?

You came here to lecture me,

is that it?

I don't give a damn

about your insults

and your theatrics.

What is this?

Is this a game?

I will ignore your insolence.

The truth is that Beatrice

is in this state because ofyou,

Boris Malinovsky,

and only you,

Boris Malinovsky,

can get her out of it!

You will change, Boris.

You have time.

Between two escapades

in the arms of your lovely Helga,

you have time.

You will fill these hours

by facing the world, Boris.

Do you understand?

I am certain that Beatrice

also wants you to change.

You have power.

You use it poorly.

This is nonsense.

You're some kind of judge,

is that it?

The reward for your effort

will be Beatrice's health.

Think of me as, yes,

a judge and a friend.

Goodbye!

Wait a minute!

What is my daughter's name

and birthday?

Your stubbornness

troubles me, Boris.

Justine was born

on February 20, 1996,

and has a birthmark

behind her right ear.

Let's get serious.

Do it for Beatrice

ifyour pride prevents you

from doing it for yourself.

I'm not strong enough for this.

Servants have no opinions, sir.

Helga...

am I a good person?

That's all I'm asking you.

Who cares about

the mystery man!

Right?

Did he scare you?

He really scared you?

He knew Justine's birthday!

So what?

I don't know, l...

I'm asking for your advice.

Why would I give life advice

to the big kid who's fucking me?

I'm not an old army buddy.

You piss me off.

How long can you stay?

I don't know.

Dammit, Boris!

We're closing in 10 minutes, sir.

OK.

All the stress

of our modern world...

Even the strongest are sometimes

brought to their knees.

Nothing renews the spirit

like the serenity of a work of art,

isn't that right?

You have time.

You will fill that time

by facing the world, Boris.

Even the strongest are sometimes

brought to their knees.

Tristan is here.

That's impossible!

- What are you talking about?

- He's on my property.

Jesus! Go see what he wants,

I guess. Shit!

Tristan! What are you doing here

at this hour?

How are you?

How's Helga?

You look sexy like this.

Why don't you ever speak to me

in Russian?

I don't feel like it.

I've forgotten it.

And you?

Why don't you try French sometimes?

Hello! Thank you for having us.

- I'm sorry.

- Welcome, Mr. Prime Minister.

I'M SORRY, BORIS.

MAYBE WE SHOULD TAKE

A LITTLE BREAK?

Hello, Beatrice.

What is your name, miss?

Thank you!

You're welcome!

Mr. Prime Minister,

She's good.

As often as I can be, sir.

Absolutely.

With all due respect,

what exactly are you insinuating?

I'm taking care of her, sir.

I don't have it in me

to take care of others.

You are furious,

Boris Malinovsky.

Anger renders us blind and mad,

and it obscures reason,

my dear man.

You tricked me!

Betrayed me!

Beatrice is worse than ever!

That's quite possible, Boris!

You're letting her down.

You're letting us all down.

You looked for excitement

and turned your back on Beatrice.

Like an overgrown teenager,

you had fun

in your little race car.

You visited a museum

with total hypocrisy.

I could destroy you

by describing your dalliances

with that girl

a few metres from the room

your vulnerable wife was in.

I just have one question for you:

Who are you trying to fool?

Who are you fooling?

If I were Beatrice, I would spit

that blood right in your face.

You are a very bad student

who misunderstood the simple lesson

that was asked of him.

Perhaps your feelings for Beatrice

aren't sincere.

Does her illness

mean that little to you?

I love my wife,

and I don't owe you anything!

Each illness has a time.

a place, a history,

maybe even a colour.

Beatrice will be returned to you

at the cost of a major change.

Keep digging and searching

within yourself,

away from the superficial,

away from your own pleasure

and your pride!

I don't want to

see you again, Boris.

Don't talk to me that way!

I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT IT. HELGA.

CALL FROM HELGA

Are you OK, Mom?

Who do you usually swim with?

The water's nice!

Just warm enough.

Why have you come to see me?

I know I don't visit often,

but, you know...

There are my companies

and Beatrice is sick.

You never visit.

Sick with what?

It'll pass. I just have to stay

near her as much as possible.

You sure came up with a good reason

before visiting.

Beatrice is sick, Mom.

Why do you have to be so cold?

Would you like me to stay

and eat with you afterwards?

Ifyou have time.

So? Did you remember

why you came to see me?

Mom, do you love me?

That's what you came here

to ask me?

Answer honestly.

It's a mother's duty

to love her child.

Have I succeeded now

by the will of the gods?

You have come to the sight

of what you have prayed for.

And do you know

whom I was invoking?

I know that you are pining

for Orestes.

Then how have I found an answer

to my prayers?

Here I am.

Search for no other friend but me.

You are weaving

some snare about me?

Then I am devising plots

against myself.

No, you wish to mock

my distress.

Then my own also, if yours.

Am I then to address you

as Orestes in truth?

Even though you see him in me,

you are slow to learn.

Yet at the sight of this tress

placed on the tomb,

happiness filled your heart.

When you scrutinized my tracks,

your thought took wings,

and you knew you had found me.

Look at my head,

and you will see the place

where the lock was cut.

Do not go mad with joy!

I know that our nearest kin

are bitter foes to us both.

O beloved brother,

darling of your father's house,

saving seed longed for with tears,

trust in your prowess,

and you will win back

the ancestral palace.

FUCKING COWARD!

Hello!

Hello.

- Does Justine live here?

- Absolutely.

I'm her father.

May I come in

and speak to her?

Password.

Password?

There's a password?

Of course not!

Can I come in?

I love awkward silences.

Can I see Justine?

Is she here?

Maybe.

Are those Hermes cufflinks?

It's possible.

$450, easy.

Listen, boys,

if she's not here. I can come back.

Is it true

that you have a housemaid?

Yes.

I guess Justine tells you

what she wants to tell you.

- Do you want something to drink?

- No, thanks.

Not even a little coconut water?

So there are three of you

living here?

What are your names?

He's Orestes and I'm Electra.

You're making fun of me, huh?

Can you tell Justine

that I'll come back?

Please leave a detailed message

after the beep.

We're excellent messengers.

What did I do to you,

you little fag?

What do you want, Dad?

Justine?

Hello?

- Are those your friends?

- Yes.

Don't mind them.

They're adorable.

How are you?

Aren't you worried

you'll hurt your eyes?

It's dark in here.

It must be serious

if you're here.

No, nothing serious, Justine.

I came to see you.

That's all.

How's the stepmother?

Call her Beatrice, please.

Not much progress.

Would you like to

get a coffee with me?

Or visit the factory?

It's impressive. It's nearby.

Tell me what you want, Dad.

We have to rehearse today.

I know we don't have the same...

Our worlds are...

Justine, I love you.

You're my daughter,

and I love you.

You don't have to respond.

I know I have a lot of work to do,

I like it

when you swallow your pride, Dad.

Don't make me cry,

you little brat.

I didn't have a lot to say,

but I wanted to say it.

Is this where we hug?

No, I'm not the father I want

to be yet. Give me some time.

You're stupid!

When Beatrice is doing better,

ifyou think your old man

deserves a hug,

you'll come over for dinner, OK?

Can I ask you something?

Don't take this the wrong way,

but what do you see in Beatrice?

I love that woman.

And I want to be loved by her.

That's it.

I'm sorry, but I don't have

an answer that will impress you.

That's fine.

Well, this is where the father

offers his daughter some money

to buy a little peace.

You can buy your roommates

some T-shirts.

I'm gonna go.

Thanks for your help

with the pigs.

The pigs?

At the police station

the other day.

Take care ofyourself.

If you need anything,

you know where to find me.

I'm not a toy.

I'm not your toy.

Call me back.

I'm waiting at your goddamn house.

Who are you?

Who are you?

I'm Klara.

What is this?

Does Boris live here?

Hello.

I'm not Klara.

My name is Helga.

I wanted to see you.

Now you know me, bitch!

You admire him, don't you?

You think he's intelligent?

He impresses you, huh?

The girl was angry.

Beatrice...

I won't leave again.

I'm staying here with you.

There's no danger, sweetheart.

Come back to me.

It's nothing.

I will clean up.

Life is beautiful.

There's you and me.

There's nothing else.

Beatrice...

Come out of the bedroom!

Come out of the damn bedroom!

Go away, Miller.

I never wanna see you again.

Be reasonable, Boris.

Get out of here, Miller!

Let me know

if you need anything, OK?

Are you all right?

I went to see

the neighbour's vineyard.

It's flowering.

It's magnificent.

We could go and visit tomorrow

if you like.

Did you hear that?

Calm down, Dad!

It's just us.

What are you doing here?

Give your mother a kiss, my son.

We came to have tea

with Justine.

Hi, Mom.

I didn't hearyou come in.

What are you doing here?

Sit down, my son.

Honestly, Dad,

why are you making that face?

We came to see you.

That's all.

Hello, Justine.

Boris, this is Mr. Lewis.

He's a volunteer at the residence.

I decided to invite him.

Mr. Lewis.

Should I make some more tea?

Yes. I can help,

if you like.

It's OK. I'll do it.

This is a special visit.

We could...

I would've cleaned

if I had known.

I'm going to use the bathroom.

I'll go with you, Mom.

Don't be silly!

I'm warning you.

I have a gun in the house.

What are you doing here?

Tell me.

There's no need for guns

or for threats, Boris.

I don't know what your game is,

but you're not welcome here.

Please be courteous. Boris.

What do you want from me?

You know perfectly well

that this story isn't finished.

Mr. Lewis brought

a delicious blueberry pie.

I put it in the fridge.

You'll love it.

Thank you, dear Pauline!

It's all about the tapioca.

I cheat a little bit.

Pauline has told me

a lot about you, Boris.

She tells me that your success

has come easily.

- Let's not exaggerate.

- Of course not!

There's no point

in boasting about it, anyway.

Excuse me?

Who's boasting?

It's no secret, Dad.

It would be gauche of me to ask you

about your many successes.

You'd be obliged

to describe them one by one,

I imagine.

Not at all.

But if I felt like it, I would.

You're in my home, after all.

Absolutely!

God help us,

we're not competing to see

who has the most pride.

I'm convinced, Mr. Malinovsky.

that you are a person

who values restraint.

moderation and sobriety

at all times,

isn't that right?

This isn't the time to discuss

my personality traits.

When I was teaching,

I liked to tell

the story of Tantalus.

I'll spare you the details,

and there are many versions,

but, in short, Tantalus was

an important figure at Olympus.

He was very rich,

and the gods considered him to be

superior to other mortals.

Tantalus often ate

at the gods' table,

but he had a nasty habit

of stealing things.

They say he would take

medicinal plants

and even the fabled nectar.

You speak so well, Mr. Lewis.

So, Tantalus wanted vengeance

for a shady matter.

He invited the gods to dinner

one day.

A proud man,

Tantalus decided

to have his own son butchered

and his flesh

served to the guests

to test their power of observation

and their perceptiveness.

At first sure he had tricked them,

Tantalus was quickly disappointed

when the gods discovered the horror

of his cannibalistic plan.

Why are you telling

this story now?

Dad! It's one of the best stories

from Greek mythology.

As punishment,

Tantalus was placed

in the middle of a river

beneath fruit trees.

But the waterwould recede

whenever he bent down to drink,

and the wind would blow

the tree branches away

whenever he reached for fruit.

Tantalus's hunger is never sated

and anguish forever

strangles his throat.

Are you done?

Come on, Boris!

There are so many stories

that illustrate man's vanity

and excesses.

- It's true.

- Yes, OK.

But why are you telling

that story here,

right now in my house?

Be polite!

Mr. Lewis likes to tell

these stories very much.

Don't get upset.

I'm not upset!

Your little moment of frustration

is reminiscent of what

the ancient Greeks called hubris.

H-U-B-R-l-S.

They viewed fate

as an independent force.

Fate is a draw.

It is the share

of happiness and misery,

of fortune and misfortune.

of life and death

that each of us is due

based on our social status

and our relationships

with the gods and with men.

A man guilty of hubris

wants more than the share

bestowed upon him by fate.

The ancients considered this to be

a fundamental and grave sin.

People were put to death

for such a transgression.

Thank God, we no longer punish

the Tantaluses of the world!

Mom, Justine, Mr. Lewis,

I'd like to

ask you to leave, please.

I don't know if it's over,

if it's finished,

if we've witnessed

any kind of transformation.

Let's just say that

you're in a different place.

You hate me with all your might,

and that's normal.

I shouldn't be back.

Consider yourself

under observation.

Until we meet again,

Boris Malinovsky.

Who are you?

An ally, Boris. An ally.

Who needs an ally like you?

No one.

Everyone.

Who knows?

That was difficult, wasn't it?

Where were you?

BORIS WITHOUT BEATRICE