Down in Paris (2021) - full transcript

Action!

I’ve just got back,

it was beautiful.

A lovely cemetery

the sea,

such peace

and quiet...

Trees too.

It suits him.

He’ll be fine..

You’ll go when you’re up to it...





No, just twenty of us,

those closest...

Avery simple ceremony...

they played Debussy.

Everyone spoke about him...

No,

it’s not your fault.



No good?

It's not okay?

Not what you wanted?

It’s not you..

Something’s not working.



- How many takes?
- That was the 15th.



No, it’s not that!

Back in position!

Shall we try again?

Wasn’t I any good?



-You can tell me.
-You were just fine.

We'change nothing, then?

I- I don't know.

-Which mirror do we use?
-The baroque. I told you!

I can’t go on. Let’s take 5.

Richard? Are you OK?

I’m too hot... Suffocating...

Take a break. It’ll help.

The day’s nearly over.

What’s wrong with the scene?

It doesn’t work.

Find out why. I know you will!

Excuse me.

When you’re ready.

Can you take over?

-I really need some air.
-What?

Can you shoot the scene?

You sure?

It’s a key scene, I don’t know if...

I can’t go on.

What’s all this?

I can’t.
Find someone else.

What’re you saying?

You chose wrongly.
Simon will do a better job.

You kidding?

You’re just tired.
I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.

I’m serious.

You’re not, you’ve lost it.

-What's left to do today?
-Inserts. Patricia doesn’t have to stay.

Can we do the scene tomorrow?

Yes... I’ll make space for it.

Perfect!

We’ll do the scene tomorrow.

Go home and rest.

-Tomorrow won’t change anything!
-Tomorrow’s another day!

Take a break
and Simon will finish today.

Richard?

You reckon?

I’m the producer, I decide.

Simon, I’m counting on you.

No problem!

Change of program everyone!

Get going! See you tomorrow!

- Good evening sir.
- Good evening.

What can I get you?

-ZA whiskey please.
-Awhiskey? Sure.

Oh God.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

- Madame.
- Thank you.

Thanks.

Thanks!

Richard!

Shit.

Evening.

You good?

Yes, and you?

-Yeah.
-Great.

We’re trying the new bar,
Pink something...

Mister Pink.

Great name.

Who cares? If it’s good.

Want to join us?

Are you kidding?



You off somewhere?

Yes, I am.

So, what’s new?

Working on a new film?

Yes. In the middle of a shoot.

Brilliant!

How’s it going?

It’s going very well.

Great news!

Good.

I must go.



Two minutes!

It’s cool to see each other, eh?

Not really.



Are you with someone else?

Do you care?

Have a good night.

Hang on...
Let me say goodbye!

Yes?

On our way

Excuse me.

Is the shoot going well?

I’m under pressure.

More than usual?

Different this time.

You OK?

You look tired.

Yes, but...

Sometimes I wonder why I do it.

We all do sometimes, eh?

Perhaps.

And you?

You OK?

Pretty good actually.

I thought about you recently.

Just got back from India!

Brilliant!

You liked it?

Call me sometime,
let’s talk about it...

You can call me too,
you know...

Yes... But with Frederic,
it’s not easy.

Have you heard from Mathias?

No, have you?

-What were you talking about?
-Mathias.

He pissed everyone off,
no one wants to see him!

Don’t speak about him, please.

I liked him.

He was Richard’s best mate, not mine!

Always round the flat...

About the flat, I want my keys.

What? Still on about that?

I want them back.

OK. If I find them.

-Have you lost them?
-No.

I don’t give a fuck about them.

-Of course...
-Of course, what?

..You don’t give a fuck.

None of your dramas.

Drama?

-Always the same old shit.
-What?

Dramas, like in your films!

-Don’t talk about my films!
-Don’t worry, I won’t!

Well, you’re an artist...

And what are you?

-Me? At least I’ve got a life!
-But living off who, eh?

You’re touchy because you’re single

Now you’re really fucking me off!

Stop it!

Stop it!

Fuck off!

Cunt!

Calm down!

You OK?

I can’t bear arguments.
Can’t stand them.

I’ve got an Uber coming.
Drop you off?

That’s kind.

sorry.

Here it is.

Coming?

I don’t know the background obviously,

but you seemed in danger.

Thank you.

When I saw him, I...

was everything to him.

His nurse, his shrink,

his cook.

It was never enough.

He bled me dry.

Was it recent?

Ended 5 months ago.

It was like nothing had changed.

Like going back in time.

I once fought in the street with my ex.

Nobody lifted a finger,

luckily I got away.

He gave up.

He always found a reason to argue.

It was always my fault.

Finally, I had enough,

I said I was leaving him.

He lost it

and tried to hit me.

I got away

and he followed me
down the street.

First time you’ve seen him since?



We ran into each other by chance.

It’s still raw.

Fighting doesn’t help.

I need to turn over a new leaf.

But I’m not succeeding.

It took me a while too.

What about changing the book?

What?

You know, new leaf,
change the book...

I find it hard
to get rid of old books.

Just drop me here.

-Sorry, I wasn’t trying to...
-No, no, it’s fine.

Thank you.

-Thank you very much.
-You're welcome.

Goodnight.

It’s Maurice.
You didn’t call.

You must be home now.

Have a drink and relax.
We’re counting on you tomorrow.

Simon noticed you’d left
your script and notes.

Just so you know.

He’s got them.
See you tomorrow!

-Good evening.
-Richard! Come in.

Thanks.

Sit down.

Thanks.

Let’s have a drink first.

Thanks.

Cheers!

It really is urgent.

Yes. Thanks for accepting.

-You know how much I like you, Richard.
-I know.

When people are worried,
they come to see me.

I’d like to reassure them

but I can’t always,

I can’t lie.

But they come for your truth.

They may think

but they’re not always
ready to hear

what I have to say.

Let’s talk about you.

How long has it been?

-At least 6 months.
-Yes, probably.

Let’s see what we’ve got.

Some good news:

you left that man.

Yes.

I did warn you about him.

Indeed.

I ran into him in the street.

Just now?

Just before coming here...

we fought.

Everything is circular.

Think of a dog.

He doesn't walk straight,

he sniffs, he snuffles about,

he retraces his steps.

Then suddenly he barks at a bird.

It takes flight.

Mostly,

the bird stays out of reach.

But it gives the dog
something to follow.

Gets him moving on.

He's changed places.



You’re not barking yet, but you will.

- I’ll continue.
- Yes.

You’ve lost someone recently,

someone close,

the bond of filiation.

Yeah.

My father...

Shh! You know the rules.

You’re on the cliff edge

where your father just jumped.

He wasn’t immortal.

You’re holding your mother’s hand.

Next time, it’s her,

then it’s you.

I know!

You’ve just understood

your mortality.

You don’t yet know

that your father is within you.

Sorry.

With you.

You see him?

No. I don't know how to do that.

That's not my domain.

Let's continue?

Yes.

I see a meeting,

spectacular,

it’s meant to be.

A man,

a handsome man.

An artist perhaps.

A prince,

a king amongst men.

It's good news.

I’m happy for you, Richard.

The session is over,

I’ve seen what I had to see.

Another glass?

Yes!

Thank you.

I’ve just walked off set.



You’ve dropped everything?

I don’t know.

I don't know what to do next.

Look within.
The answer's inside you.

You've shut the door too quickly.

Reopen it.

Close others.

Let some air in.

Take a step back, if necessary.



Look to the horizon.

Come back and see me soon.

You'll have things to tell

Thank you so much, Samantha.
Really. Thanks.

I know my way out.

Good evening.

Goodbye.

Good evening.

Sorry Maurice, I fell asleep.

See you tomorrow.

Goodnight.

Are you here
for the night of remembrance?

I’m sorry?

God never sleeps!

Join us!

-Good evening.
-Good evening.

There’s nobody here yet
but the church is open all night.

Thanks.

Are you praying?

Are you praying?

I don’t know. Perhaps.

I saw you and wondered
why a handsome man

would be in church at night.

I’m here by chance.

Chance can work wonders.

I’m not here by chance.

-I’m always in church.
-At night?

There’s no one about.

It's calm.

I watch.

I listen.

I hear souls speak.

Lost souls mostly.

Then I saw you.

You walk with grace.

Grace?

There’s a sort of naivety about you.

A fragility.

So, I watched you.

I observed you.

I sought to pierce your mystery.

Every man has a mystery.

This place lends itself to spirituality.

Spirituality can give us answers.

I’m not asking the question.

imagine not.

I merely came...

to contemplate. That’s all.

Really?

You came in,

you had a little walk round,

looked at the statues,
the lights, the decoration...

even lit a candle.

Attracted by the picturesque,

the atmosphere,

a dose of mysticism. Own up!

No one’s fooled.

Least of all God.

I’m not looking for God.

But God sees you.

God is a king.

You came as a tourist!

Christ chased the merchants
from the temple. Sounds familiar?

Yeah.

It’s a parable.

They’re facts!

You only see statues, decorations, candles.

Yet it all has meaning.

I’m not really religious.

That says

You’re a fake.

-A blasphemer.
-Will you stop!

The church is open to all.

I've the right to be here.

True.

But only to the worthy.

I’m not unworthy.

Because you’re an artist?

Yes.
Because I’m an artist.

Artist!

It’s normal to doubt.

You don’t doubt, you know.

Artistically, you’ve done
nothing good for ages.

Your love life’s dead.

Your films are worthl^ss^

You don’t need a church
you need a shrink.

Who are you?

What does being an artist*me^an?

You’re not an artist
just because you say yoTPa^e.

That's too easy.

An artist has a mission,

a need to transmit
his world view,

-to interpret that world.
-Yes, of course.

Art must open one to the