Un succès commercial (1970) - full transcript

In this satire of sexuality in the entertainment industry and voyeurism, a woman maintains 3 romantic relationships simultaneously: with her husband, with her boss, and with her lover.

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to children and those who
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Anybody around?
- Don't know. Where are we?

Don't know. Home,
in our beautiful Quebec,

or in Canada,

or in USA, or in Europe,

or in a Communist country...
- You've got fuckin' ideas!

Hey!



You there in the toilets,

put out your smokes 'n come
'n see the movie!

'N you in the back there

to grope your girlfriends'
asses. Move forward.

You're not on television here.

START

CINAK PRESENTS

A revolution

mustn't start
where others have ended

nor end where others start.

But must a revolution be political?

Or sexual?

Or both at the time?

You understand?!



SO

CINAK PRESENTS

A COMMERCIAL SUCCESS

A NATIONALIST TRAGEDY
AND A UNIVERSAL COMEDY

We wish to thank Suzanne Olivier, Yvon Malette, Pierre Hébert, the

Conseil québécois pour la diffusion du cinéma

and the Galerie Place Royale

Only...

Only humour isn't pornographic.

Only humour isn't...

Only humour isn't pornographic.

Only humour isn't por...

Only... humour...

isn't pornographic.

On November 8th, 1969,

when the following sequence
was shot,

the following people occupied

the following positions:

Pierre Elliott Trudeau,

Prime Minister of Canada,
Liberal Party.

Jean-Jacques Bertrand,

Prime Minister of Québec,
Union Nationale.

Jean Drapeau, Mayor of Montréal.

Richard Nixon,
President of the United States.

There's nothing fictitious
about those persons.

Even though their names
will soon belong

to the small or big fiction
of history.

If I name them,
it's to remind you that

those men speak
and act on your behalf.

It's also to remind you

that you make them live

and let them survive

or you will kill them.

So it is with porn movies.

Let's recall finally the result

of last night's demonstration
on November 7th,

organized to protest against
the growing climate

of political
repression in Québec

and to demand
the liberation

of Pierre Vallières
and Charles Gagnon,

the resignation of Québec's Minister
of Justice, Rémi Paul,

and the withdrawal of Bill 63

Some 2,500 took part

in this demonstration.

The police, numbering more than
1,000,

could watch
the comings and goings

of the demonstrators

through closed circuit television.

Some ten Molotov cocktails
were launched.

Few arrests were made.

PERSONAL FILE

Note...

From yesterday,

today and tomorrow,

every guilty person
will be punished

and the punished ones

will be guilty

till

the end

of their life.

No man, no woman

will escape
from the destiny

of any political movement:

left, right, center,

back or front.

Revolution and anti-revolution,

morality and immorality,

decency and indecency,

photography and pornography,

censor and anticensor,

God and Satan,

living dead and stillborn,

politicians and drunkards,

homosexuals and lesbians,

cats and rats,

clowns and bleeding hearts,

officials and hippies,

nothing nor anyone

will escape from the power
of opposites,

from the politico-erotic split

of cosmic instinct.

That's all.

From yesterday,
today and tomorrow,

every guilty person
will be punished

and the punished ones will be guilty
till the end of their life.

No man, no woman

will escape from the destiny of
any political movement:

left, right, center,
back or front.

Revolution and anti-revolution,
morality and immorality,

decency and indecency,
photography and pornography,

censor and anti-censor,
God and Satan,

living dead and stillborn,
politicians and drunkards,

homosexuals and lesbians,
cats and rats,

clowns and bleeding hearts,
officials and hippies,

nothing nor anyone

will escape from the power
of opposites,

from the politico-erotic split
of cosmic instinct.

Here's Canada.

Canada: second widest country,
with 3.8 millions square miles,

It's the world's
second largest country,

more than half of the
North American continent,

with five important
geographic regions.

Because the French Canadians
have retained

their language and traditions

after the conquest of Quebec
by the English,

French Canada has
a particular cultural life.

Most of the French Canadians
live in Quebec.

The English-speaking population
has grown through immigration

British and American immigration

did that more than 3.5 millions
of Canadians today

are descendants of
Scotch and Irish.

Many are descendants
of the first American settlers

who came to Canada

during the American revolution.

In the beginning, Canada was
inhabited by Asiatic tribes

which could have crossed
the Bering Strait

some few thousand years ago.

The Eskimos and the Indians
are descendants of them.

The name “Canada" probably dates
back to those first inhabitants.

The Hurons-Iroquois used
the word "Kanata"

to signify a colony.

The true founder and colonizer
of French Canada,

Samuel de Champlain,

was impressed by
the quality of the furs

exchanged with kind Indians.

From 1604 to 1634,
he established

small colonies
of French pioneers.

The first attempts by the English to found colonies
date back to 1628.

Canada has
parliamentary government

since British North America Act

in 1867

which declares that Canada
will have one parliament

composed of the Queen,
the Senate,

and the House of Commons.

Prologue #1.

God created woman.

Man invented the key.

From this day

the doors multiplied.

And came cinema,

inventing the key hole.

Prologue #2.

CANADIAN OCEAN

My name is Q-Bec.

I am 434 years old.
I was discovered in 1535.

In 1608,

Samuel de Champlain,
after seeing my Diamond Cape,

lands on me and clears
a part of my virgin forest.

In Indian, my name means
"narrow passage''.

One day, Samuel told me...

One day, Samuel told me...

The conversion of an unbeliever!
- "The conversion of an unbeliever

is by far better than
the conquest of an empire."

That's how he killed
two birds with one stone,

establishing God's empire
through conversion.

However, Champlain enters me
more and more

and sails the Ottawa River
up to Ottawa, the capital of Canada.

Left alone by my lover,

I welcome missionaries,

trappers and Indians.

In 1642,
I move to Ville-Marie

with de Maisonneuve,
who said that now famous word:

"If all the trees of Montreal
should become women,

it is an obligation for me

to fecundate a colony,

and I will."

For a while,
nothing special:

new explorations,
widening of the territory...

I have to wait till 1690,

to feel new sensations

when Admiral Phipps
tries to rape me.

But Frontenac is there
ready to shoot.

However, in 1759,

what was up came down,

while my drill-ground of Abraham
was bleeding.

Then,

after my Lower and Upper Canada,

I underwent a hysterectomy in 1867.

Result: the birth of
the assembly of fools.

Little by little, I spread
from an ocean to the other.

I fool around with anybody,
anytime, always,

as long as it pays,

with the communists, the fascists,
the imperialists,

and the English Canadians.

SEA OF SARCASMS

Only

humour

isn't

pornographic.

Saint Narcissus

pray for us

Saint Nicephore

pray for us

Saint Pacôme

pray for us

Saint Rose

pray for us

Saint Éleuthère

pray for us

Saint-Magloire...

Pray for us.

Sainte-Gertrude...

Pray for us.

Saint-Guy...

Pray for us.

Saint-Éleuthère...

Pray for us.

Sainte-Anne-des-Monts...

Pray for us.

Sainte-Blandine...

Pray for us.

Saint-Lambert...

Pray for us.

Saint-Jude...

Pray for us.

Saint-Fortunat...

Pray for us.

Saint-Éleuthère...

Pray for us.

Saint-Agapit...

Pray for us.

Sainte-Agathe...

Pray for us.

Saint-Nicéphore...

Pray for us.

Saint-Prime...

Pray for us.

Saint-Hilarion...

Pray for us.

Saint-Lin...

Pray for us.

Saint-Liboire...

Pray for us.

Saint-Edwige...

Pray for us.

Saint-Henri...

Pray for us.

Let the holy will of Quebec be...
Amen.

Cut!

Do you want to know
what is nationalism?

I'll tell you.

It's a woman who doesn't want
to change her bra

even though
her breasts increase.

Intermission

in order to portray truth.

The body who would never be used
as an instrument...

Married love

reveals its true nature
and its true...

...of full time job would
resexualize.

Regression...

...nobility considered
in its essence...

...of full time job

implicated in such a development
of libido is evi...

God, who is love,

father and paternity...

...first with the activation

of all zones...
...his name,

in heaven and on earth.

...erotic,

and so the rebirth of sexuality...

...so marriage isn't an accident...

...pre-genital

and by the decline
of supremacy...

...product of the evolution of

unconscious natural strength.

Something to have an orgasm,

an instrument of pleasure.

It's a wise institution

of the Creator

to realize that...

transformation of the value

and the extent of relations...

humanity, his design for love

through the lustful dona...

...would lead to the disintegration
of institutions.

Spouses tend towards

the communion of their beings...

in which private,

interpersonal relations have...

This perspective seems to confirm

the forecast according to which...

With God, the generation

and education of a new life.

Genital to the eroticization

of the whole personality.

This...

the union of Christ
and the Church.

End of the intermission.

See through the walls.

Wouldn't you like to know
what's going on elsewhere

did you ever wish you could see
what does on in the next room

without being noticed?

Now, with the Spy Pen,
it's possible.

This quality optical device
is quasi indiscernible.

It's marvelous
for watching kids playing,

office employees and thieves.

An all-purpose instrument.

How to use it?

Spy Pen is a precise
optical instrument

with a front wide angle lens.

Each instrument is
equipped with a drill

capable of digging
an imperceptible hole

in plaster or wood.

Once in the hole,

you can see in the next room

from one wall to the other,

clearly even beyond

the skill of the human eye.

We are sure of the work,
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Try it.

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Order your Spy Pen today.

Only humour

isn't pornographic.

NINE MONTHS LATER

Only humour

isn't pornographic.

You know,
international politics

is no women's business.

Q-BEC HAD TO FADE OUT

AND PLUG A QUEBECER

Me. Quebec to Quebecers.

We're stuck together.

Quebec to Quebecers. Me.

They're all stuck together.

Quebec to Quebecers.

EPISODES OF A NATIONALIST LIFE

My name is
Jean-Baptiste Bilingual.

I have no age.

And you want to know
what I'm fed up.

Here or elsewhere, who cares,
it's the same fuckin' thing.

Everything's the same.

Some fuck, others watch them.

Some make laws, and others suffer.

I'll tell you all about it

and smack it
right into your face.

And don't you try to tell me
how to speak.

or that I won't be understood
in gay Paree

Don't you fuckin' try, you bugger,
to tell me I swear,

that it's ugly and
that I will be censured

for Christ's sake.

I'm not drunk and we're just alike.

My shit! I'm tired of shitting
my shit and smellin' it.

Who cares about Quebec
and more about Canada?

I'm overtired of bein' a man.

I want to be me.

End of the monologue.

Q-Bec B.B.Q.
$1.84.

Have a beautiful breast,

be well shaped,
desirable, sexy.

Develop an amazing breast size.

You want to be
like Hollywood stars?

Don't be shy.

Lose your inferiority complex
for ever.

Be a woman.

Imagine, in your own home,

few minutes a day will bring you
fabulous results

in no time.

Send only a dollar

and obtain
the most gorgeous bust.

All sizes available.

No doubt,

Quebec's chicken made in Quebec
by Quebecers

and eaten by Quebecers...

It's the best.

Don't worry baby

one of these days

we'll have our own B.B.Q.,

for Christ's sake.

National Union objectives.

Quebec's Liberal Party
political program: Quebec on the go.

Worried about
all the workers troubles.

...spread disorder
and confusion and enable

all Quebecers to earn
an honourable...

...cultural and artistic living.

Problems are multiplying.

They result mainly
from the Liberal regime's

feverish haste to implement plans...

...for culture,
the obligation for theatre

or concert companies,

with the cooperation of the State,

to offer the public

tickets at popular prices.

We can thus present
quality shows...

Of course,
there are a few centres

in Québec

where we find
cultural activities.

Some regions also maintain
at a decent level

the productivity
of their handicraft.

and some traditional arts.

But because of the isolated
character

of such activities...

...facilitate the development

of film creation
and production.

We're intensifying
our policy of purchase

of works of art
and subsidies to artists.

For artists we'll fix up centres

for meetings and symposiums...

...is unfortunately far
from being radiant enough

all over our territory,

and it should be
much more influential

outside our borders.

Like the dairy industry
supplies...

...the majority of the population

to live in French

wherever on
the Québec territory.

Measures will be taken
to give Québec

a French face
and the French language

the priority it should have

in the administration
and public services.

That's enough.

Come to bed.

You don't dream.

I'm sleepy, for Christ's sake.
Come on to bed.

Naturally, I'm no playmate.

Naturally, I don't look like USA.

Come on to bed, Christ.

Go to hell.

IS IT TOO LATE TO DREAM?!

Women, men,

you all,

myself,

you, us,

us all, from here
or elsewhere,

I dream of telling you
a dreamy speech.

I dream of telling you a dream.

I dream to see you dream.

Listen to the silence of the light
that brings me birth.

Listen to the silence
of the galaxies.

Look at me!

Look at you!

Look at us!

You don't understand
what's going on.

We don't

and they don't.

This time,

I won't show you my arse.

I want you to look

inside of me.

I want you to imagine

that I may suffer.

I may have cancer.

I may soon die

before the end of this shot...

before the end of this film,
who knows!

My arse, your arse, his arse,

our arse, your arse, their arse...

And still you make war!

You kill! You're killed!

You're without a job!
You suffer!

And still you're the slaves
of dealers, bankers,

politicians, bishops,

publicity, films...

And still you let it be,

you let yourself buy,
humiliate, exploit.

But you have color TV

and a brand new car.

But still,

you're the only one responsible

for what's happening
or not happening.

A nobody-country has always
the politicians,

priests, pornographers
and terrorists it deserves.

I repeat:

A nobody-country has always

the politicians, priests,

pornographers and terrorists
it deserves.

Women, men,

of yesterday, today, tomorrow,

we have no more time
to split around between

legitimacy illegitimate,

illegitimacy legitimate,

law and fate,

good and bad,

left lung and right lung.

As I told you,

I'm fed up

with the truth and the truths.

The bombs

that fall or will fall
on your head

are the truth.

Useless money
that buys everything

is the truth.

Politicians' and notables' treason

is the truth.

Cancer, heart attacks,

syphilis, abortion,

are the truth.

How can you possibly
make the difference

between decency

and indecency?

Men, women, comrades,

friends, grandfathers,

enemies, white, yellow,
black, greyish,

bitter, sweet,

sad, deceived, proud...

Truth is nothing but

the lie of truth,

life, the illusion of life,

death,

a simple inconsequence.

However

death is the only moral.

You should occupy
your leisure dying,

dying properly,
for somebody,

something to love.
To live.

Because tomorrow,
once you're dead,

it's gonna be too late
to really die.

Only pornography...

Only pornography is not humorous.

What we used to say
when we were kids:

"What...

the Brother...

said."

The other thing
that's not humorous...

The other thing
that's not humorous

is politics.

Is...

Is po...

Is poli...

Is politics.

Where will stop the hypocrisy

of those who think for others

and the weakness
of those who let it be?

Where will stop the hypocrisy

of those who despise man

in allowing him

to be only passive

and where will stop
the weakness of those

who let it be...

this simple, passive spectator

before the world
and before the screens

that cheat the world,

cheat love,

life and death.

Cinema must be vanquished.

Screens must be burnt,

and that fire must be of joy

to break down

the frigidity of mankind.

Air must become music,

and falling snow

must be falling snow.

THE END

This film was digitized
and restored in June 2015