YUL 871 (1966) - full transcript
Un ingénieur européen de passage à Montréal doit attendre deux jours un rendez-vous d'affaires. Pour tuer le temps, il se promène dans les rues, et se met à la recherche de ses parents, dont la guerre l'a séparé dès l'âge de quatre ans. L'aventure s'amène sous les traits d'une fillette de onze ans et d'une jeune beauté. Rencontres de hasard qui, pourtant, le marquent et l'obligent à se définir.
Ladies and gentlemen,
we are approaching
dorval airport
and we should be landing
in Montreal in a few minutes.
It is now four o'clock
local time.
Fasten your seatbelts,
and no smoking please.
All passengers will be required
to pass
through immigration and customs.
Please ensure you have
your passport...
- What's that mountain over there,
in the middle?
- Oh, that's mount royal.
- Are the girls beautiful
in Montreal?
It's much larger than I thought.
- I was surprised too when
I saw it from up here.
Montreal's a fascinating city.
A freshwater sea port.
Over on your left, that's
where the seaway starts.
Your first trip to Montreal?
- Yes, but I have family here.
I think.
The national film board
of Canada presents
A film by Jacques godbout
Eastern airlines, final call.
Flight number 173.
Whisperjet service for
Washington via Trenton airport
and Miami.
Passengers are
to present themselves to the
United States immigration
at gate number 16.
Eastern airlines, final call.
Flight number 173.
Whisperjet service
to Washington
via Trenton airport and Miami.
- Passengers are to present...
- Hello?
I would like to speak to Mr.
Jean-Paul nadeau, if I may.
You're closed?
Air Canada, flight number 66...
Destination Ottawa.
- But I must see him
before Monday.
On Monday, I'll be in New York.
- We're closed.
- Why is that? Is it a holiday?
- Yes, it's the English long
weekend, sir.
- All right then, give me a number
where I can reach
Mr. Nadeau at his residence?
No listen, please listen to me.
It's not difficult to understand.
I must see Mr. Nadeau today.
I've come all the way from Paris
to see him today.
So what shall I do?
Do whatever you like, sir.
I'm sorry...
- Hello, may I speak to...
- There is no service for
the number you have dialed.
- Not in service?
There is no service for
the number you have dialed.
Yes, yes, I see.
There's no service.
Large fish. It's a whale?
Second word.
Bone.
Whale bone?
Whale hip? Whale bottom?
Whale...
Ribs?
Bone,
flesh,
oil?
Whale muscle?
Whale... whale's muscle?
First word, whale.
Second word,
flesh, meat...
- Is this yours?
Do you live around here?
Is this your neighborhood?
Are you spying on me now?
Tell me, do you happen
to know a Mr. Nadeau?
No, I thought not.
- Is your name francoise?
- No.
- Claire?
- Me? Never.
- All right, what is it?
- Helene.
- Helene. That's very nice.
- Thank you, but
we already have three
helenes in our class.
- Would you rather
have a number?
- I don't think so.
I'd be afraid that
I'd be number 1 or 13.
You look like a 7.
The other day, I saw a lady
who looked like a 5.
She was expecting a baby.
- Would you buy me some gum?
- If you like.
- All right, which one?
- Those.
How much is it?
- Thank you.
Thank you.
- And now, tell me your name.
- Is it a strange name?
- I promise I won't laugh.
- Good.
- I've heard funnier names.
- Thank you.
Like what?
Jean.
- Jean? That's funny?
- You just don't know
my uncle Jean.
Want some?
Do you know what time
it is for me?
- You don't want to tell me?
- It's midnight.
And I was up at four o'clock
this morning.
I come from a country,
you see,
where the sun always sets
earlier than here.
- And does it rise earlier?
- Yes.
- Well, then it ends up being
the same thing.
- That's true.
- How'd you get here?
- On a jet.
- You don't know how to land it.
- Watch, I'll show you how.
- Now, here's Europe,
where I'm from.
Paris.
And we're here, in america.
Montreal.
It can't be the same time
in both places.
Wait, I'll explain it another way.
- Don't bother. I understand.
- Oh?
- It's not difficult.
- You think?
It took me years to understand it.
- That's because you didn't
understand that the earth turns.
Maybe.
- Are you meeting someone?
- No.
- Shouldn't you be home?
- No.
- It's getting late.
- Your mother...
- She's working.
Every night she works.
- What does she do?
- I don't know. She dances.
- What about your parents?
- Are they dead?
- I don't think so.
- You don't know?
- No.
- Do you think it's
useful to have parents?
- That depends.
- And your father,
where does he live?
- Out there, maybe.
- I know why you don't want
to see your parents.
You're afraid you'll
be punished.
-No
I think I'm afraid to find them...
To find them much older than I
could have imagined.
I think that's it.
Hello. Are there
any messages for me?
Thank you.
Hello? Hello,
Mr. Jean-Paul nadeau?
How are you?
A very good trip,
yes, thank you.
Oh no, it was just a little setback.
It's only essential that I be on
a plane tomorrow morning.
Yes, very good. This afternoon.
You can meet me at the hotel.
Au revoir.
May I be of some help,
mademoiselle?
- A man who's good
for something!
- A man can be useful.
- He can replace the fuses.
They can take care of the
little odd jobs.
Let's see if I can do this.
- What sign are you?
- Scorpio.
- Ah, lovely. I'm gemini.
There we go.
Voila. That wasn't too painful?
- No. No, I'm fine.
- Voila.
And now, where shall we go?
You want a tip?
If you're looking for an award,
you'll be waiting a long time.
- That's cute, what is it?
- It's an ookpik.
It's a little souvenir animal.
Take him, he's yours.
- Thank you. I should explain,
I'm in from out of town.
I'm here for two days, that's all.
- Who do you think I am?
- The loveliest girl in town.
- I can see you're European.
Tell me, does it usually work?
- What's that?
- That pickup line.
- Never. It's never worked.
- But I must warn you,
I have no intention of
disrupting my schedule.
I'm at your service.
Friday, 6:30. Wash the car.
Straight ahead.
- It wasn't dirty.
- It's a matter of principle.
- Dirty or not,
it must be washed every Friday.
- Do you have many principles
like that?
- Oh, one or two.
- My fiancé is another.
I think you should
meet him, on principle.
But tell me, what was it that
brought you to Montreal?
I can understand going to venice
or to Tokyo, but Montreal?
- The company I work for
is interested in
a mass production
of heavy machinery.
- Locomotives?
- No.
We make trucks, snowblowers,
snow removers...
- It pays well?
- Pays well?
If you want it to.
- No, it's an artificial island
constructed in a single year.
Ten million dollars worth
of earth,
piled up in the middle of the river.
And yet, a world's fair
goes by quickly.
But you know,
here we spend our time
excavating, expanding...
We tear down, we build up.
We live in a sort of
perpetual present.
Have you ever thought
of settling down here?
Are you feeling all right?
Jet lagged?
- No, no, I feel fine.
- Do you like flying?
- Yes.
- But I'd like to learn
how to pilot.
I like sailing, too.
- How large is this section
of your factory?
- Four square miles.
This is what allows us,
based on demand,
to manufacture trucks ranging in weight
from ten to ninety-five tons.
No, thanks. I never smoke.
- Thank you. Now for the plans,
there's detailed documentation?
- I can deliver them tonight.
- At your hotel?
Do you like science fiction?
Yes, very much.
Especially bradbury.
I could never get into it.
And not because I find it infantile,
after all I read detective stories,
but it's all the moralizing...
- Earlier, you were asking me
if I'd want to live here.
- Yes, I know.
And you'll ask me, who would
leave a major Metropolis
for a more provincial city?
And you? You've never thought
of moving to Europe?
- I prefer this old stone
refrigerator of a town.
Let me tell you, here...
In the winter, we dream of Florida.
In the summer, we dream of skiing.
In Autumn, we're
dreaming of spring.
I know of no place where
people dream as much.
- Is this the best one you have?
- That depends what you want it
for.
- I'm looking for a revolver
to kill fiancés.
Thank you.
- Who is that?
- A man I met.
And please, Antonio, don't
say it. I already know.
- Where did you meet him?
- On the street.
- I met him on the street, and
don't say "just like a tramp."
- Too heavy.
- Well, here we have
in the showcase a copy
of a derringer.
It's a small pistol you always
see in cowboy films.
It's the pistol the ladies
carried in their garters.
You could wear it in your
suspenders, of course,
but that's of no importance.
I will give you a demonstration.
- When you were a little boy,
did you ever play cowboys?
- Of course. I was Jesse James.
- The kids where I lived
loved to play Indians.
They'd tie me to the stake.
- And I always had to rescue her.
- But my father said,
"it's a school for violence.
It's not a game.“
- And he was right, you know.
Well, now, that one's a luger.
It's from Switzerland
or at least it's of Swiss design.
It was styled for the Olympics.
You could try out for the
Olympics with this revolver.
And we have this one here,
the little Browning .25,
which is made in Belgium,
but that's of no importance.
Mostly for the tourists,
the tourists... excuse me,
the tourists and the campers.
A defensive arm, perhaps.
Here we have a superb dagger,
if you're interested.
- What was that?
- That one there? That's a Colt.
Superb. The American Colt.
Here we have the trap,
for loading the bullets.
- Would you like to try it?
- Yes.
- Oh, I have a surprise
for you first.
I'll give you the holster, as well.
Made of real cowhide. Feel it.
Alright, I'll get you some
bullets.
Some bullets, and you can go...
Try it out.
See you later.
I haven't seen you in weeks.
- You're lecturing me, now?
- I'm not lecturing you,
but you could have let me know.
Admit it, I didn't say anything.
- I'm the one who should be
lecturing you.
- For ten years now, I've been
saying I'd gladly marry you
the first Saturday morning...
- Hmmm, Saturday...
Saturday, you know perfectly
well that Saturday's no good.
On Saturday, I have
my football practice.
- We can get married early,
and then you can play football.
- Good, I love you very much.
- I have to close up my shop.
If you'll be good enough
to give me my bullets?
- We never kill anyone on the
weekends these days.
- When I think I could've killed
you just like that...
I suddenly go out of
my mind... and bang.
In the morning, there'd
be the headlines:
"A foreigner loses his mind and
kills a defenseless montrealer."
- In any case it's not loaded,
so...
- He's always saying funny things.
- You're keeping that one?
$134, plus...
- I spent part of my life watching
men die,
and it's curious how having this in my
hand gives me a feeling of security.
It's ridiculous, right?
I'm getting old.
- Mister? Monsieur?
Here is your parcel. All ready.
- Thank you.
- And here is your bill.
$168.08. I won't charge you
the eight cents.
Thank you.
Your change.
- Will you both be
my guests at dinner?
- Go ahead, Madeleine. I can't
come. I have to go round
to the gymnasium for my workout.
Well then, I thank you very much.
Goodbye.
Bye bye, have fun.
The province of Quebec?
Yes.
- It's about three times
the size of France.
Yes.
I don't know if that means
anything to you,
but it's three times
the size of France.
Yes.
And Canada's seven times as big
as France, I think.
We learned that when
we were in school.
It could've changed in all that
time,
but I don't think it
could've shrunk.
Well, I don't want to upset you with
all these facts.
You're parisian, aren't you?
- Just came from Paris?
- Yes.
- Excuse me.
- Not at all.
- Yeah, I sit here
and I chat and I talk
and finally I take over your
conversation.
- Oh, absolutely not.
There's a wall right here.
Absolutely not, absolutely not.
Oh good, I prefer this...
It makes it less, less...
Excuse me.
It's not the first time
I've talked through bars.
Get it?
Thank you.
- You like whisky?
- Yes.
- In Paris, no one really says
scotch. They say whisky.
- I say both.
- Both?
- Yes.
- Two at a time?
That's some trick.
Are you parisian, madame?
- No, no, Canadian.
Well, we won't hold that
against you.
What do you do?
- Well, I'm a representative
of a factory
that manufactures large trucks
- and blowers and snowplows.
- Ahhh...
- I've seen some very good
snowplows here.
- Well, we have plenty of snow.
Yes.
I mean to say...
I mean to say we sure can use
them. You see?
- They're made in France?
No, they're made here.
That's why I've come here.
- Ah, you came to see...
- Yes, yes.
- You're gonna show us
how to plow snow?
- No, I came here to learn how.
Very parisian of you.
- No, no, I came to learn!
Ya ya ya ya
I'm not feeling myself
ye ye ye ye I'm not quite me
I'm not quite me ye ye
I'm not quite me
yesterday I went through a stop
sign, the police stopped me
she asked me if I was myopic,
no, I'm a carpenter
Ye ye ye ye I'm not quite me
I'm not quite me ye ye
I'm not quite me
when my boss asked,
can I count on you?
I said count on whatever you like,
I count on my fingers
Ya ya ya ya
I'm not feeling myself
ye ye ye ye I'm not quite me
I'm not quite me ye ye,
I'm not quite me
my little brother thinks he's a
chicken, it's getting dangerous
we'd like to lock him up,
but we need the eggs
ya ya ya ya
I'm not feeling myself
ye ye ye ye I'm not quite me
I'm not quite me ye ye,
I'm not quite me
I can sing the ye ye very well,
and do you know why?
It's thanks to my personality,
I'm not feeling myself
ya ya ya ya
I'm not feeling myself
ye ye ye ye I'm not quite me
I'm not quite me ye ye,
I'm not quite me ye ye...
And now here's is your
good friend... aunt Lucile.
Hello, hello, my dear children.
It makes me very happy to see that
so many of you
came out to be a part of
my show this morning.
Cric, crac, croc.
I'm starting today's story,
my little friends.
It's called "the three warblers."
The was once a nice little boy
named charlot...
- And frontenac?
- You don't know
your Canadian history.
- You know, I was never
very good at school.
You know what, I looked
in the phone book
and I think I've found them.
Bordeaux street.
At least they have
the same name.
- So, are we going?
- Where's that?
- You'll see...
- You know parents can't get old.
- Ah, I see, so they've moved?
- Yes, but I don't know where.
Just a moment. Francine!
- Good morning, madam.
- Good morning.
- Do you remember last may,
the old people we helped
to move? Where did they go?
- Oh, I don't remember for sure.
- Somewhere in the suburbs I think.
- Do you remember where
they worked?
- Oh, yes. Where did the
old man work? Do you know?
- For the transport commission.
- Ah yes, the commission of
transport in Montreal.
- Where is that?
- The woman did housework,
but after they moved away
she didn't do it anymore.
- The commission of transport.
- Would you know the address?
- It's at the corner of
lajeunesse and cremazie.
- I'll write it down.
- I know where it is.
- Let me write it down.
- In the north of town.
- Cremazie... and lajeunesse.
I'm very grateful to you.
You've been very kind.
- Not at all.
- Is this your girl?
- No. Thank you very much.
- Goodbye.
- Goodbye.
- Bon giorno, ah il turista!
- Are you winning?
- No, they're killing us slowly.
- You said you played
every Saturday morning,
so I came to see.
- Basta! Basta! Ah,
so you came to see?
- Are you in good shape?
- No, no, I'm afraid not.
- It's my only Saturday in Canada.
It's you against who?
- The poor Greeks.
- Look out!
- Excuse me, but
Madeleine's not here?
- Pardon?
- Madeleine. She's not here?
- She detests football, you know?
- Madeleine doesn't like sports?
- No, she prefers trapshooting
and the skidoo.
- The what?
- The skidoo.
One minute.
The skidoo. The skidoo!
It's a machine that travels over
the snow. You can go anywhere,
anywhere you want.
It's very good in the winter.
Right now she's in a club
for the summer.
It's fantastic, you can shoot
pigeons, pow pow!
- Where is this club,
do you know?
- It's on the other side of
the Jacques-cartier bridge.
It's easy to find.
- Thanks!
- She'd rather shoot pigeons,
but they're all such a bunch
of snobs in that club!
They're all so special.
For me, it's not so much that
I think they're snobs.
But you know she works for lawyers
and that leads to expenses.
And on top of that,
she never listens to me!
The other day she said:
"I'm buying a car. A lovely
new car."
I told her:
"Buy an alfa!" But no, no,
she bought another!
- Oh, it's you.
Don't make any noise.
- Madeleine.
- Before you got here,
I was doing very well.
One pigeon after another.
- When I woke up this morning,
I looked for you at my side.
- That's very sweet.
- Why didn't you stay with me?
- It's not my style.
And you should be glad
I'm so considerate.
- I feel happy with you.
- Then what more do you want?
I was trying to be the woman
I'd have liked to meet if
I had been in your place.
- And if you were in my place now,
what would you do?
- Exactly what you're doing now.
- Do you believe
in dreams coming true?
- You're on a trip, that's all.
I beg of you, please go.
If we say goodbye now,
it'll be less painful.
- I don't want to go.
- If you have any sense at all,
leave me to my pigeons.
I hoped you'd be gone by now.
Why did you come to Montreal?
- You wait for me here.
- So?
- I think this is the place,
but he works at night.
He's a guard.
- Will you come back again tonight?
- Of course.
- And then you won't
need me anymore.
- Why do you say that?
- Because you've found them now.
- A few days later, my parents
crossed the border.
They never returned to Romania.
When you're fleeing,
a child is too heavy to carry.
They knew my uncle
would come for me.
My uncle was a driver
for the ambassadors.
I've seen a lot of counties.
In every country,
the service stairs.
In Italy, I was 14 years old.
They told me: "Your parents are
living close to Marseille."
While my uncle was busy,
I fled towards Marseille.
What for?
What could I hope to expect
from my parents?
We have an idea of our parents.
We say: "Oh, if only they
were there."
If they were there, what
would that change?
I didn't find them in Marseille.
At the address I'd been given,
they remembered a family,
a quiet couple,
that left for america one day.
The promised land.
I didn't want an
official investigation.
No rubber stamps.
Despite a letter from Montreal...
It wasn't modesty...
It wasn't modesty...
I don't know.
Fear, maybe.
It's cold in here.
- It's the air conditioning.
- We can turn it off.
- In the winter, do you freeze?
- No... I always find a man.
- I never imagined
Canada like this.
- What were you expecting?
- Indians.
Mounted police,
chasing the Indians.
And also line renaud.
Why?
Ma cabane au Canada.
And what else was there?
Once the musée de I'homme,
I saw a documentary
about Canada.
It was about men who walked
across town wearing snowshoes.
Afterwards, they had a big party.
I say it was a big party because
there was lots of noise.
It was a very good film.
And what else?
- Why are you looking
at me like that?
- Radio stations,
cta-21 and cta-102.
Mean anything to you?
- Are they from your country?
- No.
They're the transmitters
of two super civilizations
who want to communicate with us.
Since 1960,
astronomers have heard them.
Don't laugh, it's serious.
They're transmitting
on 900 megacycles,
but no one understands them.
- It's funny how every man needs
to teach a woman something.
With you, it's science fiction.
With another, it's psychology,
and another gastronomy.
- Maybe it's the need we have
to share.
The desire to share something
we care about.
- And do you think
science fiction
will replace belief in god?
- God only knows.
- Did you know we spoke French?
- Yes, of course I knew.
- Why don't you be nice
and dry me off?
No, my back!
- Do you love me? A little?
- No.
You please me.
Turn off the television.
- It bothers you?
- No, but I feel like
she's staring at me.
Someone else, fine.
Be she makes me uncomfortable.
Tell me, do you think I'll be
happy with Antonio?
Antonio's always been
a good boyfriend.
Every time I've needed someone,
he's been there.
Do you think that's
what love is?
- I don't know.
- Would you believe me if...
- Yes,
I'd believe anything you told me.
- If I were married,
I'd never be unfaithful.
This is different.
It's a love of life.
Anyway, with you,
it doesn't count.
- Thank you.
- Oh no, I only meant...
You're not from here.
- Ah, you have things to do.
- Mm-hmm.
- Eating oysters.
- But they're not in season.
- Well, lobster then.
- Now? Tonight?
- You aren't looking at me.
Do you recognize me?
It's stupid, it's stupid
what I'm asking you.
What are we doing?
We'll celebrate.
We'll hug.
What about you, mom?
Have you made any friends?
Do you have your own house now?
How is she?
- I'm late.
- No, no, we have lots of time.
- You're soaking wet!
- It's nothing.
I mislaid the address.
I thought I'd never find the street.
- Antonio's gone to get the car.
- I'll drive you to the airport.
- Madeleine, I have
something to say.
- Yes?
- You'll laugh.
- No, go ahead.
The important thing is neither
of us has been hurt.
- Ah, what an awful day.
- Come va?
- Hello.
The Greeks lost?
- Oh, the Greeks, the Greeks...
- I brought you a little gift.
But it was so amusing that I
decided to keep it for myself.
- It's an instant camera.
- Is it loaded?
- Yes, it's loaded.
Listen, I want you both
to pose over here.
Madeleine, come here.
I want you to stand
near the telephone,
and you, monsieur,
stand beside her.
And I'm going to take a
little souvenir photo.
A little more to your,
to your... right.
No, I mean to your left.
Towards... to your left.
To your left.
That's it! Don't move.
No, no, no, a little
but to your... voila.
A little more...
That's it, yeah.
And voila.
And now, the show begins.
It takes ten seconds before
we see a superb finished photo.
But, you see, it's taking it out
that's so difficult
because often you need
a pair of pliers.
You know, it's...
It's very, very, very difficult.
Because I have to tell you
we're at the eighth,
and on the eighth there are always
tricks waiting in the corners.
As you see, the difficulty is
in taking it out.
We have to wait ten seconds.
It's been four, five, six,
seven, eight, nine...
And... it's spoiled.
So we'll just have
to take it again.
Stand exactly where you were,
and I'll take it again.
Good. Don't move at all.
I'll just replace
the little flash.
It's difficult to do it fast...
And we're ready!
Hop! I feel as if I'm playing
goalkeeper!
- Madeleine,
you're beautiful.
- And you, you live far
from here.
Madeleine, you know,
my travels are over.
So, what do you want?
You.
- I'm here.
- I love you.
we are approaching
dorval airport
and we should be landing
in Montreal in a few minutes.
It is now four o'clock
local time.
Fasten your seatbelts,
and no smoking please.
All passengers will be required
to pass
through immigration and customs.
Please ensure you have
your passport...
- What's that mountain over there,
in the middle?
- Oh, that's mount royal.
- Are the girls beautiful
in Montreal?
It's much larger than I thought.
- I was surprised too when
I saw it from up here.
Montreal's a fascinating city.
A freshwater sea port.
Over on your left, that's
where the seaway starts.
Your first trip to Montreal?
- Yes, but I have family here.
I think.
The national film board
of Canada presents
A film by Jacques godbout
Eastern airlines, final call.
Flight number 173.
Whisperjet service for
Washington via Trenton airport
and Miami.
Passengers are
to present themselves to the
United States immigration
at gate number 16.
Eastern airlines, final call.
Flight number 173.
Whisperjet service
to Washington
via Trenton airport and Miami.
- Passengers are to present...
- Hello?
I would like to speak to Mr.
Jean-Paul nadeau, if I may.
You're closed?
Air Canada, flight number 66...
Destination Ottawa.
- But I must see him
before Monday.
On Monday, I'll be in New York.
- We're closed.
- Why is that? Is it a holiday?
- Yes, it's the English long
weekend, sir.
- All right then, give me a number
where I can reach
Mr. Nadeau at his residence?
No listen, please listen to me.
It's not difficult to understand.
I must see Mr. Nadeau today.
I've come all the way from Paris
to see him today.
So what shall I do?
Do whatever you like, sir.
I'm sorry...
- Hello, may I speak to...
- There is no service for
the number you have dialed.
- Not in service?
There is no service for
the number you have dialed.
Yes, yes, I see.
There's no service.
Large fish. It's a whale?
Second word.
Bone.
Whale bone?
Whale hip? Whale bottom?
Whale...
Ribs?
Bone,
flesh,
oil?
Whale muscle?
Whale... whale's muscle?
First word, whale.
Second word,
flesh, meat...
- Is this yours?
Do you live around here?
Is this your neighborhood?
Are you spying on me now?
Tell me, do you happen
to know a Mr. Nadeau?
No, I thought not.
- Is your name francoise?
- No.
- Claire?
- Me? Never.
- All right, what is it?
- Helene.
- Helene. That's very nice.
- Thank you, but
we already have three
helenes in our class.
- Would you rather
have a number?
- I don't think so.
I'd be afraid that
I'd be number 1 or 13.
You look like a 7.
The other day, I saw a lady
who looked like a 5.
She was expecting a baby.
- Would you buy me some gum?
- If you like.
- All right, which one?
- Those.
How much is it?
- Thank you.
Thank you.
- And now, tell me your name.
- Is it a strange name?
- I promise I won't laugh.
- Good.
- I've heard funnier names.
- Thank you.
Like what?
Jean.
- Jean? That's funny?
- You just don't know
my uncle Jean.
Want some?
Do you know what time
it is for me?
- You don't want to tell me?
- It's midnight.
And I was up at four o'clock
this morning.
I come from a country,
you see,
where the sun always sets
earlier than here.
- And does it rise earlier?
- Yes.
- Well, then it ends up being
the same thing.
- That's true.
- How'd you get here?
- On a jet.
- You don't know how to land it.
- Watch, I'll show you how.
- Now, here's Europe,
where I'm from.
Paris.
And we're here, in america.
Montreal.
It can't be the same time
in both places.
Wait, I'll explain it another way.
- Don't bother. I understand.
- Oh?
- It's not difficult.
- You think?
It took me years to understand it.
- That's because you didn't
understand that the earth turns.
Maybe.
- Are you meeting someone?
- No.
- Shouldn't you be home?
- No.
- It's getting late.
- Your mother...
- She's working.
Every night she works.
- What does she do?
- I don't know. She dances.
- What about your parents?
- Are they dead?
- I don't think so.
- You don't know?
- No.
- Do you think it's
useful to have parents?
- That depends.
- And your father,
where does he live?
- Out there, maybe.
- I know why you don't want
to see your parents.
You're afraid you'll
be punished.
-No
I think I'm afraid to find them...
To find them much older than I
could have imagined.
I think that's it.
Hello. Are there
any messages for me?
Thank you.
Hello? Hello,
Mr. Jean-Paul nadeau?
How are you?
A very good trip,
yes, thank you.
Oh no, it was just a little setback.
It's only essential that I be on
a plane tomorrow morning.
Yes, very good. This afternoon.
You can meet me at the hotel.
Au revoir.
May I be of some help,
mademoiselle?
- A man who's good
for something!
- A man can be useful.
- He can replace the fuses.
They can take care of the
little odd jobs.
Let's see if I can do this.
- What sign are you?
- Scorpio.
- Ah, lovely. I'm gemini.
There we go.
Voila. That wasn't too painful?
- No. No, I'm fine.
- Voila.
And now, where shall we go?
You want a tip?
If you're looking for an award,
you'll be waiting a long time.
- That's cute, what is it?
- It's an ookpik.
It's a little souvenir animal.
Take him, he's yours.
- Thank you. I should explain,
I'm in from out of town.
I'm here for two days, that's all.
- Who do you think I am?
- The loveliest girl in town.
- I can see you're European.
Tell me, does it usually work?
- What's that?
- That pickup line.
- Never. It's never worked.
- But I must warn you,
I have no intention of
disrupting my schedule.
I'm at your service.
Friday, 6:30. Wash the car.
Straight ahead.
- It wasn't dirty.
- It's a matter of principle.
- Dirty or not,
it must be washed every Friday.
- Do you have many principles
like that?
- Oh, one or two.
- My fiancé is another.
I think you should
meet him, on principle.
But tell me, what was it that
brought you to Montreal?
I can understand going to venice
or to Tokyo, but Montreal?
- The company I work for
is interested in
a mass production
of heavy machinery.
- Locomotives?
- No.
We make trucks, snowblowers,
snow removers...
- It pays well?
- Pays well?
If you want it to.
- No, it's an artificial island
constructed in a single year.
Ten million dollars worth
of earth,
piled up in the middle of the river.
And yet, a world's fair
goes by quickly.
But you know,
here we spend our time
excavating, expanding...
We tear down, we build up.
We live in a sort of
perpetual present.
Have you ever thought
of settling down here?
Are you feeling all right?
Jet lagged?
- No, no, I feel fine.
- Do you like flying?
- Yes.
- But I'd like to learn
how to pilot.
I like sailing, too.
- How large is this section
of your factory?
- Four square miles.
This is what allows us,
based on demand,
to manufacture trucks ranging in weight
from ten to ninety-five tons.
No, thanks. I never smoke.
- Thank you. Now for the plans,
there's detailed documentation?
- I can deliver them tonight.
- At your hotel?
Do you like science fiction?
Yes, very much.
Especially bradbury.
I could never get into it.
And not because I find it infantile,
after all I read detective stories,
but it's all the moralizing...
- Earlier, you were asking me
if I'd want to live here.
- Yes, I know.
And you'll ask me, who would
leave a major Metropolis
for a more provincial city?
And you? You've never thought
of moving to Europe?
- I prefer this old stone
refrigerator of a town.
Let me tell you, here...
In the winter, we dream of Florida.
In the summer, we dream of skiing.
In Autumn, we're
dreaming of spring.
I know of no place where
people dream as much.
- Is this the best one you have?
- That depends what you want it
for.
- I'm looking for a revolver
to kill fiancés.
Thank you.
- Who is that?
- A man I met.
And please, Antonio, don't
say it. I already know.
- Where did you meet him?
- On the street.
- I met him on the street, and
don't say "just like a tramp."
- Too heavy.
- Well, here we have
in the showcase a copy
of a derringer.
It's a small pistol you always
see in cowboy films.
It's the pistol the ladies
carried in their garters.
You could wear it in your
suspenders, of course,
but that's of no importance.
I will give you a demonstration.
- When you were a little boy,
did you ever play cowboys?
- Of course. I was Jesse James.
- The kids where I lived
loved to play Indians.
They'd tie me to the stake.
- And I always had to rescue her.
- But my father said,
"it's a school for violence.
It's not a game.“
- And he was right, you know.
Well, now, that one's a luger.
It's from Switzerland
or at least it's of Swiss design.
It was styled for the Olympics.
You could try out for the
Olympics with this revolver.
And we have this one here,
the little Browning .25,
which is made in Belgium,
but that's of no importance.
Mostly for the tourists,
the tourists... excuse me,
the tourists and the campers.
A defensive arm, perhaps.
Here we have a superb dagger,
if you're interested.
- What was that?
- That one there? That's a Colt.
Superb. The American Colt.
Here we have the trap,
for loading the bullets.
- Would you like to try it?
- Yes.
- Oh, I have a surprise
for you first.
I'll give you the holster, as well.
Made of real cowhide. Feel it.
Alright, I'll get you some
bullets.
Some bullets, and you can go...
Try it out.
See you later.
I haven't seen you in weeks.
- You're lecturing me, now?
- I'm not lecturing you,
but you could have let me know.
Admit it, I didn't say anything.
- I'm the one who should be
lecturing you.
- For ten years now, I've been
saying I'd gladly marry you
the first Saturday morning...
- Hmmm, Saturday...
Saturday, you know perfectly
well that Saturday's no good.
On Saturday, I have
my football practice.
- We can get married early,
and then you can play football.
- Good, I love you very much.
- I have to close up my shop.
If you'll be good enough
to give me my bullets?
- We never kill anyone on the
weekends these days.
- When I think I could've killed
you just like that...
I suddenly go out of
my mind... and bang.
In the morning, there'd
be the headlines:
"A foreigner loses his mind and
kills a defenseless montrealer."
- In any case it's not loaded,
so...
- He's always saying funny things.
- You're keeping that one?
$134, plus...
- I spent part of my life watching
men die,
and it's curious how having this in my
hand gives me a feeling of security.
It's ridiculous, right?
I'm getting old.
- Mister? Monsieur?
Here is your parcel. All ready.
- Thank you.
- And here is your bill.
$168.08. I won't charge you
the eight cents.
Thank you.
Your change.
- Will you both be
my guests at dinner?
- Go ahead, Madeleine. I can't
come. I have to go round
to the gymnasium for my workout.
Well then, I thank you very much.
Goodbye.
Bye bye, have fun.
The province of Quebec?
Yes.
- It's about three times
the size of France.
Yes.
I don't know if that means
anything to you,
but it's three times
the size of France.
Yes.
And Canada's seven times as big
as France, I think.
We learned that when
we were in school.
It could've changed in all that
time,
but I don't think it
could've shrunk.
Well, I don't want to upset you with
all these facts.
You're parisian, aren't you?
- Just came from Paris?
- Yes.
- Excuse me.
- Not at all.
- Yeah, I sit here
and I chat and I talk
and finally I take over your
conversation.
- Oh, absolutely not.
There's a wall right here.
Absolutely not, absolutely not.
Oh good, I prefer this...
It makes it less, less...
Excuse me.
It's not the first time
I've talked through bars.
Get it?
Thank you.
- You like whisky?
- Yes.
- In Paris, no one really says
scotch. They say whisky.
- I say both.
- Both?
- Yes.
- Two at a time?
That's some trick.
Are you parisian, madame?
- No, no, Canadian.
Well, we won't hold that
against you.
What do you do?
- Well, I'm a representative
of a factory
that manufactures large trucks
- and blowers and snowplows.
- Ahhh...
- I've seen some very good
snowplows here.
- Well, we have plenty of snow.
Yes.
I mean to say...
I mean to say we sure can use
them. You see?
- They're made in France?
No, they're made here.
That's why I've come here.
- Ah, you came to see...
- Yes, yes.
- You're gonna show us
how to plow snow?
- No, I came here to learn how.
Very parisian of you.
- No, no, I came to learn!
Ya ya ya ya
I'm not feeling myself
ye ye ye ye I'm not quite me
I'm not quite me ye ye
I'm not quite me
yesterday I went through a stop
sign, the police stopped me
she asked me if I was myopic,
no, I'm a carpenter
Ye ye ye ye I'm not quite me
I'm not quite me ye ye
I'm not quite me
when my boss asked,
can I count on you?
I said count on whatever you like,
I count on my fingers
Ya ya ya ya
I'm not feeling myself
ye ye ye ye I'm not quite me
I'm not quite me ye ye,
I'm not quite me
my little brother thinks he's a
chicken, it's getting dangerous
we'd like to lock him up,
but we need the eggs
ya ya ya ya
I'm not feeling myself
ye ye ye ye I'm not quite me
I'm not quite me ye ye,
I'm not quite me
I can sing the ye ye very well,
and do you know why?
It's thanks to my personality,
I'm not feeling myself
ya ya ya ya
I'm not feeling myself
ye ye ye ye I'm not quite me
I'm not quite me ye ye,
I'm not quite me ye ye...
And now here's is your
good friend... aunt Lucile.
Hello, hello, my dear children.
It makes me very happy to see that
so many of you
came out to be a part of
my show this morning.
Cric, crac, croc.
I'm starting today's story,
my little friends.
It's called "the three warblers."
The was once a nice little boy
named charlot...
- And frontenac?
- You don't know
your Canadian history.
- You know, I was never
very good at school.
You know what, I looked
in the phone book
and I think I've found them.
Bordeaux street.
At least they have
the same name.
- So, are we going?
- Where's that?
- You'll see...
- You know parents can't get old.
- Ah, I see, so they've moved?
- Yes, but I don't know where.
Just a moment. Francine!
- Good morning, madam.
- Good morning.
- Do you remember last may,
the old people we helped
to move? Where did they go?
- Oh, I don't remember for sure.
- Somewhere in the suburbs I think.
- Do you remember where
they worked?
- Oh, yes. Where did the
old man work? Do you know?
- For the transport commission.
- Ah yes, the commission of
transport in Montreal.
- Where is that?
- The woman did housework,
but after they moved away
she didn't do it anymore.
- The commission of transport.
- Would you know the address?
- It's at the corner of
lajeunesse and cremazie.
- I'll write it down.
- I know where it is.
- Let me write it down.
- In the north of town.
- Cremazie... and lajeunesse.
I'm very grateful to you.
You've been very kind.
- Not at all.
- Is this your girl?
- No. Thank you very much.
- Goodbye.
- Goodbye.
- Bon giorno, ah il turista!
- Are you winning?
- No, they're killing us slowly.
- You said you played
every Saturday morning,
so I came to see.
- Basta! Basta! Ah,
so you came to see?
- Are you in good shape?
- No, no, I'm afraid not.
- It's my only Saturday in Canada.
It's you against who?
- The poor Greeks.
- Look out!
- Excuse me, but
Madeleine's not here?
- Pardon?
- Madeleine. She's not here?
- She detests football, you know?
- Madeleine doesn't like sports?
- No, she prefers trapshooting
and the skidoo.
- The what?
- The skidoo.
One minute.
The skidoo. The skidoo!
It's a machine that travels over
the snow. You can go anywhere,
anywhere you want.
It's very good in the winter.
Right now she's in a club
for the summer.
It's fantastic, you can shoot
pigeons, pow pow!
- Where is this club,
do you know?
- It's on the other side of
the Jacques-cartier bridge.
It's easy to find.
- Thanks!
- She'd rather shoot pigeons,
but they're all such a bunch
of snobs in that club!
They're all so special.
For me, it's not so much that
I think they're snobs.
But you know she works for lawyers
and that leads to expenses.
And on top of that,
she never listens to me!
The other day she said:
"I'm buying a car. A lovely
new car."
I told her:
"Buy an alfa!" But no, no,
she bought another!
- Oh, it's you.
Don't make any noise.
- Madeleine.
- Before you got here,
I was doing very well.
One pigeon after another.
- When I woke up this morning,
I looked for you at my side.
- That's very sweet.
- Why didn't you stay with me?
- It's not my style.
And you should be glad
I'm so considerate.
- I feel happy with you.
- Then what more do you want?
I was trying to be the woman
I'd have liked to meet if
I had been in your place.
- And if you were in my place now,
what would you do?
- Exactly what you're doing now.
- Do you believe
in dreams coming true?
- You're on a trip, that's all.
I beg of you, please go.
If we say goodbye now,
it'll be less painful.
- I don't want to go.
- If you have any sense at all,
leave me to my pigeons.
I hoped you'd be gone by now.
Why did you come to Montreal?
- You wait for me here.
- So?
- I think this is the place,
but he works at night.
He's a guard.
- Will you come back again tonight?
- Of course.
- And then you won't
need me anymore.
- Why do you say that?
- Because you've found them now.
- A few days later, my parents
crossed the border.
They never returned to Romania.
When you're fleeing,
a child is too heavy to carry.
They knew my uncle
would come for me.
My uncle was a driver
for the ambassadors.
I've seen a lot of counties.
In every country,
the service stairs.
In Italy, I was 14 years old.
They told me: "Your parents are
living close to Marseille."
While my uncle was busy,
I fled towards Marseille.
What for?
What could I hope to expect
from my parents?
We have an idea of our parents.
We say: "Oh, if only they
were there."
If they were there, what
would that change?
I didn't find them in Marseille.
At the address I'd been given,
they remembered a family,
a quiet couple,
that left for america one day.
The promised land.
I didn't want an
official investigation.
No rubber stamps.
Despite a letter from Montreal...
It wasn't modesty...
It wasn't modesty...
I don't know.
Fear, maybe.
It's cold in here.
- It's the air conditioning.
- We can turn it off.
- In the winter, do you freeze?
- No... I always find a man.
- I never imagined
Canada like this.
- What were you expecting?
- Indians.
Mounted police,
chasing the Indians.
And also line renaud.
Why?
Ma cabane au Canada.
And what else was there?
Once the musée de I'homme,
I saw a documentary
about Canada.
It was about men who walked
across town wearing snowshoes.
Afterwards, they had a big party.
I say it was a big party because
there was lots of noise.
It was a very good film.
And what else?
- Why are you looking
at me like that?
- Radio stations,
cta-21 and cta-102.
Mean anything to you?
- Are they from your country?
- No.
They're the transmitters
of two super civilizations
who want to communicate with us.
Since 1960,
astronomers have heard them.
Don't laugh, it's serious.
They're transmitting
on 900 megacycles,
but no one understands them.
- It's funny how every man needs
to teach a woman something.
With you, it's science fiction.
With another, it's psychology,
and another gastronomy.
- Maybe it's the need we have
to share.
The desire to share something
we care about.
- And do you think
science fiction
will replace belief in god?
- God only knows.
- Did you know we spoke French?
- Yes, of course I knew.
- Why don't you be nice
and dry me off?
No, my back!
- Do you love me? A little?
- No.
You please me.
Turn off the television.
- It bothers you?
- No, but I feel like
she's staring at me.
Someone else, fine.
Be she makes me uncomfortable.
Tell me, do you think I'll be
happy with Antonio?
Antonio's always been
a good boyfriend.
Every time I've needed someone,
he's been there.
Do you think that's
what love is?
- I don't know.
- Would you believe me if...
- Yes,
I'd believe anything you told me.
- If I were married,
I'd never be unfaithful.
This is different.
It's a love of life.
Anyway, with you,
it doesn't count.
- Thank you.
- Oh no, I only meant...
You're not from here.
- Ah, you have things to do.
- Mm-hmm.
- Eating oysters.
- But they're not in season.
- Well, lobster then.
- Now? Tonight?
- You aren't looking at me.
Do you recognize me?
It's stupid, it's stupid
what I'm asking you.
What are we doing?
We'll celebrate.
We'll hug.
What about you, mom?
Have you made any friends?
Do you have your own house now?
How is she?
- I'm late.
- No, no, we have lots of time.
- You're soaking wet!
- It's nothing.
I mislaid the address.
I thought I'd never find the street.
- Antonio's gone to get the car.
- I'll drive you to the airport.
- Madeleine, I have
something to say.
- Yes?
- You'll laugh.
- No, go ahead.
The important thing is neither
of us has been hurt.
- Ah, what an awful day.
- Come va?
- Hello.
The Greeks lost?
- Oh, the Greeks, the Greeks...
- I brought you a little gift.
But it was so amusing that I
decided to keep it for myself.
- It's an instant camera.
- Is it loaded?
- Yes, it's loaded.
Listen, I want you both
to pose over here.
Madeleine, come here.
I want you to stand
near the telephone,
and you, monsieur,
stand beside her.
And I'm going to take a
little souvenir photo.
A little more to your,
to your... right.
No, I mean to your left.
Towards... to your left.
To your left.
That's it! Don't move.
No, no, no, a little
but to your... voila.
A little more...
That's it, yeah.
And voila.
And now, the show begins.
It takes ten seconds before
we see a superb finished photo.
But, you see, it's taking it out
that's so difficult
because often you need
a pair of pliers.
You know, it's...
It's very, very, very difficult.
Because I have to tell you
we're at the eighth,
and on the eighth there are always
tricks waiting in the corners.
As you see, the difficulty is
in taking it out.
We have to wait ten seconds.
It's been four, five, six,
seven, eight, nine...
And... it's spoiled.
So we'll just have
to take it again.
Stand exactly where you were,
and I'll take it again.
Good. Don't move at all.
I'll just replace
the little flash.
It's difficult to do it fast...
And we're ready!
Hop! I feel as if I'm playing
goalkeeper!
- Madeleine,
you're beautiful.
- And you, you live far
from here.
Madeleine, you know,
my travels are over.
So, what do you want?
You.
- I'm here.
- I love you.