In the heart of the New Guinea,
one of the world's largest islands,
the Australians discovered these mountains in 1 954.
No roads lead to them.
They are inaccessible.
We are above unexplored regions.
They are not on the map...
or more precisely, they are shown only as white spots.
It is the unknown.
Ah, this obviously isn't for sale.
This is really terrible.
Horn Bill feathers.
-You speak French? -Yes, Madame.
Oh my God, it's terrible... you're hurt.
May l?
It's bleeding, how awful...
Don't do that, it's dirty, you'll get it infected.
We must clean it. I'll take you to the hospital.
You must see a doctor!
It's not funny. You have to be careful here.
You don't know anything.
It's hot.
Come on, everything's fine.
Clumsy! I'll never forgive myself.
Let's talk about something else.
It's all because of your feathers...
Oh, those feathers, they're nothing.
Is that what you do - sell them?
Yes... if you like.
You should see the ones I have at camp. They're something.
Really!
But careful! They're not for sale.
Oh, he isn't hurrying. They're so slow here.
Why not tell me about yourself? That'll calm you.
There's not much to tell...
My husband is French Consul in Melbourne.
Since I hate simply socializing,
I buy island crafts, feathers,
fabrics, for a Paris boutique.
What else?
I play the piano...
I have a very pretty orchid collection...
and a little dog, if you're interested.
What's his name?
Pretty name.
Ah, the hospital, at last!
Coming with me...
Yes.
Hi Olivier, hurt your foot?
Oh, it's nothing.
You've been very nice, thank you.
It was the least I could do.
I'm so sorry for what happened, really.
Goodbye.
What about those feathers... want to see them?
Yes, why not, I'd love to.
In there.
-You all live in there? -Yes.
Look, Mama, Olivier hurt his foot.
Hermine, this is Vivian.
-Hi. -Hello.
Sorry...
That's Monique and Gaetan.
Gaetan's financing our expedition.
He inherited a little money.
I handle the practical side...
What's the matter?
What? Nothing.
These are from the Lesser Bird of Paradise.
How marvelous!
I've never seen anything like them.
Never!
I've heard about these feathers.
It seems they're found on a plateau in the center of the island.
But I understand
the bird is becoming extinct.
That's true.
Gaetan and I found these on our expedition.
Unfortunately, our permit wasn't in order.
We had to come back.
But we go again day after tomorrow.
I've finally gotten the permit...
But then you can find me some!
Impossible. Hunting is illegal.
If they catch you, it's prison.
Then how did you get these?
From a missionary out there.
He trades with the natives.
Sell them to me.
Will you have dinner with us?
Hermine's a great cook. Tempted?
Well... that is...
I don't know, I hadn't planned, and...
And?
And so, uh...
I'm expected...
It's rather difficult.
Don't you like it here?
Yes, it's charming, delightful...
Fine, then you'll have dinner with us.
I'll show it to you.
These white spots are...
the unexplored zones.
It's there.
It's not on the map,
it's as if it didn't exist, but it does exist.
I thought there were no more unexplored lands.
Your valley must have been seen from planes.
You can't see it.
It's shrouded in mist.
It's not on the map, look.
Look what's written here. This map is dated 1 969.
There's a thing I don't understand.
You've talked about these places,
that have all finally been found.
Why is it this one that's still undiscovered?
Don't you think that's strange?
It's been discovered several times.
But those who have done it
have never come back. They had to stay.
Why?
Because it's Paradise.
Do you think he's serious?
It's his passion...
You don't leave Paradise.
You can lose yourself there,
or stray away... and then...
it's disaster, the curse.
But you don't leave Paradise.
It's impossible. Understand?
But then, if your valley's so terrific,
why don't you go there now?
Our senses are not yet...
sufficiently...
open.
We're not in any hurry.
Above all, we must
destroy time, to become one with it.
We must first reach
the tribes that live at the foot of the mountains.
Their magicians may be able
to show us a way to go.
Can you take me back to the hotel?
Sure.
I'd like one last look at your feathers, if I could.
Unreal.
Sell them to me.
Then lend them to me.
Just for two or three days...
Yes... what harm could that do?
Is that you, darling?
Vivian! Good to hear you. How are you?
Fine. It's really beautiful here, I'm ecstatic.
See your picture in "Woman's Weekly"?
I was just looking at it, I don't like it. And you?
Don't be silly, you're beautiful.
No, I look like Mme. Bon, I have a pimple,
a nose like a duck, it's horrid.
Don't worry. I love you as you are.
So, what do you do all day?
Lots of things... some shopping.
They'll be delighted in Paris.
By the way, I may have found a way
of getting some very rare feathers.
I don't much like that. It's illegal.
We could use your diplomatic pouch.
We'll go into smuggling.
Bravo. Shout it around. The wire tap'll love it.
I can't hear you...
Hello? How's Nouki?
Fine. She had four puppies yesterday, very cute.
Oh, that's great!
Had the piano tuned?
Not yet. I'm leaving for Tokyo tomorrow.
I should be gone about 15 days. I'd like you to be back before...
I can't hear a thing any more.
I don't hear anything.
Digging a ditch for the rain?
But the rainy season's over.
Though it was so cloudy this morning
it was like the end of the world.
It's nice out.
It's hot.
Yes.
It is cooler than yesterday.
Yesterday was so muggy.
I'm glad you came back.
Yes, I came for something very important...
Those feathers you showed me, you know, those...
-I forget the name. -Kumul.
That's it, Kumul feathers. I'm terribly interested in them.
Since you're going, you could bring some back for me...
get in touch with the missionaries.
I have plenty of markets,
and plenty of money. We could do a nice bit of business.
You're forgetting one thing...
We're not concerned with business.
Our trip has a very different goal.
What is this goal, if you don't mind my asking?
I've already told you: the valley.
Obviously, then...
Besides, who knows when we'll be back or if we'll be back.
What a pity. There must be some way,
I don't know... if you sent them...
What we could do is
to take you with us to Watik, where the missionary is.
Is it far?
Two weeks.
Look.
We're coming from this direction,
and we'll be crossing this area.
Takes two weeks, not rushing, to reach the mission,
and then we'll head on.
Yes, but, uh...
Once we're there, how will I get back?
The mission has a little airstrip.
You can afford to rent a plane to get back.
Yes... it's a bit complicated, but...
-What do you say? -I don't know.
I'll have to think about it.
Do you think you might?
It's a problem.
It's turning into an expedition for me too.
Yes, but if I ever decided...
You don't seem too happy at the idea...
Oh, yes, but two weeks in a jeep through the bush...
it's tough.
Two weeks in a jeep doesn't scare me. I'm a sport.
There are four of you... that's a bit delicate.
What?
I mean,
you're two couples:
Gaetan and Monique. You...
...and what's-her-name.
Hermine?
Maybe she's with Gaetan too.
Ooh! It's cold!
That's where we wash?
Yes, this is the bathroom.
I'll wash over there... you're getting the water dirty.
Besides, I'll get some peace over there.
Olivier, could you please ask Gaetan to stop?
What?
I have to get out, understand?
Well, what are you waiting for?
I... nothing.
What now?
I'm afraid of snakes.
No snakes on the road.
You're crazy! I'm not staying on the road.
Look, make up your mind.
Just get right up next to the car.
No one can see you.
Who are these people?
Coming for the show.
The show?
Yes, a big festival.
The local tribes hold it every 2 years.
Maybe you could find feathers there!
Careful, it's strictly illegal.
I lost you. I've been looking for your for an hour.
Thought I'd never find you. What's going on?
You go on, we'll pitch camp.
I won't deny I'm interested in these feathers,
especially those of the...
What's the name?
Kumul.
That's it, Kumul.
You wouldn't have some now, would you?
I'll pay cash, of course.
Alas, Madame. I haven't seen any for nearly a month.
What awful luck!
Do you know anyone who sells them?
No... you know, I get my feathers completely
by chance.
This whole trip for nothing...
How wretched!
Oh, well... can I ask something of you?
To give me a seat on your plane when it leaves?
Gladly Madame, but...
Tomorrow, or the next day?
No, my plane's broken down at Port Moresby... at least 1 5 days.
1 5 days!
Yes... is that inconvenient, Madame?
Yes, terribly...
I don't know what to do... my husband will worry... 1 5 days late!
But I thought you were husband and wife...
Not at all!
What you could do is to go farther north...
as far as our last mission, in Watung.
They have a plane that works. You can rent it.
But that's far!
It takes about a week. Depends on the rains.
A week.
Well, I have no choice.
I'm sorry, Madame, but I did my best.
You're very kind.
Well, I'll be saying goodbye, and good luck.
And bon voyage.
Wait a minute.
I just remembered something.
Up on the mountain...
there's an old kind of magician-sorcerer,
who never speaks.
He has a collection of fantastic feathers.
Go see him.
Let's go.
But be careful of one thing.
He never sells them. He only gives them away,
and to people he likes.
And very rarely. One or two at a time.
See the beautiful feathers someone gave me!
Gave?
What's going on? It's weird.
Preparing for the full moon.
Why do that to her?
Don't worry, it's ok.
Don't get me mad.
What did you tell her?
That you're crazy to drink that.
Why?
It's not for you.
Stop saying that all the time!
What was that stuff?
A mixture the mountain tribes make.
Gaetan calls it "the liquor of Dionysus."
So it's not for me?
Love me?
Yes.
But you bore me.
I know how to play.
The moon...
the water...
I want...
the tree...
the hole...
it moves...
it closes again...
the tree...
hanging...
the hole...
Paradise...
the tree...
of Paradise...
the nest...
the nest of the Bird of Paradise...
is here,
in the tree...
I am in the nest of the Bird of Paradise,
and it is nestled
in the tree...
The tree closes again, and I am not afraid.
My leaf friends,
you feel,
you're sensitive...
it moves.
I'm happy, you know... Very happy...
I don't want it to stop.
And it won't ever stop.
You don't care, do you?
No, you squeeze well anyway.
You're nice, you don't scare me.
You're squeezing. Want to eat my nose?
You're happy there...
Me too... we're both very happy.
Don't move.
No, Vivian.
-Why? -Not to that one.
-What should I do, then? -Undo it.
So, what's your plane doing?
Ah, that's not bad.
Look, a pretty souvenir for us.
Too bad the mud'll cover it.
But that's nice too.
A dragon.
For me, a dragon, a devil, a snake
stand for good.
In the decadent West, where we're from,
it stands for evil, darkness, but here
it stands for the life force.
Neither good nor bad.
It's too bad, she won't see the light.
She won't see the mountain tribes,
she won't see the changes, she won't see smiles,
she won't see life,
she won't see the light that is like a mist,
she won't see the valley.
It's too bad she's leaving us...
There's the plane!
Nearly finished?
Better get your bags ready, we're in a hurry.
I'd like to establish a camp on that mountain. It's far.
You leave us with good vibrations before you leave.
I'll get your bags.