FIDELITY
That better? I'm wary of your chats in the dark.
- Did I often? - No, I was never there.
Did I bother you with my principles?
No.
I just wanted to say I'm proud of you.
- Thank you. - No, I thank you.
For letting me see Paris again.
And I was so happy to go to London
where your dad and I had our greatest hits.
I'd forgotten what it was like.
And rest assured,
I won't be in your hair much longer.
What's up, Mom?
I've always let you live your life.
What's the matter?
- And we're friends. - Yes...
- That's rare. - Maybe...
Are you in pain?
I'm okay.
So, can I needle you a little?
- For once? - Go ahead.
I just wanted to see you with someone decent before I...
I've never loved anyone, Mom.
Who mentioned love? I never loved your father
yet you're here and I'm so happy.
- Don't need to marry to be happy. - We married on a liner.
Yes, I know.
You know, that man, who's paying you...
- Your boss, I mean. - Mac Roi.
Lucien Mac Roi.
I sort of knew him... way back.
I didn't know.
Isn't he Australian, or South American or something?
Canadian. How did you meet him?
We met in Paris, and then...
he came to Canada
when your dad and I were on tour, before you were born.
But...
But you had your principles.
Back then life was lovelier
the sun warmer than today
Back then we needed nothing...
And I was married.
When you were born...
I should've left.
- Now I understand. - What?
Why they hired me.
No, I'd not do that.
I never saw him again.
They hired you as you're the best.
You see, Clélia, in my principles
- there's one key word. - Which is?
Honour.
That is how we are...
Our kisses follow from afar...
like suns of old...
Both your albums are very beautiful.
What's odd is your choice of subject.
- An album on absence... - Odd?
Yes, empty streets, deserted landscapes.
When people do figure we never see them clearly.
And your latest which created such a stir.
Haute-couture, fashion,
catwalks, backstage, and not a single model's face.
Nor a designer's... Why?
- Why what? - Why so cold, impersonal?
- Very personal. - Sure, they're yours...
I'd say objective.
Now other photographers are copying your headless models.
True, we'd seen too much of them.
Nice working girls, like me.
- Paid millions. - I don't pay them.
With just two albums you're now a star?
Christ, she's beautiful.
I just take photos. Static, lifeless things.
Yet you make a good living from it.
I hear you're being hired by a Canadian group, new to France
but already making waves in the popular press.
I'm on a two-week trial, I'm photographing a wedding
- and... flowers! - Very chic!
Not necessarily.
I saw the prettiest flowers in England.
And a flower can be totally shameless.
Yet as you know,
the Mac Roi group tabloids are the most scandalous.
Obscenity sells. They hunt people down, destroy them.
Not if they've nothing to hide.
And the paparazzi, what do you think of them?
- They have to eat. - And if you had to...
I've been luckier, I'm free to choose.
I've never known misery, only seen it.
Which doesn't mean I'm happy, just...
Yes?
Serene.
Thank you.
Shit, I gotta go!
- You were extra! - As in extra terrestrial?
Selena, darling, make me two cassettes.
Mr Mac Roi will be so happy.
In fact, he wants to meet you.
- It's time you joined the fold. - Never.
The other's for Diane, she'll love the paparazzi bit.
I called the hotel, your mother's sleeping.
Your equipment's been cleared, it's waiting.
I'll take your albums, don't worry about a thing.
Thank you.
Like to go eat?
- At the museum? - To walk, alone.
- How pretty! - Yes, they're...
Think I could photograph it in the window?
That's not done, Miss.
It's a special order, already paid for...
Doesn't bother me in the least!
I even find it...
- Flattering. - Can you put it there?
Thank you.
It's beautiful!
And sad!
Is it for a funeral?
No, it's for an engagement.
Oh, I'm sorry.
But you're right, must be Freudian. It doesn't really express...
No. Thanks anyway.
My name's Cleve, I'm a publisher. I work just over there.
Clélia.
Clélia, Cleve... CI.
Close...
Are you English? You've no accent.
No, Canadian.
Whales, writers, forests...
Quaint expressions...
like to see where I work?
My ramshackle house, my brothers, my father.
A house with a glorious past and a shakier future.
So I thought that by marrying...
someone rich, of the opposite sex...
Because I love children, I want to have lots of kids...
So gentle...
I wasn't too ridiculous?
No.
Charming.
You don't happen to find me
slightly absurd?
Yes, but I like that.
There.
Do you often...?
No, not often.
Good, I'm very glad to hear that.
Because I do a lot of children's books
and morals are very important.
Goodbye.
I'll see you again?
- Didn't dare enter, I heard voices. - Your vocation.
Clélia! Bernard, my brother.
My pleasure. This way out.
- Cleve, Father's waiting. - Knew I was late.
- I'm often late. - Cleve's always late.
Bernard's a bishop, talks nonsense.
They're so hard up they're making bishops
of anyone and everyone!
- Antoine has arrived. - He's the eldest.
Teaches at the Sorbonne. If father dies, he'll take over.
Bernard will be an archbishop, a cardinal, Pope!
- And you'll not change. - It's why I'm so endearing.
My father, my brother. Told you you'd meet them all.
We lunch together once a week.
It's an old bourgeois tradition.
Like to join us?
How silly of me!
No women allowed at the club.
Right, Antoine? Bernard?
It was really sweet.
Goodbye.
- What does she mean, "sweet"? - Me.
I think you're there.
"A beauty didst appear at court".
Sorry?
Football. Ex world champions. Holding on in there.
An international addiction. Zinedine Zidane...
I do the sports page. Nice to meet you.
Here, it's sport and sex...
And scandal! All is scandal. We live off it.
Diane...
You're Clélia?
Mr Mac Roi wants our image to be more distinguished.
- Is that the word? - How should I know?
Clélia is here to make us more distinguished.
But the clean phase is just
a passing whim.
We earn our keep on dirt.
I've seen your photos. I hope you'll do better.
Are you disciplined?
Mr Mac Roi has just bought a third-rate hockey team.
He's already a team in Canada.
But he feels hockey isn't popular enough in France.
Can you shoot a hockey match?
Keeping in mind that it's a friendly
and friendliness interests no one.
It's your first "assignment".
Can I photograph your hands?
You don't like my hands?
Every good photo is a nasty photo.
It's your mother...
You can go, André. It was kind of you to stay...
It's just... Mr Mac Roi...
Got to earn a living, eh?
My mobile...
Call whenever you need me.
Thanks.
She's under sedation, but there's no point keeping her in.
Without health cover, it'd be too costly.
I feel she'd be much better at home with you.
We'll have to organise home-care.
She'll be having more of these attacks.
All we can do is make sure she doesn't suffer.
At all?
- Is she brave? - Yes.
What did she do?
In life? She was a cabaret singer.
- And your dad? - A tap-dance routine.
I think you should go home.
- Can I see her? - She's sleeping.
Madam...
Miss.
I just wanted to say if you need anything...
Thank you.
As you're alone in Paris I wondered if...
No.
Come and get it! I'm ready and waiting!
- Sorry, lady. - I'm with Saint-André.
I'm a pro.
"Go girls, go Mac Roi! Next time we'll hang 'em high!"
Can you do that again for me, please?
Like you were, no hands!
Let's go, turn! One more time!
I saw your photos.
I mean, I saw photos of you.
- You'll stay? - Sorry?
I thank you for accepting my offer.
You'll stay?
Come with me.
- I'm working, for you. - Could do better.
You could do better.
You've got guts.
- You smell of sweat. - I like that.
I could be your daughter.
So? Never stopped anyone.
It did me.
Think I'll publish your porn?
Think our decent minded readers
want to eye up cock over breakfast?
- Yes. - You're fired.
Only joking.
I need you. Your image, my image.
I like you.
Me too.
Come over to Julia's, it'll be very formal.
Meet my daughter and her asshole fiancé...
We'd arranged to, Sir.
You'll see...
We're people of worth.
He spent three days and nights in the rhododendrons
and nailed him screwing on the lawn!
With infra-red! Their dog pissed on him!
But boy did he piss on them!
The presidency, bye, bye!
I went to that florist's every day!
I slept on the office couch thinking you'd...
I didn't know where, but I knew we had to...
Didn't stop you in your wedding plans?
No, no...
Honestly, it's not what you think.
It's a family affair. Like I told you.
My family being eminently reasonable,
our business was going bankrupt...
And as Bernard is homosexual
and Antoine a misogynous bachelor...
You decided to happily marry, into money.
Because, I'm not really cut out for...
For what?
My father, a master of understatement
calls it convenience... I love you!
It's that simple! Crazy, but true...
- I love her! - What did you say?
I said, I loved her.
Sorry, I'm so embarrassed.
Genievre Mac Roi, my fiancée, Clélia, Miss Clélia...
It was nice while it lasted. Thank you.
Are you okay?
Genievre is the sister of Mr Mac Roi...
Here's father.
I'd like to toast a great man, Julien Cleve
and his venerable publishing house...
That's us.
With whom we've had the honour...
- because as you all know I come from nowhere -
to sign a final agreement.
- I should've done better. - And it is with pride
that I add this jewel of French culture to my group.
Thank you.
Sure you're alright?
Hello, Clélia.
I'm Julia. I showed your photos to my father.
Excuse me.
Which of us is older?
Me, I think.
- Don't want to wed? - Never thought about it.
- Are you in love? - No.
Someone in your life?
You've not had some impossible, romantic affair?
A Freudian fling? Like everyone.
I'm not like everyone.
Neither am I.
We'll be friends.
David,
- Clélia and I are to be friends. - Yes, darling.
David's frail, was born in Jakarta.
In Morocco.
- Can I go see? - What?
What's happening.
Julien Cleve is dying, he can't be moved.
He was too good for us.
Julien, may this holy unction, by the grace of our lord
and the Holy Spirit, comfort you, Amen.
Oh heavenly Father,
You who see all good faith
and refuse not forgiveness to those who ask
have mercy on Julien, your friend.
We pray You with all our hearts,
grant him peace in body and soul
and the forgiveness he asks.
Respect...
At this hour when death casts doubt on life
help us to be strong, oh lord,
and give us Your promise of salvation.
Don't leave me.
And so before taking our leave let us gather our thoughts
and pray.
We commit our brother's body unto the earth
and we ask You, oh lord,
welcome him into the light.
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
It's right nearby.
Maybe we could walk?
- He won't respect us. - Who?
Mac Roi.
He'll put one of his goons in charge to make money.
- But he promised. - Like he always does,
and then he massacres
all that's upright and inefficient,
delicate and noble...
- And you can't... - No, my father sold.
I'm just an employee, we're broke.
But I still have the house. It's pretty.
Antoine's standing down, Bernard's a monk.
He's taking the Paris apartment, Antoine the artworks,
what's left of them.
Together, we could've sold and started anew,
but with those two clowns...
I love books.
Can't write them, but I know how to love them.
And I love you.
And I thank you.
For what?
For being.
Our mother.
I didn't know he carried it on him...
I need air...
He'll respect you.
My mom is ill. I took his job offer for her.
But if he doesn't keep his word...
What are we going to do?
- What're you doing? - Waiting.
- For what? - A decision.
- They didn't print my contacts? - Sure did, full-size!
They've no right! I choose!
- Choose? No right? - I forbid them...
The only thing forbidden here is beauty, and thus, good.
Reading is resisting.
Here we go!
I had them enlarged to try to understand.
But I must be stupid so perhaps you can explain...
I smoke!
I drink!
I stink, my nails are black!
But what is this? What do I do
- with crap like this? - Print it!
In a slag-mag! With tits full of...
Silicone!
Ass, blood, sex!
And this, why is it blurred?
Who are they? Who's hitting who?
Blood from whose nose?
Whose fist in whose face?
Who cares? Fucking morons!
Morons with money. Cash! Dough! Readies!
At least one! Front page!
- These are just bad! - You know it's not true.
The real is photographed as it is.
It takes that cruel science of man...
As he is.
I know.
No, you know nothing.
I've known Mac Roi for thirty years, and yet
- it's still me he... - Yes?
Lays, fucks, screws...
shags, grinds...
And this?
With a head, it'd be a sensation. Headless, it's porn.
So you should like it.
- You just don't get it. - What?
I'm the world and its woe.
And I love him. I love Mac Roi.
Print.
You shut it.
- You're fired. - Can't fire me, bitch.
- I'm the best. - I am the best.
I was with lucien's father at 15, the early days.
He was old, but he had... balls!
He asked me to take care of his son, to teach him...
But you're drunk, and you're going to bed.
I called you because...
Because what?
A blond, that's alright. But her and her...
arty-farty...
Print.
This one.
Front page, tomorrow.
No, my place. I have to check on something.
My diplomas?
That's you bought, anyhow.
Give me a minute?
Please, make yourself at home.
How do you feel?
All fired up
- and ready for hell. - You'll go to heaven.
If heaven will have me.
I brought you a friend.
Will I buy... or have champagne sent up?
- Not yet. Can you come? - As you like.
Mom, it's Mr Mac Roi.
Heck, I've no make up on.
What must I look like?
She sang under the name of Gisele.
Whose daughter am I, Mom?
Don't ask me.
Please...
Don't ask me.
How can I help?
Stay...
a little while.
Careful, mind the step!
There...
There you go.
No, don't like that at all.
Just leave it there. Thank you, that'll be all.
How fleeting it is...
The cherry time...
When we go hand in hand...
To dreamily pick...
Pendants for our ears...
Young beauties will have...
Folly in mind...
And lovers...
The sun in their hearts.
- Thank you. - But it's only right.
I kept my job thanks to Clélia.
That's better.
A little reading?
Jesus or a crime thriller?
That's for later.
"Fidel Castro is dead" No loss!
"Portfolio of the amazing Clélia"
At least one masterpiece got through.
Shitty printing! What a crap newspaper!
See?
Was that me?
All over.
What's up?
- And socks too! - Yes, I always sleep with socks
plus a night-shirt and bachelor's boxer shorts!
It belonged to... What's her name again?
Genievre.
Your ex.
No, it was my mother's.
It's very pretty.
And so are you.
On one condition.
That you never sleep in a night-shirt again.
You neither.
It's stuck.
It's stuck, hold on...
- Happy? - You bet!
When's the big day?
I need a witness, will you come?
To get mad drunk, sure I'll come.
"To be husband he'll not weary of being lover".
Get a move on.
- Where's your bottle? - Where else?
You didn't manage to steal him?
- See, I'm the best. - You're the best.
- And you're not, Nemo is. - Who?
Your opposite, an unschooled lout.
A street-kid who did time, who Jean took a shine to,
who I picked up on, trained, you know why?
- Because he's that cruel science... - Of life.
And because he fucks like a dream.
- Everything that moves! - In the gutter.
Second assignment, tomorrow...
No, tomorrow I can't.
You're paid to.
I'm getting married.
To a high-brow, I suppose.
- None of your business. - It is.
It's entirely my business.
Change of assignment.
- Photograph my hands. - Now?
I too want to be in this "Paris Portfolio".
Sorry...
- You got it? - Yeah, I got it.
Call Mac Roi!
I saw you on a TV set.
Didn't have time to talk to you, had to split...
I haven't slept for 10 days.
Smoked a lot...
I saw your portfolio in the subway.
It's yours, no?
I think it sucks.
Why do you say that?
'Cos everything sucks, and I wanna sleep with you.
It's just incredible!
How did he pull it off?
Must never ask him that.
Know what it is?
- Saw it in Calcutta. - Only this is Marseilles!
- Did you photograph it? - No.
- He did. - Like them?
They're nice photos.
It should be his portfolio, not mine.
This isn't an art-house.
Run him a portfolio!
- Cleve is happy? - I hope so.
And are you happy, Miss Clélia?
Yes.
Then shut it! I'm still editor in chief here.
That'll do.
There's to be big changes here concerning all of you.
Let's go, briefing!
Wanna grab a bite?
Shit, I forgot to wash.
- You live here? - I got out as soon as I could.
And before?
Up north, but no work there.
And before?
Before? The DASS.
What's that?
A kennel for kids with no parents.
Not very good, eh?
One of those, a fritter...
A fricassee, a pizza?
A fricassee.
Go ahead and sit down.
Great, thanks.
Nanou! Lots of hot sauce!
Put your hands like that.
Keep your eyes on me, okay?
Further apart.
Right, don't move.
That's hot.
Now, close.
Keep looking at me.
- Now open. - It worked!
Iook! How did he do it?
I'm a magician.
Can you wipe my face?
Security blanket.
Decent guy?
I have to go.
What's he doing now?
Now? Waiting for me.
Everything alright? Goodnight.
I was worried.
No need to be.
What's all this for?
I'm not sure, I'm not very talented...
You are.
So first, we dine at your mother's
by candlelight, before the... fateful day.
Protect me.
I will.
Are you sure?
Yes.
I give you this ring, token of our love
and our fidelity.
Blessed art Thou lord of all creation.
You who give us this bread,
fruit of the earth and human hands,
which we now offer unto You.
It shall become the bread of life.
Cleanse me of my trespasses,
wash my soul of sin.
I give you Mr and Mrs Cleve.
- Did you tell him? - No, did you?
What do you want I tell him?
I wish you every happiness with this undeserving asshole!
Bravo, you beat me at the post!
- I wasn't running. - No, you can barely walk!
- Getting violent? - Have I ever gotten violent?
- Only one thing I respect. - Which is?
The family.
I will be.
You're the talk of the town.
But your success is maybe too Parisian
for us lovers of outsiders
even if pictures will never equal words!
- Taking a honeymoon? - No, got my old business to run.
Can't run anything with blinkers! You need new ideas!
I never wear new shoes not having worn them!
"He's not quite happy, he doesn't quite possess her."
"Include me out"! Is that it?
Enough of this! I want to stay with you always.
Come for the weekend, you lovebirds seem totally at sea.
In a world at sea, of adults.
- I beg you. - Come, your mother's waiting.
I'll see to it.
Saint-André! What my girls want, they'll have!
- What're you doing? - And you?
I'm leaving.
I'll send a van round for my stuff.
It's your apartment, but my life.
You can have both.
I'm sorry.
You can stay the night.
I'm not gonna...
I can't.
Bastard!
My God!
Put that on her bed.
Not that...
Not that!
My poor dear...
Once again, forgive me.
My father did make one attempt to make money
with the unfunny memoirs of a comic.
A total disaster!
We even ordered ajuicy photo for the cover. True confessions!
The comic was into truck drivers and sailors.
It was...
a guy named after a submarine captain who took the picture.
A specialist... Nemo.
- Nemo, as in Jules Verne? - I'm cold.
Let's have a drink, it's freezing out here.
Normandy is heavenly, but...
"One prize...
"is beyond his reach.
"The Ogre cannot master speech.
"About a subjugated plain...
"Among its desperate
"and slain
"The Ogre stalks
"with hands on hips
"While drivel...
"While drivel gushes from his lips"...
I don't know what will become of us.
How long the good grace of the Ogre
will last.
Due to his soft spot for Clélia,
which I increasingly cannot bear.
Bringing out Auden's poems?
Yes, I've a passion for Auden. He'd the genius of being...
true.
He was a miracle worker.
At least I'll have been of some use.
And after?
If Clélia gets fired, and I'm sure to,
we'll be the chicest tramps in Paris.
I've also this high-brow book for kids... Italian.
It's the story of three brothers
who wonder what stinks so badly in their house.
- So what does? - Me.
The youngest had shit in his pants!
- Not feeling well? - No, I'm fine.
It's just, the flag is up.
Sorry?
That's what my mother called her...
I thought the groom had tired you with his advances.
Honeymoons are such a drag, I've had three.
No, on the contrary. It's fine.
Well, I've never seen him so happy.
Hold on, please.
I'm afraid it's for you.
Malbrouk goes off to war, beef broth and onions...
Malbrouk goes off to war...
Not knowing when he'll return.
You're on the brink of the abyss.
Go back.
In your turn...
Go back.
Leave me.
Now, leave me.
I want to be alone with my God.
Stop.
Stop, right here.
I'll come with you.
Stay.
Are you sure?
The bastards.
After...
I'll not leave the house.
What's the matter?
Help me!
Help me.
- Lead me. - Where?
- Give me a baby. - Now?
Stop prying! Invading my life! There are laws to protect people!
- From other people. - I'll tell Mac Roi.
- You're a real bastard. - Yes.
You don't have the right!
I don't know.
- That really hurts. - Yes.
- To what end? - None... I know your husband.
A decent guy, I worked for him.
Less uptight than other uptights.
But Mac Roi's trying to shaft him. He's shafting everyone.
They've announced they're getting into television.
Diane's gonna head the channel and Jean...
will take herjob here.
- Great. - I like Diane. She made me.
She asked me to join her to do live reportage.
But I refused.
Why?
No reason.
The negatives.
You play sport here?
No...
If you did, what sport would you play?
It's a bit old-fashioned...
A ball game, Jeu de Paumes, know it?
Seen what they did to your photos?
I don't care.
- Where are you off to? - To make up.
"He had a multitude of mistresses."
I don't believe it!
That hurt.
Had enough?
I'm gonna take a shower.
Mac Roi's put his sister over your husband's affairs.
Just to show he's useless, despite their generosity.
He needs another angle...
- like what? - Something gutter
like confessions of a hooker or a two-timing princess.
Some real tacky shit.
I do coke on occasion, relaxes me.
But my tastes are working class. I dirt-track on the slag.
Every Sunday, if I can, up north.
Pretty unglamorous. Mines and miners.
When there's no more mines, there's still slag.
Apart from that, I do what I'm told.
Fucker!
Come on!
Let's go!
Did you see that fucker?
Catholic fascist moraliser!
True blood French my ass! I knew it!
- It's war, everywhere! - Whose side are you on?
- The underdog. - And?
- What? - What then?
You do what you're told and...?
I fuck.
Me too!
I know!
Fuck!
What're you doing there?
Know what time it is?
I was waiting for you.
- You've been crying? - No.
What's the matter?
Have pity on me, love me. I need you so.
Isn't that all I do?
Something happened?
Something against us?
You have doubts?
You're unhappy?
Yes.
Are you sure?
I don't know.
Yes, you do.
And that's why you're talking.
Yes.
- And you intend to... - I don't want to.
Between want and can there's a difference.
- You want that... - Yes, no... Yes.
Yes, no... What?
I want you to love and stand by me. I've done nothing.
So, it's not too late?
No.
I'm your wife and I'm a little lost.
Sounds a bit old hat, no?
I'm terrible, I never even asked how you were.
If you're here, I'm fine.
Not here, over there, bottom right.