This film is not a thriller.
Using image and sound, the filmmaker strives to express
the nightmare of a young man whose weaknesses lead him
to commit acts of theft for which nothing destined him.
However, the strange paths of this experience
bring together two souls that may never have met otherwise.
Such deeds condemn people to silence.
Those who talk haven 't done them.
Yet I have done them.
I had made my decision some days before.
Would I have the nerve?
I should have left.
I was walking on air, with the world at my feet.
But I was caught right away.
Since you can't confirm it, since you're not sure,
we won't keep you any longer, sir. You may go.
I wanted to order my thoughts.
I was exhausted. I slept until morning.
I hadn't seen my mother for a month.
I hesitated...
Wait.
I have the key. I'll let you in.
Who are you?
Jeanne, a neighbour.
How is she?
Not well. She frets a lot.
She has nothing.
It's you she needs.
Could you give her this money?
You're not coming in to see her?
Goodbye, Jeanne.
You'll come back?
Jacques was honest and resourceful.
I had avoided him lately. But that evening...
I'll take any job going.
Any addresses?
That you won't use?
This is serious.
All right, then. One more time.
You're good with your hands.
I know, you deserve better.
Just learn to wait.
Be happy with your lot.
It will bring you a new suit,
a tie...
His face seemed familiar to me.
Stupidly, I greeted him.
Do you recognize me?
I'd look like a scatterbrain
but why would I fear him?
Are there many thieves?
Many. Of many different kinds.
An infinite variety.
Not all thefts are so serious.
Some can be excused if poverty is behind them.
Of course.
Could one turn a blind eye to certain thefts?
- You have a theory on that. - Me?
Let's hear it.
It's nothing new.
Let's hear it anyway.
Can we not admit that certain skilled men,
gifted with intelligence, talent or even genius,
and so indispensable to society,
rather than stagnate
should be free to disobey laws in certain cases?
That seems difficult to me. And dangerous.
Society can only gain from it.
What will set these supermen apart?
Themselves. Their conscience.
But you consider yourself a superman.
Don't worry. It would only be at first. Then they'd stop.
They don't stop, believe me.
A useful thief, then, a benefactor?
That's the world upside-down!
It's already upside-down. This could set it right.
Michel, can you explain?
I have explained.
They were wrong.
They've apologized.
Of course.
It's despicable, true.
But why did you have to go and tell him all that?
First off, you made me talk about it.
Second, it doesn't matter. Those addresses...
Will you go?
After I made some money... Is that what I needed?
Did I hope it would get me anywhere?
I couldn't face returning to my room.
Why did I end with my eyes glued on that one strange man?
Of course, the wallet was inside it.
Which fingers should I use?
I knew I must try harder.
The paper was shaking in my hands.
My heart was pounding.
This success encouraged me.
It was more down to luck than skill.
Well?
Your theories didn't convince him. You interest him.
He asked about me?
Don't worry. He knows who you are now.
Found any work yet?
I need nothing.
Can you live on nothing? You're mad!
Where are you going? Stay.
I changed routes each time,
using one line and then another.
I did this for a week.
The pickings were poor and weren't worth the risk.
Give me back my wallet.
Shall I call the police?
I stayed in after that,
feeling overly cautious, only going out for dinner.
This young lady is here for you.
Put a light on.
Look where the great man lives! A slum!
It's my mother, isn't it?
She's very ill.
She keeps asking why you turned away.
You did that?
You must come.
Thank you, Jeanne.
You will come?
Shall I go?
Yes, go. Jeanne will show you the way.
You say you love your mother?
More than myself. But just go, please. Go.
You're strange.
What is it? Who are you?
I had to know.
15 minutes later, we were friends.
Come and see.
There, in that small bar,
I learnt most of my tricks.
He taught me willingly and openly.
My fingers needed exercise to become supple.
The pinball machine helped with my reflexes.
I went home only to sleep.
Had it been there long? I had stepped right over it.
Come quickly - Jeanne
Her face was calm. She was sleeping.
I know you don't like questions. I won't ask you any.
I thought I bored you. Now I understand everything.
Your friend came here. He told me about you.
What did he say? Bad things?
I wouldn't have let him. No, he's very fond of you.
I was worried. I was wrong.
You're bright enough to succeed when you want.
I want that now. I want to make you happy.
But I'm going away, my child.
We must leave one another.
No.
Tomorrow, you'll be better. You'll be up soon.
The doctor said so. Didn't he, Jeanne?
I'm sure of it.
There...
All that remains.
Papers, letters, a few photos.
It's over. There's no turning back now.
Are you leaving?
I have to meet my sister from school.
Jeanne...
Do you think we'll be judged?
Yes, but fear not for her. She was perfect.
Judged how? According to laws? What laws? It's absurd.
Do you believe in nothing?
I believed in God, Jeanne, for three minutes.
A week later, I sat down in the lobby of a famous bank.
I took fright.
He got away from me.
We did the division at cards. We could show the money openly.
Next time, we'll be three, not two.
Is that clear?
Perfectly clear.
We weren 't talkative. In all that time,
he never knew me better than I knew him.
Searching my things?
Where did you find it?
There, on the table.
Thieves disgust me.
They're idlers.
Barrington wasn't idle. He read a lot.
To delude rich people.
He stole from friends.
You think that's right?
Let's go out. Come on.
Still, he had guts. They hanged thieves back then.
Now, it's prison.
Do you know what prison is?
I can imagine.
You can't imagine a thing.
Can I borrow it?
If you want.
- The same old ideas? - The same.
In any case, even the most skilful pickpocket
won't help humanity progress.
I never said that.
It's absurd.
Tell me, do you think there are many around?
Many of whom?
Those supermen of yours.
Who can say? They don't get caught.
But you claim those people exist.
Perhaps you know one?
If I did, I wouldn't tell you.
Of course.
May l?
Barrington? Never heard of him.
Was he one of your supermen?
No, but take a look...
Bring me the book one morning.
I know he suspects me.
So do you. Admit it.
Admit what?
Nothing.
Don't go.
I will. Hand it over.
Go then, if you must.
He kept me waiting instead ofhaving me shown in.
I've brought you the book.
What book?
Ah, yes, Barrington.
Barrington interests you?
Everything interests me.
Of course. As a young writer.
I sensed the mockery in his eyes.
He made hooks that he would slip into pockets.
Here.
A Nuremberg cutler made 1 5 of these.
You must excuse me.
Keep it.
Goodbye.
I was so stupid.
It was a trap.
Perhaps I'd find them at my home.
Nothing had been moved.
Nothing was out of place.
This trick required no help,
yet I hadn 't acquired the knack.
Luck was on my side.
A finger circles the strap to block it,
while the thumb frees it from the buckle.
I practised often.
It was Sunday. I was seeing Jacques.
Jeanne was joining us.
Very smart! Where's Jeanne?
Downstairs, waiting for us.
You seem sad.
No.
You're not in the real world.
You share no interests with others.
Are you coming, Jeanne?
Coming, Michel?
- Where are you going? - On a plane.
Go together. I'll stay.
Where's Michel?
I was running. I fell.
There you are.
I was so scared.
Scared of what?
Scared.
Explain.
Have you hurt your hand?
A little. It's nothing.
Where's Jeanne?
I saw her home. But I can fetch her again.
You love her. Admit it.
And does she love you?
Buy gifts for her.
Have you thought of gifts?
The watch was beautiful.
I had become incredibly audacious.
I got on well with my two accomplices.
It couldn 't last.
I knew him. I should have recognized him.
What on earth is wrong?
Here, read this.
The police have summoned Jeanne? Why her?
I don't know.
What do you advise?
She has to go. She has no choice.
Is that all?
You can make arrangements.
What arrangements?
Go now. You'll make me late.
Had they seen me?
I mustn't seem to be hiding or fleeing.
I hadn't heard him come up.
It's you?
I called three days ago. I waited a while.
I was getting some air.
Your right. It's unhealthy staying shut in here,
absorbed in your books.
I know you suspect me.
If you feel you can arrest me, arrest me.
Put handcuffs on me.
Get them out but don't push me.
Stop lurking around me.
I've left you in peace, actually.
Toying with me, making fun of me.
Enough.
Enough!
Don't shout. Calm down.
Control yourself. Don't get into such a state.
And sit down, will you?
I came...
because of my interest in you.
I don't care about that.
It's about something that I didn't know.
A complaint was lodged over a year ago now...
- we hadn't met at the time -
by a young woman at her precinct.
- What young woman? - Never mind.
Some money had been stolen from an elderly neighbour.
- The next day, she withdrew it. - Why?
Perhaps to spare trouble for a relative or a friend.
The lady had a son...
Stealing from your mother isn't really stealing.
Perhaps they pooled their money.
But one month later, the young man was caught at the racetrack.
I had doubts so I let him go.
Frankly, taken together...
And who is the young man?
You.
You're mistaken.
I'm not mistaken.
Odd methods!
Leave my methods out of it.
Rather than use psychology, you could have made sure
by having my room searched when I called on you.
I did have your room searched that day, sir.
And what did they find?
Nothing, of course.
All this bores me to tears!
What do you want?
To open your eyes.
They're wide open.
To the way you are.
But I'd be wasting my time.
As for the future...
Your future...
Are you some prophet? Does it concern you?
Actually, it does concern me a little.
I should have questioned you. I didn't do my job.
But you don't have to confess. I don't care.
A simple report is enough.
The word of one of my men can put you in jail.
Well, goodbye.
What are your plans?
My plans?
I want to know them!
They wanted to know who withdrew that complaint.
- What did you say? - That your mother did.
Was it her?
Yes.
So she knew.
Did you know too, Jeanne?
Did I know what?
But now, you know.
Are you all trying to drive me mad?
The police questioned you about me.
They never mentioned you.
You see me living without any income,
at least that I admit to.
And you can't guess?
Think, you idiot.
You?
They're going to arrest me.
My God!
But without proof, they'll have to let me go.
How could you do it?
There's nothing worse. You know that?
Knowing a deed is bad doesn't stop you.
But why? Why?
To get ahead.
I was frustrated getting nowhere.
There were other ways.
You accept it.
You accept a drunken father and a mother who walks out on you,
placing all the burden on you.
That's how it is.
How what is?
I don't know. Perhaps everything has a reason.
Jeanne, are you that naive?
Tell the truth.
Do you think I'm a thief?
Don't lie.
Yes, I think you are.
I won't shake your hand, then.
It's all too horrible.
Are you going away?
That idea suddenly seems possible.
No.
I recall wanting to take a suitcase.
I didn 't know what I was doing.
Would they let me reach the station?
I bought my ticket.
I'll never forget that minute.
From Milan, I went to Rome
before travelling to England.
I spent two years in London, doing good jobs.
But I lost my earnings at cards or wasted them on women.
I ended up in Paris, drifting and penniless.
I was there against my will.
The place seemed empty.
Why was I watching that child?
What did your father say?
He took my sister and left. He took all I had.
After all, having a child isn't a crime.
It is. I was mad.
Why didn't you marry?
I didn't want to.
You, Jeanne?
Permanently tricking a man, making him think you love him?
You didn't love him?
No, not enough.
Where is he?
- It's three months since I saw him. - Him? Jacques.
Impossible.
I'll help you.
I'll look after the child.
You have to leave me
and never come back.
I can be honest.
At least let me try.
I'd lost touch with the police. I wasn 't worried.
- Do you gamble? - Me?
- Will you go? - Perhaps.
Have you won anything?
Nothing. And you?
Look.
Perhaps I was wrong.
Oddly, the winner wasn 't the horse he had backed.
His eyes had an evil gleam.
These walls, these bars... I don't care.
I don't even see them.
It's the idea...
What idea?
I dropped my guard. I got caught.
That idea is unbearable.
You're suffering!
I've confessed.
That will help.
But I'll deny it later. I'll give them a hard time.
Why did you come?
You're all I have.
You want to gloat over my downfall?
I want no one, nothing.
Stay.
There was something I hadn't said.
Why go on living?
My mind wasn 't made up.
Jeanne didn 't come back.
The baby has been ill.
A high fever for almost three weeks.
I'm not worried anymore.
Michel, I'll come to see you soon. Jeanne.
My heart pounded as I read that letter.
Something lit up her face.
Oh, Jeanne, to reach you at last,
what a path I had to take.
Subtitles: lan Burley
Subtitling by TVS - TlTRA Fl LM