NOT MY TYPE
Go now, please.
Go, Clément.
You're hurting me, you understand?
Yes.
So say nothing and go.
Hello, Mr Le Guern.
You're up early today.
How are you?
I'm well.
Thank you.
What's so funny?
Shit!
Why?
You know why. You're single.
No kids. Not enough points to choose your posting.
Why Arras, Antoine?
It's a punishment.
A favour. 90 minutes from Paris.
90 minutes from Paris doesn't exist!
Outside city limits, it's the 19th century.
You're lucky.
It could have been a backwater.
Make it the country!
Why not? It's not the end of the world.
Arras is the town of Robespierre, Vidocq...
Verlaine loved the place. Camille Corot too.
De Gaulle...
And who stayed there?
Who?
You see. Anyhow, Arras isn't the problem.
It's me. I hate being away from Paris.
You understand?
Whenever I'm away, I feel I'm missing out on something big.
I'm a Parisian, Antoine.
Anywhere else, I get bored.
I fall apart. I languish. I fade away.
I die.
One year.
Arras, two-minute halt.
Clément Le Guern?
Hélène Pasquier-Legrand.
I teach philosophy with you. Welcome to Arras.
Thank you.
A friendly presence is always nice.
It is.
Shall we go?
You live here?
God, no. My husband says no one lives in Arras, you die here.
He has a way with words.
It's his job. He's a lawyer in Lille.
It's not Paris, of course.
But compared to Arras...
These are the squares.
This is the largest one. The belfry is on the other.
It's on the World Heritage list.
- UNESCO protects the belfry bats? - Here, yes.
Cats and dogs this weekend.
Are you sure?
Yes.
I heard drizzle.
I heard showers yesterday.
They said cats and dogs this morning.
I heard drizzle. Or spitting maybe...
A downpour perhaps?
It'll be wet.
One ray of sunshine in the week means rain at the weekend.
Don't exaggerate...
- I'll be going. - Thank you.
- You're welcome. - Coffee?
I don't have time.
Another day. See you soon.
Tomorrow.
I think so, yes.
Bastard!
Welcome to Arras.
Not your ideal posting, I suppose. At a hotel like your predecessors?
Temporarily.
Temporarily tends to mean permanently.
I've grouped your classes
on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Very good.
- Thank you. - You're welcome.
However, you won't have the classes best suited to philosophy.
But it's a fair deal, believe me. And Hélène's happy.
That's true.
It's my pleasure then.
Epicurus, does that ring a bell?
- Epi who? - Epiclitoris!
Apart from that witticism?
Epicurean neither?
Look it up and tell me next time.
How about that coffee?
That group just wants to make money as fast as possible.
Philosophy is alien to them.
As my husband says, "What's worse than a nouveau riche?"
His kids. They don't have the excuse of having been poor.
You shouldn't waste your time on them.
All the same...
Are you writing?
Yes, of course. Always.
I read "Of Love (and Chance)".
I loved it.
It's so unsettling. You question our most intimate certainties.
Books rarely dissect love like that.
Deeply. Ontologically.
Viscerally above all.
You invented a visceral ontology, you know.
You're THE philosopher of the visceral from now on.
Forever.
Of the eros, surely?
I prefer philosopher of the eros.
Not at all.
In the eros, there's the intellect, thought.
The visceral comes before thought, before words.
You think what precedes thought, Clément.
You think the unthought. The unthinkable.
The raw. The rough even.
You think the bestial. The organic. The matter.
The flesh. Its absolute aspect. Its essence.
That's what's brilliant in your work.
The carnal overcoming the spiritual. Its beauty. Its searing intensity.
Is that stupid?
Not at all.
I'm lucky to have readers like you.
Really?
I'm glad to hear you say that.
That's why I said it.
- Hello, sir, for a cut? - Yes.
Jennifer!
Good evening. Follow me.
What will it be?
Cut it. Just a little.
How do you usually do it?
I don't really do it.
With your hands? Loose?
Yes, like that.
How about something more up-to-date?
With more structure?
That would suit your face.
I'd rather not.
We won't change anything then. Here we go.
Have a good evening.
Goodbye.
Philosophy isn't just intellectual masturbation.
It's a combat sport. A martial art.
The way to avoid being manipulated.
To avoid falling into the trap of people selling sodas or watches.
You can like clothes or watches
but it helps us to understand what we do and why.
It's important to be aware of what we do. All the time.
Philosophy is a liberation.
It frees us from alienation by freeing our thought.
Free thought is invincible.
A man is only free if he thinks freely.
No one should tell you what to think.
No one.
Ever.
If people tell you philosophy is useless,
they just want to stop you thinking. See you next week.
Hello, Clément.
Hello, Marie. It's been a while.
Not that long.
As beautiful as ever.
Thank you.
And you? As cowardly as ever?
I'm not a coward.
When I throw you a line, take it.
Better a coward than a shit.
I'm not so sure.
It's true.
You can forgive a coward.
You knew, Marie.
I didn't want a child with anyone.
All men talk crap like that.
All of them.
But not one woman believes you.
We know it's because you're afraid of commitment.
Afraid of your feelings, of love, of everything.
You're just incapable of loving.
You don't know what it is.
However much you write, you'll never know.
I love all the time, Marie.
I loved you.
I never lied or cheated on you.
I don't believe in the long term.
Love mustn't become a prison. It never works.
I pity you, Clément.
The New Eros
The New Flesh
We knew philology led to disaster.
Now we know philosophy leads to Arras.
I told you to study medicine.
Like my mother?
Why not?
Foreign Affairs or the ENA, rather.
Like his father!
Cut it out.
You'd be a sub-prefect by now, my boy.
In the sticks?
Don't speak ill of the sticks.
I like what I do.
You still haven't understood?
So how does one spend the evening in Arras?
Good evening.
Is it too late to get a cut?
We're open until 8
and until 10 on Wednesdays.
Who does your hair?
Jennifer.
She's not here. Daisy is free.
I was very pleased last time. I'll come back.
Of course, sir, any time.
Ready?
Here we go.
Thank you!
That sets the bar high!
Let's give them a big hand.
Let's give a warm welcome to number 12.
We love her, she's beautiful, with a great voice. Here's Karen!
I wish to thank Dr Stenmark who is here from Goteborg
to talk about his latest work.
My Swedish is so poor, I'll let you tell us
the title of your work.
Roughly translated,
"The Paradoxical Presence of Non-Being in its Relation to the World".
Is that about right?
More or less.
Then Clément Le Guern, specialist in Nordic and German philosophers,
a schoolteacher in Arras, I believe?
Yes.
And a lecturer at Jussieu University.
He will speak on a subject that I cherish,
entitled "Unspeakable inexpressible". With or without a comma?
That's what I've tried to answer. If the question can be answered.
It's worth asking.
By then it will be 5:30
and I'll ask Danielle de Ramey
to close this 35th German Philosophy Symposium.
Ok, sweetie? Had fun with your dad?
Not bad. How was karaoke?
Fantastic.
When can I come with you?
Forgive me.
What for?
I disturbed your writing.
It's only email.
I thought...
I can only write alone.
I understand that.
- Do you write too? - No.
Not really.
A little. For myself. As a hobby.
I don't plan to publish.
Why not?
It would need time.
It's a big decision.
I've chosen my family and children.
Do you write fiction or philosophy?
Fiction, but not really. Call it auto-fiction.
That's good.
Can I read it?
No one's ever read it. Not even my husband.
It's not the same. I'm not your husband.
Precisely.
See you tomorrow.
Jennifer, can you lock up?
Yes, see you tomorrow.
Good evening.
Did I scare you?
A bit. Sorry, we're closed.
I was waiting for you.
You were?
Yes, to buy you a drink.
A drink? Like that?
Yes, like that.
I can't have a drink like that.
I have to get home.
Forgive me then. Too bad. Goodbye.
Tomorrow, if you like. I'll work it out.
All right. Here?
At the Irish Pub. At 8 PM. Know where it is?
See you tomorrow.
Yes, see you then.
Hello.
You're here.
- I haven't much time. - A drink?
- A Perrier. - All right.
Excuse me... A Perrier, please.
- Been waiting long? - No.
What's the book?
"The Idiot".
Is it good?
Dostoevsky's good, yes.
Is it funny?
Not really.
I like reading too.
Can I borrow it after?
Keep it.
- Finish first. - I've read it before.
You're sure?
I hope so.
You have to read a book to the end. Always.
And if it's no good?
Make an effort. Respect the author's work.
If you hate the start, let him try to make up.
He deserves that, right?
It's true. He's worked hard.
We can give up a few hours to finish his book.
Of course.
What do you read?
All sorts. Weeklies, magazines.
Novels above all. Anna Gavalda. Do you know her?
I know the name.
I love her stuff. I'll lend you one. She's great.
I like women writers.
They write better about women than men do.
But maybe I'm wrong. I don't know.
Here I go, talking too much.
You know what I like but I don't know your name yet.
My name's Clément.
And you're Jennifer.
I say it the English way.
You prefer that?
What do you do?
I teach philosophy.
And I do hair.
I know.
That's right. Silly me. You teach here in Arras?
For now, yes.
For now?
I'm here on a year's transfer from Paris.
You're a Parisian.
And I'm an Arras girl. And proud of it.
How about a movie?
I don't know. When?
Right now.
First dinner, then a movie.
Are you always so direct with women, Mr Teacher?
Sometimes more so.
You move fast for a first date.
Why?
I bet we don't have the same tastes.
That's ok. You can choose.
Not tonight. Like I said, I haven't much time.
- It's on me. - We'll split it.
No, it's all right. You can pay next time.
After the movie.
We'll see.
May I walk with you?
I'm not going far. But if you want.
Before doing hair, I wanted to do hair.
A vocation.
Yes. I suppose I was made for it. It's wonderful you know.
Changing someone's face can change their life.
Young girls come in.
You see they're unhappy with themselves.
So we change their appearance.
They don't recognize themselves afterwards.
They feel like women for the first time.
They feel beautiful. Thanks to me.
They'll never forget that moment. And never forget me.
It's not always fun though. Don't think that.
For instance, I don't like doing shampoos.
It disgusts me for some reason.
The warm water. Just the thought of it...
No, I don't like doing shampoos. But otherwise, I love it.
You had a vocation too?
I'm a philosopher by default.
I had a number of options that led to this.
That's funny.
Right, you Parisians do two kisses. See you soon?
I hope so.
Hows it going, Philippe?
Fine. And you?
- Not so bad. - And provincial life?
Don't talk about it.
- Good evening. - How are you?
- Well. And you? - Very well.
- Hows the book? - It's coming along.
Hurry, we're waiting.
For yours too.
I'm getting there.
Please excuse me.
I'm sorry.
You always put your phone number in your books?
Never.
I don't know the story but it's with Jennifer Aniston.
You chose it because the star's called Jennifer?
I like her as an actress, that's all. Don't you?
I don't know her.
You don't know Jennifer Aniston?
What planet do you live on? You've never seen "Friends"?
I don't have a TV.
- You can't be serious? - I don't have a TV.
I can never tell if you're serious. I nearly believed you.
You've no idea who she is?
Not the slightest.
You didn't see "Horrible Bosses" or...
"She's the One", with Cameron Diaz?
Cameron Diaz. Surely you know who Cameron Diaz is?
Of course.
Good. I was getting worried.
I'll get popcorn. Do you want some?
No thanks.
I'll get a big one just in case.
It's not something you explain, you sense it.
There are popcorn movies and others that don't need popcorn.
And that one?
That was a typical popcorn movie.
An American movie.
There are French popcorn movies too. And it's not a matter of quality.
There are bad popcorn movies.
I hope you liked it.
Very much. I had a great time.
What did you think of Jennifer Aniston?
Excellent.
She's a good actress. I'm impressed.
I'm glad to hear it.
I knew you'd like her. Everyone does.
She's a great girl.
She used to be a postwoman. That's funny, isn't it?
She's really nice. She does a lot for others.
She gives money to hospitals, orphanages...
if she was French, she'd work for the poor.
She's really humane. Maybe because she hasn't had it easy.
She was married to Brad Pitt.
He was the man of her life but he left her for Angelina Jolie.
You're a real fan.
Yes. Well, no. Not particularly.
I like to keep up to date.
Here we are.
You didn't come by bus?
Not when I go out. The bus is for work.
Good night, Clément. Thank you. I had a lovely time.
I'm hopeless!
I have a great memory. Everyone says so.
I remember the craziest things. But not how many kisses.
I forget something so dumb. Can you believe that?
How many is it here?
Three. I remember that.
Let's do three then.
If you come back to the salon, we don't know each other, ok?
You can't see customers?
It's not that but...
A philosophy teacher. From Paris, on top of it.
They'll make fun of me.
All right, we'll do that then.
See you soon.
You don't want to go for a drink?
Don't be like the others.
What others?
Other men.
What are other men like?
You know.
Don't change, Clément.
I'll try not to.
I'm home!
- Was he good? - Good as gold.
- I owe you three euros. - It's ok, keep it.
Free next Monday?
Yes. You want me to come?
I'll let you know.
Go on now or your mum will yell.
She doesn't care.
Good evening.
A plain omelette, please.
We don't serve this late, sorry.
How about a sandwich?
The kitchen's closed.
Really?
This isn't Paris.
You said it.
Try the kebab place.
You'll never beat the Northern lads, the Northern lads
You'll never beat the lads of the North and the Pas-de-Calais
They make all the English cuckolds, the Northern lads
They make all the English cuckolds...
Evening.
The lads of the North and the Pas-de-Calais
This is our town.
Hi, it's me.
Clément Le Guern. Remember?
Young philosophy teacher, Jennifer Aniston fan...
Yes, but not now.
Not break, just a quick pause between classes.
Could we have dinner tonight?
All right. See you later.
Don't mope. I can't go out every night.
It was kind to come. Will you come tomorrow?
If you'd like that.
Yes, I would.
If I finish early, maybe we can have a drink.
One, two...
Clément, you're impossible!
How old are we?
I think it's a pity.
It's fun. Like that Bill Murray movie,
"Groundhog Day". Have you seen it?
We have a sort of eternal date.
We start from zero each time, forever.
Endless speed dating.
I've never tried it.
I suspected as much.
Neither have I. Are you surprised?
No.
- Really? - Yes.
I can't see you having date after date with strangers.
Not at all.
See, you can be nice. What makes you say that?
A beautiful girl like you doesn't need that.
I'm not beautiful.
False modesty doesn't suit you.
Of course you're beautiful.
Very beautiful. You're gorgeous. And you know it.
No, you're mixing everything up.
I'm pretty. I'm attractive.
I can even be sexy if I want.
If I wear a tight top and slim-cut jeans, I can.
Some customers hit on me.
Guys come up to me on the street too.
And once, one even...
He literally suggested... Literally!
He suggested...
I'm not saying.
Why not? I'm interested.
You don't talk about such things. Don't insist.
Anyhow, I'm not beautiful, no.
If you aren't, I don't know who is.
Adriana Karembeu.
Kate Moss. Naomi Campbell. They're beautiful.
But I'm not. I have charm, it's different.
Some find me attractive, others don't.
But those girls are beautiful.
Incredible! That's what Kant says in his "Critique of Judgment".
Exactly.
Who?
Immanuel Kant, a German philosopher.
He explains that there's empirical sensitivity...
if I'm attracted to Kate Moss,
it's a matter of personal taste.
He compares that to aesthetic judgment
based on beauty that, in theory, is universal.
So if I say Kate Moss is beautiful,
I suppose that everyone agrees but can't prove it.
See the difference?
You, for instance,
think that Kate Moss and Adriana Karembeu are beautiful.
They're beautiful for everyone, everywhere.
They're totally beautiful.
While some men find you attractive and others don't.
- Is that it? - Yes.
You're Kantian, Jennifer!
It's fantastic.
That's funny.
Thanks for the lesson, Mr Teacher.
You're welcome.
You'll meet me after work tomorrow?
Tomorrows Wednesday.
I'm going back to Paris. You know that.
Is what you do in Paris so important?
It's my home.
I get bored here when I'm not with you.
I don't see you a lot, so I get bored a lot.
Good job I'm here then.
Yes.
You'll call me?
Yes.
Hello. I'm well, yes.
And you?
I'm glad you called.
No, I wondered. And then I thought yes, no doubt.
I wasn't sure, I've never known a philosophy teacher.
But almost sure, all the same, because I know men well.
Yes, I've been thinking of you. A bit too much.
You don't deserve it. But it was nice.
How about you?
Liar. I don't believe you.
Because.
Because I know you.
I bet you forget me in Paris.
I don't exist anymore.
"Out of sight, out of mind". It's true.
You're impossible, Clément.
Really impossible.
Don't come for me on Monday evening. No, I don't want you to.
Hello. Can I help you?
Mr Le Guern.
- Shall I call him? - He's expecting me.
Room 217, second floor.
The lift's out of order.
Thank you.
If you want to see me, I'll come to you.
At your hotel if you want.
We could have dinner somewhere.
Or not.
We can stay in too.
Have a drink. Talk.
We'll do what we want because I'll have time.
I've sorted it out.
That's what she is That's what France is
She's love, glory and hope!
It's Jennifer. How are you? Did you have a good day?
Not much. I watched TV, I read.
I thought of you.
That was nice.
I'll see you tomorrow?
Tomorrow is Wednesday already?
What time do you leave?
Sunday or Monday?
Take care.
See you on Monday.
Critique of Judgment
For Jennifer, Kantian hairstylist
With friendship Clément Le Guern
Everything is thought. Everything must be questioned.
Everything, by definition, is a subject for thought.
A philosophical subject.
Right, Bortolin?
Yes, sir.
Even watches?
Watches? Maybe not.
Why not? Watches interest you.
Yes, but all the same... I don't know, a watch is an object.
An object that counts time
or that counts it off. And that you watch.
You see time passing. And what is time?
Money.
Possibly. But it's a philosophical subject too.
You're watching...
the countdown of your life.
Every second you watch
is one more second that brings you closer to your death.
Your life is like sand in an hourglass.
It continually tells you,
"Remember you're going to die."
That's a particularly refined ordeal, isn't it?
Yes, but it tells me the time too.
Fuck me.
Out of sight doesn't mean out of mind.
Thank you.
Kant. The one who thinks like me?
Unless you think like him.
"In a watch, one part is the instrument of the others' motion,
but it is not the efficient cause of another part's production.
True, one part exists for another
but does not exist because of this other part."
I can't read 500 pages of this. I don't understand a word.
Sorry. You don't have to read it.
Well, if you want to but...
On seeing it, I thought of you.
That's sweet, angel. But a book has to tell a story or I get bored.
Dostoevsky, for instance?
For instance.
- You read it? - Of course.
- Did you like it? - It's dark.
Does that mean too dark?
It's a bit depressing, right?
There are so many characters. I couldn't tell who was who.
Those Russian names aren't easy. But I read every page.
I'm never taking you to the opera again!
It's always the same!
Do you like Dusapin?
Yes, rather. It depends.
It pisses me off.
You don't like anything.
I do! I like Debussy, Fauré, Poulenc,
Messiaen, Honneger,
Darius Milhaud, Berlioz, Massenet...
"There was hardly a sound.
One could hear the crickets in the tillage
and the stir of the wind."
What's tillage?
It means one thing and the very opposite.
It's both land left fallow,
yet also a field full of crops.
That's dumb!
A little, yes.
"But, over it all, lay the drum and rumble of blood.
It beat a sombre drum in men and women.
Each blow echoed in the hollow of the chest.
One felt linked to that rhythm.
It was like the threshing wheel beating the wheat.
It was like the flail that lashes the wheat and flies.
It was like the toil of the man who jumps into the tank..."
Do you like it?
It's beautiful. It's like a song.
What do you like best?
Your voice.
Will you take me to Paris?
- What for? - No reason.
You've never been to Paris?
Of course I have!
Well then?
I don't know.
With you, it would be different. More romantic.
You have a girl in Paris?
No.
Look at me.
I swear I don't.
I'd understand.
But you have to tell me now.
I'm not interested in flings anymore.
You think they're fun, that you're free
but they're just sad.
You meet, then you split up...
and you're even more alone, with sorrow and regrets.
I always end up with married guys who'll never get divorced
or Casanovas and sex maniacs.
I'm not interested in flings anymore.
I still believe in love though.
But I'm waiting for that one great love.
I'm waiting for Prince Charming.
Silly, isn't it?
No.
It is, but I'm a Libra. That's the way I am.
I'll always be a dreamer.
We're a good match, aren't we?
I have too many meetings right now to go back to Paris.
I'll stay here.
All week.
The weekend too?
The whole weekend?
Sit still. I'll screw up.
I'm not moving.
You are, you're singing.
Fucking A!
Awesome!
Sure he deserves you?
Good evening.
This is Cathy. And Nolwenn.
You come to the salon.
No fancy manners with us.
Shall we go?
Let's hear it for Nathalie and Jacky!
Now number 18.
They're here at last.
You know them, you love them, and you even adore them.
Cathy, Nolwenn and Jennifer!
Come on!
Let yourself go, pet. Let yourself go!
Don't look at me.
Do you like it?
Nice view, isn't it?
I fell for this place as soon as I saw it.
It was filthy though. But I redecorated it myself.
Not on my own. Three weekends with the girls did it.
You can park outside and there's everything you need:
a supermarket, a school, a gym
and a bus for the town centre. What more could you want?
Coffee or hot chocolate?
Got any tea?
Yes. Caramel or bergamot.
Coffee then. Where do you keep the bowls?
I'll do it.
Let me help.
Don't worry.
Let your little woman take care of you.
I know, let's do brunch. With eggs, ham and orange juice.
Scrambled eggs or fried?
Fried.
Recognize her, pet?
Yes, that's Jennifer Aniston.
She's in Saint Barts with Justin Theroux.
I wonder if they're as happy as they look.
I mean it.
Are they as happy as us, for instance?
I don't know.
We get on well.
Yes.
What kind of music do you like?
Lots of stuff.
We could work on a duet together.
No.
I bet you sing well.
No, I sing off-key.
You just have to take the plunge and then it's great.
You enjoyed last night.
I wasn't in my normal state.
That's the idea, silly! I wasn't either. No one was.
Something easy we can do together
Like that group "Il était une fois". You can be him.
I dreamt of her again
And I'll be Joëlle I dream too
Then you She did nothing for that
Then me I slept badly
She isn't really beautiful
I feel a little cold
She's made for me
Wake up now
Don't like it?
I don't know it.
I love it. I have loads of stuff.
Let's try.
No, I can't sing for toffee.
I'm not giving you toffee, pet.
Please. Do it for me. Just one song. Just to try.
If you hate it, we'll stop.
No. Really.
You're no fun.
But I haven't said my final word.
Open your eyes, you're not asleep
They could be here in 10 minutes. I never know with my ex.
I think he does it on purpose. You're not angry?
It doesn't matter.
I can always drive you back later.
It's ok, I can take the bus.
It's no bother. And you'd get to meet Dylan.
Some other time. I have to prepare my classes.
Will you come here tomorrow?
The hotel's good, isn't it?
- See you tomorrow. - See you tomorrow, pet.
"- Are you Baudu's niece? Did he send you?
- No, monsieur!
She couldn't help but laugh, the idea seemed so outlandish to her.
She was transfigured.
She blushed and the smile on her broad mouth
made her whole face bloom.
Her grey eyes took on a tender glint,
her cheeks formed two adorable dimples,
her pale hair seemed to take flight,
in the courageous merriment of her whole being."
At least you can tell he likes his characters.
He's not some navel-gazing Parisian intellectual.
Sorry, pet. I didn't mean you, you know that.
I didn't think you did.
But Zola was a Parisian intellectual. He invented the concept.
He's not just telling Denise's story.
He's writing about his times.
The industrial Revolution, the first big stores.
He isn't interested in his story
but in what his story tells.
It's not the same thing.
It's time for my lesson! Thank you, Mr Teacher.
It's not a lesson.
No, not at all.
You think you know what Zola wanted to say.
You know what he meant and that's final.
But that's just what you think.
How can you be so sure? Honestly?
And why couldn't I have my own opinion on the matter?
You're right.
Of course I am.
Only Zola could say what he really meant...
Mr Teacher.
Want some?
Your Steinbeck didn't try too hard. Not even 200 pages.
It's not always easy to be concise.
I prefer long books. I feel I could have written that one.
Of course. That's an impression.
An impression of simplicity.
It's like...
a haircut.
When you finish it, it looks easy to do but,
if I tried it,
there'd be spikes everywhere, a real mess.
You said it.
Writing is like cutting hair.
A writer has a mass of ideas, you have a mass of hair.
But it's the same thing.
You arrange things, get them into shape
and, in the end, it looks simple and natural.
Writing and hair are the same.
You're teasing me.
Some books changed my life
and you've changed girls' lives by changing their hair.
It's not the same.
It is.
The principle's the same.
You're silly.
- What? - Are you bored?
Why would I be?
You seem miles away.
I'm happy.
You can't get bored looking at the sea.
You seemed sad.
I thought maybe I'd upset you.
No, not at all.
I was thinking about life before you,
watching Dylan on the beach on my own.
This doesn't seem real, it feels like a dream.
I dreamt of coming with the man of my life
and here I am.
You understand?
Yes, that's something I can understand.
You don't believe me?
I can't tell if you say things to please me or if you believe them.
It's as if we don't think the same way about life.
I'd hate you to say things just because you're fond of me.
You're wrong, I'm not fond of anyone. I'm a heartless monster.
Don't joke. I hate it when you tease me.
I'm not teasing you.
It's not funny.
I'm so happy, I'd like to die now so it will never end.
But moments like this are no good as they end one day.
Maybe it's best not to experience them so you won't suffer.
But I'm happy anyway and it's great.
That's me, sad when I'm happy. Don't tell me you are too.
If I wasn't, I wouldn't be a philosopher.
It's because you're a Gemini.
And Geminis don't know how to be happy.
Can a Gemini get on with a Libra? That's the real question.
You are teasing me!
No, not at all.
You are, I can't have a serious conversation with you.
You always end up making fun.
You even make fun of love.
I wonder if you believe in anything at all.
Remember the first time I saw you?
Perfectly. I came in to get a haircut.
So you think! I'd already seen you before.
I doubt that.
It's true.
You walked by the salon with a brunette,
fairly elegant, fairly chic, like.
- What was I doing? - Just walking past.
- I don't believe you. - It's true.
It's not possible.
You can't remember everyone who walks by.
Not everyone, pet.
You. Who was she?
I don't remember.
Yes, you do.
Did you leave her for me?
She was just a colleague showing me the town.
Nothing else. Nothing more.
It's crazy, isn't it?
What is?
Being here together.
No.
It is.
I never thought I'd set foot in here. Not even in my dreams!
And now here I am. With my pet.
I think that's crazy.
Do you realize what it took for this to happen?
What if you hadn't been posted to Arras?
Or had got your hair cut in Paris?
Or if I'd been working in another salon?
Or if I'd lived in Lens or Vimy?
If you'd met another woman the day before?
It's true, it's incredible.
So I'm thinking...
it wasn't coincidence.
It was our destiny.
We had to meet, whatever happened.
Do you believe in destiny?
Of course I do.
It's strange though.
To think that it was written somewhere and had to happen.
We couldn't avoid it.
We shouldn't have met.
And yet we did.
That's destiny.
It's crazy.
I love you, pet.
I love you.
Hello. Could you wrap this?
Of course.
For my philosopher pet
There.
I'll take this too.
Not the same style.
I know.
Would you love me if we never made love?
Of course not.
Don't joke. I don't want you to.
Just listen to me.
I'm listening.
In a couple, one's more in love than the other.
Do you believe that?
I've never thought about it.
So Mr Know-it-All becomes Mr-l-Don't-Know!
A man who knows so much knows nothing about feelings?
Because I doubt.
I doubt what I know of love. What I think I know in any case.
But I don't know, maybe you're right.
Probably.
I don't care if I'm right or not!
I want to know how you love me,
what you think of us... Why are you with me?
I feel like a hooker you fuck when you want.
Not at all...
it's true! I'm a pastime.
I just happened to be around when you were bored.
What can I say to that?
Contradict me!
Say it's not true, that I'm imagining things. Shit!
With you, it's as if things can't ever be changed.
You're there in front of me
yet you could be alone. Nothing touches you.
The building opposite could collapse and you'd carry on looking at it.
If you really loved me, you'd fight to prove to me wrong.
No. Things are more complicated than that.
Right! Too complicated for me to understand.
It's not my fault, Mr Teacher, I'm totally dumb!
You know I don't think that.
Why would I stay with you otherwise?
Because I turn you on.
You're a man, you'll stay as long as I get you hard.
You'd never have dated an ugly hairstylist.
It's just for the sex.
If that were the case...
would this have lasted so long?
You think you're the only hot woman in Arras?
I don't think anything.
What I know is, we're not a real couple.
What's a real couple?
A couple with plans.
I love you. I know I'll love you all my life.
But you might not want a lifetime thing.
I'm pretty intuitive, you know.
As soon as a customer sits down,
I see in their eyes what they're like.
In your eyes that first time, I saw indifference.
No.
It's true.
I'd never seen that before.
You weren't trying to charm me. You weren't trying to be friendly.
You didn't give a damn what people thought.
And I liked that.
So why hold it against me now?
I didn't think it would be the same in private.
In love, you can't be indifferent.
Shit, you're not even jealous.
You never ask who I see when you're away.
You're never worried.
But I'm totally jealous with you.
Jealous of your exes, of the women you see in Paris...
Even of your pupils because I bet they fantasize about you
and you know it and it turns you on.
But you don't know jealousy.
Every man I dated before you was jealous.
It pissed me off, they were so jealous.
"Where were you? Who with? I don't believe you!"
They all made my life hell. All of them!
And I miss their dumb questions now, you hear me? I miss them.
At least I felt they were scared of losing me.
I felt that I mattered. I felt loved.
But with you, nothing.
You know I'll get hit on all day, by one guy or ten
but you aren't bothered. You don't give a damn.
If I said I was leaving with a guy, it would be the same.
"I don't know, maybe,
"I have doubts, can one really love?"
I have no doubts.
I love totally.
And jealousy is part of love.
It's because I trust you.
It's because you don't give a damn.
About me or what I think.
Why are you saying that?
Why am I saying that?
Take it since I'm not worth it.
Just go now.
Go back to Paris. Go and write your crap philosophy!
I just hope you didn't lie to me too much.
Jennifer?
It's Clément.
What do you want?
No, I didn't want to, that's all.
Yes, I'm angry with you.
Very angry.
Why?
That's not an answer. Why?
You know why.
Of course you know.
Why didn't you give me your book?
I know what you think of Paris intellectuals.
I was afraid.
Of me?
What were you afraid of?
Pet, stop it, please.
You're silly.
Will we see each other again?
I don't know.
Maybe.
Maybe not. Can anyone really say?
I finish at 4. Shall I come to meet you?
I can't tonight. Do you mind?
And tomorrow?
I don't know. I might have to work.
All right, I'll call you.
Sorry.
Mr Le Guern, nice to see you.
Mrs Bortolin, how are you?
Very well. You're here about my son?
Not at all. I'm here to see Jennifer.
What a pity. She asked to leave early.
At 4, I think. Shall I check?
No, thank you.
Thank you. Goodbye.
I'm first!
I'm second!
I wanted to play a trick on you.
You told me you finished at 4 so I left early.
I went to your hotel. I went up to your room.
I took off my clothes.
And I lay on the bed to wait for you. Quite a surprise, huh?
Why didn't you answer your phone?
So it would be a surprise. I was sure you'd be back.
And I was at the salon to surprise you too.
That's so sweet. Then what?
"The capricious moon peered in through the window
as you slept in your crib and thought,
'I like this child.'
it descended its stair of clouds and passed silently through the glass.
Then it lay down on you with a mother's tender ease
and left its colours on your face.
Your pupils were tinged green and your cheeks amazingly pale.
On seeing this visitor..."
Here's some blood sausage
For the men of Alsace, Switzerland and Lorraine
None left for the Belgians
They're all lily livers
None left for the Belgians
They're all lily livers
"On seeing this visitor, your eyes widened strangely.
She gripped your throat so tenderly
that you still feel like crying about it.
However, in unleashing its joy,
the moon filled the room like a phosphoric atmosphere,
like a bright poison.
All this living light thought and said,
- You'll forever be under the influence of my kiss.
You'll be beautiful like me.
You'll love what I love and what loves me.
Water, clouds, silence and the night,
the vast, green sea, shapeless and multiform water,
the place where you won't be, the death you won't know,
monstrous flowers, scents that make you dizzy,
cats that swoon on pianos,
and moan like women in a hoarse, soft voice."
Jennifer, someone's here for you.
Had a good day?
It's kind to come and meet me.
I wanted to surprise you.
You've managed it.
This is Clément.
Julien... Clément.
Excuse me.
It's a small world.
The whole school seems to be here.
Only natural, to see the giants.
Isn't it wonderful?
Forgive me. Henri Pasquier, my husband.
Clément Le Guern. You remember?
Delighted.
Of course. I'm honoured.
My children, Bérénice and Blaise.
Jennifer.
Hélène.
Two or three? I never know.
Neither do I.
See you soon.
See you on Monday.
She seems nice.
Yes.
Are you ok?
What's on your mind?
Nothing. I'm watching.
I apologize for earlier.
Apologize for what? Did you mean to hurt me?
No.
So it's forgotten.
It's forgotten.
"Fancy, how amusing.
I'd never noticed.
I'm not much of a nit-picker or a pedant.
We don't waste time splitting hairs. That's not our style,
answered Madame Verdurin
whom Doctor Cottard was gazing at in blissful admiration
and studious zeal
as she wielded this flood of clichés.
Indeed, along with Madame Cottard,
with the common sense that certain ordinary people possess,
he deliberately avoided..."
- Good night. - Goodbye.
Goodbye, Mrs Bortolin.
Goodbye, Jennifer.
I'd like to know why you're looking at me like that.
Is it an unpleasant look?
No.
What's it like then?
Like this.
It's so as to remember you.
When you get back Monday, I'll be in Djerba with the girls.
Do you mind?
No. I'm just surprised. You didn't tell me.
I'm telling you now.
But you didn't tell me before.
You'd have come too?
I don't know.
- I know. - No, you don't.
Pet...
How long will you be away?
A week.
I'm going to miss you.
A lot.
Me too.
I'll call you when I get back.
- Was he good? - Yes, as usual.
- How about you? - What?
Are you good?
I guess. You know.
- Hows school? - Whatever.
What do you want to do later?
The same as you. Or beautician. I haven't chosen yet.
You don't have to choose right away.
Work hard at school and you can choose for yourself.
After, it's too late.
You can't turn back. And you regret it.
You understand?
You like to read?
I guess.
Hold on.
You can have this.
Shall I come next week?
No, there's no need.
Hurry on home now.
Hello, Mrs Bortolin.
Hello. Isn't Jennifer here?
She isn't with you?
No.
What?
She's gone away.
She resigned. You didn't know?
No, I didn't.
Wasn't she in Tunisia with you?
She said you were off to Djerba together.
She was so happy to go away with you.
We celebrated last Saturday.
We went wild all night.
We sang, we drank.
She was so happy. I'd never seen her like that.
On Monday, Mrs Bortolin told us she wouldn't be back.
She'd resigned...
but it was a secret.
We thought you'd taken her to Paris.
That she'd found a salon there.
Why wouldn't she have told you?
So as not to hurt us.
We'd all like to dump everything,
go away to Paris with a lover...
Change lives.
I'd have done the same as her.
She didn't leave with me, Cathy. I don't know where she is.
Where is she then?
I don't know.
Why did she leave like that?
What does it mean?
You don't just leave like that!
You leave a note. You don't walk out on people!
I'm sorry. She was my best friend, you know.
We had such good times together.
No, nothing. Were you expecting something?
Not particularly. Thank you.
Subtitles by Ian Burley
Subtitling: L.V.T. - Paris NN1