I dreamt of my father as a young man.
He woke me in the middle of the night.
We ate durians together.
My mother was there too.
She was already an old lady.
This is my maternal grandmother.
She loved the movies.
Every time she took me to the cinema,
she'd buy me pears on a skewer.
Last night, the moon was pale and mesmerizing
Even the pine forest held its breath
I thought of you in my dream
My mind was caught
between sadness and joy
Tonight, the moon is bright like a mirror
As we stroll together under the bridge,
let me ask you in my dream,
Is this a dream or reality?
THE GIFT
A blind film buff and his anthropologist niece
So all this happened a long time ago.
Half a century.
Where?
In Chile. Atacama. Near the border.
In the mountains.
Our bishop decided to send a gift to a tribe of Coya Indians.
A gift, you say?
Two, in fact. A 16 mm film projector and a radio.
He thought that such a gift was sure to delight them.
They didn't like it?
No idea. They didn't open the crates.
True, the Coya aren't very expressive.
No sign of gratitude. Not one smile!
They're like that.
One week later, a traveller told us that he personally saw
the Coya sharing out pieces of the projector.
Oh, God!
Primitive communism. They often do that.
They had set fire to the radio.
They were laughing and dancing as it burned.
They do that occasionally.
Then what?
Two years passed.
Two years is a long time.
We returned there and discovered an amazing sight!
You won't believe this.
They had rebuilt the projector. But in wood, bit by bit.
I knew the Pita Indians in the Upper Orinoco did that.
I had no idea the Coya did it too.
Now here's a surprise.
They had rebuilt our other gift too. The radio.
They had made a giant radio.
And the radio had become a movie theatre!
The radio?
But they never do that.
They led us inside the "Radio Temple"
where they had put the wooden projector.
And they showed us a film.
What film?
Casablanca with Ingrid Bergman.
And so we attended a screening of Casablanca.
When it ended, it was three minutes later.
Three minutes...
That reminds me that I have to go.
See you tomorrow.
Shall I take you home?
Come on, I live here!
That's right. I always forget.
No, I went blind after the screening but there's no relation.
I went blind and became an atheist at the same time.
THE CINEMA AROUND THE CORNER
If l could resume the story of my parents in five dates,
the first would be 1936.
The year of the Popular Front, the first paid vacations,
the year my father approached my mother at the movies.
- Don't you feel like dancing? - No!
That's enough now!
You followed me here along the boulevards!
I'd follow you to the end of the world.
I'll count to five. If you're still here, I'll scream.
One...
Two...
Three...
Four...
Five...
I forget the rest of the words.
But I'm glad I followed you
For you're so pretty, it's true
And so, in my mother's womb, from February to October 1937,
three times a week, l grew with the 30s'greatest films.
I'm sorry to see you here.
We are too!
So the Germans will not be accused of barbarity,
I have decided to apply French rules.
In 1943, since being Jewish was seen in a bad light,
my mother resorted to the local cinema
to both shelter me and provide my education.
In 1957, the Soviet tanks had invaded Budapest.
The same Soviets launched the first Sputnik
and Mikhail Kalazotov
shot The Cranes Are Flying,
the film that would give a meaning to my life.
After 1960 and my father's death,
my mother continued to frequent our local cinema in Paris
where she had the joy and surprise, 30 years on, of seeing again,
with her son this time, Ginger Rodgers and Fred Astaire.
Thanks, Dad Thanks, Mom
Outrageous!
Do something.
- What can I do? - Go on!
- Go where? - We can't watch the film like this.
Find the usherette!
Excuse me...
Yes?
A man's being a nuisance.
Really?
Can't you do something?
Well, yes.
Ah, I see.
I'll take care of it.
Sir...
People are complaining.
Complaining about what?
A man being a nuisance.
- A nuisance? - Yes.
- Where? - Over there.
I understand.
I'll take care of it.
Sir... Excuse me!
Excuse me!
Your ticket, please.
It's a circle seat!
I know.
I fell!
Enough! Keep the noise down!
But the police... You Cubans, cut it out!
There's too much noise! Silence!
You're hot!
What an ass!
Marry me! Come on, marry me!
Who do you think you are? Miguel Cimino?
Not "Miguel" Cimino.
That's enough!
Play your music!
You look like Godard now!
You're pissing me off! Enough already.
What the hell is this?
Those Cuban jerks started without me!
Magnificent!
- What do you think? - It's perfect!
Stop! I have an idea!
Not again!
Sorry, baby!
- It's fantastic! - Look!
Wow, that's sexy.
Look how pretty she is!
Fuck!
What is this shit?
You're the best! We love you!
I'll kill you!
Look!
It's really cute! Look!
Do you have a light?
Yes, l travelled 9,000 km to give it to you.
I'm Natasha Von Braun.
Yes, l know.
How do you know?
Are you well, Miss Von Braun?
Yes, l'm well. Thank you very much.
You're from the Outlands, Mr Johnson?
Yes.
Satisfied with everything?
Yes.
I've been ordered to assist you during your stay in Alphaville.
Who ordered you to do that?
The authorities, of course.
Did you come for the festival, Mr Johnson?
What festival?
The main one.
That's why people from the Outlands are here.
I think it's silly you did not.
Why?
The festival is nearly over.
Nothing until next year.
You don't say.
The year I met her
Yes, Mr Johnson.
But, tonight, there's a gala reception.
An important one.
At a ministry.
I felt an unusual desire, recurring, strong and citric...
Forever
It was a hot summer afternoon in August.
...but they let the ape in the veil in.
I've heard that one before.
Hello, Samian...
Samina...
I have our tickets...
What's going on over there?
You knew the deceased?
He was a friend of our family, almost a brother to me.
Where were you between December 6 and 7?
I told you. l was abroad.
Can you shut up?
Calm down.
One of our men saw you at the crime scene..
I tell you l was abroad...
...in Maryland.
Shut up, dammit! She'd hear without the scarf!
She hears but can't speak Danish.
So send her Tehran to see it.
Watch your mouth.
Why should I? She can't understand.
I translate that?
Try translating "Hasta la vista, baby".
I'd like to see the manager.
Not so loud, please.
Three Nazis just attacked us.
What?
Three Goebbels keep insulting us.
Do I get the cops?
Brilliant! Danes get thrown out of a Danish movie now!
I want my money back!
They're up there.
I'm now arresting you for the murder.
AWKWARD
Where are you? The film has finished.
A silver Peugeot 405 is blocking the exit.
Would its owner please move it?
Start it and put your foot down on the gas.
Wait a second.
Try now.
Go on, God be with you!
SOLE MEETING
This film relates the sole meeting of Khrushchev and Pope John XXIII.
Who is that portly fellow dressed in white?
That's the comrade...
Comrade? What comrade?
The head comrade for the Catholics, Pope John XXIII.
A comrade? Hah!
Why not? When Comrade Stalin told us to dance, didn't we dance?
When Comrade Pope tells Catholics to pray, they all start praying.
- Look! He's coming over. - Who is? Ah, Comrade Pope!
We have something in common after all...
my dear Khrushchev.
MIGUEL PEREIRA, BRAZIL...
5,557 MILES FROM CANNES
THE 400 BLOWS
Hey, Chestnut,
they show porn movies here now?
Don't be a hick, that movie has won an award.
Where did it win?
In Cannes! It's a French movie, idiot.
Since when do you speak French?
Since I went to Cannes. Listen carefully, Cashew.
Come on, gather round me here.
The Cannes Festival turns 60 this year.
Come on, gather round me here.
The Cannes Festival turns 60 this year.
I saw screens big as the Maracaná,
people disguised on the steps of the Palais.
I saw a French guy with your sister on his lap!
Cut it out now, you're talking crap.
Maybe you were a king over in Cannes,
but here you eat once a month, man!
You see English, Portuguese, Koreans
Chinese, Japanese, French and Cape Verdians!
The Frogs loved this Pernamboucian!
Hey, come off it, that's all bullshit!
I stay at home in front of my TV
watching movies all for free.
The town goes wild, hunting for gold.
Flashguns pop, stars turn on the charm,
all wanting to touch my Golden Palm!
You're too much, give me a break.
You were in Cannes? For heaven's sake!
You were in jail, you big fake!
In Cannes, you don't use ploys.
All the French love Brazilians boys.
Chasing your ass is one of their joys!
These dreams of yours fade like smoke.
What ploys? What a joke.
You need to kick the coke!
I saw loads of films, I lie not:
L'Avventura, La Dolce Vita,
Padre Padrone, Paris, Texas and more Wim Wend... as.
But I've saved the best for last. I blew them away with my tambourine.
Brushing, beating, grooving, moving, picking, choosing, losing, loving.
I've saved the best for last.
No more grimace on my face, no more place for my case.
There's this old lady who wants to be my baby.
There's this girl, so hot, she grabs me and says what?
"That's life!" I'm gonna blow them away.
- That I swear. - Hear what I say!
That's it, Cashew.
I have to admit something.
I've never been to Cannes.
You haven't?
So how do you know all that?
I saw it on the Internet.
So where's Cannes?
In France. It's a tiny, rundown fishing port.
Its leader is called Gil.
You mean Gilberto Gil?
No, don't be a hick! Another Gil. Gil Jacob.
ZHANXIOU VILLAGE
- What are you doing? - Don't hassle me!
What are you up to?
You do it if you know how!
Hurry!
The power's gone!
I have an idea.
Get on the bikes!
Pedal!
Pedal faster!
How dare you?
Stop!
Uncle, can I finish watching the film?
But this time, when Madeleine approaches the window...
- You like a happy ending, miss? - Oh yes, sir!
So do I.
THE END
Thanks to René Clair