"A DAY IN THE COUNTRY" "Due to circumstances beyond his control, Jean Renoir was unable to finish this film." "As he is currently in America, we chose to present it without modification, to respect his work and style." "Two title cards were added to aid comprehension." "One summer Sunday in 1860, Mr. Dufour, owner of a Parisian hardware store, borrowed a milk cart and set off to commune with nature, accompanied by his wife, mother-in-law and daughter, as well as his shop boy Anatole, his future son-in-law and successor." " They're biting!" " Lots of fish?" "Some say there aren't many, but not if you know how to catch them." " Mr. Dufour!" " This looks like the perfect spot." "There's even a restaurant." "Let's have lunch." " Do you agree, Mrs. Dufour?" " Absolutely." "The road passes under the bridge." "We'll have to go around." "Giddyap!" " It's so shady and cool." " They have swings." "How fun!" "We'll catch loads of fish!" "We're in for a real feast, you can bet on it." ""Restaurant Poulain." "Fish specialties." "Reception rooms, swings." "Lunch: 2 francs 50."" "Affordable too." "Thanks." "Now you stop that, Mr. Dufour!" " Hello!" " Have any fishing rods?" "No, we don't." " Don't people fish?" " They bring their own gear." "They don't rent fishing poles!" "Let's go somewhere else." "I'm staying right here." "It's too hot on the road." "Quite right, my dear." "We'll eat here." " Send out the chef." " Right away, sir." "Are you happy we've arrived, Grandma?" "We'll get some fresh air and have a nice lunch!" "No, no!" "I'm hungry." "I'll park the cart in the shade." "She can get off there." "Let's go, horses." " They're from a dairy." " What do I care?" " Yes, they're in a milk cart." " What kind?" " A family." " Just my rotten luck!" " Might as well go home." " Then why don't you?" " If at least there were women..." " There are three women." " Three?" " Here's the boss." " They want lunch, Mr. Poulain." " Let's get to work." "Cold water for your absinthe, Mr. Henri." "Thanks, Mr. Poulain." "Shall I fry up the fish you caught this morning?" "No way, I'm sick of fish!" "How about you?" "Since the factory opened, the fish taste like motor oil." " Feed them to the cats?" " Feed them to the Parisians." "They'll love it." "Good idea!" "Thanks, Mr. Henri." " The customers are waiting." " Fine." "Here I go." "They'll want a picnic." "Parisians always do." "If this keeps up, we'll have to go even further to get some peace." "Pity, we have a fine time here." "Nice people, close to Paris, we do as we please." "Poulain wouldn't even mind if we swam in our underwear." " What about the local gendarme?" " A pal." "We had drinks two nights ago." " Don't trust him." " Parisians are like germs." "Let one in, and a week later the place is crawling with them." "What shall we do today?" "Escape." "Row up the river." "By the time we get back, they'll be gone." "It's too hot to row." "Stop, you fool!" "You never could mix absinthe!" "Let's check out the dairymaids." "What a lovely spot!" " Could we have fried fish?" " Nothing could be easier." "How lucky we are!" "Fried fish." " You are on the banks of a river." " I'd rather catch my own." "We'll have fish, rabbit fricassee, salad and dessert." "Give me a big push." "Bring us two liters of white wine and some red from Bordeaux." "Can we have lunch on the grass?" "We didn't come to the country to eat inside!" "Hold tight!" "Stop, I'm begging you!" "That's too high." "Are we eating here, son-in-law?" " It's ordered already." " We're leaving already?" "We'll write it down for you." " Can we go down to the river?" " Right away." "I'll unbutton my waistcoat." "Let's go, buddy." "Headcheese and white wine..." "how's that sound?" "Don't disturb us." "We're very busy." "He's in an important meeting." "I hope you chilled the wine." " Look at the mist on the bottle." " Good girl!" "Wonderful invention, the swing." "It promises a lot, but you can't see a thing." "Only because she's standing." "If she'd sit, the view would be much more interesting." "I think I'll go talk to them." "I'm sure they'd love to meet us." "Dumb move." "You'll scare them, they'll hide behind their men, and you'll end up playing hopscotch with the milkman." " Is that so?" " I have your best interests at heart." "Personally, such affairs don't appeal to me." "Yes, we know." "You're looking for eternal love." " What do you mean?" " You stayed with Hortense for 15 months." "She was very beautiful." "But dumb!" "I'd have dumped her after a week." "She didn't need to be intelligent." "And you'd still be with Lea if she hadn't married poor Gustave." "I can't help it." "At heart, I'm a family man." "Whores bore me, society girls are even worse, and the others are too dangerous." "You're afraid of the pox." "No, of responsibilities." "Imagine that girl on the swing was interested in you, what would you do?" "I'd invite her for a boat ride." "We'd land on the island, or by the dam, and once safely alone, time for some hanky-panky!" "What if she gets pregnant?" "If babies were born every time you fool around... the world would be overpopulated." "What if she fell in love with you?" " It'd prove she has excellent taste." " Stop kidding around." "I can't picture you in a dairy." "You'd never see her again, and it might ruin her life." "What a shame." "It's not worth it, buddy." "Get off the swing." "We'll find your father." "She seems like such a nice girl." "I think she's fantastic." "Properly dressed, she'd be incredible." "I've made you an omelet with tarragon." "Not eating your headcheese?" "No, chubby." "Give me some omelet." "Seen the Parisians?" "The wife's really something!" " You mean the daughter." " No, she's too skinny for me." "You're interested in the mother?" "You bet!" "That's what I call a woman." "Lots to keep you busy!" "A classy dresser and fine manners too." " You're making my mouth water." " I'm too busy." "But in your shoes, I know what I'd do." "He's worse than a kid." "The mother is starting to interest me." "Everything is working out perfectly." "I'm not afraid of responsibilities, so I'll take the girl, with all the risks:" "kids, ruined lives." "You take the mother." "Your scruples don't apply." "We'll have a fine afternoon!" "Shall we approach them separately or together?" "Women are like minnows." "They move in groups." "Easy on the salt." "You'll be thirsty later." "Kitty!" "Could we have our lunch here?" "Under the tree will be perfect." "I hope there are no ants." "No ants, but lots of cherries." "Could we eat some?" "We ought to ask permission." "Are you nuts?" "You'll scare away all the fish." "Where are your brains?" " See that stump?" " What stump?" "The one I'm pointing at." " Underneath it, in the shade." " Yes?" "A perfect hideout for predatory fish." "I'll bet there's a fat pike under there, waiting to pounce on its prey." " A pike?" " They eat their own weight in fish every day." "That's why they're called "freshwater sharks,"" "and because they're difficult to catch." "With one bite, they snap the thickest line." " Could they bite off a finger?" " Not off, but down to the bone." "Their mouths are studded with teeth." " Rivers are filled with strange things." " That's for sure." "Nature has not yet revealed all her secrets." " Look!" " A pike?" " No, a chub." " A shrub?" "Not a shrub, you fool!" "A chub!" " You catch them with cherries." " It's tiny." "It's not that small." "If only we had fishing rods." "Look at this lovely golden caterpillar." "Don't touch it." "You'll get a rash." "It's not dirty." "All it eats is grass." "How amazing the country is, dozens of tiny things under each blade of grass, living and moving." " That's nature." " We risk crushing them with each step." "Think like that, you'll never do anything." "I wonder if those little creatures feel joy and sorrow like us." "Of course not." "They're not people." "Besides, they're too small." "Still, they are born and die like us." " I wonder how caterpillars have babies." " They don't." "That one, so fat and golden, will surely become a lovely butterfly." "What strange, funny things." "Just like us!" "When you were young..." "I mean, when you were my age, did you often visit the country?" "No, not very often." "Like you." "Did it make you feel all funny, like I feel today?" "Funny?" "Yes." "Did you feel an immense tenderness for it all... for the grass, the water, the trees?" "A vague sort of yearning." "It starts here, then it rises." "It almost makes me want to cry." "Tell me, Mother, did you feel like that when you were young?" "Dear child, I still feel like that but I'm more reasonable now." "Come and see!" "There are some fantastic boats." " Such funny boats!" " Boats!" "Come on, Mother!" " Henriette, your hat!" " Leave it." "We'll picnic there." "Oh, my skirt!" "There's so much dirt in the country!" "They're skiffs, Anatole." "I know all about them." "Since you agree to go "fishing,"" "let's discuss our methods." "Casting would be the most sporting." "With live bait, dead bait, or a lure?" "Ladies require a lure, obviously." " Shall we fish from the shore or a boat?" " A boat is more elegant." "Come on, buddy." "For the mother, it's best to swoop down like an eagle." "First, we need a lure." "You're not very alluring." " Here's the bait." " Let me see that." "I can imagine her pinning on these flowers this morning." "Give it to me." " Why?" " You'll see." "If you say so." "She loves me, she loves me not, she loves me, she loves me not." "Must we do this?" "It's so nice to lie in the grass and smoke." "For 15 minutes, then it gets boring." "The wind's veered to the west." "The clouds are chasing each other." " Drat all these flies!" " It means we're in for a storm." "Good. it'll calm us down." "Is that a skiff?" "It's so pointy." " It's built for speed." " Could we go for a ride?" "I'm too scared." "No need to be scared." "Their speed makes them very stable." " I wouldn't get in if you paid me." " I'm not afraid." " You must learn to swim first." " Can you swim, Mr. Dufour?" "Of course!" "I used to, but I've forgotten." "I'm too busy now." " What's this for?" " It's called an oarlock." "Some people call them "dames."" "Rowers never set out without their dames!" "It's simple." "With a boat like that," "I bet I could hit 15 miles an hour without breaking a sweat." "I'd love to go for a ride." "Couldn't we rent one?" "No, dear." "Such fine skiffs must belong to the customers." "Besides, it's getting cloudy." "I shouldn't be surprised if we had a squall." " A squall?" " Don't you know anything?" "A squall is a nautical term for a storm, you ignoramus." "Lunch is ready." "Shall I serve it?" "If it's going to rain, let's eat inside." "I want to picnic under the cherry tree." " Well, Mr. Dufour?" " Your daughter is right." "We came to get some fresh air." "As I was telling Anatole, we don't have enough oxygen in Paris." "That's the truth." " Outside or inside?" " Outside, under the cherry tree." " As you wish." " May we eat the cherries?" "Of course." "Anatole!" "Tell Grandmother that lunch is ready." "Bring our parasols in case it rains." " They stole our spot." " They probably own those boats." "They're free to sit where they choose." " We'll find another spot." " Yes, but where?" " By the jetty." " Too many nettles." " Anywhere." "On the grass." " By the bridge?" " Yes, sir!" "By the bridge." " I preferred the cherry tree." "Go get your hat." " Did you lose your hat, miss?" " Thank you." "Thank you, sir." "You're too kind." " Did you wish to picnic?" " Yes." "I bet you wanted that spot for the cherries." "I'm warning you, they're not very good." "It's all yours." " We're not disturbing you?" " On the contrary." " You're too kind." " Don't mention it." "On behalf of the ladies, I accept with gratitude." "Thank you." "Thank you so much!" "Thank you." "What a fine spot!" "Well, Henriette, you got your cherry tree." "Such polite young men." "Obviously from good families." "They're certainly not tradesmen." "Have a seat, Grandma." "Right here." "They've taken the bait, but it's too early to reel them in." " They'll swallow it hook, line and sinker." " What?" "Hook, line and sinker, idiot!" "Don't you know anything?" "Technical terms bore me." "Wait till they're hooked." "For a shopkeeper's daughter, that girl has style." "I was surprised by how confidently she talked to you." " Are those the Prevert brothers?" " No, they're boaters." "Yes, I knew the Preverts when they were babies." "I thought the oldest entered a seminary." "Sure!" "We'll write it down for you." " Some white wine?" " Yes, I'm thirsty." "This is good stuff." "Thanks, my dear." "How lovely." "The Parisians are going to get soaked." "Mr. Dufour!" " Can I get you anything else?" " No, thanks." "Mr. Dufour... how about a little stroll in the woods?" "I'm uncomfortable here." "Cyprien!" "Remember last year at Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, when we got lost in the forest?" "I'm sure there are ants here." "No, Mother, you're imagining things." "There's one in my bodice." "Loosen the laces." "He's driving me nuts!" "Anatole!" "Quit hiccuping!" "Make him stop." "My nerves can't stand it!" "Calm down." "We'll give him some water." "Water?" "All we have is wine." "If you were a man, you'd find some water!" "Anatole, don't be ridiculous." "That came from the stomach." "To the kitchen." "I'll handle this." "Where are you going?" "To drown yourself in the river?" "That's all we need!" " Scratch my back." " Like this?" "Not there, more to the right." "That's the spot." "What a relief!" "Kitty!" " It's time to reel them in." " If you like." " Lace me up." " I can't." "They're looking." " What lovely weather." " A bit muggy, isn't it?" "True." "Such heat isn't normal." " We're in for a storm." " May we join you?" "Certainly." " Mind if I smoke?" " I'm used to it." "My husband smokes like a chimney." " You did well in coming here." " Yes, the fish was delicious." "I meant it was well for us." "Poulain's restaurant lacks good company, as we noticed over our drinks." "Imagine our delight to hear some pretty Parisians had arrived." "Such flattery!" "Not at all, madam." "I'm being quite sincere." " Men are all the same!" " And you, miss, on the swing, such grace and charm." "Absolutely delightful." "Wild horses couldn't have dragged me away." " Do those pretty boats belong to you?" " Yes, miss." "To both of us." "How about a boat ride?" "Just the four of us, on the river." " How about it?" " Oh, yes!" "We could row you over to the dam." "It's a beautiful spot." "Oh, yes!" "Please say we can, Mother." "I don't know if it's proper." "We might get caught in the rain, and we need Mr. Dufour's permission." " The sun's out again." " Yes, it is." " Shall I ask Father?" " Yes." "Take the gentlemen with you to explain." "It's more proper." " Yes, Mother." " Henriette!" "Just a moment, please." "Lace me up." "What fine young men." "And such manners." " You seem to be poaching in my waters." " What if I am?" "Fine." "Go with her to find Daddy." "I'll get the fishing rods." " You're smarter than you look." " I'm smarter than you think." "We'll see." " Do you often visit the country?" " Once a year." "And you?" " Every evening." " You're lucky." " Come more often if you enjoy it." " It's impossible." " Why?" " We have no time for trips." " My parents have a business to run." " Not so scared of responsibility now?" " I'm getting used to it." " Responsibilities?" "You have a business?" "Yes, my friend and I are partners." "We don't always agree and sometimes trip each other up, but it all works out." "That's how it is with partners." "Father prefers to work alone." "It made my hiccups stop." "What did I tell you?" "Water never fails." "May Mother and I go boating with these two gentlemen?" " On the river?" " Yes." "In skiffs." " Skiffs?" " If you like fishing, try these." "Fishing rods!" " You'll lend them to us?" " Certainly." "Here's some worms and some rotten cheese." "Chub adore it." "What do pike prefer:" "cherries or rotten cheese?" "You're hopeless, Anatole." "Chub eat everything." "This is our lucky day, isn't it, Mr. Dufour?" "I told you we'd return to Paris with fish to fry." "I don't know how to thank you." "Such kindness and generosity are the mark of true gentlemen." " Well, Father?" " What?" "Can we go out on the skiffs?" "With these gentlemen?" "Certainly." "Coming, Anatole?" "I almost forgot..." "Where is the best fishing?" "Follow the riverbank to the stunted willow." "Poulain throws his scraps there." "It's like a chub party." "We'll join their party." "Thanks again." " It's only natural." " So kind of you." " Coming, Anatole?" " And that's that." " I'm caught on the hook!" " Look at that idiot." "You'll put my eye out with that fishing rod!" " Let's enjoy your freedom." " Hurry, it's getting late." "Mother, Father agreed!" "You'll make me fall!" "You must be more careful with ladies." "They're delicate." "That's why we love them." "Excuse me." " How shall we arrange it?" " It's arranged itself." " I'm a good sport." "I'll take the mother." " Thanks." "You first, madam." "I'm so frightened." "It's not dangerous, is it?" "I put myself in your hands, trusting as a child." "Have no fear." "I'll protect you like my own daughter." " It's a pity the boat is so narrow." " Why?" "You could've sat next to me" " and we'd row together like lovebirds." " Oh, stop it!" "I wouldn't dare." "In just your undershirt, you look almost naked." " Where is your family's business?" " Rue des Martyrs." " Nice area." "Not too crowded." " I prefer here." "If your parents are too busy, come on your own." "Your mother can put you on the train and I'll pick you up here." " Father would never allow it." " That's a shame." "Mr. Dufour!" "We're rowing to the dam!" "Wherever you like... just keep quiet!" " Anatole, give me your fishing rod." " No." " Give me your fishing rod." " Please, Mr. Dufour." " You're hopeless, Anatole!" " Please, Mr. Dufour." "I was dying to ride in your boats." " Not disappointed?" " On the contrary." "Maybe it's the way you row, but we glide along so beautifully." "It's so quiet here that it seems wrong to make any noise, to break the silence." "Silence?" "With the birds chattering away?" "Their song is part of the silence." " Do you like the river?" " Oh, yes." "So do I. I come here often." "Wouldn't you like to go ashore?" "Just to stretch our legs." "Mr. Henri..." "I'd rather not." " Why not?" " It's getting late." "Mother will be worried." "She's scared of the water." "She'll surely be on her way back." "You really want to go back?" "Yes." "Very well." "As you wish." "It's best if we went back." "Henriette!" "I'm not afraid at all now." "Mr. Rodolphe is very skilled." "We'll row all the way to the end!" "Listen to that bird." "It's a nightingale." "He sings all day when the female is nesting." " A nightingale?" " Be very quiet." "We'll go sit by him." "Duck your head." "It's beautiful." "I've never seen anything so beautiful." "All enclosed, like a house." "I come here often." "I call it my private office." "He's in that tree." "And what is your name, madam?" "How bold of you!" "Why do you ask?" "So I may court you." "Well... try to guess." "I give up." " Juliette." " Then I'm Romeo." " No." "Your name is Rodolphe." " I'd rather be Romeo right now." "He's so funny!" "Wherever do you get such ideas?" "Henriette!" "Henriette!" "Henriette!" "Years passed, with Sundays as bleak as Mondays." "Anatole married Henriette, and one particular Sunday..." "I often come here." "My happiest memories are here." "I think of it every night." "Henriette!" "Time for us to go, dear." "Yes, it is." "Well?"