"Careful." "Balance..." "Bassoons..." "Softly." "Softer." "Honeybun..." "Sweetie, I told you never to call me here." "It's an emergency." "I'm 20 extras short for tomorrow." "Some have dropped out." "They've been offered a supermarket boss's funeral." "It pays better." "Filipov!" "You've got the wrong number!" "Andrei Simonovich Filipov!" "I banned you from watching the orchestra rehearse." "You're a cleaner!" "I know." "Sorry, Leonid Dimitrievich..." "But you promised..." "No means no!" "Don't start!" "You will conduct again all in good time." "Not another word about your orchestra"." "Follow me." "That's how much you love the Bolshoi?" "How can I trust you?" "We'll discuss you conducting when all this is clean." "It will be." "Before tomorrow morning." "Châtelet Theatre." "Paris" "Erased!" "Never arrived!" "Erased!" "Never arrived!" "Okay, Goliath, go hire Bill Gates to find it for you." "I have to land the contract for the Genkin wedding." "He wants 1,000 guests." " Genkin's a gangster." "— They all are." "Better dressed and with kids studying in London, but they're still gangsters." "So what?" "1,000 guests!" "Just think..." "He knows 200 people, tops." "He'll need us to find at least 800 extras." "That'll buy us a plot of land in the country." "We'll grow our own vegetables." "No more paying a fortune for them." "My pension went up 100 roubles and the rent 300 roubles." "30 roubles a kilo of potatoes!" "Can you believe it?" "We'll sell the piano." "We won't." "That moron Genkin wants more guests than Makarov." "To show who's got bigger balls." "Ira!" "You'll call some people, huh?" "Yes, Sacha." "What news?" "You're an angel!" "You've saved my life!" "What do you mean?" "You said you'd get 19." "Right, okay." "See you later." "Honeybun..." "I know you're tired, but I'm still one person short." "I'll come." "Let me just get changed." "The people..." "The people is on our side!" "History is on our side!" "We will build a society that is the fairest the world has ever seen..." "Communism!" "I need to talk to you." "Every day, they make new promises... 28, 29, 30!" "You asked for 30, I delivered 30." "They're all here." "Now, you pay for 30." "Look, Irina, how about a package deal?" "500 for each extra, plus a 100-rouble bonus, and you all come back next Sunday." "600 for two Sundays, okay?" "No way, Gavrilov!" "It's the same every Sunday." "The rate is 400 roubles per head per protest." " Have you no faith?" "— I never did." "You and your party can go to hell!" "I want the 12,000 roubles you owe me." "Right now!" " This is exploitation!" "— Cough up." "Sheer exploitation!" "Moscow Union of Musicians" "Just a quick shot, Andrei." "It won't kill you." "C'mon!" "Come on, Andrei!" "You're still our leader, aren't you?" "No!" "You heard him!" "Come with me." "Read this." "To Mr. Leonid Vinichenko, Director of the Bolshoi." "Dear Mr. Vinichenko, It appears from your website that your Orchestra may be available in two weeks, on June 13th." "The Los Angeles Philharmonic was due to tour France, but has just canceled." "We'd be delighted to invite you instead so you could give our audience an unforgettable evening." "This is an official invitation." ""I suggest we arrange to talk on the phone tomorrow at 4 p.m. Moscow time." "With cordial and respectful..." "Olivier Morne Duplessis," "Director, Châtelet Theatre."" "It's in Russian." "It's a hoax." "It's signed with an official stamp." "It's a French email address." "So what?" "We're going instead of them." "Paris!" "The Châtelet!" "The dream of a lifetime!" "The Bolshoi Orchestra at the Châtelet Theatre in Paris!" "Are you crazy?" "You want us to impersonate the Bolshoi?" "They're crap!" "We're much better than them." "Put that away before we all end up in jail." "Honeybun, is that you?" "Yes, it's us." "Andrei, are you alright?" "Honeybun, open the door." "He's fine, don't worry." "We're just talking, sweetie." "You gave me a fright." "Couple of kids!" "30 years since we played." "We're bums!" "Where'll you find a full orchestra?" "Turn right." "No rehearsal hall, no funding, no time to put together a real orchestra!" "80 musicians in 2 weeks." "You must be out of your mind!" "Why not a ballet, too!" "Right." "55 musicians." "We only need 55 musicians." "Stop, we're here." "Communist Party HQ" "Anyway, they'll call Leonid tomorrow and it'll be curtains." "Not if we call first." "The Communist Party?" "Are you nuts?" "Ivan Gavrilov!" "Ivan "KGB" Gavrilov?" "You're insane!" "What are we doing here?" "They know him." "He's the best manager in Moscow." " Speaks better French than Molière." "— Duh!" "Molière's dead." "He's the man we need." "He wrecked your career." "Mine, too!" "He obeyed orders." "That's not true!" "He jumped on stage during Tchaikovsky's violin concerto and stopped the concert to humiliate you." "He's the devil!" "He got a kick out of it!" "I'm not going in." "Nobody gets out alive from 2 Commie dictatorships." "Sacha, do you want to play cello again... or drive an ambulance all your life?" "Gavrilov owes us a concert." "The Concert!" "You still manage orchestras?" "Hello to you, too." "What orchestra?" "Kind of the Bolshoi, but not the Bolshoi." "What?" "Is it the Bolshoi or isn't it?" "It is and it isn't." "We need the best manager for an overseas concert." ""We"?" "Who's "we"?" "The fucking orchestra you wrecked, shithead!" " 30 years ago!" "— Hold on, calm down." "All those tours you stopped us doing, asshole!" "You cretin!" "30 years ago, you'd have asked for asylum anywhere, even in Patagonia, betrayed your Motherland and blabbed in the imperialist press," "denigrating the country that raised you, housed you, fed you." "I had reliable information." "What "Motherland" are you talking about?" "Moron!" "Sullied, crushed, humiliated!" "Out on our asses!" "You fired us!" "You son of a bitch!" "Bastard!" "You're the moron!" "An ass wipe ambulance driver!" "It's your fault that I drive an ambulance, that my wife and kids left me." "You only have yourself to blame." "You could've joined them in Israel, your country." "I have my sources." "This is my country!" "You two-bit cripple driver!" "Cut it out!" "Sacha!" "Ivan!" "We're here to talk about Paris." "A concert at the Châtelet in Paris." "They expect an answer tomorrow." "What Paris?" "— Read this." "The Bolshoi Orchestra is the Wailing Wall and you know it." "They're awful." "The French press will murder them." "Did you say Paris?" "They'll say," "Russian orchestras are overrated, they're history."" "As Russians, can we allow that to happen?" "Paris..." "Why me?" "To negotiate everything." "Like the good old days." "You always were the best manager the Bolshoi ever had." "Paris..." "I'll do it." "Why?" "What for?" "What are you hiding?" "Spit it out!" "What's your price?" "No price." " He's screwing us." "— No price?" "Sure?" "Absolutely." "I can get you a war veteran's card for free public transport." "I already have one." "It's a deal, I told you." "I'll do it." "You see that twinkle in his eye?" "Don't trust the bastard!" "He'll screw us again." "Give the fax back." "I saw fire in his eyes." "He wants this." "PARIS" "Ivan Gavrilov?" "How many does the Châtelet seat?" "I don't know." "1,500?" "2,000?" "I found it on lnternet." "2,000?" "I'm divorcing you... if you don't go." "Prove to me you're still Il Maestro and see this damn concert through." "30 years, I've been waiting for this." "30 years!" "Tchaikovsky" "Concerto" "Enemy of the People!" "Bring down the curtain!" "This thing works?" "I call Israel twice a week on it." "You bet it works!" "Without paying?" "You have no right." "It belongs to the State, the People!" " I should send smoke signals?" "— Silence!" "Quickly!" "Hello?" "Good day, fair Damsel!" "My humble respects." "How are you today?" "Mr. Comrade Ivan Gavrilov on the blower!" "The Director of the Bolshoi!" "I'd like the pleasure of conversation with Mr. Duplessis." "Put it on him, thank you awfully." "What?" " Just a minute, I'll see." "— A minute?" "I'm calling from Moskwa!" "A minute..." "Mr. Gavrilov?" "Good!" "How are you, my friend?" "Wunderbar!" "Enormously well, I thank you." "Sorry, had I known you were back at the Bolshoi," "I'd have addressed the fax to you." "It's no great shakes." "Do not forgive yourself," "I'm not calling from the office." "We have problems with telecommunications." "No need to shout, I can hear you perfectly." "My apologies!" "I'll give you the ring each time, it's safer." "Okay." "But let me entrust you my roving number." "Yes..." " You have the wherewithal to write?" "— Go ahead, I'm ready." "0, please again 0, 7 910 46" "18 830!" "So, Ivan, our concert?" "Can you make it happen?" "It all depends on the terms and conditions." "We must cancel a very lucrative concert." "Your website says you're free that evening." "It's a private concert." "Very private." "For King of Gas in East Russia." "You understand?" "The birthday of his concubine, as you say." "A quiet, intimate engagement for the whole orchestra." "I suggest to send you today a draft entente cordiale implying our conditions." "If it appeals to you, we can envisage making a quick seal on the dotted line." "I'll expect your fax, but hurry, it's in 2 weeks." "What are you playing?" " Playing?" "— Yes." "Yes, what we're playing." "What are we playing, you idiots?" "Tchaikovsky!" "Hello?" "Ivan?" "Are you still there?" "Tchaikovsky." "We'll be playing Tchaikovsky." "The Concerto for Violin and Orchestra." "Here we go again!" "I didn't catch that." "Did you say Tchaikovsky?" "Tchaikovsky." "Concerto for Violin and Orchestra." "I can't hear you." "Hello?" "Ivan?" "I'll be expecting your proposal." "Well played!" "Happy now?" "What about you, 30 years ago?" "What about me?" "You were perfect." "You're still the best." "I know." "It's like riding a bike." "You never forget." "So they said yes?" "We've got them by the balls!" "$2,000 per musician." "I doubled the rate." "No, it's a wedding." "Bring all your family." "Per diems, 30 euros a day." "A free dinner and 350 roubles." "$4,000 for Andrei." "What else are we playing?" "Tchaikovsky and then?" "And then?" "It's not enough, it's too short." "You go home in Sacha's ambulance." "Tchaikovsky's Serenade and Prokofiev's Concerto N°1." "Good." "Flights and insurance will be pre-paid by Paris." "Before the State covered it, but not anymore." "Now, the schedule." "Day 1." "Arrival... and finest French food at the famous Le Trou Normand." "Day 2." "Rehearsal and, of course, a must-do when in Paris, the boat ride up the Seine by night." "Day 3." "The Concert." "Okay?" "Any questions?" "Fine." "Is everything okay?" "I landed the wedding." "1,000 guests." "We'll get our vegetable patch." "Ira, the sugar..." "Right away." "I'll give you a hand." "He wants to play Tchaikovsky." " I know." "And you'll help him." "— Me?" "Yes, you!" "Go on..." "I'll insist on the Hotel Paris Lumière." "Off the Champs-Elysées." "The very best." "Three stars!" "Now, most importantly..." "Who's the soloist?" "I want Anne-Marie Jacquet." "Are you kidding?" "She's a star!" "Excellent!" "We're stars, too!" "It's Jacquet!" "Anne-Marie Jacquet or no concert." "Are we asking too much?" "We have to be demanding and temperamental." "It looks strong... and professional." "Are these salaries net or gross?" "They're stuck on pre-Perestroika rates." "You and Mr. Gavrilov go back a long way." "He's doing you a favor." "Maybe." "Unless it's a trap." "We need this concert, Mr. Duplessis." "We promised the Board a prestigious, lucrative concert." "The L.A. Philharmonic." "We've lost them but we still have a deficit of 1.2 million euros, not the 450,000 we posted." "Screw your figures!" "Other requests?" "3 days in Paris instead of same-day arrival, and some unusual demands." "A cruise and Le Trou Normand." " Have you heard of it?" "— No." "Screw them!" "No way!" "They'll sink us." "They're cheaper than L.A." "3 days, cruises, dinners..." "They think it looks professional." "The Slav soul!" "What about Miss Jacquet?" " Her fee?" "— Expensive." "But her fee plus agent, taxes and insurance, and the orchestra, and their wish-list, is still cheaper than L.A." "Our profit margin is 55%." "If we refuse Anne-Marie, it's 75%." "Without her, no Bolshoi and no concert." "They won't come, you idiot!" "They're a pain in the ass!" "Call her agent." "I understand, Olivier, but my hands are tied." "The answer's no." "Don't call again." "Yes, I'm sorry, too." "Good luck." "Goodbye." "We have to go in 45 minutes." "Who was that?" "No one." "An interview for a Brazilian magazine." "Why aren't you married?" "etc." "And Why don't I play Tchaikovsky?" "Tchaikovsky?" "No." "I heard you say, She doesn't play Tchaikovsky."" "No." "I mean, yes." "They did ask that." "What's going on?" "Last number redial." "It was Duplessis," "Châtelet Theatre, Tchaikovsky's Concerto." "In 2 weeks." "Honestly!" "Between Madrid and Chicago." "And they call now." "No manners." "Which orchestra?" " The Bolshoi." "— What?" "The Bolshoi!" "And you said no?" "Darling, you've never played Tchaikovsky." "Madrid's just before, Chicago after..." "I passed on the whole meal bread." "The honey arrives tomorrow." "Guylène!" "Are you serious?" "I was always scared of Tchaikovsky, I know, but I dream of performing the Concerto with the Bolshoi!" "You know very well, Guylène." "The conductor's a nobody, the Bolshoi's gone down..." "It's too much of a risk." "Who is the conductor?" "I don't know, I can't remember." "Andrei Flipo... marazov, or something like that." "Andrei Filipov?" "Yes." "That's it." "Heard of him?" "You're joking!" "Of course, I have." "The Maestro, Guylène!" "The man's a legend." "Tchaikovsky with him?" " It's a no-brainer." "— That was 30 years ago." "Call Duplessis." "I'll take it, whatever the terms." "Got that?" "She's exhausted." "I'll try my best, but I doubt he'll do it." "With Madrid before, then Chicago..." "Guylène." "How much?" "Goodness!" "Rivka!" "Look who it is!" "The man who dared say Screw you" to Brezhnev." " How are your lips?" "— Your asthma?" "He refuses his medication." "He coughs like a donkey." "I play better with asthma." "Come in." "They have synagogues in Paris?" "Aren't they anti-Semitic?" "More synagogues than churches!" "One in every street." "France's Catholics have all gone secular." "Really?" "What about Notre Dame?" "Didn't you see on TV?" "Cardinal Thingy's funeral?" "They said kaddish outside Notre Dame." "It's Jewish outside, Catholic inside." "Half-Jewish, half-Christian." "Can we count you in, Viktor?" "For you, Andrei." "You're one of the Righteous." "I'll bring my son, Moshe, too." "Classical music's Louis Armstrong." "Better than his old man." " May God protect you." "— Amen." " Taxi!" "— Misha!" "Go away, Andrei." "You bring bad luck!" "Careful, guys, slow down!" "The violin!" "Natalia Grossman TelAviv, Israel" "When will it arrive?" "A week as usual, Aleksandr Abramovich." "Okay." "Let's go." "Only 3 days to go and no percussion or trombones." "I'll do the sounds with my mouth." "This is crazy, don't you see?" "We'll never get a full orchestra." "Andrei, we're going to Paris." "No, the problem isn't getting to Paris." "I know." "It's damn Tchaikovsky." "I can't do it." "It was 30 years ago." "I shouldn't have started this." "Tchaikovsky's inside you, in your blood." "You rammed him down our throats every day." "How many times have you played it in your mind in 30 years?" "We all hear you." "Irina, me." "We're sick of it!" "We're going to Paris so you can set poor Tchaikovsky free." " You were against the idea." "— Me?" "Not on your life." "I love Paris." "Please, take your seats." "Who's up for a trip to Paris?" "A concert at the Châtelet." "Tchaikovsky's Concerto for Violin." "Get lost!" "You've been drinking again, Andrei!" "Makarov!" "He looks pissed off." "Sure!" "He only had 500 people at his wedding." "Be my guest!" "Get rid of the in-laws!" "Applaud the man!" "Hi." "Who invited you?" "It's private." "Bad news." "Paris won't pre-pay the flights." "They reimburse us later." "What?" "— Times have changed." "The Bolshoi has to pay initial expenses." "May I?" "Liar!" "It's part of your plan." "To sabotage the concert!" "You have to find a solution." " Such as?" "— Ever heard of sponsors?" "A rich guy!" "Hang out by the limos." "An oligarch!" "They invest in soccer, not music." "There's no money in it, people download for free." "Listen to me, Gavrilov!" "30 years ago, when you did your little number during my husband's concert," "you drove him to drink, ruined his life." "And when we lost two of our best friends," "I kept silent." "I was wrong." "Now, you shut up and keep out of the music, or I'll have your balls on a plate!" "Sorry." "Just find them a sponsor and a nice little flight to Paris." "And if something goes wrong, stay there." "Ask for political asylum." "Otherwise, your Sunday meetings will be solo performances with zero audience." "Nobody in this whole town will send you any extras." "That's a promise." "Got that?" "Don't ever mess with my honeybun!" "Silence!" "Sit!" "Ladies and gentlemen, my best and oldest friends," "Mr. Minister, members of the Duma, please welcome the Tsar of Gas, the King of Cobalt, one of the most beautiful success stories of our beautiful Russia..." "My friend, the best cellist on the planet," "Piotr Tretiakin!" "Put your hands together!" "Let's hear it!" "Go for it, Petya!" "Go for it, Petya!" "I prefer to have asthma than be tone deaf." "Be quiet." "Yes, this is Ivan Gavrilov." "Yes..." "Go, Petya!" "I don't give a damn!" "No Trou Normand, no concert!" "I demand Le Trou Normand!" "He hung up on me." "Because of your Trou Normand." "It's not my fault." "There is no Trou Normand." "Not where he said it is." "We have Anne-Marie Jacquet." "She's agreed but..." "There is a restaurant there." "We mock it up, get them to change the sign." "Job done." "Tell Gavrilov we accept his conditions." "Get him to send us the damn contracts." "It's in one week." "I want posters, press, national TV!" "Andrei Filipov and Anne-Marie Jacquet." "Wow!" "Die, motherfucker!" "Don't shoot!" "Mr. Tretiakin!" "You were wonderful!" "Mr. Tretiakin!" "I'm Ivan Gavrilov." "Maybe you've heard of me?" "I definitely heard you on the phone." "Sorry, it was a slip-up." "I admire your musical talent." "I'm taking the Bolshoi to Paris for a performance at the Châtelet Theatre." "As a music lover, would you care to sponsor us?" "You're director of the Bolshoi?" "Yes." " You're playing in Paris?" "— Yes." " At the Châtelet Theatre?" "— Absolutely." "There you are, gentlemen." "I feel honoured." "See, Mummy, my cello lessons have paid off." "You can't play to save your life!" "Buy a soccer club." "You'll pick up Paris St. Germain for nothing." "And buy Messi." "Stick him in attack." "Thank you so much, Mr. Tretiakin." "We'll be in touch." "Mummy, good day to you." "I'll see you out." "No, really, the pleasure's all mine." "My driver'll pick up the score." "I'm flattered to be playing with you." "I'm ready for it." "Business is a pastime, a hobby, but music..." "Music is my whole life!" "Goodbye." "Thank you very much, thank you." "I'm a musician not a noisemaker!" "Turn around!" "We'll give the money back." "We'll be a laughing-stock!" "Calm down." "We have the orchestra, we have Anne-Marie Jacquet, money for the flights..." "And an idiot in the cello section!" "What's that?" "I have some good news and some bad news." "The bad news first." "You need a visa to get into France and half the musicians don't even have passports." "It's 3 weeks for a passport and 1 for a visa." "Great." "Now you tell us." "And the good news?" "We have Le Trou Normand!" "55 passports and visas?" "Including you, Maestro?" "56, including Ivan." "I'll do 60." "Blank." "We'll fill them in at the last minute." "You can really do it?" "In 24 hours?" "No problem." "But it's not free." "We're not millionaires." "The People..." "Go ahead, we'll pay." "They need to bring a recent ID photo." "We'll do them at the airport." "Actually, Vassili, there's something else..." "Anything for you, Maestro." "We're short of a few instruments." "Over the years, some people sold theirs." "Same goes for their concert suits and shoes." "Tricky." "Leave it till Paris." "I know people there." "We can't take that kind of risk." "My grandmother always used to say," "The sun rises every morning, never in the evening."" "What grandmother?" "You don't get it." "Let me explain." "Now is the evening." "We'll wait for Paris: the morning." "Viktor, look after Moshe." "Don't sleep with windows open." "Mum, I'm 35 years old!" "And not married yet!" "Even Leon the hunchback got himself a wife." "Shalom Alekum, everyone!" "Faster!" "Faster!" "Hurry, comrades." "As soon as you arrive, hang up your trousers." "Good hotels always have a press in the room." "Ask them to polish your shoes." "I don't want you looking like a tramp." "Are you listening?" "Where are the buses?" "Patience, patience." "They're 45 minutes late." "So the dream ends." "Are you getting off on this?" "Did you see the buses?" "More or less." "I saw the nose of a bus." "Nose?" "You planned this!" " Did you pay them?" "— Of course." "So they don't show." "Best Manager in Moscow"!" "How about taxis?" "How many do we need?" "It's not in my budget." "Don't panic, we've plenty of time." "Gavrilov, I'll kill you!" " Calm down, we've got hours." "— Why a dawn call then?" "A good manager anticipates problems." "I'm a professional." "Experience." "I knew they wouldn't show up." "Airport 7 kms" "Thank you, my friend." "Everybody get your photo ready!" "No pushing and shoving!" "Check your details." "Let's keep it moving, folks!" "Have you got your photo?" "Next!" "Next!" "Just a French visa?" "How about Morocco?" "$10 more." "I've no one in Morocco." " Take it, you never know." "— I said no." "Laminated?" "Optional extra." "$3.50." "No, thanks." " Leather holder?" "— No, thanks." " Dad..." "— No!" "Thanks." "Hey, beauty, want me to give you a manicure?" "Or me to read your future?" "He's with us." "Julia, I already told you..." "Read me the contract." "It's Clause 1." "Mr. Duplessis?" "It's Jean-Paul." "I'm here." "The plane just landed." "Bolshoi?" "Hello, Mr. Filipov." "Welcome to Paris." "I'm so honored!" "Mrs. Filipov!" "Please, Mr. Duplessis, this gentleman is not Mr. Filipov." "I'm not Mr. Duplessis." "Overwhelmed." "I'm Ivan Gavrilov." "This is Mr. Tretiakin." "Here lies Mr. Filipov!" "Andrei Filipov..." "Olivier Duplessis." "I'm not Mr. Duplessis!" "I'm Jean-Paul Carrère." "He sends his warmest greetings." "Where is he?" "Where's the orchestra?" "Try to understand." "We travel tirelessly for weeks." "They collapse with insomnia." " So I see." "— You see nothing." "Let's venture to the hotel, shall we?" "Of course." "Let's see." "Tomorrow: rehearsal." "And Mr. Filipov will dine with Miss Jacquet at her request." "And to round off the evening in style, we've booked the best Seine river cruise, lasting approximately 2 hours 20." " And Le Trou Normand?" "— Tonight!" "The whole restaurant's for you." "Crook!" "Swindler!" "Give us our money!" "What's he say?" "We want half our fee in cash." "Now!" "We want food!" "— And cigarettes!" "And drink!" "They want?" "They want their per die now!" "Don't worry, you'll get your per diems tomorrow." "Pay up, you bastard!" "We'll kill you!" "Tonight you don't need money." "Bash his balls!" "Le Trou Normand's in half an hour." "Go get the moola, kid!" "Make them see sense!" "In your shoes, I'd cough up." "They want cash!" "They're gonna lynch me!" "It can wait." "— No, it can't wait!" "I can't withdraw cash for a whole orchestra." "Why not?" "Last time I was repaid 4 months later." "The bank took all my cards away!" " You got them back?" "— Sure, yesterday!" "Stop whining." "Give them their cash or you're fired!" " Fine, Mr. Duplessis." "— Did you hear me?" "I heard you, no problem." "Ladies and gentlemen!" "Your attention, please!" "Our young friend put his words into action." "Your money's here." "You have to sign a receipt!" "One by one!" "We're going to Le Trou Normand!" "Hold on!" "One by one!" "100 euros each!" "Rehearsals tomorrow morning!" "The bus leaves at 10 a.m. Be on time!" "Don't be late!" "Do you have a key?" "Yes, it's me." "Oh my God!" "Guylène... lt's..." "I'm happiness to see you." "How are you?" "You're no change." "Sure." "Take a seat." "Be honest, do you plan to tell her?" "Why you speak that?" "No, of course." "Are you sure?" "Look me in the eye." "I'm here only for concert." "She has her life, she's a grown woman." "No trouble." "It was hard enough as it was." "Guylène!" "I never do that!" "What do you think I am?" "You think me..." "Never!" "That's clear then." "We're on the same page, aren't we?" "Goodnight." "Goodnight." "French Embassy" "Pray, good sir, have you glimpsed the others?" "They all went out." "To Le Trou Normand?" "I guess." "They were on foot." "Are you ready?" "I'm famished." "You really want to play Tchaikovsky's Serenade and Prokofiev?" "You hate Prokofiev." "We're playing Tchaikovsky's Concerto, that's all." "I don't care about the rest." "You bought new shoes?" "Let's see." "You bought new shoes?" "Let's see." "You have all Anne-Marie Jacquet's albums?" "Every single one." "And all the reviews I could find." "Now that's..." "Either you're a huge fan or..." " Are you and Irina okay?" "— Think about it." "How old does she look to you?" "Who?" "Anne-Marie Jacquet?" "26, maybe." "Take a good look." "29." "What happened 29 years ago?" "How should I know?" "No..." "Oh my God!" "Don't tell me she's..." "Her?" "No!" "Yes." "Well done, you got there." "It's her." "French Communist Party" "Good evening, sir." "Good evening." "Does this happen to be" "Le Trou Normand?" "That's right, sir." "You're at Le Trou Normand and you are..." "You're the Bolshoi?" "Fret not." "The others come on foot from Arrondissement 8." "8?" "Very nice, the 8." "Has Comrade Maurice arrived perchance?" "Maurice?" "No, perchance." " No?" "— Shall we begin?" "Thank you very much." "Take a seat wherever you like." "Here?" "Or there?" "Here." "Wonderful." "Jessica!" "C'mon, let's go!" "Bolshoi!" "One hamburger." "The most cheapest." "No cheese." "No bacon, bit of meat, lot of bread." "95 cents." "Very good!" "Two, in that case." "And 2 glasses from tap water." "It's cheaper than McDonald's in Moscow." "I got ketchup, mayo and mustard." "10 of each." "Eat, it's free." "Ivan's expecting us at Le Trou Normand." "I don't dine with the KGB." "Does Irina know about her?" "Anne-Marie Jacquet?" "No, it's a secret." "You've had no contact?" "Anne-Marie has no idea?" "Tell me you're only here to conduct." "Don't get work and private life mixed up." "Just conduct." "Tchaikovsky!" "Nothing but Tchaikovsky." "All the way through." "All the way through." "Promise me you won't tell her." "What now?" "We wait some more?" "No, bring on the repast." "I have very hungry." "Fine!" "We have very hungry, too!" "Keep going." "Are you okay, honeybun?" "You sound down in the dumps." "I'm fine, sweetheart." "Missing you, that's all." "I miss you too. honeybun." "Sleep well, you need to rest." "Irisha, I..." "I can't go through with this." "I really wish you were here." "I'm there with you, honeybun." "You can do it." "I believe in you" "Sleep." "I'll hang up now, it's too expensive." "I love you Call me before the concert." "Good rehearsal tomorrow." "Big kiss..." "Big kiss..." "There you go!" "What's that?" "I have very sleepy." "We're done." "My sides split!" "Correct it!" "You actively believe I'll requite 1,107 euros for a bowl of couscous?" "It was 60 meals!" "But I was only me!" "I didn't say 60 meals eaten." "60 meals ordered!" "And trashed!" "I should make you pay double!" "C'mon, splash the cash!" "The Châtelet must recompense you." "They reserved the booking." "Pay up or you'll be belly dancing for the rest of your life!" "They call me Ahmed al-Qaeda." "Let me go on the bill." "Sure, go on the bill." "Ivan!" "Momo!" "You're late." "Where were you?" "Sorry." "I just got out of one of the Party's endless meetings." "It's good to see you." "What happened to Le Trou Normand?" "It was our HQ." "Membership was down." "We had to sell." "Here too, soon." "More offices than members." "Can't even pay the cleaners." "Let's seek out a French bistro." "A real French café where we can debate." "It's time to change things." "To restore the Party's leadership of France and the world, to set an example!" "Are you ready?" "Russian State TV" "Good morning." "Maestro!" "What a pleasure to have you here!" "We're sold out!" "Your admirers swamped the box-office." "They never forgot you." "In a few hours, all gone!" "Isn't that wonderful?" "Olivier Duplessis, at your service and eternally grateful." "He think I'm an idiot?" "I know they're the Bolshoi!" ""Bolshoi" also means a lot." "He's saying Thanks very much."" "Thanks Bolshoi to you!" "He won't let go of my hand." "Can we fill this to the rafters?" "We still have 1,000 members and scored 1% at the last elections, nearly 2%!" "That makes 44 millions voters divided by..." "We'll put it there, okay?" "What is it?" "The flag!" "Our standard!" "From the 1966 Party Congress in Moscow!" "You memorize it, Momo?" "We got 100% of the vote!" "100%!" "A historic moment." "The People united in one cause!" "How could I forget it?" "100%!" "No one ever did better." "I'm late, I must make haste." "Keep it, Momo." "Keep it." "Come on..." "Move it!" "I'm begging you." "Pay me back!" "My card's blocked." "The bank wants the money by 4 p.m." "Calm down." "All in good time." "It's now!" "I bailed them out of a Russian restaurant not Le Trou Normand." "I paid the whole check at 6 a.m." "1,536 euros in booze, no food." "My check will bounce!" "If you bailed them out, where are they?" "Playing Tchaikovsky's previously unknown" "Silence for Violin and Orchestra?" "Did something get lost in translation?" "Is this an orchestra or a quartet?" "Where's your orchestra?" "I'm delighted to meet you." "Fret not a jot." "They'll be here very immediately." "They're not French." "Nor German, far from it." "We Russians make a point of protocol of reaching a little lateness." "Try to understand and extend your courtesy." "Ivan Gavrilov?" "You're late!" "And so is your spasibo Bolshoi!" "Had to be Russians!" "We could've had Yanks!" "Where are they?" "It's your job." "Where's my orchestra?" "Good price caviar!" "Taste!" "How much?" "200 euros." "Special discount for you." "How much?" "It's cheaper at the supermarket." "But better, no?" "No." "Caviar's passé." "What do you know?" "If we had Chinese cell phones, we'd have sold out." "A Russian Jew selling Chinese mobiles?" "It's a sin!" "Like a pygmy making gefilte fish." "Organic, maybe." "Kosher, no." "My dear Anne-Marie, a pleasure to see you again!" "For me, too." "Here's our Maestro!" "Dobriy den." "Bonjour." "I kiss you hotly." "We're running a touch late." "The famous Slav temperament?" "Something like that, yes." "Where's this go?" "— Up there, next to them." "Igor!" "Yuri!" "Move your asses!" "Jean-Paul?" "Can someone call Jean-Paul to the stage?" "Why didn't you bring Chinese phones then, wise guy?" "I did." "I gave one to each musician to get them through Customs." "Except Andrei, Sacha and Ivan, to keep it quiet." "50 mobiles with fake SIM-cards." "Unlimited calls worldwide." "A great deal!" "My son, who taught you shmates, genius?" "You're just like me." "We're rich!" "Trouble is, they won't give them back." "Who?" "What?" "You idiot, call them!" "They won't answer." "Give it to me." "The numbers!" "In the phone." "Careful, don't scratch it." "Mind the door!" "Moshe" "Don't they have cell phones?" "Maybe it's the traffic." "No one at the hotel." "Just improvise." "What do you mean?" "Tchaikovsky with 3 instruments?" "It's ridiculous, wasting my time!" "Don't stop." "That was wonderful." "What's your name?" "Aleksandr Abramovich Grossman." "Have forgiveness." "It's a big compliment for me." "Not wonderful." "It's a lot more difficult for me." "I'm the worst in whole orchestra." " Are you kidding?" "— No, it's true." "Maestro tell me," "Rehearse." "Rehearse, Sacha!" "No good!"" "Others never rehearse." "I do." "I... need much practice... to reach this level." "It's true." "I hate rehearsing for cameramen, don't you know?" "I think practice kills spontaneity." "No rehearsals?" "At all?" "No rehearsals!" "We beg your pardon." "You come here for no reason." "For us, spontaneity is important." "Music is spontaneity." "If the Bolshoi technique is so perfect..." "You think us pretentious, don't you know?" "Not technique." "Soul!" "Our spirit!" "You ask where are musicians." "They learn, take inspiration in Paris, City of Lights." "In museums." "Louvre," "Musée Rodin, Centre Pompidou..." "Right, Sacha?" "Excuse!" "These are my cousins." "Locals." "We're just missing a bassoon." "One of our "rentals" went wrong." "The police interfere in everything here." "Put the instruments on the chairs." "Violins here, cellos over there..." "Double basses and oboes up there..." "The flute there with the French horn..." "Shoes there." "Suits here." "Start ironing." "Hurry, let's move it." "Socks on the chairs!" "Get your ass in gear!" "Holy shit!" "Do they rent this out for weddings?" "What's the fee?" "Enough!" "Get me Duplessis!" "Here, toots, me not steal." " How'd you do that?" "— Do what?" "Those harmonic arpeggios..." "With my hand." "What fingering do you use?" "It's amazing." "Where did you study?" "Andrei, who is this chick?" "What's she talking about?" "Forgive me." "I'm..." "I feel so silly." "Sorry if I made a scene." "No problem, Mademoiselle." "Dinner tonight then?" "You can still make it?" "Yes, don't you know?" "See you there at 8." "You don't own broadcast rights!" "You understand "rights"?" "I sponsor the orchestra." "Without me, no orchestra." "You understand "orchestra"?" " Don't be offensive." "— Who are you?" "Director of the Châtelet." "Olivier Morne Duplessis." "Never heard of you." "Look, we have an exclusive contract with France Television." "Your problem." "I have a deal with Russian TV." "50 million viewers!" "My friend the President will watch live via satellite." "I've invited him to my dacha." "You want us to cut off the gas to Europe?" "Ask the Germans." "You wanted the Russians." "Let's look at possible solutions." "The contract says we're not to blame for natural overflow." "Natural overflow"?" "Yes, signals going astray in space, hitting the wrong satellite and being beamed to other countries or even planets." "Sure, we can't control everything." "Huge satellites that pick up music and pictures." "Don't you agree, Mr. Tretiakin?" "I don't give a shit." "We'll find them." "They won't let us down." "They're the best." "You don't think that." "Let's be honest, we're washed-up bums." "How did it come to this?" "What was I thinking?" "It's a nightmare." "It's them!" "My orchestra!" "Sacha, come on!" "It's your fault." "You're too slow." "Fat and slow!" "You wanna try again?" "Okay, let's go." "I'll spend all night looking." "Calm down." " At last!" "— Andrei, Mr. Duplessis..." "Shut up, I'm doing the talking!" "In 27 years, I've never seen such unprofessional behavior." "You think I'm stupid?" "Russians don't rehearse"!" " In our orchestra..." "— Enough already!" "This is an official warning for you all." "You didn't respect our contract." "Be there 2 hours before the concert, or I call it off!" "You think I wouldn't dare?" "Try me!" "I've done it before." "Are they back?" "No, the keys have gone." "They took them with them." "I slipped notes under doors." "Shove your keys and notes!" "I saw them in the Metro." "Go fetch them!" "If you cancel, we're fired." "Do I look like a schmuck?" "It's huge." "TV, radio, Internet, mobiles, CDs, DVDs..." "The Maestro Returns, The Legend Accompanied by Miss Jacquet!"" "The Russians never change." "They're stubborn as asses." "Have to bop them on the head to get 'em moving." "Fax the schedule to their hotel, so they have no excuse for being late." "Right away." "Fax this to the Bolshoi right away!" "Leonid Dimitrievich, a fax for you!" "No faxes." "I'm on vacation!" "I'm going to Paris!" "To the concert!" "To the concert!" "Mr. Filipov..." "Andrei, if you desire." "Is it true you defied the regime to defend your Jewish musicians?" "The Jews and the whole orchestra." "It was nothing heroic... don't you know?" "There was no choice." "Difficult times." "Complex things." " Complex?" "— Yes." "That we lived... don't you know?" "This concerto is..." "It's like, don't you know, a confession." "A cry." "In every note, there is life, Anne-Marie." "The notes all look for harmony." "Look for happiness." "Can I make a confession?" "I was raised by an extraordinary woman." "Guylène." "You saw her at the rehearsal." "She's a mother to me." "As well as my agent and manager, she's my friend." "The only one." "I never knew my parents." "Sorry, forgive me." "No problem." "Please, continue." "I always long to feel my parents watching me." "In the street." "Everywhere." "When I play, I'm reaching for the feeling of their eyes on me." "For one second." "Just one second." "They were wonderful people." "Richard and Sophie Jacquet." "Both brilliant scientists." "He was a biologist, she was an anthropologist." "Guylène told me their story." "They were her best friends." "They died when I was a baby." "A plane crash in the Alps." "Everything fine?" "Sir!" "Here we have Ivan Tikhomirov and Igor Obuhkov..." "Great musicians." "Tikhomirov, wow!" "He said 10 p.m. They've gone without us." "It was 10:30." "Fine, so climb aboard!" "Why did you choose me?" "I work a lot on Tchaikovsky's Concerto." "I... obsessed, sick, don't you know?" "I think with the Concerto, I find ultimate harmony, musical absolute." "Perfection." "So I look for solo violin." "I find Lea." "Lea Strum." "Brilliant, extraordinary." "Became great friends." "All great friends at the time." "Lea and Yitzhak, her husband." "We keep rehearsing, looking." "Not normal life." "Crazy!" "One day, friend tells me that Brezhnev will throw Jewish musicians out of orchestra." "I panic." "Lea is Jewish." "Lea and me decide to play Tchaikovsky's Concerto." "Quick!" "I not defend Jews, Anne-Marie." "I... selfish." "Defend Concerto, crazy dream." "I need Lea and Jews to reach harmony." "And then?" "12th June, 1980." "Concerto." "Were you ready?" "— No." "Yes." "How do we know?" "Bolshoi Theatre." "Full audience." "Many people." "Journalists from whole world." "Managers, colleagues..." "Concerto... begin." "Miracle happens." "Lea... sublime." "Magic violin raises me and orchestra up to the sky." "Very high." "We... fly." "We... and audience together float to ultimate harmony." "But Concerto stopped half way." "We never reached ultimate harmony." "Brezhnev stopped the Concerto in the middle to humiliate us publicly." "Brezhnev cut off our wings." "We crashed and burned." "After... all Jews were thrown out." "Lea, Sacha, all." "You were fired, too?" "Yes, but it was over." "I can't play without them." "What happened to Lea?" "Lea and Yitzhak gave an interview to Radio Free Europe," "American radio banned in Soviet Union." "They... criticized Brezhnev, don't you know?" "What then?" "Nothing." "You wanted me to replace Lea." "You didn't want me." "I'm not Lea." "You haven't conducted in 30 years." "I've never played Tchaikovsky." "We haven't rehearsed even." "I understand your story, your pain." "But I'm not Lea." "And together we won't reach ultimate harmony." "It was a dream, this concert... with you." "You should get treatment." "You can't bring back the past." "I don't think we should do the concert." "It's doomed to failure." "Can I drop you somewhere?" "When he's ready, call him a taxi." "Yes, ma'am." "Will you be okay?" "I'm sorry." "Yes?" "Well?" "Nothing." "What happened?" "Nothing." "Cancel Châtelet." "You had to go and do it." " Don't yell at me." "— Nobody's yelling." " How's the vodka?" "— French." "You fool!" "It's all over." "Finished." "The concert, Tchaikovsky, the orchestra, Anne-Marie." "Kaput!" "Well played, Brezhnev, you win again." "Ira deserved children, a good husband..." "I've ruined her whole life." "Here, give her this letter." "Give it to her yourself!" "Don't make the same mistake twice." "30 years ago, it wasn't your fault." "I dragged Lea into that craziness." "No!" "Wrong!" "She was consumed by the same madness as you." "Let's go." "Please." "I have to talk to her." "He was drunk." "He talk lot of nonsense." "Too much emotion for you." "Don't do this!" "Don't cancel!" "Please!" "Very important concert for him." "If no concert, he'll die." "It will Kill him." " Sir, please leave." "— Guylène!" "Let him in." "You have no right." "Andrei, the best in all the world." " Brezhnev..." "— I know the story." "His career is over." "His honor is gone." "He's a genius!" "A genius!" "They turned him into loser, into alco..." "Alcoholic." " I'm Jewish like..." "— Lea and Yitzhak Strum, I know." "I don't ask you like Andrei." "Just play violin." "Please." "Come and play the concert." "I'm sorry about what happened to Mr. Filipov and his friends." "But a concert isn't a psychotherapy session." "The man is sick." "You want me to be someone else..." "To fall into the same madness as that poor violinist?" "No." "The answer's no." "Goodbye, sir." "What if at end of concert, you find your parents?" "What did you say?" "That..." "Oh God!" "Music sometimes helps us grow." "Gives answers to us." "We scared, scared before we play music." "Scared of truth." "I don't understand." "Talk clearly." "Clearly?" "Nothing clear." "Nothing ever clear." "Me, poor idiot, messed up my life." "Lost my wife, children and here preaching to you!" "You ask for words, but words are traitors." "Words are dirty!" "Only music is still beautiful." "But music inprisons in us." "Music... refuses to come out of us." "Why?" "Sorry bother you." "Sorry." "Goodbye." "Goodbye, Guylène." "Mr. Grossman..." "Either you said too much or not enough." "How do you know Guylène?" "What did you mean..." "At the end of the concert, you'll find your parents"?" "You Jewish?" "You ignore Shabbat, Kippur!" "Being called Moshe doesn't make you Jewish!" "Did God send you a fax, at least?" "Answer me, please." "You're pale." "Do you want a pill?" "Not a word!" "I'm sorry." "Goodbye." "My darling," "Play the concert." "Play Tchaikovsky." "Maybe you'll find the truth about your parents." "Sorry that I lied to you all these years." "I was trying to protect you, for your own good." "Many years ago." "Andrei Filipov gave me Lea Strum's annotated score." "This is it." "It's yours." "Don't look for me." "When you read this." "I'll be far away." "I love you." "Guylène." "Mahler-Symphony N°1 Andrei Filipov" "Hotel Paris Lumière." "— Mr. Sacha Grossman, please." "Bilingual interpreter" "Comeback!" "For Lea." "Paris!" "ONE NIGHT ONLY TONIGHT" "I'm the Bolshoi!" "Tonight, let's not talk of money, just Tchaikovsky." "You'll have a wonderful time." "Madam Minister." "Sir..." "Mr. Ambassador, Madam..." "Usher!" "Where are our seats?" "51, 52..." "You make 53." "Who's missing?" "Stop it, they'll be here." "Viktor and his son!" "They sent out the message." "Call them!" "I can't." "They took all their phones back." "Straight on and left by the river, then left onto Place du Châtelet." "How can you live in Paris and not know the Châtelet Theatre?" "What's that mean, see you later"?" " Just that." "— You're not going anywhere." "Why?" "You're here, that's the main thing." "In 30 years, I've listened to more Tchaikovsky than him and his Ma!" "I know him by heart." "Nothing matters more than this concert." "Actually there is something!" "My speech at a Party meeting." "Get out of the way!" "The Party?" "You came to Paris for a pathetic meeting?" "Save your crappy speeches for Moscow!" "I'm here to give hope, build a dream." "Know what that means?" "The Big Dream!" "Yes, I remember..." "Workers of the world, unite!" Unite against each other." "You're so selfish!" "Selfish!" "Your concert, your dream, your ego!" "That's all you care about!" "An orchestra is a whole world, Ivan." "A whole world." "Everybody brings their instrument and talent." "We're united for the concert, playing together in the hope of producing a magical sound and attaining harmony." "That's real communism." "It lasts only as long as the concert." "Maestro, allow me to introduce Raymond Laudeyrac..." "My pleasure, sir." "I can't wait to hear your ideas." "Our most influential critic." "He's always like that, he hates Russian music, especially Tchaikovsky." "Break a leg!" "It's going to be fantastic!" "Anne-Marie, it's Olivier." "I'm with Laudeyrac." "He'd like to say hello." "Anne-Marie?" "UNITED INTO TOMORROW" "Communists!" "Communists!" "Comrades!" "The time has come!" "Moscow is behind us once more and has sent us Ivan Gavrilov!" "A true leader for Russia!" "Ivan Gavrilov?" "You?" "Thank God you're here!" "It's a scandal!" "An outrage!" "I was outnumbered!" "It's the Jews again!" "Leonid, providence has sent you to help me!" "Hurry, they might have started already." "We need to move fast!" "Camera 1, close up on me." "Camera 2, extreme close up on me." "Camera 3, on my hands." "Camera 4, on my orchestra." "Camera 5, on my audience." "Got that?" "Loud and clear." "It's quite impossible." "They won't leave." "This is my bar, my customers." "Nobody else's." "Please try to understand." "The program's included." "That's 300 euros, thank you." "Thank you." "This way, hurry!" "Gavrilov, open up!" "God, if You really are up there, work a miracle." "Prove that You exist after all." "Oh my God, I don't believe it." "You exist!" "Anne-Marie, I didn't finish my story." "After the interview on Radio Free Europe." "Lea and Yitzhak were arrested by the KGB." "They had a daughter, a six-month-old baby." "Seeing the KGB arriving, they gave her to a neighbor, who brought her to us." "Take her to France, please." "What fate awaited the Jewish child of enemies of the People sent to a gulag for life?" "Irina." "Sacha and I smuggled her to France with a friend, a musical agent who was visiting Moscow." "Lea and Yitzhak were sent to Siberia." "As long as she lived," "Lea played Tchaikovsky's Concerto in her head." "They called her "the mad woman"." "She died of exhaustion and cold in 1981." "Yitzhak died of grief 6 months later." "Tchaikovsky, the Violin Concerto." "I was the one who dragged Lea into this madness." "Anne-Marie," "Lea was your mother." "Enemy of the People!" "Curtain!" "Anne-Marie, forgive me." "Mom!" "Check this out!" "Dad's on TV!" "He's playing in Paris!" "Sacha in Paris?" "THE ANDREI FILIPOV ORCHESTRA" "5 EXTRA PERFORMANCES" "Leonid!" "Leonid!" "Amen!"