"You're smoking now!" "Already back." "Yes I drove fast." "I was eager to see you." " Will you take me to the peak?" " if you want." "Next time we'll go together." "You can have a picnic below." "I don't just want to look." "I want to climb too." "Really?" "In that case, we must start from the beginning." "The peak is dangerous." "I'm not afraid." "I know you're not afraid." "But it's best not to take risks, don't you think?" "My father always takes risks." "One day, he jumped over 5 cars in flames." "I saw it on TV." "It is true, your father is very brave." "You miss him a lot?" "You're happy with us?" "It's great, and there's Thomas." "It's thanks to you that we decided to get together." "We've loved each other a long time, your Mom and me." "She was afraid that you'd be upset." "You must be joking, I don't care." "So, I first spoke to Thomas, to test the water." "And he was very happy to have a new mom." "He knew when, Thomas?" "I talked to him before Christmas I think." "I've missed you..." "Do you know that your son wants to climb?" "He's the strongest man I know." "After you, of course." "You look in shape!" "What's the matter!" "Liar!" "Dirty liar!" "You knew they were going to live together and you said nothing!" "You've betrayed your oath!" "Maybe you don't remember the oath?" "I, spirited horse, make Thunder Fire my blood brother." ""Nothing and nobody can separate us." "We share everything."" "Go on, the oath!" ""He'll know all my secrets." "I'll be his mirror."" "You've betrayed me!" "Never speak to me again!" "BLOOD BROTHERS" "It's beautiful, isn't it?" "What is beautiful, are the colours in the mind of a child." "One must not allow life to extinguish them." "You're the headmistress?" "Yes, Catherine Aguilar." "Welcome to our town, Mr. Novak." "You'll find, it's very pleasant." "The area is beautiful." "Here's the tea, Catherine." "And for sir, a mint cordial." "Thank you." "I put you in a room on the 1st floor, which looks onto the street," "But it is the largest." "And it's the only one which still has a mosquito net." "Your luggage, shall I take it up or...?" "No, I'll take it." "It doesn't appear heavy but... books, they weigh a ton, and also..." "I have a dodgy heart." "It makes you laugh that I risk collapsing on the stairs?" "Nobody wants that." "You see?" "The gentleman, he understands." "What's your name?" "Victor." "Victor, I'm Jean-Daniel." "Nice to meet you." "Well, this one, I like." "Not like the other crackpot!" "The other crackpot, was M. Louvier?" "Yes." "Jean-Daniel is prejudiced." "And he's stubborn as a mule." "I'm glad that I please him." "Hello." "Hello, sir!" "You ok?" "Yeah." "Hello." "I don't want you next to me!" "You've finished, your rearrangements?" "We have little time before the end of the year." "And I know you're not ahead of schedule." "So, everybody wants to work?" "No?" "Yes?" "Are we still preparing for the end of year party?" "Well, of course!" "We could do an Indian party." "No way!" "We're fed up with that!" "That's because you're a coward!" "It's not true!" "It's not your decision!" "It's good to speak about Indians..." "How they lived, how they live now." "Were they put on reservations?" "Yes, unfortunately." "But why?" "Because difference scares people, even now." "That means that those who are smaller or weaker, they're always subject to the rule of the others." "Yes." "Why didn't the children of the cow-boys play with those of the Indians?" "Their parents didn't teach them to like each other." "It was no-good over there." "In France too, this exists." "When one is different, it's frowned upon." "Courage makes all the difference." "I don't like cowards." "There are some cowards who are braver than lads who just brag." "See you at the camp in 1 hour" "That's a bit short." "You'll manage." "You know what you have you to do?" "(The test is too hard)" "What are you children doing?" "We came to look for a box." "It's for the treasure that we must bring back to he Chiricahuas." "Who are the Chiricahua?" "Well, it's us." "There's Paul, Julien, Lila, and Jerome." "Jerome and I are both Chiefs." "Look." "We all have the same." "It's very nice!" "I am not a warrior-hunter." "It's harder because she's a girl." "And is it very annoying not being a warrior-hunter?" "Say, yes!" "I'm fed up of doing the housework all the time!" "Besides, she's only on her 1st test." "There are still another two." "More and more harsh." "Afterwards, she can become a blood bro..." "Oh no!" "blood sister." "When is the next test?" "We can't tell you." "It's a secret." "Why did he leave like that, Louvier?" "Let's say that things have been going wrong for a while." "He had developed a project with his class on the subject of Indians." "They even built a camp in the forest." "It is a good idea, isn't it?" "Yes, but... he misused it." "He took the opportunity to organize tests with the kids." "He wanted to harden them, turn them into men." "Finally, crazy stuff." "Fear was forbidden." "Fortunately, after the departure of Louvier, it's calmed down." "But I don't understand." "Why did he resign?" "You see, the little house there?" "It's my place." "It's time to prove your courage!" "Oh no!" "We're not going to put a rat in the treasure box!" "Yes!" "It's a trophy!" "No, he's right." "It's gonna stink!" "Am I a warrior-hunter?" "You know very well that you have another 2 tests." "And I have this." "It's my father's, but he has plenty." "And us, we don't have a peace pipe." "Say it!" "Say that you were scared!" "Okay." "Yes, I was afraid." "It's him that had the hardest to do, anyway." "You can speak when you're a warrior-hunter, not before." "The next time, I'll take one of them." "There won't be a next time!" ""Your tongue is forked." "You're heart is black"" ""You are no longer worthy of being a Chiricahua"" "That's when one betrays his blood brother, not when you fail a test." "Tell them!" "Tell them all!" "You thought that I'd never know?" "What's the matter?" "I lied to my blood brother." "Only the greatest of tests can erase it." "Do you know what you have to do?" "And afterwards?" "Afterwards, he left all alone." "Didn't you want to interfere?" "No, it wasn't possible." "Thomas was already considered a traitor, then, if in addition, an adult takes his defense..." "It's funny that you worry." "It's only a game after all." "I don't think so." "Not between Thomas and Jerome." "There was something intense between them, as if... as if they were compelled to act like that." "You may be right though." "You don't have an old black and white comic, which serves as their reference?" "No." "Louvier gave it to them." "That one, I'm not happy with him!" "I'm glad he left the profession." "Besides rotting their brains, he reduced" "The beauty of a people to a downright useless comic." "Where you going?" "For a pee." "Until you've proved your courage." "You do nothing without my consent." "Tell me what you want me to do." "I haven't decided yet." "Now, let me come down." "Call your father for help." "Go!" "Thomas!" " You're not playing today?" "I don't feel like it." "Usually, you're always with 4 others," "Indians..." "what do you call them?" "Chiricahuas." "Chiricahuas, right." "You've taken off your wrist band." "You've got a white mark." "I didn't removed it, I lost it." "And I don't want to talk to you." "What did he want?" "I thought you weren't talking to me any more?" "What did you tell him?" "I said nothing to him, I tell you!" "If you are going to complain, it'll be even worse!" "It's amazing how cruel they are to each other." "It's dangerous, their game, for later on." "You're exaggerating a bit, aren't you?" " No" "These are kids who are learning to live together in the same house." "How's that?" "Recently, Jerome's mother has moved in with Thomas's father." "Francoise Mercier is divorced or separated, and Thomas's mother died when he was 2 or 3, I think." "I didn't know." "Half of all children today live like that." "Well, them, they live poorly." "Come down, Thomas!" "The stones are poorly sealed, you'll break your neck!" "Come!" "If you want to practice, use the wall of the truck." "Leave me alone!" "What's wrong?" "Nothing at all!" "You're always after me!" "Good." "Come on!" "So, what's going on?" "Are we no longer friends, you and me?" "Can't we tell each other everything?" "When I'm happy or upset, I tell you, right?" "I don't want you to tell me." "Nothing!" "That's not very nice." "What do you care?" "You're always with Francoise!" "That's not true." "I thought you were pleased that we got together?" "With you and Jerome too?" "You must be joking!" "Jerome, you didn't even ask him!" "It's not for him to decide who his mother should like!" "Thomas!" "Thomas!" "Did you tell him off about something?" "No, he got upset all by himself." "I don't understand it." "He's probably upset because he peed the bed." "He did what?" "It's probably an accident." "It's never happened to him before?" "No!" "I don't know what's up with him at the moment, but..." "You seem troubled." "No." "I mean yes!" "Jerome received a note from his father." "Ah." "I don't know what to do." "Why, usually, you give it to him, don't you?" "This one comes from Avignon." "That means he's there." "Or at least, he's been there." "It will upset Jerome." "He admires Noel so much..." "Whose fault is that?" "You're endlessly talking to him about his father's exploits." "That was before." "I want him to admire you." "And what does it do for you, knowing he's so near?" "To me?" "Nothing." "You're not still jealous?" "You're saying that I've no reason to be jealous." "Kiss me idiot, no reason." "What a climb!" "Hello!" "I'm Victor Novak, the substitute teacher." "It's high!" "I know all the holds by heart." "I come to train here every day." "Do you have a minute before you go?" "Just about, yes." "I'm lucky that I can combine my passion with my business." "Me too, but it's less risky." "What is your job?" "I organize climbing courses for schools." "I drive almost everywhere with a fully equipped truck." "As I'm the only one in France that does it, I'm in demand." "Have you been to Thomas's school yet?" "No, that's never occurred ." "we'll organize that." "It'll please him." "I'm not so sure." "I don't think he likes to climb." "But perhaps seeing the others doing... it will inspire him." "It is because of Thomas that you came up here?" "Yes." "We both do a similar job." "We teach children to get their bearings." "Don't take the hardest path through life." "That's right, yes." "Had a good team there, it was Jerome and Thomas, and then..." "I have an impression that Thomas isn't very happy." "And Jerome doesn't help him, to the contrary." "I believe it's me who Thomas bears a grudge, at the moment." "I've smothered him a lot since the death of his mother." "I think I've made him have a crisis of independence." "Or of temporary jealousy." "Me, I think that Jerome feels betrayed by Thomas, and he's making him pay." "Jerome?" "He's always the first one to defend him." "Their Indian game again?" "They have made us crazy with it." "They're still playing it." "And in a disturbing way." "So, have a good day at school?" "Yes." "Has Walter gone on a training course?" "Oh no!" "He went to do some climbing." "No more long trips until the end of the year." "It's good, isn't it?" "Hey, Jerome!" "Is Thomas upset about something?" "What did he say to you?" "Nothing." "He's like my son now, so I worry a little." "Because he wet the bed?" "Ah, you're aware of that?" "Obviously, we are brothers." "So, is that all." "And besides, it's my fault." "It was a stupid bet, and..." "We drank a litre of Coke, one had to hold on until morning." "That really is completely idiotic." "Sorry, Mom, but..." "It's better that you don't talk to him about it." "I think he's a little embarrassed." "Well, okay." "Ah!" "I..." "There's a letter from your father on your bed." "Thanks, mom." "Give me that." "Get out!" "Why?" "It's my room too!" "Thomas!" "Thomas!" "Eat up!" "I'm not hungry." "Now, that's enough Thomas." "If you've got a problem, you talk about it." "Sit down, we haven't finished dinner!" "But I'm not hungry!" "We ate cakes at 4 o'clock." "You're nice to defend your brother, but he's being temperamental." "It's not how I've raised you." "Eat just a little bit, If you can't manage it all." "You know Walter has some big news?" "I saw your new teacher today." "I'll probably come to school with the truck." "To do some rock climbing?" "We'll first do an initiation day." "Afterwards, we'll see." "It's good, isn't it?" "Really good." "In his letter, Dad says he's going to Brazil to do a film." "Really?" "He came to Avignon, didn't he?" "Eh... yes but, he didn't stay long." "We'll see each other next time." "Can I leave the table now, dad?" "Me too?" "If you want, yes." "Don't ever defend me again." "So how was it?" "Edible?" "As long as you don't poisen me, it's ok with me." "That's not just to please me?" "No, not at all." "Am I the only customer here." "Yeah." "It's summer when they turn up, the tourists." "Louvier, when he lived here." "Did he stay here?" "Only at first." "Because later, he moved in with Catherine." "I didn't know." "Really?" "No." "I'll never understand women, me." "How?" "Beautiful as she is... to fall in love with a guy like..." "Now, now..." "A smooth talker, him!" "Ah, he had everyone in his pocket!" "She's old enough to know what she wants to do!" "While there, I doubt it." "Finally, now..." "He's packed up his bags and baggage..." "And you?" "How do you find her, as a woman?" "Ah well, I like her very much, but..." "I don't have the urge to get married, and neither does she, I believe." "I wonder what it is about, young people nowadays, wanting to live all alone." "Me, I miss her every day, my poor wife." "Come on, I'm going to bed!" "Good-night!" "Good-night!" "Get out!" "Hello?" "Hello?" "Who did you call?" "Why are you interested?" "Want to tell tales to your father?" "Get out, this is my place!" "what's the matter, Loic?" "It's my place." "He has to go with the others." "They don't want us, me either." "You're begining to annoy me with your stories of clans!" "If you can't agree, I'll place you myself." "Thomas is teacher's pet." "Just because his father is coming to school." "If his father comes, it's to teach you something." "If you don't like it, we'll cancel it." "Who wants to go climbing?" "Moi!" "Sit down." "Eat with us, Loic." "Really?" "Maybe you have time to train a little, wimp?" "That smells good." "It's known as herbes de Provence." "I am sure even Jean-Daniel doesn't know what this is." "But he loves you very much." "Yes, It makes him a little overwhelming at times." "Under the pretext that he knew me as a child, he thinks he has a say on everything." "It's his matchmaker side." "If your father could see you, it would make him laugh." "I can't get down again." "I'm going to fall." "Where have you come from?" "Where's Thomas?" "That's why I came to look for you." "He's there." "Stop acting like a monkey and come down from there!" "Thomas, why are you crying?" "I can't get down!" "I'm going to fall, I know it, I'm going to fall!" "Wait, Don't move." "Jerome, help me." "Jerome!" "That's it, you're in no danger." "I have the rope, do you feel?" "Do you feel?" "You can't fall." "Go ahead." "Lower your feet." "Put your feet on the knots." "Now, very slowly, slide your hands." "That's it, that's good." "very slowly." "Let your feet down slowly." "Put them on the knots..." "Slide your hands, that's it." "You've nothing to fear." "Go ahead." "That's it." "There's no danger, there's the mat below." "Go ahead." "Gently!" "Gently!" "Gently, that's it." "You see, there's no danger." "Go ahead, come down." "Come on, it's alright." "But why do you put yourself in such situations?" "Did Jerome tell you to do that?" "No." "It was me, alone." "But no need to tell anyone, eh?" "I won't tell anyone, but don't do it again." "Come on then." "Alright then?" "Oh, teacher's pet." "Oh, teacher's pet." "You're working outside?" "I didn't hear you come!" "Sit down." " no, I don't want to disturb you." "I'll finish this evening." "It'll keep me busy." "My life is a desert." "Done it?" "So what?" "You've got cold feet?" "The time has come to ask yourself some questions:" "What am I doing here?" "Did I mess up my options?" "You mean to wake me up by telling me I got it all wrong?" "Yes, maybe." "By counting my wrinkles in front of the mirror." "Wrinkles, they don't matter." "The trouble is because it's the mirror which sees them, and not somebody who would age with you." "I'm like that." "I don't need to live with anyone." "I need to feel free." "Yes, but freedom..." "Freedom, in time... it ends up looking like solitude." "You say this for me or for you?" "No, I just say it's like that." "Ah, Teacher!" "Finished for today?" "Class, yes." "But I still have work to do." "As for me, this little siesta did me good." "And me, can't I smoke?" "When you've passed the warriors test." "You've got no business here." "That's right." "You're no longer a Chiricahua." "I am now, and I'm not teacher's pet any more." "I went into the teacher's room." "And I took this." "You stole some money?" "I did an act of courage." "and if he had seen you?" "I walked like an Indian and then I made off really fast." "So, can I return?" "We need to vote." "Who is for Thomas becoming a Chiricahua again?" "If I betray my brother, I will lose his trust forever." "Only the largest of tests can erase the stain," "And only my blood brother can impose it on me." "Going into the teacher's room is nothing." "Did you believe it would be that easy?" "Wow!" "She managed to get loose!" "She's a true indian, this girl!" "Lila!" "Lila!" "But how did you do that?" "It's amazing!" "Do you realise what you did?" "You left her tied up all alone." "It was a joke." "Well, it's not funny." "This isn't game of Indians." "You're like savages." "This is nothing to be proud of." "I borrowed some books from the library." "You're going to read them and then make a summary." "And you'll see that... that they're a people who can be peaceful," "And full of poetry also." "I'll look after this." "It's a very bad example." "Ok." "It's finished, the game for today." "Go home." "And Thomas, was he with you?" "Jerome, was Thomas with you?" "Why did you bring it back?" "It must stay at the camp." "The teacher came." "We were all scared stiff he'd look inside." "I want to return the money." "No, I'm keeping it." "Good grief!" "It's awfully high!" "We are going all the way to the top, sir?" "No, not today." "No, first we're going to learn how to use the equipment." "This, for example, it is a harness." "It serves as security." "We thread the rope inside." "So if we slip, we're held." "One needs to be supple, no?" "Oh yes." "And have a good knowledge of his body." "Then, he must not overestimate his strength." "And try to control his fear." "We'll start with the red holds." "These are the easiest because they are the closest." "Anybody going to takes the plunge?" "Go on, Thomas!" "You told me you wanted to." "Really?" "No, for Thomas and Jerome, it's not worth it, you're able to learn at home." "It's better if someone else tries." "Go ahead, sir!" "Yeah, like Spiderman!" "No..." "I would look like a big beetle on it." "And I'm not supple enough." "Oh yes!" "Right, the reds you said?" "Ok." "Give me a harness." "I have to go right up to the top?" "yes" "Don't laugh because it'll be your turn, soon." "Go." "What I like best is when you reach the top." "I've got sore hands." "I was scared the whole time of falling." "You bet!" "There's not enough room for your feet." "Are we going to do it again?" "Yes if you want to, it was a bit short." "Not everybody was able to have a go." "Your father really climbs the peak?" "He's incredibly brave!" "Ther's not much risk though, he's on a rope." "Real climbers climb just with their hands." "If they fall, they kill themselves." "That's courage!" "It's interesting what you say Jerome, but not necessarily true." "What would you say courage is?" "It's not being afraid." "For example?" "Yesterday there was a film on tv." "This ninja was fighting 15 guys." "Yes, I saw it!" "He even jumped over a cliff." "And when he was a prisoner, he wasn't afraid to die." "That's the courage we see in films, or in books." "In everyday life, it's not the same." "We don't fight all the time." "And sometimes we are afraid." "I'm a girl." "I don't fight." "Girls are afraid of everything." "Yes, but we're still brave." "Lila's right." "It takes courage to bring a child into the world." "And to raise him." "And then, to admit that we're afraid, one needs courage nevertheless." "Don't we?" "Alright, think about all that we said, and make a drawing with examples of courage in everyday life, ok." "Can we can speak about our fathers?" "Yes, of course." "Speaking of courage, there's a..." "A matter which troubles me, which I'd like to speak to you about." "Yesterday afternoon, someone entered my room." "A child?" "Yes, and I'd like the girl or boy who came and took something, to come and speak to me about it." "There won't be any punishment." "You can go." "Are you going to give yourself up?" "Is that what you want?" "You'd like that, eh?" "But that's too easy." "Are you doing your homework on courage?" "Yes." "Are you telling how you had the courage to climb the rope today?" "Next time, do like your father." "Secure yourself well." "Haven't you had enough?" "It's not true that Indians never forgive." "I read it in the teacher's book." "Come on, are we done?" "Are you afraid?" "No." "Are you coming?" "We'll be late." "Were you phoning your father?" "I know, it's him." "Leave me alone!" "It's your fault!" "My father doesn't want to see me any more, because my mother's no longer single!" "If you had told me, I could have prevented it!" "And your father's an idiot!" "Well at least, he takes care of me!" "It doesn't forget my birthday, and he doesn't let me down!" "Yours, he doesn't care about you and your mother!" "It's not true!" "He's coming!" "My mother will get back together with him!" "He'll never come!" "It's him that's an idiot!" "Go ahead!" "I won't hit my blood brother." "Not bad, overall." "Not bad." "You found some good examples of courage in everyday life." "The girls!" "The girls did very well." "Here." "Yours." "And you..." "Do you think it takes a lot of courage to get up at 7 am everyday?" "I didn't have very many ideas." "It's very well written." "You got a good grade anyway." "Yes, come in!" "You're late you two." "What happened to you?" "I fell." "You fell on your eye?" "Did he fall?" "He slipped." "Go sit down." "You, it's very good." "You must pay attention to spelling, but otherwise, it's interesting." "Your father's really a stuntman?" "He's done lots of films." "In one, he was even suspended from a helicopter." "The actors are afraid, he replaces them for the dangerous things." "I have photos if you don't believe me." "Yes, I believe you." "I believe you." "But you can still bring the photos." "He could come." "He lives in Avignon now, it's not far." "What is it now?" "Yes, come in!" "Sir, it's our teacher." "She's sick." "I'm coming." "Here, distribute these." "And stay quiet." "Are you okay?" "Do you want to sit down for a bit?" "No, I'm alright now." "You're very pale." "It is just a little faintness." "There was really no need to bother you." "Does it happen to you often?" "No, it must be the heat or..." "I don't know." "I assure you, I'm fine." "If it happens again, send me your class and go take a rest, eh." "It's great to have a father who's stuntman!" "And your Dad, does he do car stunts?" "You bet, and on horse too!" "He could go up the climbing wall with one hand!" "It's a pushover for him." "And the peak too." "Right, come on, children!" "Recess is over." "Everyone in their seat." "I haven't seen your essay, Thomas." "I haven't done it." "Why?" "I think we'd better have a talk together after class." "Be careful, you'll get yourself dirty." "Oh, it's okay." "There's no one to scold me." "You don't have a wife?" "Well, you know, for me too, it's complicated." "When we have problems, it's better to talk about them." "No?" "You don't want to say anything, but I can see that you're unhappy." "On top of that, you're convinced that you've betrayed Jerome." "I betrayed him, it's true." "At first it was good, the blood brothers game." "But now..." "Now, you hurt each other." "You fight, it's not nice." "How do you know all this?" "Ah..." "Is it so serious, what you did to Jerome..." "Yes." "Don't you want to tell me about it?" "We could try to sort things out." "Don't you trust me, is that it?" "I'm not a sneak." "Sir..." "it was me who took your money." "Why?" "I can't say." "Hello." "Hello." "That's..." "4.50 F." "4,50 F. There you are." "Merci." "Merci." "Was it a watch that little Jerome bought?" "Yes." "He had to break open the piggy bank, eh!" "He took the most expensive." "Thank you." "You're welcome." "Goodbye!" "Are you hitchhiking?" "No...no, it was just for fun." "But that's not the direction to your house, is it!" "Where are you going?" "I'm going to see my father in Avignon." "Avignon, 60 km away!" "Is your father expecting you?" "He hasn't the time to come, so..." "So you decided that you were going to go there yourself?" "Has it been a long time since you've seen him?" "Four years." "But it's because he can't." "Yes, of course." "Does your mother know that you hitch by the roadside?" "It's not a good idea." "It's dangerous." "If your father isn't there, what are you going to do?" "I want to see him, and my mother doesn't want me to." "I'm going to speak to your mother." "OK, come on, I'll take you back." "And Walter, does he have to know?" "Walter will be included in this, of course." "Get on, I've a helmet in the box." "We've always known he was in Avignon, but he told Jerome he was shooting a film in Brazil." "Oh dear." "You don't want him to see his father?" "No, not at all, no." "Then, we should arrange a meeting." "Noel couldn't care less about his son." "He didn't give him a second thought when he left!" "Francoise has had a bad time because of him." "She doesn't really want to see him." "I understand, but it's important for Jerome." "And for Thomas too." "What does Thomas have do with it?" "Thomas knew you were going to live together, and Jerome didn't." "I told him about it, yes." "And you asked him to say nothing about it." "Yes, that's true." "So what?" "So, he said nothing, despite their blood brothers oath:" ""He'll know all my secrets." "I'll be his mirror."" "We were much more afraid of Jerome's reaction than Thomas's." "Perhaps because Thomas's mother died when he was very young." "So I spoke to my son about it first." "If Jerome had felt like that, I would have seen it." "Not necessarily, no." "Yes." "Francoise knows him by heart." "exactly." "It was easier for him to put the burden of the betrayal onto his friend rather than his mom." "We'll speak to them both." "You risk antagonizing Jerome, except if he sees that there's no more love between you and his father, he'll forgive Thomas." "Wait, you haven't understood." "We don't want to hear any more talk about the past." "Whether you like it or not, Jerome has a father." "Would you agree to drive him to Avignon?" "Of course." "Hello." "Hello." "I'd like to see M. Mercier." "yes." "Noel it's for you!" "Yeah, okay!" "Excuse me, it's lunch time." "Hello." "Hello." "If it's for the bike, the garage opens Monday." "No!" "The bike runs perfectly." "It's a workhorse, that." "Indestructible, and I drive a lot." "No..." "I'm Jerome's teacher." "Up there in Valréas?" "Yes." "I picked him up on the road." "He wanted to hitchhike here." "Really?" "However, I talked on the phone to him, this morning." "He wants to see you." "As you have not had time to go..." "It's true but with the opening..." "Besides, he took me a little bit by surprise." "Maybe you don't want to see him?" "No, it's not like that." "It's a little bit more complicated." "I told my wife that I had a kid before, but... but not that he lived next door with his mother." "And so?" "This poses a problem, does it?" "Let's say, that I'd like to have spoken to him about it before." "I didn't know how to go about it." "I don't know him anymore, the youngster." "But he doesn't know you either, eh." "He imagines you to be a bit like the actors you double." "The kids, the cinema's real to them." "It's a long way off from reality." "I gave it up, I wanted to take things easier, to achieve what I missed with Francoise: a family life." "You must tell him." "You need to show him that then." "He'll see that you're not a superman." "Why would I quash his dream?" "Because it's time for Jerome to accept the man who lives with his mother." "Yeah." "In fact, I was scared to go and see him." "What do I say to him?" "We're strangers." "There's still a little room for him, isn't there?" "Of course, he's often on my mind." "I thought that I'd upset him, and it was better to be an image like this, that he could be proud of, quiet simply." "He's unhappy, M. Mercier." "In any case, sooner or later I'll have to pay the bill for all this bullshit." "Why are they called Indians?" "At first, when Christopher Columbus arrived in America, he believed it was India." "So, he called the people he saw there, Indians." "What are they called now?" "Native Americans!" "Native American, that means that they were the first to be born on American soil." "And then they took their land." "The Whites said they were savages because they had lots of gods." "They had to make it rain, to find game to hunt" "Do you know the names?" "Yes, there's..." "Yes, we underlined it in green." "Oh yes!" "The sun dance, and the song of the four winds, the village snake dance." "It was good, I'm happy." "It was a nice presentation." "Can we keep the books a little longer?" "Yes, I'll go to the library." "And you Lila, do you still want to be warrior-hunter?" "No way!" "What that?" "It's a game that isn't very funny." "You can go." "Sir." "Yes?" "We can do a dance for the school party?" "An Indian dance?" "Yes." "Yes, That's a good idea." "It's fun to watch." "We'll think about that." "Hey, tell me!" "How would you fancy coming with me to Avignon, tomorrow?" "Your mother has agreed, and Walter too." "Still angry with Thomas?" "Did he tell you that?" "No it's not him." "It's me who guessed." "And I also know why." "We had to tell each other everything." "We had sworn." "I know." "Now he can never be my brother again." "Can I ask you a question?" "Imagine that your mother entrusted you with very important secret." "She asked you not to talk about it, not even to your best friend." "What would you have done?" "You'd have been upset." "You'd have been unhappy, but would have said anything." "Can I go now?" "Yes." "By the way, I want to tell you... it was me who took your money." "Go!" "Run away, take off!" "I'll pick you up tomorrow." "And your Indians, are they sorting themselves out?" "It'll be ok, yes." "They share the responsibility for the same stupidity." "Really?" "And that includes who?" "Jerome, I think." "He built a wall around himself, but it's cracking." "He's difficult, this kid." "I think that he's hurt." "Do you think that it's because he lived only with his mother that he's so difficult?" "We ask too much of children." "We love each other, we stop loving each other, we leave..." "We love somebody else..." "It's too complicated for them." "Unless we can find the right words, to explain to them." "But...." "I am expecting Louvier's child." "You want to have it without the father?" "Yes." "Anyway, Paul packed his case as soon as he knew." "I listen to you talking about Jerome and Francoise, and..." "I question myself, I'm not so sure any more." "I made a mistake. right?" "It's your life." "I can't answer that." "Yes, of course." "And it's my choice." "It's perhaps difficult for a man to understand." "But for a woman, one day, it'll be too late." "You see, you, if you decide, even at 50 it's still possible." "I have a little girl, me." "Why don't you ever talk about youself?" "Have the children returned?" "Yes, Thomas just before Jerome." "He asked me for photos of the peak for a presentation." "How did they seem?" "It's Jerome who asked me where Thomas was." "Rather a good sign, no?" "Tell me, are we a family?" "The truth?" "Oh yes." "You okay?" "I'm going to see my Dad." "What's that for?" "You'll see." "Tomorrow, I'll once again become your brother, or else you won't see me again." "Don't go on about it." "What?" "I don't care now." "It's possible that tomorrow I'll be leaving with my Mom and Dad." "Where to?" "I don't know, maybe Brazil." "In any case, it's too late." "A pact is a pact." "You won't be able to!" "Still, if she's not unhappy..." "How's that?" "I said, if she's not unhappy." "It's true, what!" "This afternoon, you seemed to get along with Catherine, right?" "Instead of spending an evening together, I don't know... bringing her to a good restaurant, you don't eat anything here!" "And you stay in to read this stuff!" "Ah, that makes you laugh?" "Well... yes, yes." "Catherine has things to do which don't concern us." "In other words:" ""Jean-Daniel, mind your own business."" "No, that's not what I'm saying." "But it's nice to see that you're very attached to Catherine." "Ah well, obviously." "And why do you tell me that?" "Because I know that she can count on you." "He hasn't made her miserable?" "He's not returned, the other crackpot?" "No!" "You won't see him again." "So much the better." "Is it on the syllabus, comic books, this year?" "No, no... but it's very informative." "Can I sit down?" "I haven't come here for a long time." "This is your domain, you and Jerome." "You're not allowed to come." "And Francoise either." "Tell me." "I made a mistake unintentionally." "You're a little angry with your friend because of me." "What can I do to make up for that?" "Everything is settled now." "Really?" "You're not just telling me a story?" "No." "When Jerome comes home, he'll no longer be angry." "I won't get involved then." "Shall we go for a ride, you and me?" "Do you hold it against me a lot?" "no, but..." "I have some French homework to finish." "and afterwards take it to M. Novak, and go for a bike ride." "can I?" "Of course, yes." "Papa?" "Are you going to peak today?" "Not today, no." "I am going to stay with Francoise." "She worries, you know." "Are you crying?" "no." "Yes, you're crying." "Is it because you're going to go to Brazil and leave Papa and me?" "Of course not." "What's this about?" "I don't know." "Jerome would like to leave with his dad and you." "Come here." "I shall never leave you." "Neither you nor your dad." "and Jerome either?" "No." "Unless you don't want me as a mom?" "But, she died, my mom." "I know." "But you can be like her, if you want." "I really like you." "Me too..." "And Jerome, do you think he doesn't like Walter?" "It's not the same for him, because he's got two dads." "He needs his real father to explains things to him properly." "(don't go there)" "(Courage)" "That's him?" "Yes, it's him." "I don't recognize him." "Well, you too have changed." "It belongs to him, the garage?" "I don't know." "Go ahead." "I'll be back later, I'm going for a walk." "Hello." "Well, you're awfully grown up, eh." "Look, I'm losing my hair." "Going to give me a kiss?" "It's..." "It's yours, the garage?" "Yes." "I work here now." "You see, this way we'll be neighbors." "It's good, isn't it?" "Come on." "I'll show you around." "I'm going to do it up myself." "Come, if you want, you can go up on it." "It rises up to two meters." "You're not afraid, are you?" "At school, I did some climbing." "Oh yeah?" "Hey, that's really good." "In the old days, they didn't have any of this." "Yeah, but would have loved you." "No doubt." "And later, would you have climbed the highest mountains?" "That, I know nothing about." "But you did a lot of things though, much harder!" "What I liked was the performance." "The people who applauded, who were also afraid for me." "Climbing, you do all alone." "I don't know if I'd have liked that." "That said, the guys who do that, I take my hat off to them." "But me, I want to shine." "I would have liked to see your stunts." "I have lots of videos." "In real life." "That's not possible." "I no longer do it." "I'm a mechanic now." "And do you do oil changes and stuff like that?" "Well yes, of course." "Come on, we'll go into Avignon and have an ice cream." "All right, let's go!" "Who's the baby?" "Well... he's a half brother for you." "How long have you been married?" "For three years now." "But you know, on postcards there's not a lot of room to say much." "And a letter?" "You're right, it's true." "I should have." "She hasn't remarried, Mom." "And him too, one day are you are going to leave him?" "If you're willing, I'd understand if you didn't want to, we can try to become friends, you and me." "I've not been a good father." "And I've hurt you a lot." "I believe I can do much better, now." "And Mom?" "Your Mom has her life, and me too." "But that doesn't stop both of us from loving you very much." "His name is Boris." "Come on." "I'll introduce you to him." "Cuckoo." "You know, I already have a brother." "It's better, we're the same age." "Besides... he has another wife as well." "But that's normal for your parents." "They've been separated for several years." "Me, I'll never get married." "And I won't have a baby either." "That would be a shame." "My Dad couldn't care less about me." "You mustn't say that." "Your father, he may have made mistakes," "Then later he dared not give you any more news." "Maybe he wanted you to have another life with your mom." "But here, you can often come and visit." "It's never too late for you to get to know each other." "Isn't it nice, your ice cream?" "Yes, yes." "Where is my home?" "Your home is wherever live... your Mom, Walter and Thomas." "He loves you very much, Walter, like his son." "What is it?" "Well..." "It's your money." "It's my money in a little parcel?" "I bought that with it." "Maybe they'll take it back at the shop, because... because you've already got a watch." "Keep it, ok." "You can give it to someone you love." "I know it wasn't you who stole from me." "Eh?" "It was me who told Thomas to do it." "And will this last a long time, between you and Thomas?" "No, I swear." "I've been mean to Thomas." "Well, you went a litle too far, yes, that's for sure." "Tell me, I..." "I read your comic last night." "Can I ask you something?" "Yes." "Good, so..." "The Indian oath, blood brothers..." "I understand." "But what's the story with these tests?" "Well, it's a way to erase the deceit." "That means you'll... you'll ask Thomas to do something foolish." "You know, it's just a comic book." "Huh?" "It's a made up story." "Real life, isn't like that." "I told him yesterday that it was over." "Indian's word?" "Yes." "I want to go back." "But you haven't finished?" "No, I want to go right away." "Sir, can you give this to the teacher?" "It's for him." "What is it?" "A punishment?" "no." "Don't you want a grenadine?" "What's this?" "Courage..." "So, everything go ok?" "Where's Thomas?" "I'm glad you've seen your father." "Even if, him and I, no longer agree, it's good." "He's married with a child." "Where's Thomas?" "I don't know." "He went to play thereabouts." "Ok." "Jerome, I'd like us to have a little talk." "I have to speak to Thomas first." "He went for a bike ride." "Where?" "He didn't say." "Jerome!" "Jerome!" "Ah, Teacher!" "There was a kid who gave me an essay for you." "Where did I put it?" "I've been doing the accounts for this morning, I've got paper everywhere." "Ah!" "I left it on the counter." "I took the liberty of reading it." "That doesn't surprises me!" "What do you want?" "I can't change now." "By the way, it's really well put together." "What's going on in his mind!" "Some imagination, to climb the peak." "What did you say?" "Well, yes." "What'll he dream up next, with this story of tests." "How did he put it again?" "Wait." "Oh yes!" ""I'll cleanse myself of the shame."" "Oh!" "I don't believe it!" "Hello, young man." "Walter!" "Is Thomas here?" "No, he left on his bike." "No!" "He went to climb the peak!" "Get your equipment, let's go." "What you talking about?" "Francoise, where are the boys?" "I don't know." "Jerome went off like a madman to catch up with Thomas." "What's going on, Walter?" "We're going to look for the children!" "I'll follow in the car!" "Thomas!" "Thomas!" "Do you hear me?" "Stop!" "Come down!" "No!" "You're my brother!" "You didn't do it on purpose!" "I don't want you to do this!" "Thomas!" "Thomas, it's papa!" "Try to get down." "Do you hear me?" "It can't." "He's got vertigo." "Papa!" "Don't move!" "I'll come and get you." "Stay where you are!" "I'm here Thomas, right behind you." "Don't look down!" "Lower your your right leg just a little." "Mamma, it's my fault!" "It is because of me!" "It'll be ok, my love." "Just do what I tell you." "Lower your your right leg just a little." "There's a good hold." "You'll feel it with your foot support yourself above." "I can't, I'll fall!" "No." "You're going to put your hand... your right foot, to your right." "Gently does it." "It's going to be ok." "Go on, try again." "Thomas!" "Thomas." "Are you ok?" "Thomas..." "Where does it hurt?" "Legs?" "Your back?" "It's nothing, this." "You're just a bit shocked at falling." "You saw it, eh?" "I did it, I succeeded." "You're the bravest, Thomas." "So, how are you?" "Good, really." "I have my first ultrasound on Wednesday." "You know what?" "If it's a boy, I'll call him Victor." "What do you think of that?" "Saved by the bell." "Otherwise, you'd have seen that I was..." "Very touched and very proud." "But you know Jean-Daniel, is a very good 2nd name." "Sir!" "Yes?" "It's no good, I don't have a partner for the rain dance." "Ah, well, it's serious, that." "What shall we do?" "You could perhaps ask a pupil from Mrs Aguilar's class, no?" "Oh no way!" "They're too small!" "It's a tall one we need." "It's written here." "Here, read it, Paul." ""The sorcerer, the strongest of the tribe, advances to the middle of the circle and begins to whirl around."" "Oh no, no." "Oh no, not me." "Oh yes!" "Why not?" "no, no... yes, why not?" "I'm not an indien, I'am a cowboy." "I always go at the end of the story." "You haven't even got a horse!" "I've a motorcycle, it's the same." "But this is not a story, it's real life." "Everyone will see that I'm not a sorcerer." "We even made a mask." "It is horrible." "Nobody will recognize you!" "It's not bad." "Good, alright, I agree then." "But before, I would like to tell you a thing which inspired me in this BD." "Have you seen what's written at the entrance of our school?" ""Liberty, Equality, Fraternity."" "What is it, fraternity?" "Brotherhood..." "So..." "I prefer brotherly love, to blood brothers." "Because there's no oath." "Brotherly love, It's a promise." "You make a promise, children." "It's a promise for life." "With an oath, we can do what we want." "So, brotherly love or blood brothers?" "Brotherly love!" "We must sing!" "It's the rain dance!" "That's good." "Because if I sing, it's going to rain." "Shall I put it on then?" "Yeah!" "So, let's go!" "The mask is going on..." "Your Dad, he climbs like that, just with his hands." "And without a harness!" "A real Indian." "Oh, you know, your Dad could do it too." "Yeah, sure." "That's to say, before." "Because he had guts." "Is he like the photos?" "Now he wants to be a mechanic." "Oh Yeah!" "He'll be able to mend your Moped when you get one!" "Yours too." "You're not going to leave?" "No way!" "Children!" "Dessert is served!" "What are you two plotting now?" "Well, it's a surprise." "A surprise for when?" "Well, for now." "This is from Thomas and me." "Well, open it!" "This is crazy!" "It's splendid." "But it costs a fortune, this kind of watch." "Where did you find all this money, eh?" "And me, I believe that both moneyboxes are empty here." "And M. Novak contributed." "I put a bit in, that's right, yes." "I made a contributuon." "Subtitles by Oliver Sanderson"