"It's soft." "It's smooth." "It must be bronze." "Yes, that's right." "They're women." "They're leaning." "How many are there?" "Three." "tell me what they bring to mind." "I sense an effort, as if they are struggling." "The wind." "They could be nomads, maybe." "Touareg women, or Arabs." "They're walking." "It's strange, because to me, they could also be nuns." "You know, with their veils, their long robes." "I really like the movement in their clothing." "You can even see the tips of their shoes." "The one in front is holding her veil in her hand." "It's a beautiful gesture." "I find the Iast one very moving." "Me too." "How old do you think they are?" "I don't know." "They're not young." "To me they seem ageless." "They have very strong features, aquiline noses." "You sense great strength in their bodies." "It's beautiful." "IN THE CITIES" "I was going to ask a question." "What did she mean?" "But I suddenly understood." "I recalled a young Russian peasant who, when he arrived in Moscow, still believed the stars were the eyes of God and angels." "They persuaded him otherwise." "They couldn't prove the contrary, but they persuaded him otherwise." "And rightly so." "For stars are people's eyes that have escaped their lids and risen to become bright and to rest." "That is why, in the country, where everyone sleeps, the sky has all its stars, unlike in city skies, where few can be seen." "So many city folk are restless, weeping, reading, laughing or lying awake, and they keep their eyes." "It's nippy this morning." "You're wearing a sweater?" "It's a cardigan that Mom knit me." "Your mom was a good knitter." "She made everything beautiful." " Take care now." " Thanks." "The roots are destroying my foundation." "It would be surprising." "Tree roots can't cause damage like that." "I'm constantly raking up leaves and filth." "It's a real headache." "I understand, but a tree is alive." "It's useless." "Besides, it makes it too shady." "Nothing grows in my yard." "It's the most beautiful one here." "It must be nearly 50 years old." "It's on my property." "I want it cut down." "The city doesn't cut down healthy trees that pose no danger." "I'm tired of seeing it." "That's not a good enough reason." " The other guy who came" " Said the same thing." "Fine." "Then I'II just have to file a complaint." "Just you try." "Midway through the journey of our life," "I found myself in a dark forest, where the straight path was lost." "How hard it is to describe that forest, savage, rough and stern, whose very thought strikes fear." "So bitter is it that death is scarcely worse." "But to speak of the good I found," "I will tell of the other things I saw." "I cannot well say how there I entered, so full was I of sleep at the moment I Ieft the true way." "inhale." "exhale." "It's worst when I wake up." "I'm in pain." "Can you be more specific?" "Let's just say my back hurts." " Does it hurt now?" " No." "It comes and goes." "It must be fatigue." "Do you sleep well?" "Not very, these days." "When did that start?" "I don't know." "Two weeks ago, maybe." "You wake up during the night?" "Yes." "At around 3:00 in the morning?" "Yes." "And you cry." "It seems it's come back." "Where do all those tears come from?" "I don't know." "They well up in me like a wave." "You can't weep for everyone who can't or doesn't know how to." "I know, but I can't help it." "It seems like..." "like that is my role." "If only I didn't see what I do." "See what?" "The world." "Do you Iike what you see around you?" "You know I don't like pills." "It's just in case..." "If you ever have to sleep." "They're not strong." "You'II like the doctor I recommended." "I'm retiring, but you can still call me now and then." "I'd be glad to hear how you are." "It's going to feel strange." "It must be at Ieast..." "You were this tall." "Thank you, Dr meilleur." "Take care of yourself." "You'II be late." "I went shopping yesterday." "I bought everything you need to make your lunches." "Hurry up if you want me to drive you to work." " Hi, Jean-Luc." " Hey, paul." " How are you?" " Good, you?" "Come here." "I want to show you something." " Did you finish it?" " almost." "It smells good." "Cherry wood, right?" "You're too much !" " I'm wrong sometimes." " Not very often." "Look, there's a drawer here." " What do you think?" " It's nice." "could you sand this for me?" "Wait, I moved your things." "Let me show you." "Your bench." "Some 120." "That's how I can tell if a tree's sick inside." "I Iive across the street, over there." "I Iook at it every day and never get tired of it." "It's never the same." "I remember when they came to plant it." "Then the kids moved out." "And my wife died." "It's seen so much." "That's strange." "Looks like someone hacked at its bark with a knife." "Here." "Don't worry." "We'II save it." "Thank you." "Sorry, I didn't see you." "No harm done." "Excuse me, could I ask you a favor?" "Sure, what can I do for you?" "I need a bag of small mixed vegetables, please." "No problem." "Which one?" "There are several brands." "The most expensive." "I think it's this one." "I'II trust you." " Thanks." " You're welcome." "I feel I know you." "I don't think so." "I hope it isn't out of your way." "I Iive down the street, it's not far." "Here I am." "My name's Jean-Luc." "I'm Fanny." "Thank you, Fanny." "My pleasure." "Maybe we'II see each other again." "Yeah, maybe." "Sorry." "I saw them rush out." "They didn't even look back." "Some people think I'm invisible." "Thanks." "This is what it must be like to die." "Are you alright?" "I think I slipped." "I'm not sure what happened." "I saw you, you lost your balance." "Did you hurt yourself?" "No, I don't think so." "My mind was wandering, I guess." "No matter." "Thank you, madame, very kind." "That's alright." "I can take you to a clinic." "No, don't go to any trouble." "Here, Iet me help you." "Thank you." "I Iive right next door." "I'II leave you my number in case." "I often see you pass by, you know." ""Fanny."" "And you are Mrs...?" "Miss." "Josèphine." " I'II see you out." " Thanks, don't bother." "You should rest." "What can I do?" "tell me." "I don't know anymore." "alright." "I'II leave you be." "For stars are people's eyes that have escaped their lids and risen to become bright and to rest." "That is why, in the country, where everyone sleeps, the sky has all its stars, unlike in city skies, where few can be seen." "So many city folk are restless, weeping, reading," "laughing or lying awake, and they keep their eyes." "If you had five minutes," "I'd Iike to take you somewhere." "This is it." "early, just before sunrise, you can hear women's voices, singing psalms." "It's beautiful." "It's the CarmeIite nuns behind the wall." "They're cIoistered and they pray to save the world, right here, in the city." "Their prayers are a waste of time." "It's pointless." "They can't save the world." "Nothing can save it." "You're a pessimist." "A realist." "I don't believe in that." "At least, not anymore." "May I ask you a question?" "Go ahead." "I'm a bit embarrassed." "That's okay." "If it's too personal, I won't answer." "Why do you take pictures, if you're..." "blind as a bat?" "To hold on to things that don't last, to feelings." "Just now, what did you photograph?" "The light on the clouds." "It's beautiful, isn't it?" "Yes." "It's beautiful." "Like anything else?" "Did you say something?" "would you Iike anything else?" "No, thank you." "Hello, Josèphine." "hello, madame." "How are you doing?" "I'm fine, no bruises, thanks." "Can I sit down?" "Do you mind?" "It's just that..." "I'II have a tea too, please, but no cream." "It's just that..." "I have to leave soon because..." "She's always been like that." "She's as regular as clockwork." "That's not true!" "Have you known each other long?" "Antoinette and I?" "Yes, indeed!" "You must come here often." "Every day." "Except Sunday, she's closed on Sunday." "Anyway, I go to Mass." "When we were young we'd come here for pop." "It was free." "My dad owned the place." "This is where you met your dreamboat Raymond." "Come on..." "With him you'd have seen the world." "Me, I married a Greek." "Did you live in Greece?" "In the States." "seattle." "For 30 years." "I came back after my husband died." "Did you want to?" " What?" " To travel." "In the old days," "I used to go downtown." "But it's changed so much, I don't recognize anything now." "No..." "well, I have to go." "I have to." " Goodbye, madame." " My name's Fanny." "Fanny." "Dreamboat Raymond..." "It's true, you were a dreamboat." "You had beautiful hands." "One day you stroked my cheek and told me I had soft skin." "The surface is rough." "You can feel its..." "What are they called?" " Its veins." " Its veins." "And the leaf isn't exactly the same on both sides." "We say it has an asymmetrical base." "asymmetrical." "It's the leaf of a white elm." "There are almost no white elms left in Québec." "You used to see them along almost every field." "They died because of Dutch elm disease." "It's too bad because they're such beautiful trees." "They grow very tall." "They're sort of umbreIIa-shaped." "They look so majestic." "They're loners." "Like you." "Listen..." "Through me the way is to the city pained." "Through me the way is to eternal pain." "Through me the way among the people lost." "Justice incited my sublime creator." "Divine omnipotence created me, in highest wisdom and primal love." "No things were before me not eternal." "eternal I remain." "Abandon all hope, you who enter here." "These words I saw inscribed above a gateway." ""Master," I said," ""Their meaning eludes me."" "And he to me, as one who understands:" ""Here one must leave behind all hesitation." ""Every cowardice must needs here die." ""We are at the place whereof I spoke." ""behold the wretched souls who've lost the good of intellect."" "Then with good cheer to encourage me, he placed his hand on mine." "Trusting to my guide," "I followed him among the secret things." "The sighs, groans and laments were so loud, resounding through starIess air, that, as soon as I set out, I wept." "Eat, it's good." "Here." "Wait." "I'II drive you home." "You know, I can understand." "Wanting to stop the pain, to stop existing, just disappear." "But then something calls us back." "Like reaching land after you nearly drowned." "You'II see, it's possible." "This is my hand." "I'm told the exposure's right, but it's out of focus." " beautiful." " Which one?" "The woman in this picture." "Her name was SyIvie." "She died five years ago." "We did everything together." "When she left, it felt like I'd been flayed." "I was obsessed with the idea of joining her." "But she wouldn't have wanted that." "So I promised her I wouldn't." "I still feel her presence." "There's some wine open." "Like a glass?" "Yes, please." "I Iike how you read books, Fanny." "It's funny that our paths should cross." "I'm glad they did." "Wait, I'II take a picture of you." "I'II take another one." "How about some coffee?" "Thank you, Antoinette." "You're welcome." "See you tomorrow, Jo." "Yes." "See you tomorrow." "It's going to die." "The sap can't rise to its branches." "little by little, its life force will ebb." "Come on, Iet's go." "Is she there?" "Behind her curtain." " I'II go tell her off." " It's pointless." "The harm is done." "You're crying." "It's revolting." "You can't let her get away with it." "Do something." "It's done." "carole felt pulled toward the void." "She'd tried once before, a few years ago." "She hadn't been well for a while." "No, thanks." "Last year I asked her to move back in with me." "I thought it wouId do her good." "I was very worried." "carole never cried." "It's like she never knew how." " Sure you won't have any?" " No, I should go." "Stay a while, please." "Forgive me, I should never have come." "No, on the contrary, I'm glad you did." "An image came to mind when they told me." "A memory." "The day I brought her home after she was born." "She was a tiny baby." "I placed her on my bed and lay down next to her." "We looked into each other's eyes." "It's terrible to feel you're losing your child." "A young woman forgot this here." "I think you know her." "It's my scarf." "I gave it to her." "Anyway, she sure didn't look well." "Joséphine didn't come yesterday or the day before." "It's not Iike her." "would you go see?" "I can't, I have to stay here." "subtitles:" "Robert Gray, Kinograph" "Processing:" "global Vision"