Charles, Dead or Alive (Charles, mort ou vif)

Go ahead.

Dear Mr De,

On this memorable occasion

of the 100th anniversary of our company,

we wish to express our pride

at belonging to this great family.

For that is exactly our feeling.

That we are not anonymous employees,

but the members of the same family,

prompted by the same ideal.

We are proud and happy,

that this ideal of work your grandfather,

and your father,

yourself and your son,

passed on to us

is very alive even today, when so many values are lost.

Go on!

Considering the importance

of our industry...

What's the matter? Anything wrong?

No, I'm fine. I'm coming.

CHARLES - DEAD OR ALIVE

A small historical epic

Excuse me.

Mr De.

We'd like to interview you.

Is there somewhere quiet we can go?

There's my office...but I haven't got much to say.

You should interview my son.

Later, but right now we'd like to talk to you.

- If you really want to. - Thanks.

Should I look at the camera?

No, at me. We'll just have a chat.

Ready.

Okay, let's go.

- Speed. - Action.

If I understand correctly, sir,

You're the third De,

to manage this company,

after your grandfather and your father.

That's right.

Your son's going to succeed you,

as the fourth generation.

Constancy runs in the family.

Tell me, how did it all start?

My grandfather came from the Jura

with his toolbox,

and started a small workshop,

where he did everything himself, then my father took over

and he gave it its present importance.

It's remained the same ever since?

Yes, more or less.

You didn't want to expand it?

Well, as you know, it's been a small family business...

I wanted to enlarge it.

You thought you could control it better this way?

In a way, yes.

You preferred that it keep its personality,

that your family, of course

didn't become a huge anonymous company.

Yes, that's right.

What seems to be more important to your family,

your vocation as watchmakers or as businessmen?

It depends.

My grandfather was a watchmaker,

My father was both,

and my son is just a businessman.

And you? You didn't mention yourself?

Oh, me? Let's say

I make a living, like anybody else.

You'd rather have done something else?

No, I don't think so.

But life isn't that simple.

Yes, of course.

What you are then if you're neither..

a watchmaker or a businessman?

I told you.

I'm a man making an honest living.

If it interests you, I'll tell you that

I have a villa, family, a dog,

all well insured, two cars, a mountain chalet

with a Swiss flag in the garden.

No, there's no flag, but it's as if there were one.

Cut.

I'm afraid we're digressing a little.

So it seems.

We'll break for a few minutes.

Really, our subject is,

"Family Spirit of Enterprise"

Oh, that's good.

I don't understand you.

We lose a whole working day,

We've got a TV interview lined up,

it's our chance to get free publicity,

and you talk rubbish.

Sometimes I wonder what's going on with you.

If they screen this,

we're going to look pretty dumb.

I'll call the guy and tell him to drop the interview.

I already did.

I asked him as soon as we'd finished.

You did? What did he say? Is it all right?

Of course.

So it was just a waste of time.

There was so much to talk about.

We've got problems, right?

- Possibly. - Oh, yes.

It's as if you don't care

about our business.

You can always retire, you know.

You're not on top of it anymore.

Methods have changed since your father.

Everything changes.

You have to adapt.

You talk like a corrupt politician!

Stop going on at each other.

Sit down and eat.

When your daughter Marianne

and her student friends

scream day and night about "Youth Power",

you listen. You're interested.

So give me the same right in our business.

At least I know something about it, but her...

All you want to do is make money.

And you do.

We could make a lot more if you weren't so wary

about taking initiatives or some risks.

My grandfather was, above all, a watchmaker.

My father a mixture of both.

My son is just a businessman.

You can drown in a bath.

It's easy...easy.

You'd rather have done something else?

I'm a notary and a grocer.

I'm a man making an honest living.

That's it. When I go to the movies

I give 13% of my ticket price

to the poor.

They're entitled to it.

I'm a zombie.

Lost in the changing world.

My body is split in two lengthwise.

On the left side the heart withers and rots

while on the right side I make an honest living.

Believe me.

Where the hell are those papers?

Not here...

Maybe I left them at the factory

the other day.

I put them on his desk during the interview.

Well, the so-called interview.

Get me his number, will you?

What's his name?

It's...his name is...

Wait, I got it.

Hi Dad.

Marianne!

Need any money?

I don't come to see you just for that.

No, but I'm sure you have today.

Did I pay your rent this month?

Yes, but it's something else.

Thanks. May the day come when a student

doesn't have to beg anymore.

Good.

I've got a rich father.

A father who sells watch springs.

And his daughter will probably fail

her classics exam

while Dad goes on selling watch springs.

Order reigns!

Yes, good morning.

Your papers were here,

we mailed them to you, you'll get them.

Hope there's no hard feelings

about the interview the other day.

It must have been like interviewing a wall.

Not much fun.

I've been thinking about it.

I'm sorry for how I came off...

especially since there were things I wanted to say.

That's fine.

You can still talk about it.

Do you know the TV show...

"The Way People Are"?

Not much.

I watched it once.

A guy was talking about his life on the railroad.

It wasn't bad. But the title's wrong.

People are never that "Way".

He wants me to be on the next program.

Somebody else cancelled.

- You? - Yes.

Imagine me unburdening myself on TV.

Maybe you'll find something interesting to say.

Nothing obliges me to go on with it.

Tell them our family history.

From great-grandfather to us.

It could be amusing. And instructive.

Mr De, why do you wish to speak?