A Heart in Winter (Un cœur en hiver)

A HEART IN WINTER

Maxime.

Maxime and I had known each other so long, we didn't need words.

We work together, but he's the boss.

In this family business, Maxime maintains tradition.

Musicians are at ease with him.

He knows their repertoire, invites them to lunch.

He listens. He calms their fears.

No, you did play it with the Vienna Philharmonic.

They entrust us with their most precious possession, their violin.

You hear the lack of clarity?

Yes, a lack of brilliance on the E.

Maxime sees them more as patients than clients.

For more extensive treatment, Maxime steps aside.

Is it just unglued, or more serious?

Perhaps I should hear you.

Maxime preferred musicians.

In the height of the concert, he shared in their emotions...

and shared in the applause, genuinely moved.

Maxime needs to expend himself.

He is at one with his body.

He so loves to win that losing for me becomes a pleasure.

He has appetites, but no qualms. Life hangs lightly on him.

If he has to lie, he does it effortlessly.

I'm a willing alibi for his nocturnal pastimes.

We haven't spent an evening out together for years.

He tells me his adventures later.

Work done, each of us lives his own life.

Maxime never asks where I go

or who I see when we aren't together.

It suits us both fine.

- Hello. - Hello.

Your table will be ready in two minutes.

- Hello. - How are you doing?

Stéphane.

See you later, after coffee?

- Do you know who I was talking to? - Régine Oblet.

No, not her. The other one. Do you know her?

No.

Yes, you do. You've heard her... Camille Kessler.

Oh, yes.

The Debussy recital. A bit dry, you said.

No, it was good.

We're ready for you.

She's coming as a client.

They say there's a Guarneri to be sold in Geneva at the end of the month.

Magnificent.

But a ruin, in a broken case.

You'll have a ball.

- Don't you want to go to Geneva? - Me? What an idea.

- Go somewhere for once. - No.

I've got to talk to you about something that's going on with me.

- Something important. - Yeah?

If it's too much trouble, just forget about it.

No, go ahead.

I've met someone.

Go on.

You're facing her.

Really?

Yes.

How long now?

Two months.

And you didn't tell me?

I was, uh... being afraid.

I didn't want to rush things.

How did it happen?

I was following her concerts.

One evening I went to see her afterwards, and she wasn't happy with herself.

I mentioned a dry patch she played with a lot of emotion.

That must have hit the spot. We had dinner together...

Then you took her home...

She's not like that.

Besides, she lives at Régine's, she's always home, it's not easy.

So you came between a couple?

No. She's known her since...

She's not just her agent, she's her mother's best friend.

And anyway, her career comes first.

One night I was waiting for her here, she was late.

I felt ill, almost left, but she came in,

looked around for me, she looked lost.

Seeing her like that...

I realize it can happen, loving someone.

And your wife?

There was a difficult moment.

But it had long been over.

You don't spend your life with a good friend.

It's better for her, too.

You don't leave her much choice.

Someone always suffers.

And now, what are you going to...

We're going to live together. In the meantime, I've rented a little studio.

I think someone's waiting for you.

See you shortly.

That guy I went to Geneva with?

Wants to buy my bookshop and make it a duty-free.

Lermontov. He's like you, dry as a whip.

The guy was propositioning me.

Are you listening?

Look at a man touched by grace.

Maxime?

My, she's...

- Good-bye. Have a good day. - See you.

Wonderful.

Madame Amet! Come and see this marvel.

I had the harpsichord and cello, only this missing.

Magnificent. Was it you?

No. Maxime. He found it in Hungary.

But he rebuilt the mechanism, piece by piece.

- Some were missing, no? - Two.

I recreated them. It was fun to do.

Yes! Are you staying for dinner?

No. I'm afraid I've work that's overdue.

You work a lot?

Yes.

Never tire of it?

No.

You're lucky.

- Vincent... Is he Madame Amet's nephew? - Yes.

How old is he?

Five, I think.

You know Camille Kessler. Was she your pupil?

Years ago.

I heard her play at Aix last summer.

- We're to have her as a client. - Yes, I know. Maxime told me.

I remember a hard, polished little girl who kept you at a distance.

But a real temperament, you felt.

No, in here!

Isn't Vincent here?

- No. - No, he's not inside.

Come on!

- Do you hear that G, how rough it is? - Yes.

- You've had it how long? - Three years.

When we bought it, it sounded tender, superb. It's a Villaume.

No, we're worried because she's recording in two weeks. They're already rehearsing.

At any rate, you've got to check the tension on the sound post.

Yes.

The bridge is slightly warped.

- It has to be replaced. - Right.

Can you change it quickly?

If I change the bridge, I'll have to adjust the fingerboard.

That could take a few days.

- But we're in the middle of rehearsals. - You already said that.

If you like, I could lend you another one.

No, no, thanks, I have my student violin.

And this recording, it's...

The two Ravel sonatas and the trio.

- I'll try for the day after tomorrow. - You'll have it.

Well, then, that's done. Good-bye.

- Thanks. - Good-bye.

Hmm, all 18th century.

- Ah, that one's the nicest. - It's the most expensive.

We're already late for the Lambertis. It's noon, and I'm sure the traffic...

- Good evening. - Good evening.

You can go, Brice.

Good night.

See you tomorrow.

Sorry, Christophe. Again.

Sorry.

No, I'm not keeping up. I'm not keeping up at all.

I thought it was good. Let's go on.

It's not working. It's got nothing to do with you. I keep falling behind.

No, come on, I don't think so.

I'm not going to be able to do it today.

- Is it the violin that... - No, no.

Régine, glass of water, please.

Thank you.

- Maybe a little more work on it? - No.

No, it's set up just the way I wanted it. No, it's me.

I have to go.

Okay. Let's go.

Will you hand them up?

I think she's starting to hate me.

Which gives you a certain pleasure?

It's an interesting development.

Yeah. Go on.

It's odd that in three-quarters of these books, when they talk about love,

whether it's an airport novel, a masterpiece, or a cookbook...

it's the same vocabulary. Overflowing.

And you find it obscene?

No. As written, it's often beautiful.

Yes, Maxime. We're ready. We'll be right down.

What are you doing?

- No good, is it? - It's fine. Hurry. Maxime's waiting.

Let him wait.

I'm not ready. I haven't even got makeup. Half an hour looking for that score.

I didn't ask you to.

But you let me hunt around like an asshole just to tell me Christophe took it?

Stop it. We have to go now.

Well, I'm not going!

That's ridiculous.

There's nothing for me to do at this dinner.

You'll be with Maxime. You don't need me.

You know, it pisses me off to play chaperone.

All right, don't go.

Do you realize how you're behaving with me right now?

It's amazing. I put myself out so you can do your best in your work,

and you fervently don't give a damn.

Forgive me.

No, Vincent, knives to the right, not left.

- Are you sleeping here tonight? - Yes, yes.