Miss Julie (Fröken Julie)

GRAND PRIZE CANNES FILM FESTIVAL 1951

MISS JULIE

To the barn!

Good evening, and welcome!

- Jean, you promised - - Later.

He doesn't want to.

Look at Jean!

Jean!

Miss Julie's crazy again this evening!

I drove the count to the boat, then stopped by the barn to dance,

where I saw Miss Julie dancing

with the gamekeeper. She saw me and -

She's crazy.

She always has been,

but even more now that the engagement's off.

Still, isn't it odd that she'd rather stay at home with the servants

than visit relatives with her father?

Probably doesn't dare show her face after the scandal with her fiancé.

Will you need the horse this evening, miss?

- I'm going to join my father. - All the way to Sundby?

Shouldn't Jean drive you, miss?

Let's go dance in the barn.

I don't want to.

Charmant. But you might have warmed the plate.

You're fussier than the count himself when you get started.

Don't pull my hair. You know how sensitive I am.

It was just a little love tug.

Beer on Midsummer's Eve? No, thanks.

I have something better. Yellow seal, mind you.

Let's have a little glass.

Very good. Just a touch too cool.

What's that infernal smell?

Some wretched brew Miss Julie wants for Diana.

Cooking for that mongrel on a holiday? Is she sick?

She ran around with the pug from the lodge,

and Miss Julie will have none of it.

Viola!

Jean promised to dance.

I'll teach you to run after someone else's fiancé.

Jean, will you dance with me now?

Of course.

But what a figure!

Those shoulders, and those -

Listen to you.

I've talked to Viola, who helps dress her.

Viola? I've been out riding with Miss Julie.

- Then you've seen a thing or two! - I'll say.

You know what happened at Lovers' Point?

What?

It was the same day Diana betrayed her mistress.

Miss Julie wanted to look at the water lilies,

and her fiancé and I went along.

Bring me one, my knight.

Bring me one.

In a bad mood today?

Jean!

No!

You care more about your dog than about me!

Diana!

Diana, come here!

Give me that.

Allez!

And that was the end of the engagement.

And there she sits.

Yes, there she sits.

Come on!

And her fiancé went off?

To his place on the other side of the lake.

And now he's celebrating Midsummer's Eve with her father.

No wonder she's too ashamed to go.

Is that ready?

There's a bottle on the steps.

Are the ladies keeping secrets?

Curious?

What a lovely scent of violets.

The nerve! So now you know perfumes as well?

And you dance well too.

No, don't look. Go away.

A magic potion for Midsummer's Eve

in which to spy your future sweetheart's reflection?

You'd need sharp eyes for that.

Bottle up the rest.

Come dance with me, Jean.

Forgive me, but I promised Kristin this dance.

She can have the next. May I, Kristin?

Go along, Jean, and be grateful for the honor.

With all respect, is it wise for Miss Julie

to dance twice with the same partner?

What do you mean?

Perhaps I should speak more plainly.

It doesn't look good to favor one servant over the others.

Favor?

I, mistress of the house, honor the servants' ball with my presence.

But if it doesn't suit you, never mind.

See to the horse. I'll find another partner.

No.

Drive me to the stables. I'll see to Diana myself.

The bottle.

Here now, Diana.

You're not angry because I left you, are you?

Will you dance with me now?

You're a good girl. I'm sure you'll make a good wife.

Some gentleman, leaving his lady's side!

On the contrary. I rushed back to the one I abandoned.

Now come and dance.

Why are you in uniform on a holiday? Take that off at once.

Then please step outside, while I put on my black coat.

Bashful on my account? I'll turn my back.

Is Jean your fiancé?

We call it that.

Call it that?

Miss Julie has been engaged herself.

Ours was a proper engagement.

But nothing came of it.

Very nice, Monsieur Jean, very nice!

- Is Madame poking fun? - And you?

You wish to speak French, monsieur?

- Where did you learn French? - Switzerland.

I worked at a hotel in Lucerne.

Quite the gentleman.

Charming!

You flatter me.

Me flatter you?

My natural modesty can only lead me to believe

it was the sort of exaggeration sometimes called flattery.

What conversation!

Weren't you born around here?

Yes, my father was a farm laborer here.

I recall seeing Miss Julie as a child. Of course, you didn't notice me.

- Really? - Oh, yes. I remember once -

I mustn't speak of that now. - Oh, yes, do!

No, it wouldn't do. Perhaps another time.

- Is it that awful? - Not at all.

Just a bit awkward.

Look at her.

A fine wife she'll make.

I wonder if she snores.

No, she doesn't.

But she talks in her sleep.

How would you know?

I've heard her.

Why don't you sit down?

- I dare not in your presence. - And if I order you to?

Then I obey.

Wait.

- Get me something to drink first. - There's nothing but beer.

You call that nothing?

I have such simple taste that I prefer it to wine.

Allow me.

Aren't you having any?

I'm not a beer lover, but if Miss Julie commands -

Drink to my health.

I believe the big boy is shy.

To my mistress.

Now kiss my shoe.

You should have been an actor.

- This won't do. Someone might see. - So?

You're no longer a child. A lady drinking alone with a man -

- Kristin's here! - Asleep!

Then I'll wake her up.

Wake up, Kristin.

Leave those who sleep in peace!

Good night.

Come dance with me, Jean.

Jean!

Where is he?

We saw her come out. They went to the barn.

He's with her!

Get away from me, you farmhand!

Who are you looking for, sweetheart?

Where are they?

You're a strange one, you know that?

So are you.

Everything is strange.

Life.

People.

Everything is just muck

floating on the water until it sinks.

I have a dream every now and then.

I've climbed up high and can't get down.

I'm dizzy...

but I must climb down.

I don't have the courage to jump.

I can't hold on. I wish I would fall.

I'll find no rest until I get down...

down.

And once I'm down, I long to go even deeper.

Down... down...

Have you ever felt like that?

No.

I often dream I'm lying under a tall tree.

I want to climb up to the top

and rob the nest of its golden eggs.

I climb and climb, but the trunk is so smooth,

and it's so far to the first branch.

I've never reached the top, but one day I will,

if only in my dreams.

- What is it? - Oh, nothing.

Sit down. Let me help you.

Sit still.