Line of Demarcation (La Ligne de démarcation)

After the French defeat in 1940, the country was divided

by an artificial border: The demarcation line.

This film is dedicated to the countless French people

who became "smugglers" and often lost their lives.

- Shall we go? - We’re going.

- I’m afraid. - Afraid?

- We must wait until dark. - You’re not sensible.

Hurry up. If you don’t want to come, say so.

Halt!

Fire!

Drop your bundle.

- Chief. - What?

That madman over there is gesturing.

- What does he want now? - No idea.

Chief, do you have a cigarette for me?

Are you serious, Morin? Am I supposed to support you?

Thank you, chief.

- Hello. - Hello.

- Look over there. - Why?

German patrol. There was shooting. A French fugitive.

- Is he dead? - Yes. There. On the other side.

- Let’s go look. - Gladly.

THANKS TO THE JURA DEPARTMENT, THE FIRE BRIGADE,

THE ROADS AND BRIDGES SERVICE, THE INHABITANTS OF DÔLE,

BELMONT-CHISSEY-PORT-LESNEY AND THE DÔLE POLICE SPORTS CLUB

Countess, excuse me.

- How are you, Mr. Siméon? - Fine.

And your wife?

- I’m coming, madam. - She’s coming.

It wasn’t easy. The German border guard wanted your ham.

- It looks nice. - Look.

It cost 100 francs more, but I paid for it.

I thank you on behalf of my friends.

- May I, countess? - Go ahead.

I’m surprised they still haven’t arrived.

- The doctor? Doctor Lafaye? - Yes.

- We haven’t seen him. - Not yet.

Would you like tea? It comes from Switzerland.

- Do you have tea? - One, two kilos, whatever you want.

- We also have coffee. Would you like coffee? - Gladly.

- Tea, coffee, how do you do it? - We have our methods.

Do the Germans never open your luggage?

Yes, but then we give them something. They’re like everyone else.

They are no better off than we are.

There’s the doctor.

Shall I put this aside? I’ll give you some chocolate too.

- Give me what you can spare. - Good.

- Great, how are things? - Fine.

- I’ve got your ham, Jacques. - It’s there.

Great. Very nice.

- You look well. - I’m doing well too.

- They even have tea and coffee. - It’s amazing. Come and see.

Do you still have petrol?

I’m a surgeon, darling, so I need to be able to drive.

How are your children?

Good. They’re all in Creuse with Jacques’ mother.

Siméon, can you help me for a moment?

- And Pierre? - He’s still in hospital.

- How much longer? Can he walk yet? - Yes, the papers weren’t in order.

- I’m waiting for him. - It’s madness, this no-man’s-land.

HALT DEMARCATION LINE

- Chief. - Yes?

Here…

- Calm down, Pierre. Florent will help you. - I can manage.

- Don’t catch cold. - Don’t worry.

- How are you, Pradier? - Fine, count.

- Have you recovered? - As you can see.

Are your papers in order?

I hope so. I’ve waited six months.

They make things difficult with papers on the other side.

Papers…

Because of bureaucrats we lost the war.

Where should I put your suitcase?

I’ll call Mary and ask her to pick me up.

- That’s not possible, count. - Why not?

- Only Germans are allowed to make calls. - Is that so?

Then I’ll ask those foreigners to notify the castle.

The castle is now the German command center.

What are you saying?

Mary didn’t want to tell you when you were ill.

That wasn’t good. I can’t live with those people.

She has prepared the country house.

Goodbye, uncle.

- Thank you. - Be careful.

I am a defeated officer and half lame.

Goodbye, Florent.

Give Mary my regards.

Papers, please.

- Papers, please. - I don’t understand you.

- Don’t you speak German? - Not in my country.

- Sir! - I am a captain.

- You are not my captain. - That’s how you must address me.

- I addressed you correctly. - But not with 'captain'.

Sir captain…

- Don’t you speak German in your own country? - That’s right.

On this side of the border, captain, it is no longer your country.

It is at any rate not yet your country.

- Do you want to see my papers? - Natürlich, captain.

I will show them, but first a formality.

We are both in uniform. You are lower rank, so stand to attention.

- I don’t understand you. - You must salute.

- What? - You’ll understand soon enough.

Attention!

Damn it! The insolence! This will cost you dearly.

- Everything is in order, captain. - Thank goodness.

- We must search your suitcase. - Go ahead.

There.

Have one of your men carry the suitcase. I’ll go for a walk.

Hermann!

- Search the suitcase thoroughly. - Wait a moment.

International laws require it to be done with gloves.

Not necessarily white ones, but gloves.

Straighten your cap.

And stand at attention when I speak to you.

Look, the count is back.

- He’s limping. - Look, he’s limping.

How can he already be back?

My God.

Pierre!

- Did you walk here? - Only from the bridge onward.

- How are you? Why didn’t you call? - Only the occupier is allowed to call.

- Why are you here? - For the black market.

- What are you saying? - Without Mary we would starve.

- I don’t understand. - Pierre, life is hard.

The barber gets us meat and tea.

- Oh, really? - We manage.

That attitude is why we lost the war.

If everyone thought like that, the Germans would be eating that ham.

Is it that bad? Defeat is only temporary, right?

Is that so?

Stop it.

It’s almost time.

How are you feeling, Michel?

I’m fine.

I can now tell you where we’re going.

- About time. - I had to keep it secret.

You know what I think about England, don’t you?

Tell me, please.

A country where you can grope women and drink warm beer

eat lamb with mint sauce and cultivate restraint.

There’s nothing wrong with mint sauce.

Without that sauce, the “Intelligence Service” might not have existed.

Why is it called “Intelligence”? Do you think you’re smart?

No, we’re just trying to understand it.

That might take a while, right?

We are persistent. Where do you think we’re going?

I don’t care.

Aren’t you curious? That’s a good quality.

- I just want to kill Germans. - I don’t think you’ll kill many.

Then I should have joined the commandos.

Our task is more direct. Our only weapon is the transmitter.

And this?

Let’s hope we don’t need it.

Then they will have found us and we won’t be able to transmit anymore.

Exactly.

- Do you hate me? - I don’t really hate you, but

I don’t like it.

- I’m sorry. I’m terrified. - Me too!

We will be constantly afraid.

You must get used to the terror of death and act like you’re not afraid.

We’re going.

Now!

Now!

- Hurry up! - I’m coming!

Ow! Damn it!

Hurry up!

This way.

Colette.

Is that you? I had a bad dream.

- You were in front of me, covered in blood. - What are you talking about?

What’s going on?

- Why are you still wearing your coat? - Don’t worry.

- Why do you never tell me anything? - What should I tell you?

I have to treat a wounded man, that’s all.

- What is that? Who is calling? - Don’t worry too much.

I just have to operate on a patient.

- At the hospital? - No, not at the hospital.

Don’t worry. I’ll be back soon.

- Are you going to sleep? - Yes.

Kiss me.

Jeffrey sends his regards.

- Cigarette? - Gauloise?

Come in.

- When did you arrive? - Last night.

Were you on that plane? The whole city heard it.

The field was nearby.

The Germans are nervous.

Let’s hope they get even more nervous.

- Exactly. - Because if our mission succeeds

the resistance against Germany will be organized, doctor.

Then we can drop weapons and equipment.

- What do you need in the short term? - A room in the city. Discreet.

That’s taken care of.

A quiet house, to put the piano in.

- The piano? - The piano is the transmitter.

Put that away.

So you have a transmitter. Then it’s easy.

- Is a hut in the Chaux forest okay? - Perfect.

Where is your piano now?

In a suitcase in the luggage storage at the station.