The Prince of the Pacific (Le Prince du Pacifique)

THE PRINCE OF THE PACIFIC

"Smith Law Firm" ordered me to give this...

-...to the captain. - Morsac?

You do have a problem.

The jerk has been dead for 30 years.

- Wasn't he a hero? - A hero?

This hollow uniform?

I'll tell you how this swashbuckler left the army!

During the war of 1914...

...Morsac was an officer...

...of a Moroccan infantry regiment.

He always wanted to be the first one...

...to lead the assault.

He almost managed to get himself killed.

Let go, Captain!

A Morsac will never let go!

He was transferred to Oceania all decorated.

The Battle of Verdun was raging.

Reinforcements were needed quickly.

Morsac had to recruit natives...

...and train a battalion of Pacific infantrymen.

It's here in Fenua Poerava,

Pearl Island,

where he first landed.

Recruit soldiers on this island of weaklings!

You're not ready to train your battalions!

Commander Lefebvre,

don't joke with our national anthem.

As for the value of the natives,

my Moroccan infantrymen died covered with glory.

- I think I hear a skiver. - A skiver?

Who, me?

Ask the strikers at Dunkirk...

...if Emile Lefebvre is a skiver!

You will see:

It is France speaking through my mouth.

From the honor of serving our flag.

Blue like the sky.

White as the steel of our guns.

Red like the blood shed for the motherland.

Follow me on this boat...

Boat, beautiful!

Well done, my good fellow.

Who follows the example of this patriot?

I'll finish and take care of you.

Release this epaulette.

You'll get one later, let go.

Good... Averdun...

That's enough.

Let me go, damn it!

Let go, damn it!

One wouldn't think so, but these big apes are affectionate!

Still hanging around you.

Attention!

I'll show you what we do...

...with these stupefied larvae.

Come on slowpokes, to court, dispatch!

You see!

- You have to speak their language. - And those with the gun?

They are not incorporable?

That's up to me.

Real pieces of work, imported from another island.

They watch the livestock in my absence.

Loose up a bit.

A Morsac will never loose up.

That's not all, I got something to deal with.

Give it to me.

- You came on a dolphin? - It's the name of the ship.

Does Ma'i go with you?

- Affirmative, Ma'i what? - Ma'i Mure-ore:

He who can't die.

Useful quality for a soldier.

You wear the stars of the sky?

The stars of the sky... affirmative.

- Pretty, right? - You want us to fight?

That's my mission, yours too later.

You're the Tefa'aora!

- The what? - The swimming bird-man.

Ma'i and I, we recognized you.

If it makes you happy, I'm pleased to be one!

By guile you're disguised as a French rotten dog.

You should stay polite!

- Reia, what did I say? - Bravo.

What did I teach you? Don't dawdle with this dog!

It's you.

- Mom, this is the Tefa'aora! - Come!

Madam, France came as protector.

Protector?

If our men were still warriors...

...it would be you needing protection!

Stop!

She is still here, Marie-Louise!

I had nevertheless warned her.

But she still preaches the strike!

Eh...

I thought you had no pearls.

It's the necklace of the chief's women.

Taboo since the time of the warriors. There are no more warriors!

You'll see, bitch!

I'll tame you yet.

On your knees!

Do you hear?

Let go of my mother!

You won't pull out bitch, bow down!

Stop this!

No, let me do it!

Bow down!

- Who is this? - She's French, daughter of the pastor. He's dead.

The old chief knocked her up.

- He's dead. He was... -...the last mutineer.

He ended up attacking a frigate all by himself.

With a machete!

Result: 12 bullets in his skin!

Shot cleanly.

- Bring back this furious widow! - Hey, come!

Come here!

No, not there!

Taboo!

Taboo!

The courtroom of the 8th district...

...of the court of Nouméa is open.

The sons of Na-ehu-Fanau-maeha.

They didn't salute the flag on July 14.

I see anarchists, troublemakers!

- It was at sea. - Fishing.

Fishing, look at that.

You were on strike, like your friends at Dunkirk!

Singing "The Internationale"!

10 years in the nickel mines!

Take them!

Put them in the hold!

Why does he keep mentioning Dunkirk?

Before the war, he had to break a strike there.

The dockers' families demanded bread.

The commander ordered to fire the cannon.

The balance: 37 women, 19 children.

- But hasn't he been tried? - He was dismissed of all charges.

He spent six months...

...at the asylum of Charenton.

At his release the admiralty moved him here.

Are you plotting behind my back?

I talked with the Captain about the customs of the islands.

Look at me and let that be an example for you.

These apes will never be soldiers.

But they are excellent workhorses.

One advice: don't meddle in the affairs of the commander.

Ah!

I introduce myself: Captain Morsac.

You were sentenced to forced labor.

Instead of prison, you can...

...make a commitment as colonial infantryman.

10 years of chain...

...or 5 years of glory.

How much you say, 5 years?

I agree! Where do I sign?

I have no pen.

- Who are you? - Barnabé.

- Barnabé what? - Barnabé period, that's enough.

Why are you here?

I keep asking that.

They slandered me...

And see, 10 years prison for no reason.

It's over, I agree, release me.

In fact, I rather recruit natives.

You're in luck, I am Alsatian.

I mean the natives here.

Always this anti-Alsatian racism!

I thought we were welcome among you.

Wasn't there a war just for that?

You're right, consider yourself included.

And you, my friends?

You follow his example?

- With you it's 5 years? - It's shorter, let's go.

Soldiers, give me your names.

Te-tahu'a-petipeti-vafa-arii.

Te-fare-noho-arii-tapu-rua.

This is too complicated, we'll simplify.

I name you soldier 3 and soldier 4.

Congratulations.

You're in the 1st Pacific Battalion.

- Under my command. - Without you order...

...can I ask you to open the door, general?

You must say captain.

I'll ask Commander Lefebvre.

Now that could be a problem.

Commander.

A little more and you'll ruin 90 hours of work.

I'm listening.

Under the decree of general mobilization:

A convict may substitute his sentence...

...by enlisting in the army.

I incorporated 3 natives: 2 Polynesians and 1 Alsatian...

...to serve the Republic.

Above all the Republic needs nickel.

Our mines need manpower.

And I need the bonus paid for delivering convicts.

The moral: don't touch my livestock!

Slave trafficking... but this is despicable!

Under section 13B of the Military Code...

...I relieve you of your duties.