The Best Years of a Life (Les plus belles années d'une vie)

"The best years of a life are those yet to be lived"

Why didn't we stay together?

Because...

it was too beautiful.

It was too perfect.

And...

Yes, it was too perfect.

It scared me a little.

Hello!

Today, like I said, we'll work on your memory.

But with a game.

About times you know well: the last 50 years.

You lived through them, so you should know the answers.

We'll work your memory.

Shall we start?

What year did De Gaulle step down?

'69, very good.

Who was the first man on the moon?

Armstrong! Everyone knows.

What was the year of...

What? I didn't even ask the question!

What was the year of Picasso's death?

'73. Does anyone know the month?

April 8, 1973.

The date Mitterrand was elected?

May 10, 1981. Bravo, Mr. Gordon.

What year was the death penalty abolished?

'81 too. What month?

September, yes... You remember that.

How did Grace Kelly die?

Car accident.

Does anyone remember the year?

No. That was a while ago... 1982.

What year did Yannick Noah win the French Open?

1983!

1983... yes!

When did they inaugurate the Channel Tunnel?

Yes, no, not at all.

1994, bravo!

What year did Lady Di die?

'97.

Date of the World Trade Center attack?

The date, not just the year.

September 11, 2001, absolutely.

What is the record for the 100-meter dash?

Yes... What year?

The best years of a life

The ones we lived with nothing

The ones that made us want to live

For the time

That we're on earth

The best years of a life

The ones we didn't see go by

We've blown out so many candles

Now come

Let's go and dance

From the past 50 years, what do you recall?

The telephone.

In the past 50 years?

That wasn't earlier?

Cell phones! Internet!

The arrival of Internet, indeed.

Otherwise, what do you recall from the past 50 years?

You all right, Dad?

- What else? - Point system for driving.

The point system. Who lost their licenses?

The arrival of nylons.

Nylon stockings!

Silk stockings are history.

The blow-dry.

The blow-dry, less than 50 years?

The best years of a life

It's future that gives them to us

Each season, a challenge

Summer, winter

Spring, autumn

The best years of a life

When nothing scared us anymore

Lots of sun under the rain

The time to have been...

no more

I'd like to send a telegram to Monte Carlo.

Monte Carlo.

Mr. Jean-Louis Duroc.

Duroc, with a C.

Yes, but I don't know the address.

I'm sorry. It's simple, he's a racecar driver.

He's in the Monte Carlo Rally.

That's it. Their headquarters would be fine.

So...

"Bravo.

I saw you on TV. Anne."

No, wait...

"Bravo. I love you. Anne."

Sending that telegram was something. Takes guts.

It's extraordinary when a beautiful woman

sends you a telegram like that.

I'd never have dared.

It's amazing, coming from a woman.

If I keep up this speed, I'll get to Paris at...

six, six-thirty.

Six in the morning, she'll be asleep.

What do I do, call from inside a café?

Head to her place?

A woman who sends a telegram saying "I love you"...

you can go to her place.

Yes, I'll go. Why not?

So I'll head to her place.

Go upstairs, ring the bell.

One ring, two.

No, only once. So she won't get annoyed.

It takes her a while to get up.

She doesn't open. She says: "Who's there?"

So I say...

No, I can't say "Jean-Louis".

"Antoine's daddy," I'll say.

"Antoine's daddy", yeah, that's a good line.

"Who's there?" "Antoine's daddy."

She opens the door.

We're now face to face.

Of course, she's embarrassed.

She sent me that telegram. "I love you"...

She's embarrassed, it's normal. It's her place.

She's embarrassed.

So she says, "I'll make you some coffee.

You drove a lot, I'll make some coffee."

So I go inside.

It's not the same dog.

There.

- On the others? - I think so.

- Just passing through? - Yes.

How's it going with your mother?

Not well. She's a pain.

Don't say that!

We're all pains.

- Nona? - Yes?

How did you meet Grandpa?

Different version each time. Love it!

- I've told you 1,000 times! - I know...

He was a stuntman. He fell from the sky.

He hurt his ankle.

I was the script girl.

I tended to him once and...

He wanted me to keep on tending to him.

Which I did.

VETERINARY CLINIC

What now?

What do you mean "now"?

A guy calls me at 1am.

He says his dog is dying.

I get there. The dog is fine.

The guy starts yelling, jumps on me...

Since the world began, everything's changed but love.

You call that love?

That's not love, Mom...

See how I disguise myself to be left alone?

- Lovely disguise! - Right...

- Why are you here? - Helping.

- For the day. - You're better off at school!

That's not nice. You want some tea?

I have to go back to the racecourse.

There's a mare foaling.

Look at this.

Beautiful.

She's magnificent.

Superb.

Come have some tea.

Just a sec.

What is it?

Okay, 10 minutes. Make me some tea.

You indulge her.

She's pretty like that.

My daughter is pretty.

We need to see you!

Hello.

Can I help you, sir?

You don't recognize me.

No.

The last time you saw me, I was little.

Really?

Who are you?

I'm Antoine... Antoine Duroc.

Jean-Louis' son?

Yes, that's my dad.

How is he?

Actually... not very well.

That's why I took the liberty of seeking you out.

You're not easy to find.

Remember my daughter Françoise?

No, well, yes, a little.

And my granddaughter.

No, her I don't remember.

So...

he's not well?

No, he's not.

We had to put him into an assisted living facility.

He has a hard time getting around.

His memory comes and goes...

and each time I visit him,

the only thing he remembers is you.