Longing for Eternity (Portion d'éternité)

A MELS RESTORATION PRESENTATION

The digitization of this film preserves

all the attributes of the original work.

It was achieved thanks to

The Memory of Quebec Cinema

I can’t choose!

I can’t choose!

How can I?

Pierre and Marie Lemieux died

leaving behind three embryos frozen in liquid nitrogen.

Antoine Larivée?

We’re closed.

It won’t take long.

Forget something?

Pierre Lemieux…

Remember him?

The photographer?

He’s my son.

Evening.

Is this where you keep his embryos?

Baby on board

Why are you here?

Destroy them.

Can you help me?

As a civil servant, my powers are limited.

And your lawyer?

I haven’t spoken to him.

A lawsuit, all the media… it would take years.

- I don’t want that. - We don’t either.

But my brief to the minister may not satisfy you.

I’ll wait and see.

Go ahead.

I’d rather not.

Looking for Eternity

Subtitles by Robert Gray

Let’s go.

What?

99.3°

This is no time to sleep.

I’m ovulating!

Terrific.

Can’t make healthy kids with sleepy sperm.

I’ll make coffee.

Lots of coffee.

Then he’ll be speedy, like his mom.

Am I wrong to tamper with fate?

Pierre resists…

says nothing, but I sense it.

Routine is crushing any sense of joy.

It’s different for Pierre.

Sometimes I feel alone in wanting this baby.

Has my desire become mechanical?

Stop asking questions, just keep on…

like closing a gate against a flood.

I’m afraid real desire’s gone, submerged by obsession.

Your daughter-in-law’s diary…

Keep it.

You may find it useful.

I want them to be left in peace—that’s all.

Had they lived together long?

8 years. They’d just bought the house.

- That’s it. - Only 2?

- Her first time? - No, her third.

Poor girl.

- Can you check this? - Sure, take these.

She’s here.

- Hélène Dubreuil. - Antoine Larivée. My pleasure.

May I?

Take your time.

Please…

It’s always full. We can’t meet the demand.

Fertilization by several sperm…

The embryo wouldn’t have survived.

Do you have a pen?

Here.

Why not do that to the Lemieux embryos?

Because they’re viable.

Are you serious?

Do I look like I’m joking?

Is the minister afraid of publicity?

Aren’t you?

Depends.

Yes, sir?

- I’m here for the…sample. - Right away.

Maryse, a client for you.

I’ve written five times

requesting a policy for unclaimed embryos.

Have you?

The bureaucrats never answered.

Put a bomb under them, they’d just cross their legs.

You created the problem, not us.

Now hold on a sec.

If we decided on our own, we’d be accused of abusing power.

If we ask the politicians

they say we’re trying to wriggle out of it.

What do we do?

Think before acting.

Easy to say.

We have 177 embryos stored in liquid nitrogen.

Has the number been increasing?

No, it’s remained stable for a year.

Most embryos are reimplanted.

Others take their place.

Meanwhile, anything can happen.

Some couples separate.

The woman may want them, the man says no.

Human beings are so predictable.

And what should we do?

Who do they belong to?

Answer that and the Lemieux case is solved.

If it were so simple I wouldn’t be here.

Your methods change everything… maternity, the origin of life

our genetic integrity.

Don’t expect an answer tomorrow.

I just want the ministry to define a policy.

I need a list of couples with embryos here.

Names, addresses, medical files

the contract they signed authorizing treatment.

But that’s confidential.

Normally, but not now.

I’ll have to consult the team, the ethics committee…

That won’t be necessary.

Signed by the minister! I don’t have much choice.

That’s the way it is.

I’d ask your discretion and full cooperation.

Excuse me.

Thanks.

This just arrived.

- You’re not going to read it all? - Labbé, Lefort…

Lemieux: 73.

We’re

Finish what you’re doing and

then come back.

He’s going to have your hair

your eyes.

Your skin.

Your mouth.

You’re generous this year, my beauty.

Damn.

- That’s all. - Not enough?

That thing’s so big.

Don’t worry, makes the harvest easier.

Harvest?

You ought to come visit.

Yeah, right on the water.

25 minutes at most.

Hold on a sec.

- Pierre Lemieux? - That’s me.

Sign here.

Paul?

I was afraid you’d gone.

I’ll work late more often.

Next time it’s your treat.

Alright.

Some Wyoming conifers came.

Extremely rare, and absolutely gorgeous!

Of course they arrived at 5 p.m.

Will they survive our winters?

It’s cold in the mountains too.

As for acid rain

perhaps they’re hardier than our own.

I’m worried about my little oaks. Their mom’s looking sick.

You seem chipper.

Yup.

I got a call from Soucy.

Aluminec’s looking for ideas for an ad campaign.

Money’s great, I’ll give it a try.

- Interesting concept? - I’ll know tomorrow.

Here.

You’ll see, it’s going to work.

Delicious.

My test results arrived.

Felt really weird.

What’s it say?

Same as the last time. I’m fertile.

I thought I’d forgotten all about it

but it sure took a load from my shoulders.

Funny, huh?

What is it?

I’m cold.

Something wrong?

Well if it isn’t you, it has to be me.

Not necessarily, Marie.

Your results were fine.

Candles, a good muscadet, coq au vin…

Why not champagne?

I’m sorry…

that’s not how I saw it.

You’re acting like you’d won an award…

“Hard-on Hero of the World!”

Take it easy, okay?

Am I supposed to feel guilty?

You’d have preferred it was negative?

I worry it’ll always be like this.

Just the two of us here.

I’m happy with you.

Don’t you care?

It’s not that, but what more can we do?

We’ve been trying for two years… nothing.

Maybe you’re glad it hasn’t worked.