Perfect Nanny (Chanson douce)

My daughter was still small when I got pregnant again.

I said it was an accident, but...

it was premeditated.

My son was an excuse not to leave my sweet home.

But with two, it's more complicated.

Longer days.

They're eating me alive.

I'm suffocating.

I'm afraid of everything, now.

Especially of them dying.

I'm sure everyone has the same thoughts.

Watching your child sleep

and wondering, what if that body were a corpse?

If those eyes were shut forever.

I can't help it.

At night, I dream of them suddenly disappearing

amidst an indifferent crowd.

I yell,

"Where are my children?"

And people laugh. They think I'm crazy.

Stop it, Adam!

Shit, I don't believe it!

Mila!

- What have you done now? - Nothing!

He fell all on his own.

Right. It's never your fault, is it?

All on his own!

He tried to climb on the table, then he fell.

You okay?

Yes... Tired of doing nothing and looking whacked.

You don't do nothing!

You're incredible, at it all day with the kids.

You're magnificent.

It'd do me good to go back to work.

Really?

Would you mind?

What?

If I did?

No...

- No, what? - No, nothing.

Difficult when they're little.

I mean, it works well.

I know it's not always easy for you, but it works.

I love being with them. If I could have done it...

I love being with them too!

But I need something else.

It's nice having wife and kids at home!

That's not true.

That really gets me.

You chose.

It could have been otherwise.

How so?

I'll put out an ad for a nanny.

The crèche?

I've updated our request. No luck so far.

Call all the local childminders if you want!

His teeth make him cry, so I can't even talk on the phone!

A nanny will cost us your whole salary.

That doesn't bother me.

I need to be doing something.

I need another topic of conversation!

Adapted from the novel by Leïla Slimani

THE PERFECT NANNY

Hello.

Come in.

I'm a student - psychology - so it's as you like.

Lectures in the evening...

I reckon looking after kids will be good experience.

This is a first for our daughter

so she's not always good with authority.

What if she won't leave the park?

I tell her we're going to buy sweets,

then after, I say I left my purse behind,

and when we get back I say, "I tricked you!"

I love boys. They're so cute.

Hey, baby!

Don't cry, sweetheart!

We do stories together, then bit by bit we can do plays...

I sing in Spanish, too.

Really? Great!

I can talk to the kids...

- In Spanish. - Spanish, yes.

When are you available?

We may sometimes be home late,

not the same every day.

That's difficult.

It's important I can go out...

Myriam's a lawyer and I'm in music. It's unpredictable.

I need to know from what time to what time.

It's very important I know times.

We'll let you know soon.

Well, I hope you will, sir. You can try me for a week.

When it's hot my ankle hurts, but then it goes away.

- You won't be disappointed. - Thank you. Goodbye.

Okay?

Not too demoralised?

No, but it's exhausting, isn't it?

If we don't get someone now, we'll look elsewhere.

I'll go.

- Hello. - Pleased to meet you.

Come in.

In the sitting room.

I took the liberty of arriving five minutes early.

No worries.

A glass of water? A coffee?

No, thank you, I'll be fine.

Pleased to meet you.

Shall I introduce us?

Yes, very well.

We have two children. Our daughter, Mila, is five,

at school down the road,

and Adam, the baby,

is 11 months. He's at home all day.

Aren't they here today?

Yes, they're napping.

They share a bedroom.

My turn?

- Yes. - Go ahead.

Well, my name is Louise.

Excuse me, but I believe someone is waking up.

I'll go. Excuse me.

Just coming!

Sorry.

You can carry on.

I've been a childminder for a long time.

I've mainly worked for two families,

staying alongside their children for many years.

And really, that's what suits me best.

That continuity.

Hello, Mila.

Is that your name, Mila?

My name is Louise.

Do you have children?

A daughter, Stéphanie,

whom my husband and I brought up.

But, well, Jacques is dead now.

But Stéphanie is grown up. She's 25.

And how are you for availability?

I'm very available.

Actually...

I've written down

my former employers' details.

At the top is the last family I worked for, the Rouviers.

They had two children too. Boys.

Good.

A special one?

- What's his name? - Bun-bun.

Bun-bun?

What a nice name! Hello.

What? No...

As I told you, those are Paul's vinyls.

The children know they mustn't touch them

so of course they're dying to!

Now, the Babycook.

It's often on 3 but I prefer not.

On 2, or it holds too much water.

That's for steaming vegetables,

this is for mash...

I guess you know all that...

I'm very fond of this, please be careful.

Same thing,

Mila loves parading in it!

But she knows she mustn't.

I'm sorry.

- Your keys are in the kitchen. - I saw, Myriam.

You can go. It's all fine.

- Kiss-kiss, darlings. - Bye-bye, Mummy.

Do the code?

Will you turn the page?

Yes, it's orange!

- See you this evening. - Bye, Myriam!

You scared me!

I didn't hear you come in.

I didn't want to disturb you. All okay?

Yes indeed.

Hats

Gloves

Undies

Oh dear, Adam, you're choking!

Nice to be clean, isn't it?

Who's going to lie down

and have a nice nap?

Mila.

Come here. Something to show you.

Hang on, I'm doing my stickers.

Come on, you can finish later.

- Know what this is? - Hammer.

And now?

- Now do you know? - Coat hanger!

Exactly. Your coat hanger.

That's where you'll hang your coat now, okay?

Go and get it.

Hang it up.

There!

With the truck...

Adam! Not in your mouth, darling.

Hang on.

No!

Hey, you!

Give me that truck. It's not yours!