Murmur of the Heart (Le souffle au coeur) (Le souffle au cœur)

DIJON — SPRING 1954

- For the wounded in Indochina. - I have no change.

Red Cross for the wounded in Indochina.

Tightwads! Let's try somewhere else.

MURMUR OF THE HEART

Did you hear Jelly Roll on the radio yesterday?

There was a fantastic piano solo.

For the wounded in Indochina.

Are you crazy?

I'm tired of the old jazz. Always the same thing.

The music store has the new Charlie Parker.

- Let's go. - You got money?

Ouch! You've got nerve coming here for that.

I have no money. Besides, I'm against the war.

It's for the wounded.

Same thing!

- Go see the boss. He's a sucker. - Come with me. I'm shy.

Listen, I'm all for charity,

but TB, nuns, old folks, cancer, blue babies — there's a limit.

But this is for France, sir.

It's a great record. Charlie Parker solos with a rhythm section.

The loony bin made him even better.

- What's the loony bin? - The madhouse, stupid.

Is he crazy?

Nervous breakdown. Lots of jazzmen have them.

And no wonder — alcohol, drugs, women.

You count it. And don't steal it all.

Where's my book on Corneille?

I'm not done yet.

- I need it for homework. - Get your father to help.

My dad's no intellectual. He makes washbasins.

Relax. You'll have it tomorrow.

What are you doing, Joseph?

I've got a record that'll knock your socks off.

Written and Directed by LOUIS MALLE

I ought to fire you! All you do is mess up!

It's not that hard!

Stop crying! I hate that!

Medical secretary is a serious profession!

Now, now, Solange, don't cry.

Take my handkerchief.

Come, I'll drive you home.

Hello, Augusta. Is Mama home?

Of course. You know what time it is?

Where's your cap?

Thomas, I'm no fool. With your grades,

you'll fail your exams.

As sure as two and two make four.

You sure they make four?

Five, if you like.

My Renzino, how are you?

- Why are you so late? - We collected for the Red Cross.

Good. You got some fresh air.

Thomas, you're going to fail your exams,

and your father'll be furious.

It'll ruin everyone's vacation.

Marc, you filthy pig!

Don't do that in my sink!

First, Dad couldn't care less anyway.

That's not true.

Second, you said you yourself never passed a single exam.

But I'm a girl. And look what happened.

I'm completely ignorant.

Thomas, that's too much!

Give that back!

You've stolen enough from me already!

This time I'll tell your father.

Stop it, both of you!

What an example for Laurent!

I'm an old lady!

You have no respect!

Bastard!

I need that money.

The Cintra bar won't serve me anymore.

It's bad for my reputation.

You shouldn't be going there anyway.

Take it. I'm too easy on you.

But stop helping yourself. It's getting out of hand.

I never know how much I have.

You'd never do that to me, Renzino. You're no thief.

No need to be. He collects in the street.

Solange is impossible.

Two appointments for the same time again.

She's crazy, and she never stops eating.

But otherwise she's charming, isn't she?

Yes, she's charming.

What did you do today?

I had lunch with the Desages. Their son is at Dien Bien Phu.

They're very worried about him.

Why did the French get into that hellhole anyway?

'Cause our generals are incompetent. Everyone knows it.

War is too serious to leave to the military.

That's original.

There're plenty of civilians in Indochina.

Rotten politicians lining their pockets.

You voted for them, Daddy.

So now I pick the ministers?

Did your deputy vote for the government?

Yes or no?

Is that my fault?

Leave me alone. We'll see if you do any better.

I don't vote, so I shouldn't talk,

but colonial expeditions are a bit passé in 1954, no?

Renzino, if you don't eat, you won't grow big and strong.

What's the matter? It's your favorite dish.

I'm not hungry. Leave me alone.

Stop treating me like a six-year-old.

Don't speak to your mother like that!

Augusta, serve him.

I won't eat. I said I wasn't hungry.

You're getting on my nerves. You won't eat?

Then leave the table!

Get out!

Is that how you raise your sons?

Don't be so hard on him. He's very sensitive.

Sensitive! He's a pain in the neck.

He's been unbearable lately.

Go kiss him. You know you're dying to.

After all, he's your son.

And yours too. If you took more interest.

I've given up.

Two idiots and a little genius — it's too much!

Your father's right. I should be angry with you.

Come listen to my new record.

You know I hate jazz.

And your aunt and uncle are coming.

I can't avoid them again, though they're no fun at all.

Will you come say good night?

- Do you deserve it? - I don't care that much.

Liar.

Are you going to study? Promise you'll wear your glasses?

I've come to put my darling Renzino to bed.

He's the most darling, the most sensitive of all.

Mama's favorite, always first in his class.

What? Not wearing your glasses?

You'll never be a gynecologist like your daddy.

We have an account to settle.

Don't act innocent.

Your gallant act with the money. Know what you are?

A collaborator! I ought to cut off all your hair.

Listen to this.

"But as Camus wrote,

the only serious philosophical problem is suicide.

Perhaps action is a way of avoiding suicide."

You really get something out of what you read.

Send it to Camus with an autographed picture.

"To Albert, from his young disciple."

How soft and sweet and pink!

- Good enough to eat! - He's got a hard-on!

The choirboy has a hard-on! Shame on you!

I didn't even notice. You're gonna have a tiny dick, like Marc.

You're both off to a bad start.

Some sex life you'll have!

Oh, yeah? Look here.

Bigger than yours already, and I'm still growing.

Midget! Wanna see a man's dick?

I might scare you.

Great!

You need a magnifying glass.

Want to measure? Go get a ruler.

Size isn't everything, you know.

It can even be bad for your health.

- Seven. - No, 6 1/2.

What are they doing?

I'm not hard. That's my normal size.

Filthy pigs! Shame on you!

Look! Isn't it gorgeous?

I liked it better when you were children.

If only you'd stayed that way!

Not bad what you wrote last night.

But drop Camus. He's not worth it.

If you're into suicide, read Crevel.

Who's that?

A surrealist who gassed himself.

You ever felt like committing suicide?

You?

Once or twice.

Take General Lasalle.

Called "the finest sword in the empire."

You know what he said?

"A cavalryman still alive at 30 isn't worth his salt."

How old was he when he died?

Shot in the head at 32, at the Battle of Wagram. Not bad.

Oh, no, I'm late!

Morning, Father.

Chevalier, this is too much.

This is the last time you serve mass.

I helped a blind man across the road.

Don't give me that nonsense!

He's cranky this morning.

You know it's Friday.

Compulsory communion. Did you fast?

No. What's it to you?

A rebel now, eh?

Children, there'll be no sermon today.

The news from Dien Bien Phu is very troubling.

The last survivors face hand-to-hand combat,

outnumbered ten to one.

Let us pray for these heroes

who've gained the world's admiration in recent weeks,