Things to Come (L'avenir) (L'avenir)

Nathalie!

I'm coming.

"Can we put ourselves in the place of the other?"

Definitely not easy music to listen to.

I wouldn't play it at home.

For sure.

You have to see it.

- Music in general? - Yes.

It's meant to be seen, not just heard.

"A great French writer wanted to rest here"

"to hear only the sea and wind."

"Passerby, respect his last wish."

Can we go?

Because the tide's coming in.

I don't want to sleep with Chateaubriand.

Wait up.

Coming?

I'll be right there.

"THINGS TO COME"

"Several years later"

Don't answer. It's your mother.

- Hello, you've reached Heinz and Nathalie.

We're not in, but you can leave a message.

Nathalie?

Nathalie, are you there?

It's me.

I'm in such pain, Nathalie.

I can't breathe.

- What is it? - I can't breathe.

I took a Xanax.

How long ago?

- 45 minutes. Can I take another?

Sure, take one now.

It doesn't help.

It'll be fine!

- I'll call the firemen. I can't stay like this.

- We can't call the firemen for every panic attack.

You can't come?

- Now? Are you crazy? See the time?

I have to sleep. I get up at 6:00.

"The Radical Loser"

- If the reform passes, us kids won't find work.

Already 25% unemployment!

When we finish school, we won't find jobs!

- Let's show them we won't give up!

You can't enter!

- You can't stop me from working!

Majority rules in democracy!

Let the teacher in.

Crowd: Everyone together!

Unbelievable.

Everyone together.

Good morning.

Can we have a debate?

A debate?

- On the reform. To get your opinion.

- I don't have to give my opinion on politics.

But blocking the entrance is pathetic.

Students deciding if teachers can work?

We have to ask freshmen if we can teach now.

- They won't let Antonia come in.

- Great! I've had enough.

Respect different convictions!

You have none!

You just want to graduate!

- You're in school and speak of retirement!

Enough!

Your talk of '68 is nonsense!

You're selfish! - Us, selfish?

This isn't for us but for our parents, for workers.

For people that work hard all their lives!

For our futures.

And you're not concerned?

- I'm not here to talk politics but to teach.

Collaborationist!

- You don't mind working until you're 67?

- I love my job. I'm in no rush.

Teachers have no lives.

- What about people who slave away?

Meaning people like you?

Butt out!

- Listen to you! Unbelievable!

Let my students enter.

Let the scabs in!

Open your books.

There's no time for class.

Okay, then.

Then consider this quotation of Rousseau's.

"If there were a nation of gods,

"it would govern itself democratically.

"A government so perfect...

Is not suited to men."

Think it over. Then we'll discuss it.

Don't misinterpret it.

Remember, Rousseau wrote "The Social Contract," inspiring

the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.

His ideas formed the Revolution.

Fabien!

Tutoring? - And I wanted to say hi.

- How nice. All is well? - Yes, and you?

Fine, very well.

- I have two memories of my senior year.

The hospital where my mom and I waited as my dad died.

And your class, where I discovered philosophy.

I had to tell you.

I'm touched.

How you said to hold on,

to never let go, all your ideas and books.

It annoyed me, a lot. But it helped me get by.

- No need. You had an iron will.

It was more complicated.

I skipped classes, got high at home.

You put pressure on me.

École Normale was your idea.

My mom had no idea what it was.

Come on, it was your calling.

It was obvious.

Your essays were excellent, very clear.

All I did was correct spelling.

That's all.

Is your PhD coming along?

No, not really.

Since I stopped teaching, I do odd jobs.

- Writing for my essay collection?

Or less fun stuff.

I do other things in my free time.

Like what?

- I'm involved in an anarchist group.

I see my girlfriend.

I enjoy life.

More to life than philosophy.

- Can you get me a few copies of my essay on Adorno?

- Sure, I'll pick some up at Cartet.

I just finished this. It's great.

Tell me what you think.

See you.

Thanks for stopping by.

How did you manage today?

It was fine.

- No problem entering the high school?

Yes.

As I went in, a kid looked at me threateningly.

And?

I said, "I know who you are.

One more step and you'll regret it."

He ran away.

- You were bluffing. - Nope.

What was your class on?

Empiricism and rationalism.

Were they concentrated?

Totally concentrated.

Of course.

You terrorize them.

- I make them responsible. On time and attentive.

"One word about retirement and you're out."

How many Adornos do you want?

- A dozen. Have you sold any?

Not many.

We'll see in September.

The Foucaults are downstairs.

They still sell well.

- How are you? - And you?

Fine.

Getting through these strikes?

Don't bring it up.

- What are you two doing this summer?

If my mother lets us leave,

we'll go to Heinz's place in Brittany.

I can't wait.

This is Amèlie.

Daniel has replaced Clèlia. I don't know if you've met.

I think we spoke on the phone.

So...

we want to show you

how we intend to redesign your textbook.

- To discuss this new edition before undertaking anything.

We want to maintain the specificity of the 2004 version.

It remains an anthology

devoid of commentary that might come between teacher

and student.

A few figures...

Which way?

Like this.

Can you break them down?

- In sum, according to qualitative analysis,

Cartet remains the first choice of teachers.

But sales figures give our competitors a big lead.

Our aim is to strengthen its quality as a reference book,

while striving to meet market expectations.

Look through it at home.

In short, our aim is to upgrade the textbook,

to humanize it.

- To give it the pedagogical makeover it needs.

- We'd like to add facilitators and product tie-ins.

- Make it more attractive, less austere.

Show her the graphic designer's suggestions

for the essay collection.

You're changing my collection?

- It's the most costly and least profitable collection.

And the most prestigious.