L'Enfer des anges

This film was restored by pathé in 2019

angels in hell was selected

for the first international cannes film festival,

to be held September 3rd to 20th, 1939.

Initiated by the education minister Jean zay,

it was created to compete with the venice film festival,

which was under fascist influence.

France's entry into the war on September 3rd, 1939

pushed the festival back to 1946.

In 2019, the aborted 1939 edition was presented in Orleans,

Jean zay's home town.

On this occasion,

the film won the jury prize and the young public prize.

This restored version is that of 1941, year of the film's release.

It presents an optimistic end.

The writer and the director had planned two.

The second version was never shown publicly

due to its pessimistic climax.

To date, no original sound materials or reference prints

of the second version have been found.

Angels in hell

This film exposes the harsh truth

of abandoned, lost, defenseless children,

without tenderness in their lives.

There must be no more unhappy childhoods in today's France.

Those who present this drama only do so

in the hope that we will never again see such scenes in real life.

Angels in hell is an appeal to the heart,

for a collaboration with the state, to protect and save

those who are building the France of tomorrow:

Our little ones of today.

Carpenter

What do you want?

I'm here for the job.

Got any certificates?

- Certificates? - Sure.

I have papers.

"Reformatory... Penal military service."

I got nothing for you.

Look, mister, I'll do anything.

That's just what I'm afraid of.

Don't believe that.

I'm honest. All I ask is to work hard.

You're no good to me.

The work here calls for trust.

I've been looking for months.

Help me survive.

It's easy enough. No?

So I gotta die?

Bad seed.

Job offers

Thanks.

Where do you come from?

Reformatory?

Yes.

Escaped?

Recently?

This morning.

What did you do?

When mama died, papa took to drinking.

Then a woman came.

She didn't like me. She beat me.

Papa placed me in a dairy.

I visited him twice a month.

Sometimes, he wasn't too drunk.

And then what?

One Sunday, I had no stockings.

I took an old pair of the boss's.

She found out. She wanted to have me arrested.

I ran away.

Then a policeman, like the one just now...

They call it vagrancy.

Yeah, that's their word.

They held me four months.

That's all.

It always starts that way.

We go wrong when we lose those who love us.

For you, it was your mother...

Me, when my father died...

We can't stay here. Let's go to my place.

Mr. Max, why do you make me drink so much?

You must be hungry.

A bit. I'm used to it.

We'll find something to eat. I don't know, like...

You can't be difficult.

You and I don't need much to get by on.

We're not very happy but some people are worse off.

- No, no! - Come here!

And it's like this every night.

They'll end up killing him.

It's not your mother! So what?

Say, don't you think we oughta...

Oughta what? Are you nuts? It's none of our business.

And the kid's used to it by now.

Just you wait!

- You little bastard! - Don't, papa!

Well, old man, you won.

That kid of yours would have made our lives hell.

You can say that again.

So who's to blame?

I said we shouldn't have kept him.

Oh, him.

A proper little weakling.

- A regular rich kid. - Yep.

What you gonna do with him now?

As cooks go, I'm not so great.

- It smells good. - Potatoes.

Fine nourishing food. You'll see.

Taste it. Mashed potato, like when you're sick.

Thank you.

I haven't eaten this for ages.

We're doing fine, huh?

Sure.

- My little dinner's not so bad? - Oh, no.

Eat up, sweetie.

Someone's coming.

It's only Simone coming home.

She's very nice.

- Hello. - Hello, dear.

Hey, you got a guest?

Yes, you see...

- Hello, ma'am. - Hello.

You must have found some work.

No, not yet.

Too bad.

Where were you?

I was having a drink with Max.

I hate you seeing that rat.

There's no one else around.

- Simone... - What?

- Nothing. - So much the better.

Eat up, girl. That's our dinner.

Will you shut up?

Why? She should know how we eat.

- Aren't you ashamed? - No.

But you should be.

You make me live in squalor. With one dress!

An ugly one.

I've had enough!

- You're drunk? - I drink to forget.

Instead of picking up kids and feeding them here,

you should think about me.

You imagine I'm happy?

I do my best.

You give me nothing.

Nothing.

Nothing ever!

Just misery. And I have to share it.

Calm down, honey.

Simone!

I ucette!

I ucette!

Why are you crying?

It's nothing.

Do you live here?

No.

Do you?

I almost did.

I'm lucette. And you?

Me? I'm called...

That's funny,

my head's gone all empty.

I don't know any more.

What don't you know?

Come on, this way.

What's on your forehead?

Are you hurt?

Yes.

Is it painful?

No.

Maybe a car ran you down?

I can't remember. I woke up on an empty lot.

Then you have no parents?

Yes, I do.

So you're on your way home?

Yes. But I don't know where it is.

We mustn't stay out on the street at night.

We'll be arrested.

Shall we go in here?

- If you like. - Come on.

Sit down here.

What do your parents look like?

I've forgotten.

I'm trying to remember.

It's funny.

What's the matter with me?

It's nothing.

But it seems to me...

They were nice.

You know...

I was happy.

You're lucky.

But how will I find them?

We'll see tomorrow.

You're tired. You need to sleep.

You're nice.

As you can't remember your name and my name is lucette,

do you want to be lucien?

If you like.

Good night.