I Stand Alone (Seul contre tous) (Seul contre tous)

MORAL

Do you know what moral is?

Let me tell you.

Moral is for the people that own it, for the rich.

And who's always right?

The rich, and the poor are screwed.

JUSTICE

Shall I show you my moral?

Won't you be sorry? - I'm not sure.

I think you'll be afraid. This is my moral.

There's the moral.

Do you know why I have this?

Because Mr. Moral there in his uniform...

...always wins.

Him and his damn moral.

And I... This is my justice.

Whether you're right...

...or wrong...

...it doesn't matter man.

Les Cinemas de la Zone present:

The drama of a butcher alone in the guts of his land.

Everyone his own life, everyone his moral. If I would summarize my life...

...my life is like that of a loser. They should write that down.

The story of man like so many others.

It all started in France, land of cheese and traitors.

The man was born near Paris in 1939.

In 1941 his mother abandoned him. He has never seen her again.

On liberation day the boy finds out who his father is.

A communist who died in one of the concentration camps.

He's six years old now. His mental struggle begins.

His innocence was stolen from him in the name of Jesus as he was raised.

To be able to survive the boy becomes a butcher at 14.

The next ten years he works for various people...

...saving every cent for his own business.

Which he gets when he's 30. It's difficult at first...

...but after two years the shop is running well.

Well he makes a living out of it. He meets a young factory worker...

...and takes her virginity from her in the l'Avenir Hotel across from the factory.

From there on it goes fast.

Nine months later he will be father of Cynthia, a baby unwanted by the mother.

He is once again abandoned and is left to bring up his daughter alone.

Years pass by. The shop is fine.

The butcher buys an apartment where the daughter grows up to be mute.

Her adolescence starts. She's becoming a woman.

The father, still single, has to fight his lust.

That's when fate strikes. The girl has her first period.

In unknown pain she runs off to the shop.

On the way there a worker tries to seduce her.

A neighbour sees it happen and takes her to her father.

The father sees the blood on her skirt and thinks she's been raped.

He gets a knife and goes to find the rapist.

The man sees a worker on a dock

The butcher slashes the man's face with the knife.

The butcher goes to jail for that. The girl is put in an institution.

The father occasionally writes his daughter. Months pass.

The butcher has to sell the apartment and the butcher shop.

Finally the butcher is free again but without any possessions.

To survive, the man becomes a bartender.

He soon becomes his boss's lover. She gets pregnant and want to sell the bar...

...to start a new life in an other town.

She even has enough money to rent a butcher shop.

The man has no choice.

For the first time he visits his daughter.

He tells her goodbye. She sees him leave but says nothing.

The next day the man drives out of Paris with his wife...

...hoping to escape the dark tunnel that is his life.

In Lille they move in with the woman's mother...

...until they find a house and a shop.

Compared to Paris the streets up North seem abandoned and grey.

For the first time the man feels like a stranger.

He sees projections of his dead father.

But the butcher is like everyone else A being that wants to survive.

He then decides to forget about his past and betrayal of his daughter.

Just like his love for her. Well, love is a bit too strong.

Not many people can say they have truly known love.

So this man is me. This has been my life so far.

But today starts my new life. I'm starting all over again.

Yes ladies and gentlemen. Today I'm erasing my past.

SUBURBAN LILLE, NORTHERN FRANCE JANUARY 3RD 1980

Good night children. - Good night mum.

Excuse me.

That's the side my father used to sleep on.

Aren't you warm enough already?

She'd better keep calm. Her and her kid.

If she keeps nagging like this I'll blow her head off. Well not just her head.

Are we going to have a look at the shop tomorrow?

Yeah.

Yeah I like it.

But it's a bit expensive.

The transaction has to be ten percent cheaper.

And so does the rent.

On your account?

No, on mine

It was a bad place.

I'd rather keep my money until after the pregnancy.

That wasn't what we agreed on. What will we do until then?

You can take up a temporary job. Come on.

Thanks.

''Wanted: Pork butcher''

Look. They're looking for a butcher.

I'm not a pork butcher.

It'll be easier than having a shop.

Yes, you're right.

What are you doing?

I don't feel like it. It's my money. I'm pregnant and you can shut up.

Exactly.

Damn sausage. Damn wine. Damn family in a boring city.

It's all turned out to be very nice. A new shop.

A nice new life.

But filthy as they are...

...I wouldn't be surprised when the inspection would drop by.

It's what happens when one gets old.

Lose your sense of smell and sight, and get dirty.

But that fat cow has no excuse.

And are your parents still alive?

I told you he is an orphan.

Oh, sorry.

You should smile.

Do you understand?

To get the customers to buy a lot.

We're in a supermarket, with music and everything.

Everyone should feel comfortable. You see?

Just smile for me.

Put some effort in it. Smile.

Forget it. Just go.

Come on.

Fool.

Coming here and begging for a job.

What? You could be a pork butcher?

What did you think? That you could sit in front of the TV forever?

If you weren't so stingy we'd already have the store.

So shut up.

To win in Roubaix you'd have to be in top shape.

And you'd have to know where to ride.

You shouldn't go along with the anonymous herd.

He's here. My son-in-law. Doctor Choukroune.

We were just talking about your problems.

They're looking for a night guard at the old people's home where he works.

Your mother-in-law explained everything to me.

If this can't help you...

...I'll give you the number and address of the home...

...so you can contact them.

Goodbye, Sir.

Right, the tart thinks I'm the guard at an old people's home.

Shall I wipe her ass too while I'm at it?

On the other hand... If I work at night I won't have to see their ugly mugs.

Have you done night-time work before? - Not really.

It may seem easy but after a while it could drive you insane.

Have you worked in a home before?

It's a dump.

Actually it's not that much fun.

It's strange you know, you think it's going to be over for them soon...

...but the things that happen behind those doors...

Well, you'll see.

This is your office.

I've been here for two weeks now.

I haven't felt this good since I got out of prison.

This place isn't worse than jail. On the contrary. Except for the stench.

Old people smell terrible.

OLD PEOPLE'S HOME, DEBUSSY MARCH 18TH 1980, 4 AM

I can't stand those two old bags in their flat.

They shouldn't think I'm a wimp.

But the old cow's rich...

...and she thinks because of that she can do anything.

That's how it is. Everyone's fighting for their money...

...and their steak. And no one will do it for you.

Have you been to the doctor's? - No.

A woman is choking. Can you help me. Quick.

Yeah, I don't know...

Quick.

Hold her hand.

Daddy...

Don't leave me alone.

Everything's all dark.

Death opens no doors.

In the end death is nothing special.

Everyone makes a big deal out of it.

But from a close view It's nothing serious.

A lifeless body, that's all.

People are just like animals.

You love them, you bury them, that's it.

Even thought this is the first time I see it.

Evidently it's her first time too.

She sure looks devastated.

While it's so damn boring.

OK, I'll take her home.

She sure looks fragile. And pretty cute, too.

Let me walk you home.

She reminds me of my daughter.

My Cynthia.

She must be very lonely wherever she is now.

Come.

But loneliness means nothing.

Living with a guy or a girl or even with kids...

...but you're still alone.

I'm alone. And so is she.

We are born alone, live our lives alone and die alone.

Alone, forever alone.

Even when fucking we're alone.

Alone with our body Alone with our life...