Is there enough "me"?
Meaning?
There's not too much painting?
We can still see you.
Don't worry.
It's great!
- Really? - Yeah.
Start the choreography!
- Super, huh! - Great.
Wanna see?
Playback, please.
The dress is gorgeous.
The colors are awesome in this collection!
And the makeup's cool.
Too bad the yellow dress clashes with the painting.
I can change the color of the dress.
We can't do that!
It's a collaboration.
Just change the color of the painting.
Great idea!
Okay.
- Great! - Perfect.
COLORS OF TIME
Thank you all for coming.
We've long planned this meeting
with Maryline Ménard, genealogist,
and my colleague, Jocelyne Jean-Baptiste.
As you know, you're all descendants
of a woman, born in 1873, Adèle Meunier,
née Vermillard.
Maryline's led a two-year investigation
unraveling your family ties.
I give you the floor.
Thank you.
Adèle Meunier had 3 children,
whom you're descended from,
divided into three distinct branches.
Please...
Here you can see your entire family tree.
Now let's display...
Those who have died are shown in gray.
And those in color
are all your living family members,
who are perhaps here.
We've done this research
because the city wants to purchase Adèle Meunier's house and property.
So I turn the floor over to Mr. Duquesne,
head of the Economic Activity Zone.
Specifically...
we want to expand the existing shopping mall
to create a gorgeous European hub.
We'll have a 3,000-space parking lot.
And even...
eco-friendly parking,
to be located on the current location
of your family's house.
It seems that the house
has been shuttered since 1944.
It can only be opened in the presence of the heirs.
So you'll choose 4 representatives
to open the house today with the proper authorities.
- You should go. - No.
- Yes, you have to go. - No.
Thank you.
My pleasure.
Do you authorize us to open the door?
Yes, go ahead.
Amazing!
All those photos!
Isn't it?
Yes.
It's your entire family history.
What's that painting?
I don't know.
It's quite beautiful.
And I have no idea what that is.
It's so moving.
To think that we're descendants of all these people.
Yeah.
I was looking...
That woman...
I think she could be my grandmother.
And if I understand correctly,
that's the Adèle Meunier you mentioned.
Yes, that could be Adèle Meunier.
Because she had 3 children.
- Ophélie... - My great-grandmother!
François, and the baby would be Louis.
Your great-grandmother? So we're fairly distant.
Ophélie was my great-grandfather Louis' sister.
Was your grandmother the one who went to Algeria?
- No, that was my mother. - Your mother!
My mom said her great aunt fell for an Algerian.
Exactly! She had 2 kids with her first husband,
then went to Algeria and met my father, Mohamed.
I was born of that union.
Okay.
That clarifies everything!
You okay?
Yeah. Sorry...
I was on a 15-hour shoot yesterday, so...
I need a little rest.
Look, here's a 1944 calendar.
The days are crossed off up until September 4.
They may have been victims of the Le Havre bombings.
The entire city was wiped out in two days.
And right around those dates...
Gaspard!
Adèle!
You're leaving?
Yes.
Why didn't you say it was today?
I knew it was hard for you, but...
it's hard for me, too.
Telling you too soon would have been worse.
- I was scared you'd tell me to stay. - Stay!
You can't just leave!
Yes, I can.
I want to go to Paris, Gaspard.
To find my mommy.
It's dangerous, going to Paris. All alone.
I'll write to you.
You can't write, Adèle.
I'll... figure it out, I'll find someone.
That way you'll think of me.
That won't even survive the trip.
Here.
Don't be mad at me.
I have no family left here, and I feel like...
I'll never grow up, without knowing my mommy.
Do you trust me?
Of course I trust you.
Seb...
You okay?
Yeah.
We have to go. I'll wait over there.
Be right there.
How about a little meet-&-greet?
"Meet-&-greet"?
I dunno, to say what we do,
where we're from, what we want.
We're family, but we don't even know each other.
True.
You, for example. What do you do, Seb?
I create digital contents.
"Tent".
"Tent"?
Con-"tent".
Right, "tent". Digital content.
We know you didn't create just one.
How about you?
I'm an engineer in the transport industry.
I have a master's in Prospective, Innovation and Disruption.
Now I work on disruptive projects for railway innovation.
Disruptive? Meaning?
There are 2 ways to look at the future.
As a logical continuation of the present,
or by integrating the notion of rupture.
Okay.
And what side are you on?
I'm a big believer in bust-ups!
Technological bust-ups, I mean.
"Technological" because you just broke up with someone?
Yes.
Well...
No. I mean, it's complicated.
I won't even ask you.
You're obviously a French teacher.
Absolutely. In middle school.
Today, a teacher
also has to be a community manager.
I spend my life on WhatsApp.
With parents, students, other teachers. It's a nightmare.
The government must bleed you dry.
National Education is constantly changing ministers!
It just gets worse.
I can't complain.
I love my job.
And I work with students, not ministers.
So it doesn't change much for me.
Since no one asked...
I'm a beekeeper.
A beekeeper?
That's good. I mean, they're useful!
"Beekeeper" is reductive.
Obviously, I make honey, I tend to the bees.
But I'm mostly an activist at the FNBU.
- FNBU? - The French National Beekeepers Union.
We're active in the battle against big capital -
GMOs, pesticides, all that crap.
If this goes on, there'll be no bees left on Earth.
Sorry, my girlfriend just got back from Dubai.
What's incredible about bees...
Seb! Where are you?
On the train.
We're all going clubbing tonight!
To celebrate the start of the end of fashion week. Wanna come?
- Big time! - Cool!
It's gonna be rad! I'm so psyched! Love ya...
Bees can communicate their orientation and distance from the sun.
It's fairly specific, but it's beautiful to see.
They flutter their wings like that.
And just by moving their wings...
Everything moves too fast today. Doesn't it?
You young people don't take the time to live anymore.
It's true.
"Let's do this, let's do that."
For you young people,
it's not like before.
When we liked to say things.
Just for the pleasure of exchanging pleasantries.
I don't know...
"Hello, ma'am, how are your sheep?"
"Fine, sir, and you?"
Maybe we should divvy up tasks, to keep our cousins in the loop.
I could call the developer.
I think he's shady. He won't give us a figure and he's so pushy.
I agree. And I'll look into the painting.
Are we even sure we have to sell the house?
We don't have to, but...
Dividing it 30 ways will be complicated.
- I have to go. - See you soon!
Bye.
Port of call!
We're reaching the port of call!
Hello.
- You going to Paris? - Yes.
- Ever been there? - No.
Neither have we.
We're from Le Havre. And you?
I'm from Saint-Jouin-Bruneval.
Not far from us!
I'm Lucien.
He's Anatole.
We're going to work in Paris.
What'll you do?
I'm going to find my mommy.
My grandmother raised me.
And she just died.
So I decided to look for my mother in Paris.
At least to let her know.
You haven't seen your mother in how long?
Twenty years.
Didn't you say you were 21 years old?
Yes, I'm 21.
- Anatole's a painter. - Painting.
And I'm a photographer.
Only because Lucien can't draw.
No way! I can draw really well.
Yeah, right!
He says that because he's a painter.
He doesn't realize painting's a dying art.
- Painting's a dying art? - Obviously!
It'll be useless.
Useless!
You really think painting will disappear?
Everybody knows that.
Painting's for hard workers.
And photography's for lazy bums!
You can't say that.
Why do you want to leave Le Havre?
It's all happening in Paris now.
Lucien's uncle knows everyone there.
My uncle's a big shot.
- He's sure to find us work. - Almost sure.
Almost sure!
We've discussed this.
You haven't seen him in ages.
He's my uncle.
- But it's been ages. - But he's my uncle.
- But you haven't seen him in ages. - So?
He'll remember me.
I don't know him. He won't get me work.
It's a bet! He'll get us both work.
- Okay. - Drinks are on you!
A true photographer! A lazy drunk.
Baloney!
Valentina, as usual, it's perfect.
Maïmouna, great progress!
Thank you.
Malone, I don't know what to say or do.
What?
- "I dunno who Jean Valjean is"? - I really dunno who he is.
I "don't know."
That's what I said. Me, neither!
Give me an idea of the amount.
I have no idea who you are.
I represent 30 rights-holders.
It's legitimate to request a ballpark figure for this transaction.
Look, given your tone,
we may decide not to sell the house or the land.
Asshole!
- Everything okay? - Yes.
- Could you hear me? - A little.
Céline, everything okay?
What an asshole!
As if women are incapable of talking money.
It's insane!
She looks uptight.
No, she's nice. That's Céline.
She's Ms. Bizness. Her brain's an Excel spreadsheet.
A bit stuck-up. Nice, but stuck-up.
Or stuck-up, but nice.
Look at all the photos!
Scroll down and you'll see the house.
- Beautiful, huh? - It's incredible!
- Know what they wanna do? - No.
- They wanna build a supermarket! - No?
With a parking lot. It's total bullshit!
Another shitty European masterpiece!
Plus, the mayor thinks we're pushovers. They're in cahoots.
With their "super eco-friendly solar panel" bullshit.
They really take us for idiots!
You know, Guy,
Mom's so proud of what you're doing for the family.
It's my pleasure.
I'm learning so much
about us all.
- Look, they're all working. - Yeah.
I've missed you all!
My little beauties!
Did you miss me?
I totally agree! Don't go to Roubion anymore.
They spray Roundup there!
Adèle...
Adèle!
Wake up.
- Come with me. - Why?
Come on!
We're staying at a Montmartre bistro. Le Rat Mort.
They say everybody knows it.
So if you ever need...
He's right. Or even...
No, that's sweet, but there's not much chance that...
Keep moving. Welcome to Paris!
Louis, the baggage!
Well...
goodbye.
Goodbye.
So... know how to get there?
Abdel!
How are you?
You haven't changed a bit!
I knew you'd say that.
Of course I've changed.
I can't restore myself the way we restore paintings here.
Let's go! I knew I'd find you with Courbet!
You know my love of Baudelaire?
Shall we sit there?
So how are you?
About to retire.
Already?
I calculated that in 40 years, I've had about 5,000 students.
And I'll never know if I passed on a thing.
Absolutely. I can tell you, you gave me a lot.
My love of art history, that's you alone.
- Yes. - Of course.
I don't know.
In any case, that's what I did.
- How are your daughters? - Fine.
Can you believe they're in their 30s now?
But I hardly see them anymore.
And your son?
He's fine. He lives in Lyon now.
So I'm alone.
Anyway, that gives me the time to write my book.
You're writing a book?
On how to understand the great masterpieces.
To take your time, be selective,
the solitary gaze before the canvas.
Why am I attracted to this
rather than that?
Oh, time flies!
Show me that painting you mentioned.
Here.
It certainly looks Impressionist.
There weren't many copies before the war.
Our best bet would be to show the original to Dounia,
a close friend who's a curator at the museum in Le Havre.
- Le Havre? - Yes.
We can go together. I'd love that.
I added ♥ ♥ ♥ and an emoji kiss.
You know very well that adding...
What is it, Gramps?
Am I interrupting?
Yes. What's up?
- Will you be here for lunch? - Yeah, be right out.
Close the door, please.
Sending ♥ ♥ ♥ makes no sense when we're apart.
Sure it does. To me, ♥ ♥ ♥ makes sense.
I never see you.
Then you stand me up and send me ♥ ♥ ♥?
Yeah. To me, that's important.
For me, it's getting to be a pain.
Are things on the skids with Leslie?
Have you seen that singer who came here
the other day?
- Why do you ask that? - No reason.
You seemed to like her, that's all.
What a crock!
Not at all.
Yes, it is.
You're the one who likes her.
That's true, I do.
Plus, she's a good singer.
What?
Nothing, I was just wondering...
You live with your grandfather?
Yeah, I live at his place.
Is that shocking?
Not at all. It was just funny to see you together.
I understand. He sort of raised me, so...
I have a hard time leaving him all alone.
You know?
I understand. Plus, he seems nice.
- He is nice. - Isn't he?
Yeah, he's cool.
Let's go down there.
- There? - Yeah.
Go ahead!
Go!
Again.
Now slowly raise your arms.
Very slowly. Perfect.
Great. A little more.
Very slowly.
Again. That's it.
At the arrow, begin to pivot.
Stop.
A little more.
Again.
Keep going.
Again.
Perfect. And...
Keep moving forward.
You sure about this?
Yeah, it'll be great.
Lift your arms.
Move forward. Perfect.
There's not too much "me"?
Just "you" could work.
But I'm trying to get a bit of Paris with you.
It's you and Paris, let's say.
It's not too cliché? Too "old Paris"?
Paris is Paris. It's old and it's cliché, but...
And with you in there, it's less cliché.
You "un-cliché" everything.
I "un-cliché"... So shall we?
Whenever you're ready.
If the night is listening
If the past
murmurs of other lives
Something impels me
To search for you
in the streets of the city
Your face appeared in the night
I know your name, I know your age
I've been waiting
ages for you
As if I had
to lose myself
To give meaning
to this love
- Yes? - Is this Monsieur Gosset's office?
Yes, please come in.
Thank you.
Odette Vermillard hired me 20 years ago to send 100 francs monthly.
Your address is all I had to find my mother.
She personally brings me the money on the first of every month.
But you...
You've never seen her?
No, never.
Well...
You don't even have her address?
No, I don't. I was hoping you would.
No, I don't.
I only know her place of employment.
Really?
Yes?
Does Odette Vermillard work here?
Yes.
Leave your things here.
This way.
Wait here.
You want to see Odette?
For...?
I'd just like to speak to her.
Come on.
Come on!
Could you wait in here?
Yes.
Hello.
Madam Yvonne said you asked to see me.
Yes.
Where's Odette?
- The colonel? - Yes.
Hurry. I have a client. I can't keep him waiting.
Speak up, why did you want to see me?
Monsieur Gosset...
said I could find you here.
Adèle?
Yes, madam.
Could you leave us?
Don't call me madam, okay?
I'm your mother. You can call me "Mama".
If you like...
I went to see Monsieur Gosset.
He's the one who said I could come...
to your place of...
So I came.
Why didn't you come, madam?
Call me "Mama".
Why didn't you ever come to see me?
Where's my little slut?
It was precisely this I didn't want you to see.
I didn't want you to know.
Odette, what's going on? Come on!
Be right there.
Wait for me.
I'll be right back.
I'll work it out.
There you are!
Finally.
I'm sorry, Colonel. I can't today.
- Really? - I'm sorry.
What do you mean?
Don't keep the Colonel waiting.
- I have an appointment. - Yes, we know, Colonel.
Adèle!
If the night is listening
If the past
murmurs of other lives
Something impels me
To search for you
in the streets of the city
Your face appeared in the night...
The family meeting's started!
- Be right there. - You coming?
Step on it!
You'll miss it all!
We'll show the painting to the museum in Le Havre.
My friend at the Musée d'Orsay agrees that it's Impressionist.
I've spoken with the head of the regional community,
to determine the value of the house.
But oddly, he won't tell me.
I sincerely think
selling our family house to build a supermarket breaks my heart.
That's Guy.
Is that our future? Wall-to-wall concrete?
Is that what we want to leave our children?
Parking lots?
I'm constantly driving. Parking lots are practical.
Sir, you have a filter problem.
I know. I've tried to fix it. I can't.
I think my granddaughter did it.
Go to "settings".
I did. It says "cat room." Is that why?
No, it's "chat room." No relation.
Go to "filters and preferences."
It's not the parking lot that's shocking, it's their methods.
I agree.
We have to go back to Normandy.
To investigate the painting and everything else.
My grandson tells me there are lots of family belongings there.
We have to inventory all that.
If the painting's valuable, there may be other stuff.
If we can make some dough, go for it!
Did you say there were old photos, too?
- It's gone? - Finally!
Old photos are a pain in the ass.
And usually worthless.
I think 2 or 3 days there would be ideal.
What do you say, cousins?
Gramps, going away for 3 days... I can't.
I'm too swamped with work.
I have a shoot, editing to finish...
What do you mean? Shoots, Amstagram are less of a priority.
I have to take this.
What?
Is it the singer?
Fuck off!
Good sign!
- Am I disturbing you? - Not at all!
D'you take a look?
Yeah, I saw your cut
and it's beautiful. I'm shook.
Cool!
It's no big deal. It's just a rough cut...
to give you an idea.
It's just so different from the stuff you showed me.
- I wasn't totally convinced. - Right.
I do so many gigs just for the bread.
And now I feel like I sorta need to go somewhere else.
And working with you is a big help, 'cause...
I love your song so much, it inspires me.
If I inspire you, that's awesome.
So the Seine's not too cliché?
No, not at all.
It's simple and beautiful. It's Paris!
Cool.
Three days in Normandy. No big deal!
It's our whole family history, after all.
It may even be interesting.
- Excuse me... - One minute!
- Georgette! I bought a horse. - No?
Nanar! Did you know? Etienne bought a horse.
What?
Did you know about Étienne's horse?
He's got no horse.
He didn't, but now he does.
Yes?
Hello, ma'am. I'm looking for two boys,
Anatole and Lucien.
They said they were staying in a room upstairs. Do you know...
The kids from Normandy?
I saw them go out, but not come back.
Take a seat. They'll be back.
Thank you, ma'am.
Honey, when you're drunk you can be a brute
When you get soused you get into trouble
If you get arrested one night in a fight
No one will come see me
in Saint-Lazare
I'll close my letter with a kiss
Adieu, my love
You're not too lovey-dovey
Yet I adore you
Like I adored the good Lord, like Daddy
When I was little...
She's so beautiful and she's so nice
- We like her. - Who?
- Nini peau d'chien - Where?
At the Bastille!
Good morning.
Adèle!
- She came last night? - Yes, asking for you.
Why didn't you send her upstairs?
I didn't wanna wake the poor kid.
You okay?
So what happened?
What happened?
Did you find your mother?
Yes.
You didn't stay with her?
No... she couldn't take me in.
We can!
Sure we can.
Really? You wouldn't mind?
Why not ask beggars if they're hungry.
Nonsense.
It's not what you think.
Leave them alone, it's too early!
Instead of doing nothing, like Nanar, you can help me with lunch.
I won't charge her, but you can do my errands.
I need potatoes,
milk and butter.
Flour, too!
Where do we go?
To Titi's, in Barbès. It's nearby.
Here you go.
It's that way, through the field.
- Through this door? - Yes.
It must be here, no?
Leave the pails there.
I'll get the potatoes.
And you can get the milk.
In that barn.
There's no milk here.
What'll we do? Wait?
- He said to help ourselves. - But where?
Back there.
Where?
Oh, okay.
Is it this way?
I don't know.
Excuse me, which way to the rue Caulaincourt?
That way. After the vegetable patch on your left.
You know, in France,
there's not a single primeval forest.
Meaning?
That means everything was planted by man.
Everything you see here was planted by men.
Exactly.
So it's hard to define what nature is.
That's true.
Ladies and gentlemen, may we officially open the door?
So what do we do exactly?
We should be methodical.
We each pick a room and make a list of what's in it.
List everything on your smartphones.
I have a phone, but it's not too smart.
This is incredible!
It's an embarrassment of riches!
There are so many things in here!
I'll make a list,
but it'll take a while!
You can put it down.
There!
Now we have one more.
We can hang a sheet...
so you feel more at ease.
That's not bad!
Anatole, come here.
- Why? - Come here.
- Who's that? - No idea.
Do you really believe what you said about painting?
What did I say?
That it won't exist anymore because of photography.
Yeah, I think so.
Why would people want to keep painting?
Look at Anatole. He knows photography exists,
yet he doesn't seem to want to stop painting.
That's true.
I don't understand why.
These are some of my sketches.
And his drawings are beautiful.
Of course they are.
Hold on...
Look at this.
It's a photo I took.
Look at the detail. The roof tiles,
the reflections on the water, the trees...
It's beautiful.
No painter could do that today.
It's so precise.
- It's crazy, though, isn't it? - Yeah, crazy!
I mean...
the fact that people have even invented such a thing.
The concept behind photography is fairly simple.
Like when you peel an apple.
If you leave half of the apple in the sun,
it turns brown.
But if you leave the other half in the dark, it stays white.
A photo's the same.
You have a good stroke. That's exactly what I need.
Let's meet tomorrow morning
and I'll give you a try.
Until tomorrow then. Thank you.
Anatole...
Can I ask you something?
Yeah...
Could I...
- I don't dare ask. - Go ahead.
You can write, can't you?
Of course.
I miss you so much.
Dear Gaspard, You've been in my thoughts...
You once said,
a long time ago, that...
I was meant to learn to write.
I don't know if that's true, but...
now I realize how much
I'd love to be able to do that.
I saw my mom...
I'm not sure what I should do now.
I've thought about returning to Normandy.
But I feel like there are things
I need to explore here, in Paris.
Is that all?
Adèle.
I got it!
I can design the bakery façade.
- No? - Yes!
Incredible!
Congratulations!
He ordered a modern fresco. A harvest allegory.
Of people working in the fields. Very realistic.
In a technique I never heard of.
You'll learn.
Then you can pay for your meals.
That's how I like artists!
Congratulations!
I'm happy for you.
Adèle...
Yes?
I need to get my notebook. Tell me when we can open the curtain.
Yes...
It won't be long.
What?
Nothing.
Why are you looking at me like that?
It's nothing.
In fact, it's for my job.
Really?
I have to draw a girl, but I haven't done many nudes.
Nudes? What's that?
In a drawing class,
people pose nude for you, so you can study the human body.
- You do that? - Yes.
You've already done that?
You have to, to learn to draw.
But I haven't done many.
And girls agree to do that?
Yeah, lots of girls do that.
Yeah, right...
What?
You're good!
What?
I can see where you're going.
How so?
You want me to do that, right?
Yeah, I was wondering if you might...
maybe pose for me.
To get naked in front of you?
We live in the same room, so it would be practical.
Yeah!
Would you?
If I do that...
will you teach me to read and write?
Uh, yeah.
Everything okay?
What are you doing?
Waking up.
A photographer?
- There. - Thank you.
And the other two?
No idea. They said they'd be right down.
And this is...
a Lancaster Instantograph.
It's really practical. You can take it anywhere.
You know how to use that?
Sure, I've done it for ages.
That's amazing.
If you'd like me to take your portrait, it's entirely possible.
- Yes! - Oh, yes!
Pick out your nicest dress and...
a nice spot.
Rose has lots of nice dresses.
Why say that?
- What? - No idea.
When they give Rose...
No, Violette!
It's nothing!
What's this about?
When she gets a pretty dress to launder,
she tries it on...
She hits the hot spots!
I never!
- You steal them? - No, never!
Maybe once or twice.
Don't think I'm a thief!
I'm a good laundress. It's true!
You are.
Sometimes I borrow a dress. But I'm very careful.
And you return it?
Of course I do! I even wash it.
Then let me know when you'd like to do it.
Bend your knee a little.
Flex your foot a bit more.
Good. Turn toward the window.
Lift your right hand a bit higher.
Lift your chin.
Very good. Don't move.
Don't look at me like that.
I have to look at you. I'm drawing you.
- Yes? - No!
What?
- Yes? - What's up?
I think I struck gold.
Really?
Struck gold?
- Look! - In there?
Look.
That's the gold?
It's full of photos and letters.
"Monday, May 13, 1895."
Dear Adèle...
Here we are...
more than a month...
since you left.
"I want to see you.
"I have lots to say, but I'll wait till you return..."
"...to tell you everything I'd really like to say."
But I'll tell you
when we're all alone, on your return.
This is incomprehensible!
What are you trying to say?
That I'd like to...
I'd like to say that...
that Marguerite gave birth.
There!
Now she'll be happy.
"I'd also like to say that Marguerite gave birth,
"and the calf is doing well."
"We named him Kitty,
"because I remember how much you like cats.
"I hope you're doing well in Paris..."
and that...
you're doing as well as Kitty.
...you're doing as well as Kitty.
Time passes slowly without you.
That's lovely.
Yes.
"We're all eager for your return."
See you soon, Gaspard.
- See you soon, Gaspard. - Gaspard.
Gaspard.
Thank you.
So it was good news.
Yes.
It's strange how they wrote back then.
It's so distant, so modest.
Almost awkward.
Simpler.
Maybe their vocabulary was limited.
So, she's in Paris?
Right?
"More than a month since you left for Paris."
If he wrote her after just a month...
Look for more letters.
I'm so happy you came back.
I was afraid I'd never see you again.
It wouldn't be much different than before?
Yes, it would've been very different.
Not really.
For me, it would.
Very different.
You're mad at me.
Yes.
Of course I am.
If I ever have children, I could never do that.
To abandon them and never...
I didn't abandon you.
I know...
Because you sent money?
Yes.
It was my way of not abandoning you. Of thinking of you.
That's no way to think.
Not a real way of thinking about me.
What?
That's better, don't you think?
You look a little more Parisian.
I didn't get along with my mother.
But it seems she was nice to you.
So that's good.
She couldn't bear who I was.
After your birth, she didn't want me...
to keep modeling.
She wanted to keep you
and make me change careers, if I wanted to see you.
She thought all models were tramps.
But not necessarily.
Not all models become what I've become.
And I really loved that -
being a model,
meeting artists.
That's not a good enough reason.
You could have tried to see me, despite all that.
I know you missed that.
Forgive me.
It's hard to explain. But believe me, it wasn't easy.
I could never explain that to my mother.
Did she take good care of you?
Yes.
How is she?
She...
She just died.
Does that affect you?
Of course.
This almost feels like a police investigation.
I agree.
It's weird prying into those people's lives.
You say, "those people."
But those people are our family.
I feel like, in discovering things about them,
we're discovering ourselves.
That's exactly what my father says.
Now, he calls me nonstop.
Asking what we've learned about the family.
Anything wrong?
No, my life is just sort of...
Is there anything we can do?
I don't think so.
I'll go.
I think...
love needs to be reinvented today.
I read somewhere...
I think I was on a train.
Yeah?
"Love...
"is a reinvention of life.
"To reinvent love...
"means reinventing that reinvention."
I love that phrase.
In any case, for me,
male-female relationships
can't be seen in the same way anymore.
You can't be here, sir.
- Screw you, lady. - Guy!
This is incredible!
If I'm in here, something must be happening, right?
Have a nice day.
What tact!
- No, I'm sorry. - No!
- Let me handle this. - Don't bother.
Ma'am!
Hold on...
- I'm turning it off. - No, Guy!
Confiscated!
I turned off the phone. It's over.
You'll feel better instantly.
- You're right. - Yeah.
I'm sorry to be such a downer.
We're all family here.
Relax, we all have our problems.
It's my boyfriend...
Well, I thought he'd be my boyfriend but...
As usual, he said he wanted me.
Just not enough... to stick around.
End of story.
If I may, "One door closes...
"Another opens!" Totally!
Especially for someone like you.
You shouldn't have much trouble.
I do.
If you want "cool" love, go to Italy.
"E" is a bit tighter.
The "L" has that loop.
Success! We got one.
It should be your size.
But be really careful.
If my boss finds out, I'm dead.
Yes, I promise. I'm always very careful.
It's really gorgeous!
Ready?
Let me introduce Anatole and Adèle.
- My uncle... - Enchanted.
Théophraste.
Like this place?
It's wild!
Beautiful. The landscapes on the walls.
Have a seat!
It's the height of modernity in Paris!
Everyone's here!
When can we see your work?
In fact, he'll soon have paintings in Montmartre....
It's Sarah Bernhardt.
Who's that?
Sarah!
Give them something.
Just one line...
for Paris.
"Sun!
"I come to see thee for the last time."
Théophraste!
Still hitting all the chic spots!
As are you!
This is my nephew, Lucien.
I just spoke of you. He's an aspiring photographer.
Good evening.
Delighted. Good choice! Come see me.
My friends' nephews
are almost my nephews!
You're everywhere.
I could say the same of you.
Félix!
Yes. Coming.
That's Félix, a friend.
A great photographer.
I don't know if I can stay.
The problem is life is very expensive in Paris.
You seem to have no problem in that regard.
This dress isn't mine.
I borrowed it.
As lovely as you are,
you could easily find lots of ways to earn money.
What do you mean?
Lots of people...
might love to buy you
such beautiful dresses.
I was just 20 when you were born.
I was still a model. A rich man promised to take care of us.
Which he did, but only for a few months.
Then he asked me to leave you with Mama.
He supported me for a few years, then lost interest.
Soon, he kicked me out.
That's when I tried to see you again.
But Mama wouldn't let me.
So I had to make a choice and...
Yes.
I decided not to go back to Normandy.
I wanted to live. To be free.
And especially not listen to my mother.
And my father? Who's my father?
I had two lovers at the time.
A painter and a photographer.
The photographer was already famous.
The painter wasn't, but he had something...
sort of special.
I don't know, I liked him.
I felt he had talent.
Who was the photographer?
Félix Nadar.
Félix Nadar?
You know him?
Of course I do!
He's the one we saw with my uncle.
I'm going to see him.
Him?
I'm not sure I'd dare see him again.
If he's your father, you need to know.
Give me a slight smile.
That... that... that...
That! There.
Freeze!
Don't move...
Done!
You can move now.
Help her up, Timothée.
- Thank you, Monsieur Nadar. - You're welcome.
We'll have the results within 2 weeks.
I can't wait!
Family photos are so different now.
People don't pose in the same way.
Sure, today, it's a free-for-all.
We constantly take photos, selfies...
To take one photo, we take five.
Know what I read?
Every 2 minutes, we take more photos than in the entire 19th century.
Every 2 minutes?
Now, everyone's a photographer.
Anyone can take nice photos.
Just having a camera doesn't make you a good photographer.
Could you show me some of your photos?
I can show you my Insta,
but it doesn't reflect the work I really like.
Not interesting...
This one I like.
Yeah, I see that.
Yeah, that one's good.
I can't tell you what I like about that image, but...
it has something.
In Le Havre, I worked for Firmin Kaiser
and Gustave Le Gray.
I know Gustave's work well.
Have you ever worked with dry collodion plates?
No, I've mostly worked with wet collodion plates...
Excuse me, sir...
I feel like I know you.
Have I ever photographed you?
It was probably my mother.
She said she knew you well.
What's her name?
Odette Vermillard.
Odette... Yes.
Of course.
I knew her well.
That was back in the '70s... We were all a bit crazy.
Let me see if I can find something.
Is it him?
Your father?
Here.
Odette...
I know this one.
And you?
Could I photograph you?
Very good.
I'll focus...
Don't move.
There.
They were photographed by Nadar.
Incredible.
They were beautiful!
We were saying that she may be her mother.
Maybe.
She does look younger.
Those photos are so mysterious.
You wonder what their lives were like.
They really...
My imagination just takes off...
so far.
Can you believe it?
I may get to work for Félix Nadar!
So...
Think he's your father?
No...
I don't know. Anyway, I didn't feel anything special.
No, I can't imagine it's him.
I met Monsieur Nadar.
Really? And?
He certainly remembered you.
But I don't know...
I didn't feel anything. I don't think he did either.
And the painter?
Who was the painter?
André Malraux Museum of Modern Art
That's Calixte.
Hello!
I'm Calixte. Pleased to meet you.
This is Dounia.
We studied at the Louvre together.
She's become a major Impressionist specialist.
Abdelkrim, my former high school teacher.
But not only!
My cousins...
- Céline. - Nice to meet you.
Guy...
And Seb.
Will you follow me?
And here,
we have a beautiful Eugène Boudin collection.
- A forerunner. - They're stunning.
Before him, painting was only done in the studio.
Once the tube was invented...
Hey! Abdel...
What?
Can you explain the "not only"?
There's nothing to explain.
Come on!
She was a very good student...
I had doubts from the photo. But now, yes!
It's clearly an Impressionist painting.
It's quite disconcerting.
It's not the work of an amateur.
And clearly from the Impressionist period.
This was also in the house.
Any idea what it could be?
The canvas seems to be of the same period.
But the style is much more modern.
Or it's just a sketch. It's hard to say.
In both cases, I suggest in-depth analyses.
X-rays and micro-fluorescence
will give us much more tangible data.
Since we're here,
I can't resist showing you a spot
that's an art history landmark.
Here we are.
It was here,
on Southampton Quay - or the Grand Quay -
that the Hôtel de l'Amirauté stood.
Right over there. And it was from that hotel
that Monet painted
what is considered the first Impressionist painting,
Impression, Sunrise.
There!
Seeing that work and not understanding it,
art critic Louis Leroy
gave Impressionism its name.
Things sure have changed!
There's something
I've been wanting to discuss for a while.
I brought along some Ayahuasca.
No?
Meaning?
Know what Ayahuasca is?
- Sure. - Yes.
You may not believe in it, but I do.
It's a shamanic plant
that allows you
to communicate with the elders.
If it worked, that'd be insane.
Thanks. That's kind of you, but...
I don't buy that shamanic stuff.
I think Ayahuasca works even on nonbelievers.
Sure it does.
I'd like to try!
Isn't it really dangerous?
Any mystical experience is dangerous.
We don't know where we'll go or when we'll be back.
But it's an experience.
That's enough! Thanks.
For the moment, I don't feel a thing...
I'd like that, too.
It's so strange.
It looks like a child did it!
Or it's unfinished.
It's appalling!
Isn't it more like your gaze is unprepared to grasp...
Calixte...
That's Félix Nadar.
Berthe Morisot!
Pissarro!
Degas, Sisley,
Cézanne,
Renoir...
Claude Monet!
Calixte, they're taking a photo...
You can move now.
Very good.
Are you Adèle?
No, I'm Odette.
Adèle is my daughter.
Odette?
What are you doing here?
I was curious to see your paintings.
And I wanted to introduce you.
Come with me.
What is this painting saying?
That's the question.
It's Impression, Sunrise.
"Impression"?
The first Impressionist painting.
"Impressionist"?
Catchy phrase!
Do you feel anything?
Of course I do.
I am the flowers on the wall That only bloom in April
You have but to leave For nothing to be left
Exactly.
Magnificent!
Thank you.
I'm a huge fan.
You're a...?
I'm a great admirer.
Might I ask your address?
I'd like to send you... an anthology.
An anthology?
Yes.
Remember this?
Yes.
You kept it?
Of course.
That moment, that seemed so important to you, is now important to me.
What's her name?
Adèle.
I got hit on by Victor Hugo!
- No way! - I swear, Victor Hugo! Look!
Yeah!
See?
Come with me.
Don't touch me.
You should finish your paintings before you hang them!
Who do you think you are?
What do you know about art?
Asshole!
Calixte, calm down!
Do you know who I am?
- You ignoramus! - What?
It's Monsieur Leroy!
Are you okay?
Seb...
You okay?
Seb, it's us.
You okay?
Yeah.
You okay?
That was insane.
- Really? - It worked for you?
I didn't feel a thing.
Sure you did! You got hit on by Victor Hugo.
Victor Hugo?
You did!
That's a change from my shitty love life!
In any case,
at least it worked for one of us.
I was really tripping.
Where's Calixte?
I'm not the only one.
How's Calixte?
Still crying, but she's okay.
She's devastated that she slept 26 hours.
And despondent about beating up Leroy.
Leroy?
I didn't completely understand.
But I think she'll be okay.
That stuff was pretty potent.
You okay, Seb?
Yeah.
This is Odette,
I think.
She's Adèle's mother.
Really?
The opposite of what we thought.
You okay?
Yeah.
I'm okay.
My parents died when I was 5.
They died together, in a car accident.
So my grandparents raised me.
Now I just have my grandfather.
It was really important to him that I come here and do this with you.
To be honest, I really didn't give a shit.
But discovering these people and you...
I feel like I've discovered my family.
A real family.
I usually prefer to be circumspect.
I like absolute certainty.
So please forgive my dampened enthusiasm. Anyway...
I've received the first analyses.
I think I can affirm
that your painting...
is by Claude Monet.
Claude Monet?
Yes.
Obviously, before celebrating, that must be confirmed
by other experts.
But if that's confirmed,
it means that this painting
is priceless.
When you say
"priceless"...
What do you think the price would be? About...
When I say "priceless", I mean it's hard to estimate.
Just to know, more or less.
Just to know...
Of course.
Plus, with the Nadar photographs you brought me,
it poses a lot of questions.
About your ancestor's life.
It's unsettling.
According to our analyses, the painting dates from the 1890s.
Yet, this piece of canvas dates from the 1870s.
What are you painting?
The rising sun.
The sun's not red.
Not anymore, but it was.
I'm not painting the port, just an instant...
A fleeting moment.
Just a few moments ago.
It's strange how the reflections keep shifting.
Like they're dancing.
As if they're singing....
Singing how?
That works pretty well.
Yes, that's good.
It's c-a-l-f.
Really?
Who's that?
So, how are you?
This is my mommy.
- Hello, ma'am. - Hello, boys.
Lucien and Anatole.
May I...?
- We could sit over there. - Okay.
I wanted to give you something before you left.
What is it?
The painter I told you about gave it to me.
I want you to have it.
For me, it's linked to your birth.
You like the boy with the mustache?
- No? - Yes...
But I...
I feel like he's only nice to me because he thinks I'm pretty.
So?
You can't blame him. It's not a disease to be pretty.
No... I don't know.
I don't want to be just pretty.
But do you like him?
Yes, I like him, but...
But what?
I don't know if it's right to...
What do you think I should...
I'm not sure I'm the right person to give you advice.
Yes, you are. Go on!
Tell me what you think.
Take what life offers!
Make mistakes.
You may regret them later, but...
Better to regret what you've done, than what you haven't.
Do you regret having me?
No.
Certainly not.
Never would I regret that.
Look into the lens.
And... don't move.
Here we go!
Don't move...
Now you can move.
It feels weird.
It's magnificent.
- Almost a photo. - But in color!
Hurry, we'll miss it!
No, we'll make it!
- Faster! - Wait for us!
Wait for us!
- So? - You can see it!
All lit up?
Can you see the Avenue de l'Opéra?
That's insane!
It's beautiful!
Really beautiful!
Just beautiful!
Incredible!
Maybe one day,
every street in Paris will be lit up like that.
With electricity.
You're dreaming!
We have to dream!
Look at that avenue.
What about it?
It's the avenue of the future!
It's true!
Tomorrow I'll be there.
On the Avenue de l'Opéra.
Really? Why?
Mr. Nadar's taking us to a cinematograph demonstration.
What's that?
I didn't understand completely, but...
I think it's like photographs that move.
- Really? - Yeah.
What for?
How about a drink?
- Absolutely! - Yeah.
So?
It's addressed to Adèle Vermillard.
And it's signed by someone named Anatole.
One of her lovers!
April 12, 1916.
Dear Adèle,
I, too, think of you often.
I'm happy you can read and write,
and that my lessons weren't in vain.
Yet, I felt like I was a very bad teacher.
Knowing that you've become a teacher fills me with joy.
I've just been mobilized to Verdun. I don't know what I'll do there.
But I hope I'll have some time to draw.
Take care of yourself.
Hoping to see you again soon,
Anatole.
Excuse me.
May I?
Wait'll the family hears we've inherited a Monet!
That's pretty good news.
I warn you, I'll try to convince them to donate it.
A Monet belongs to everyone, not just our family.
Good luck with that!
Why do you say that?
Think they only care about money?
I don't think so!
It'd be nice to get together again soon.
I hope we can.
Well, if you're free on Friday,
come to my retirement party.
You're retiring?
Where?
At my middle school.
Great! I can come.
I can film it.
- Film it? - Yeah!
There may not be much to film.
As a souvenir.
With pleasure. Until Friday, then!
See you then!
You in a hurry?
I have a pretty busy day but...
What are you doing?
Not a thing!
- Nothing at all? - No.
- We could grab a coffee. - Yeah!
Okay!
- Can I help? - No.
I know a cafe over there.
For you, sir.
Not much to film?
Yeah...
I didn't expect this.
So that's our family.
We've pieced together a bit
of the puzzle of what we share.
So now the question is
what shall we do with the painting?
We've discussed it and recommend donating it to the government.
Are you kidding or what? Donate it?
We have a Monet and give it to the government?
Know what my retirement benefits are?
It's priceless...
Family... What a pleasure!
Look at this.
So, Gramps, I wanted to say...
Thank you.
For what?
Thank you because...
It did me good to be part of all that.
I have a better idea of what I want now.
- Good. - Yeah.
Can you explain why?
I've always looked forward. And it did me good to look back.
Excuse me...
I'm looking for Monsieur Monet.
I'll tell him. You can go in.
Go ahead.
Hello.
You wanted to speak to me?
Did Odette give this to you?
Yes, sir.
I was sure I'd see you again one day.
Life flies by.
I made paintings.
Then I...
I made this garden,
to make paintings.
I traveled a lot.
I've painted people, cities, landscapes.
But now, I just want to stay here, at home,
in my garden.
My travels are here now.
Have you traveled?
No.
I just went to Paris.
And what did that bring you?
I met my mother.
And I learned to write. Well, I started to learn.
And I met some people.
That's quite a lot.
I'd like to do something with all this.
I don't know what yet.
What?
Would you be willing to stay here with me for a while?
A few days?
Yes.
I'd love to paint your portrait.
Can I ask you a question?
Did you love my mother?
Yes.
But you didn't want to stay with her?
Have you ever been in love?
Yes.
And you've never felt desire for another?
Yes, I have.
Take your pose.
Why did you ask me to come here?
You're back?
Yes.
This film portrays several famous characters.
Some elements have been modified or invented for narrative purposes.