THE QUIET SON
(train wheels squealing)
(gravel cruching)
Hurry up, guys.
We've got three blocked trains.
(indistinct chattering)
That's where
the catenary exploded.
Alright,
let's reconnect at 3.5 tons.
Let's go.
OVERHEAD LINES
DANGER OF DEATH
(engine rumbling)
(reverse alarm beeping)
(indistinct chattering)
(radio chatter)
(drill whirring)
Now we break everything down
and we come back.
(clanging)
(distant chattering)
Bye, guys.
Alright, sleep well.
See you tomorrow.
Bye, kids.
See you tomorrow, Pierre.
Bye, guys.
(journalist): It's been a decade
that the very idea
of taking an interest in youth
has been completely absent
from the political agenda.
They say they will get to it
at some point...
...but it's still
far from the truth.
This disinterest,
this impression
of being abandoned,
makes this, I'd say,
"forgotten generation"
feel uncomfortable...
(knocking)
(door opening)
(footsteps approaching)
Fus!
You have to get up, Fus.
(Fus groans)
Come on, sleepy head, wake up.
(Fus exhales deeply)
I made some coffee,
don't go back to sleep.
(Fus yawning): Huh?
And air out your den,
it reeks in here.
(Fus yawning loudly)
Don't go back to sleep.
(moans)
(footstep receding on stairs)
(sighs)
(exhales)
(inhales deeply, yawns)
(birdsong)
(gravel crunching)
(engine starting)
(upbeat music
playing over radio)
Here.
Put that on, it's cold.
I'm not made of glass.
- Want me to turn it down?
- Yes, please.
I'm exhausted, I haven't slept.
Problems always occur at night.
And of course
during the weekend. When else?
Of course.
- You don't care.
- Of course, I do!
(laughs)
(indistinct chattering)
Come on, Fus!
(clapping)
(chuckling)
(cleats clattering)
(whistle blows)
(players calling out)
(players shouting indistinctly)
Go on, go on!
Well played.
- Go on!
- Keeper!
f*cking hell!
(indistinct shouting)
(net rattles, cheering)
(whistle blows)
(shower hissing)
Ah!
- Well done.
- Did you like it?
All good?
Hi.
- It was a great game.
- Yeah?
Yes.
Umm...
- Yeah, well, a bit...
- The tackle.
- Yeah... A bit!
- I'll wait for you outside.
(indistinct chattering)
Y-eah!
Great game, guys.
I liked it.
Wazz-ah!
(both laugh)
Fus!
We're off in 5, alright?
I'll go get a drink with them
and I'll head home after.
Alright.
(Jazz music playing)
(whistling)
The tackle was a bit violent,
It was harsh.
(water rushing)
But hey...
It was a great goal, though.
Here.
So, he scored after a foul?
Loulou!
No card, no foul, as he says.
(car drives off)
(door opens)
There we go!
Did someone say "goal"?
There you are.
- We were worried.
- Really?
- You were worried?
- As if!
No, I was worried.
Sorry.
(sighs deeply)
I'm dead.
(sniffS)
- Here.
- Thanks.
(clattering)
Who drove you back?
Some guys,
you don't know them.
Some guys?
- The ones from the stadium?
- Yes.
Who are they?
Guys from school.
They're great.
They go to technical college?
Yeah.
(chuckles softly)
What's the plan today?
I have to study.
And I have to sleep.
Come on, guys...
(chuckling)
(Jazz music continues)
Ooh!
It was a close one.
- Very close.
- I know.
Alright, I'll score one.
- Call it out before.
- Yes.
So, left post in.
Five points.
(crashing) (chuckles)
(squeaking) (effort grunts)
I'm snowboarding!
Oh yeah!
(light zapping)
- All good?
- Damn!
Big boy, isn't it?
Very big boy.
That's great.
- You're happy now?
- I am!
- Huh?
- Ah, yes.
Great toy.
- You OK?
- Yes.
Doesn't look like it.
When sticking up posters
for the demonstration yesterday
a group of fascists came by.
They tore all our posters down
to put their crap up.
Things got heated.
No one was really up
for a fight on our side...
Bernard, I'm over it now.
(gravel crunching)
I support you.
My ideas haven't changed.
You know me.
But it's just that...
Sticking up posters and all.
I'm done.
My father did it,
I did it for a long time,
now I'm all alone,
my free time is for my boys.
That's the thing.
I think your son was
with the group that insulted us.
I wouldn't bet on it
but one of the guys looked
like your boy.
Doesn't he wear a jacket
with a dragon on the back?
No.
Pierre, sometimes
these things get out of hand.
You know how things go: these
th*gs can brainwash the kids.
Fus was with me last night,
the three of us, we were tired,
We went to bed early.
(keys jingling)
(door closing)
(footsteps approaching)
I'll grab a quick bite,
I'm going out.
What was Bordeaux's
score yesterday?
Nothing.
Nil-nil.
Reaching Premier League
will be tough.
Well...
Where's my jacket?
Man.
Damn.
Have you seen it?
No.
Did Loulou take it?
(cutlery clatters)
I threw away your jacket,
I dumped it.
(footsteps approaching)
What?
I threw your jacket away.
Bernard saw you
sticking up posters
with your new friends.
He recognized your jacket.
Crazy, isn't it?
(breathing heavily)
- You've really got a problem.
- Yes.
The fact you hang out with your
friends near the railyard.
And you lie to me.
- Give it to me.
- Let go.
Let go of it.
Let go!
Hey!
The posters weren't
for a rock band.
I'm not an idiot.
I just wanted to see.
I followed some friends.
It's nothing political.
(door thuds closed)
You know what?
It's when they say it isn't
political that you should worry.
(breathing heavily)
Watch out, if you see
them again...
What?
What are you gonna do?
Is that what we taught you?
Huh?
What I taught you?
And look where we are.
(scoffs)
I feel betrayed.
We're not going to fight
over a jacket.
(bangs table)
(footsteps descending stairs)
(footsteps approaching)
I'm starving.
- You alright?
- Yeah.
You're wearing big
boy clothes now? Good!
One day, I'll leave,
and you'll be alone
like two idiots.
(mellow music)
(indistinct chattering)
(door closes)
(keys jingling)
(door opening)
(soft breathing)
(exhales sharply)
(door closing softly)
(thudding)
Pass the ball!
Oh.
(whispering indistinctly)
- Put it down.
- Let's clear the table.
Mm. mm. mm...
(humming nonchalantly)
- You alright?
- Yeah.
What about you?
(water splashing)
(exhales with relief)
(stifled laughter)
- Did we wake you?
- No, I was already up.
- Some coffee?
- Yes, please.
(chuckling)
- What?
- Nothing.
You're going to be late,
hurry up.
Yeah.
- Here.
- I'm doing the night shift.
So, If you're hungry,
the freezer is full.
- Alright, you hear me?
- Yeah.
Um...
Do I have everything?
You done f*cking around?
- Stop talking like that.
- He's super slow.
Alright, bye Dad.
Bye, Dad.
- I trust you, yeah?
- Yes.
- You're going to class.
- What?
- You're going to class.
- Yes.
You'd better.
- Bye, boys!
- Bye, Dad.
(door closes)
(boys chattering)
(rustling)
(clattering)
(desk chair rolling)
(crowd chanting)
(mouse clicks)
(crowd chanting, cheering)
(tense music)
"France For the French"
(rope whipping)
Go back
to where you came from!
(indistinct shouting
over laptop)
This is our country!
You guys!
(grunting)
Stop!
(door closes)
Dad?
Yes?
(footsteps approaching)
You OK?
Have you seen this?
Aren't you bothered
your brother is into this?
His friends are into that,
Fus isn't like that.
He seems to like it.
Did you know?
That he had ultra friends?
They're not only ultras.
This is a pile of...
What the hell is he doing?
And he's skipping class too.
I got another call
from his school.
Who is he hanging out with?
What the f*ck is he doing?
He'll come around,
don't worry.
"He'll come around."
"Don't worry, don't worry",
but I do worry!
No more downplaying this.
"Seven injured in
a street fight"
Click on it, he has a webpage.
- Where?
- Here.
"Youth Knife Attack"
(mumbling)
"They should go back
to Africa."
Can you believe
what he's saying?
- He didn't write that.
- You just said it was his page.
Ah, OK.
Have you seen these names?
"Dodolf."
(sighs)
He's really screwing up.
(door opens, closes)
(footsteps approaching)
(laughing)
"Wash with similar colors."
Well...
Did you have a good day?
Yeah, and you?
No, I didn't.
I spent the afternoon online.
I saw what you're saying there.
I saw the page of your friends,
your friend Hugo.
He's all clean-cut
but he's full of sh*t.
What the hell are
you doing, Fus?
Are you spying on me?
You're snooping
and spying on me.
Stay put.
I'm talking to you!
Trust me,
it's not what you think!
I believe what I see.
You don't believe in anything.
You follow the rules,
like everyone.
But I don't hang out
with racists!
- They're not r*cist!
- Of course not!
They're just
against immigrants!
Those who are already here,
fine, as long as they stay calm.
Alright?
My friends are like us!
They're legit,
they're clean-cut.
- They're clean-cut?
- Yeah.
Everything they say is dirty.
They "f*ck" everything.
Your friends are obscene!
They are against
whoever doesn't agree.
Even the opposing team.
Your friends are scum!
I say and I do what I want.
- No.
- I see who I want.
- I'm not in jail!
- Not as long as you live here!
Lock me up then,
so that I don't see anyone.
Good idea! At least you won't
hang out with fascists.
I'm out of here,
I'll leave you
with your perfect son.
Fus!
No, Dad!
(indistinct chattering)
(distant bell dings)
(distant shouting)
Fighters, ready?
(cheering)
- What the hell?
- What are you doing here?
You're f*cking
embarrassing me.
Get back home.
Let go of me!
Come on! Come on!
Get him!
(fence clattering)
(indistinct shouting, cheering)
There you go, hold him tight!
Get him!
There you go!
That's what we want!
(crowd chanting, hooting)
(tense music)
(train wheels squealing)
(engine whirring)
(breaks screeching)
(phone ringing)
Hello?
No, he doesn't answer me.
You know what?
Call him
and say he'd better get home.
I've got to get back.
See you later, bye.
Guys!
We have to finish off the ends!
(somber music)
(knocking)
(rhythmic knocking)
Did you get to him?
Yes but he's stubborn.
(seatbelt chiming)
(engine starts)
Let's go.
He wants to live his life.
Let him live his life.
His loss.
It can't be on the left.
- It is.
- No, it's a turning circle.
I can't turn left.
I have to go right.
- It says to go left?
- Yes.
You shouldn't listen
to everything people say.
You weren't so sure
of yourself coming into Paris.
Thanks.
Hang on.
Let me fix you up.
No, I'm good.
Let's go.
So beautiful.
We were right,
it's better to come beforehand.
(indistinct chattering)
Dear students, dear parents,
as Dean of the
Faculty of Letters,
I am honored and proud
to welcome you
to the Sorbonne open day.
The path you have chosen
is one of high standards,
self-sacrifice,
humanistic culture
and of dreams that materialize.
It's a path of dedication.
By choosing it,
you're joining a long line
of illustrious men and women.
Wow, no kidding!
This is an emotional moment
for you as well as for me...
She would have been so happy.
...to see so many of you,
so full of hope and enthusiasm.
I wish you success in your exams
and to be with us next year.
(crowd applauding)
Fus will go crazy
when I tell him.
Yes.
Look who's here.
(vocalizing)
(chuckles softly)
Fus, you're back.
- Show me, Parisian.
- Show you what?
No, your head
didn't get too big.
- Not that much.
- Idiot.
(exhales deeply)
Damn.
(laughs)
No!
- You outdid yourself!
- I have my secrets.
Chef Fus!
Wow...
Yeah.
Come on, tell me.
A Paris university
is not the same.
It's hard to get in but
Jrmy said he would help me.
He's got some work too,
you know.
Let's eat, I'm hungry.
Alright.
It's not every day
Fus does the cooking!
(chuckles)
It's ten times bigger
than our high school.
Can you imagine?
And...
it was built in the Middle Ages.
The only time they shut down was
during the French Revolution!
But you're not the only one
who wants to get in.
As they say, "many are called
but few are chosen."
Don't get too excited.
It's not in the bag.
Hmm.
It's very good.
- Yeah?
- Yes.
Thanks.
The French Revolution!
Well, well.
That's good,
the transfers are taking shape.
The Paris bench for you,
home for me.
Stop it.
It's true.
What am I going to do
with my metalworking degree?
The best I could do
is land a job at the mine,
like your grandfather.
Open one day,
shut down the next.
We're just cannon fodder.
(upbeat music playing)
I'll show you a few things,
and then I'll be off.
No, not at all, stay.
It's our pleasure.
(music shuts off)
Have you started
"Major issues in today's world"?
These lessons will help you
get into the Sorbonne.
This one shows how the left wing
has gradually cut itself off
from its electoral base.
What's next after your
internship? Looking for a job?
I still have one year left.
Next year, I get to spend
six months abroad.
I'm trying to go to the US.
Really?
After your internship,
you'll do another one?
I have to finish my thesis.
It's like a big report about...
I know what a thesis is, thanks.
I'm working on new
forms of activism.
In addition to the unions,
there are now lots
of associations.
And also more
and more violent groups.
It's...
They might just be fed up
of the system.
What do you think?
For me, all this paperwork...
These surveys are bullshit
for Parisians.
- Stop it.
- Seriously.
Stop it, will you?
(sighs)
Go sit over there,
you'll be comfier.
It's full of crumbs here.
Thanks.
(indistinct chattering)
We tried the left wing,
we tried the right wing...
we need another solution.
So, what's your solution?
We know the program.
Do you know what they'll do
if they get elected?
- Change the Constitution.
- They can!
And their hands are free.
Then you live in a society
where there's no more freedom,
no right to any difference
and oppression everywhere.
Is that what you want?
You end up in a totalitarian
state, and there's no way back.
Freedom for whom?
Equality for whom?
And fraternity...
Fus, stop it, will you?
- Come on.
- Stop it or you leave.
Got it?
I'm off then.
No worries.
He thinks he's the king...
Stop it!
Come on.
(door opens, closes)
(eerie music over TV)
(door opens, closes)
As you can see, this is
an exceptional phenomenon.
Animals, sheep in this case,
have been going round
in circles for a dozen days.
(sighs)
They form a perfect circle...
as if it were compass-drawn.
I got angry
but he was an idiot.
I shouldn't have brought him
back from the station.
He's such a drag...
Such a know-it-all.
You're not wrong.
(chuckles)
How about
we spend some time together,
just the 3 of us, like before.
- No?
- Yeah.
I can get some tickets
for a soccer game.
Not too expensive.
Great.
Let's do that.
And it's a big game!
(fans chanting, cheering)
- That's great.
- There, there!
Come on, come on!
That's it!
(fan): Football Club Metz!
(crowd): Metz!
Damn!
Damn!
That's awesome.
Get that keeper in our garden,
and I'll score five points.
Their keeper is hopeless!
In the garden,
I would beat him flat out!
Awesome.
"I could score five points."
The guy next to me
shouted so much, I'm deaf.
The goal made him go nuts.
(man): Fus! Fus!
I'm coming down!
You're late.
How are you, bro?
Hi, how are you?
(chanting loudly)
Do you want
to find another seat?
Impossible.
After.
Call your brother,
make him come down.
Tell him to come down.
If you need me, I'm here.
Fus, come down!
For Dad, please.
- What?
- I didn't know they'd be here.
Alright, I'm off.
We'll see each other later.
(crowd continues to cheer)
(tense music)
(whistle blowing)
(heavy bass music)
(vehicle approaching)
(crowd cheering)
(confetti exploding)
Twenty years old
and top of his class!
Happy birthday Louis!
Wooh!
(cork pops)
(Champagne fizzing)
(all laughing)
(Champagne splattering)
(indistinct chattering)
(indistinct chattering)
(woman laughing)
So, what's next?
I don't know yet,
I'm still waiting to hear
from some schools.
But I'm registered
at the community college.
Going from prep school
to undergrad.
It's great
and the town is not too far.
- I got into the Sorbonne too.
- No?
- Yeah.
- What a genius!
(chuckling): In um...
History and Political Science.
- Nice!
- Yeah.
But I didn't get
into the student housing so...
They accept you but you have
to figure the housing out.
- But the town is...
- You got in for Paris?
- Yes.
- And you didn't tell me?
No, because
I am not sure yet.
Well done Louis!
Well done!
This is Paris!
Why didn't you tell me?
Did Dad know?
Did you know Dad?
Dad, did you know?
For the Sorbonne?
Yeah.
Nobody told me anything!
If you got in,
you go there, aim high!
Don't stay here.
The housing, the money,
we'll find a way.
Right, Dad?
We'll figure it out.
You Little Parisian...
Huh?
(chuckles)
I'll come home often.
With his little satchel.
On the Sorbonne's benches!
Awesome!
Take this.
You deserve it.
(exhales deeply)
(soft rock music playing)
Let's try a twirl.
- Like this.
- Alright.
Oh, wait...
(giggles)
My elbow's inside out!
I can't dance rock at all.
You weren't kidding,
you can't dance.
Ah, ah...
- This way.
- Yeah.
And here...
Hang on.
Dad knows.
Dad!
Sorry, passing through.
Show me how to dance, please.
Come on, Dad!
Dad, help me out here!
Go on, go on, Dad.
Come on, show me!
- Hi, nice to meet you.
- They're forcing me.
Just show me.
Grooving, Dad!
(soft rock continues)
Good, there!
There you go!
And here.
Go, Dad!
Where's he at?
Dance with your friend!
Show me first!
Oh, come on...
Loosen your arms. Loosen up!
I'm going to throw up!
Woah...
Alright!
- It's easy, look.
- I can't do it!
You do it like that!
And here... You stay put.
I think I got it!
Good.
OK, and now one, two, three...
- There you go.
- OK, I got it now!
- It's easy actually.
- Now jump.
- We jump?
- Yes, jump on me.
(laughing heartily)
I almost died!
(clears throat)
He's already double-checked
his papers,
triple-checked, even.
OK, it's all here.
Thank you.
- You call me?
- No, we're leaving for good.
With your car!
(exhales gentlY)
(horn blasts)
(cheering)
(breaks squealing)
LAST TRAIN BEFORE RETIREMEN(horn blasts)
(crowd cheering, applauding)
- You lucky man!
- Congrats!
(indistinct chattering)
Congratulations!
I did the math,
I'll be 118 when I retire!
Didn't they
just increase pensions?
- Yes, 2.5 euros...
- Per year!
I hope they find
an apartment for him.
You know how it is in Paris.
It's no picnic.
He's afraid to let him go.
Fortunately,
you still have Fus.
Yeah.
Why do you call him Fus?
It's from the word Fussball.
His mother used
to call him that.
Though he's not that much
into soccer anymore.
He hangs out with strange guys.
I've forbidden him from seeing
them, he said he wouldn't,
but whether that's true...
(car horn honking repeatedly)
Ah...
- So?
- Great.
We found one.
And classy!
It's not huge but...
It's clean.
Yeah?
We visited
some really gross ones.
And tiny ones with busted
toilets in the hallway...
For 800 euros a month!
They're crazy.
There was one
above a dry-cleaner's,
the smell of it!
(groans)
- It stank so bad.
- Horrible.
- Awful smell.
- So yes, we found a nice one.
Pretty close to school,
no transport needed.
Fits our budget.
Seventh floor, no elevator.
Leg day every day!
What do you still need?
Bed, chair?
Sheets, dishes?
- Towels?
- We took care of it.
We've already got
him a mattress.
Cute shelves, a desk.
The little prince is set.
Who's "we"?
I even got him a jacket.
So he doesn't look like a nerd
in the big leagues.
Who were you with?
A friend of Fus.
You stayed with
a friend of yours?
Lucky he was there.
No hotel room for you to pay.
And he's actually the one
who found the apartment.
You can spit at them
all you want,
but I can count
on my friends.
We agreed on something,
didn't we?
You move back in,
but you stop seeing them,
am I wrong?
We're from the same place.
We run into each other, we're
from Lorraine. It's our region.
We are 100% Lorrain.
You can become French,
but you're born Lorrain.
Do you hear what
you're saying?
It's a ready-made speech.
It's nonsense.
It's always been
mixed origins here.
One day we are German,
the next we're French.
It doesn't mean anything,
they're just labels.
For me it's real.
They're not labels,
they're camps.
You can't go against me.
You can't.
I don't want
to go against you.
Is that what you think?
If you're not with us...
you must be against us.
But "us" used to
be the three of us.
Not anymore.
You listen to me.
Don't you drag your brother
into your sh*t.
Huh?
You can ruin your life
but don't you dare ruin his.
If your mother could see you...
- What did you say?
- If...
- Fus, no!
- Don't you ever say that again.
- Hear me?
- Get off me.
Stop it.
(breathing heavily)
You loser, with your lectures
about tolerance!
You can't stand us
being different from you.
(door slams)
You're both insane.
You have to get off his back.
Just let him be.
He's never good enough for you.
When she was at the hospital,
he always took care of me.
He never complained.
That's not enough for you?
We don't have to
do it all your way.
Think like you, be like you.
I get why he wants to leave.
We're suffocating over here.
Couldn't you shut up for once?
Are you for real?
What about what you did?
It's nonsense.
Do you hear yourself?
Aren't you happy
about the apartment in Paris?
- It has nothing to do with it.
- You think so?
(scoffs)
You're becoming screwed up.
- Get lost.
- I'm going.
(distant airplane passing)
(mellow Jazz music)
(indistinct chattering)
(man laughing)
Look at him,
drinking his woes away!
(chuckling)
- He's looking over.
Is something funny?
- Excuse me?
- You find a sad man funny?
Come on, we're just joking.
- She'll be back, don't worry.
- What are you talking about?
What are you
talking about? Huh?!
(indistinct shouting)
No, she won't!
She won't be back!
Calm down!
- I am calm!
- Relax!
- Enough!
- It's OK, we're good.
I said it's enough!
You stop it!
It's OK, Pierre.
Calm down.
They are not worth it.
Get off me.
It's OK.
Calm down.
Just go home.
(distant laughter echoing)
(traffic passing)
(birds chirping)
(distant children playing)
(effort grunts)
We can put that
on top with straps.
Driving like that
wouldn't be safe.
- So I'm not coming?
- What?
I'm not coming then?
No, you're not.
Well, then...
We could remove
the chair, Dad.
No, you need it
for your desk.
Hand me those blue bags.
Wait! Wait!
You forgot your socks.
My socks!
Don't forget about me.
Don't be stupid, I'll be
back soon.
It's moving!
We're off, let's go!
Come on, stop it.
We're going.
Stop it.
(screams, laughs)
Fus, please.
(footsteps thudding)
(both panting)
Keep going...
(door unlocking)
Here we are.
Living room, dining room,
bedroom, kitchen...
and...
bathroom.
Which can serve
as toilets at night...
- Good idea.
- ...instead of the hallway.
It's great.
(distant traffic passing)
You'll be fine here.
Yes.
(traffic honks)
(ball thudding)
(sports game over TV)
(phone dings)
(phone dings)
(groans)
(phone dings)
(commentators continue on TV)
(text sends)
You're not watching the game?
(phone dings)
(TV turns off)
(phone dings repeatedly)
(message sends)
(groans)
(sports show resumes on TV)
(message dings)
(keys clacking)
(birds chirping)
(airplane passing overhead)
(sharp exhales)
(tense music)
(knocking)
Yeah?
Will you pick up your brother
with me tonight?
No, I'll wait here.
I'm leaving work, wait for me.
He's coming...
- Pierre, a drink?
- I can't.
Come on, it's Saturday.
I'm picking my son up
from the station.
- It's Saturday, honey!
- Next time.
(car approaching)
(engine stops)
(doors open)
(doors close)
- He's not here.
- He can't be far.
Maybe he no longer loves us.
Fus?
(keys rattle)
Fus?
(laboured breathing)
Fus?
(moaning)
(gasps)
Fus!
What happened to you?
Fus?
Can you hear me?
What happened?
Fus...
What happened to you?
(guttural moaning)
Help me.
Take his arm.
Wait, wait!
Push, push...
That's it...
(breathing erratically)
(effort grunts)
It's going to be OK.
Can you walk?
(panting heavily)
Easy, easy.
That's it...
(grunting)
I'm right here.
(somber music)
(door unlocks)
(Fus groaning)
I'm here.
- Easy.
- You're going to be OK.
Careful, his head!
Wait.
Be careful with his head...
Wait.
- I'll take the motorbike.
- No way!
Call Bernard!
Louis, don't you take the bike!
(engine starts)
I'm here.
(tires squealing)
(suspenseful music)
(engine clicking)
(effort grunts)
f*ck!
(distant dog barks)
(breathing heavily)
(engine stops)
(door shuts)
Hello?
Calling. Please wait.
Calling.
(rain pattering)
(thunder cracks)
(rattling)
- Are you the father?
- Yes, he's my son.
- What's his name?
- Felix.
Felix Hohenberg.
- How old is he?
- He's 22.
Has he lost a lot of blood?
- Did he lose consciousness?
- No.
- Does he have allergies?
- I don't think so.
I'm here, Fus.
Sorry, sir,
you can't come any further.
We'll take care of him
and we'll come back to you.
(phone ringing)
Hello?
Yes, just hold on a sec.
Please keep me informed.
Sorry Sir, you can't come in.
We'll let you know.
Yes, he's in.
They're taking care of him.
I don't know,
they won't tell me anything.
Wait! Louis, don't.
No, stop crying.
Please don't cry.
He'll be fine.
He's not made of glass.
He always says that
and it's true.
(panting)
I...
Yes, I'll call you.
I've been waiting for hours,
can't a doctor tell me
how he's doing?
There's nothing I can do,
they're overworked.
Sorry.
(seat thumps)
(distant traffic honking)
(gentle breathing)
Did you find anything out?
I heard there was a fight
in front of the supermarket.
Some guys were handing out
leaflets and a fight broke out.
I didn't know about it.
He never tells me anything.
You have to press charges,
we must find them.
But it's not like it used to be,
the anarchists, skinheads...
Now they are in
small mixed groups.
Linked with Germans
and Luxembourgers.
I wish he'd go back
to who he was.
I'd leave him alone if he did.
I'd get off his back.
(sighs)
It's going to be alright.
That's what everybody
keeps saying!
Sometimes things aren't alright.
I've been struggling for years
to hold it together.
I'm human.
I can't take it anymore.
You don't know how it feels,
to tell your two kids
their mother is dead.
He's sleeping.
You can't miss your train,
what time is it?
You need to leave at 7:45,
even 7:30.
- Do you have your stuff?
- Yes.
- Bernard, go with him.
- No problem, I'll take him.
Here's some money.
- No Dad, it's OK.
- You need to eat.
- Don't worry.
- Louis, don't say that anymore.
I do worry and I always will.
(rhythmic music thumping)
(upbeat music)
(spoon clanking)
(moans)
Mm...
(exhales)
It's so humiliating.
What is?
There's no shame
you're my son.
(groans)
(effort grunts)
(grunting)
(stifled sobs)
Come here.
(sobbing shakily)
It's OK.
Let's change the bandage, OK?
Mm.
Let me help you.
Grab this here.
There we go.
I'll stay here this week.
No way, you won't.
I'll catch up
on my lessons later.
No, you go to Paris.
I'll take care of him.
Don't ruin
your school year for this.
(footsteps descending steps)
(exhales weakly)
(effort grunts)
(sighs deeply)
(indistinct chattering)
(strained music)
(tense music)
(whirring)
What are you doing?
I won't play anymore anyway.
Isn't it a risk for your eye?
I'm a metalworker.
sh*t!
You need to be patient.
It takes time.
You've made
so much progress already.
(metal clanging)
I'm going to press charges.
You were assaulted,
we can't just let it go.
Fus, you'll go crazy.
What?
Why won't you press charges?
I don't trust
the justice system.
(metallic scraping)
(hammering)
(airplane passing overhead)
(embers flickering)
(exhaling deeply)
Here.
- Nice.
- Let me see.
(camera clicks)
Isn't he handsome with this?
Can we talk for a sec?
Yes.
That means
get out of my house.
I'll join you later.
(man chuckling)
(door closes)
Why did you do that?
Are you stupid?
Do you know what it means?
- It's just a tribal tattoo.
- Really?
I'm not blind, you know.
What are you doing, Fus?
What's your problem?
Last time wasn't enough for you?
What are you playing at?
(sighs deeply)
Bye, Dad.
(gravel crunching)
(heavy electronic music)
(keys jingling)
Are you OK?
(water trickling)
Yeah.
I fell off my motorbike.
- Show me.
- It's nothing.
- Did you disinfect it?
- No.
- Put some ice on it.
- It's fine.
(water splashing)
What did you do?
I'll get some ice.
(water trickling)
(exhales)
(indistinct chattering)
(room falls silent)
(chair scraping)
(door opens)
(bailiff): All rise.
(judge): The court is in
session, please be seated.
Please remove the handcuffs
from the defendant.
(cuffs clinking)
(cuffs wrenching)
Please state your full name,
age, address and occupation.
Um...
Felix Hohenberg, 23 years old,
Number 3 Station Street.
Villerupt.
Unemployed.
Very well.
Please be informed
that you have the right
to listen in silence
or to answer the questions
from the Court.
Silence.
You may sit down, sir.
Here are
the charges against you.
On the morning of February 20,
the body of a young man
was found
in the industrial zone
in Villerupt.
The victim,
identified as Julien Descombes,
born on July 10, 2000,
was a science student.
The victim suffered
numerous blows,
several to the head,
from a metallic object,
leading to a fatal hemorrhage.
The investigation led
to the arrest
of Felix Hohenberg
the next day,
at his home.
He was alone
and did not resist arrest.
Mr Hohenberg,
you are accused of
deliberately causing the death
of Mrs. Descombes,
by hitting him
with a blunt weapon,
and of acting with
premeditation.
You are therefore
accused of m*rder.
(keyboard clacking)
(keyboard clacking)
(keyboard clacking)
(clacking)
Some images stick
in your mind.
I don't want you to see him
this way,
it's humiliating
for both of you.
Your brother is
cuffed in the dock.
You already know everything.
He wanted revenge on the
Antifascists who beat him up.
I don't want you to come, OK?
I don't want you to.
We'll talk later.
See you later.
(light clicks)
(hanger clanging)
My youngest son
went to see his brother in jail,
but I won't go back.
Once was enough for me.
I kept quiet in
the visiting room.
He kept quiet too.
Maybe I'm an unworthy father,
but I won't go back there.
For the moment,
but what about the future?
The future?
He k*lled someone.
I can't go back in time.
Your son will never be
the same,
that's for sure.
But soon you might want
to see him again.
I'm ashamed.
Would you defend your son
if he had k*lled someone?
Would you?
Do you want to help
reduce his sentence?
Mine won't be reduced.
But you won't be locked up.
OK, but I won't go
against my beliefs.
(distant sirens wailing)
(downbeat music)
...a phenomenon which
is not limited
to the French political scene,
but has been spreading
for a few years
across Italy, Hungary,
Poland, England,
Germany, with the
resurgence of the far right,
and the same in Brazil,
in the United States...
(traffic passing)
(sighs)
Mm...
(squelching)
Good morning, sir,
you have the floor.
Thank you.
My son was nothing
like a m*rder*r.
He was a regular kid.
What I mean is...
there were circumstances
which led him
to commit this crime.
And I, his father,
wasn't able to prevent this.
When he came home,
broken and bleeding,
because he got beaten up,
my first reaction was,
of course, to look after him.
I couldn't find the words.
I was just glad he wasn't dead.
I thought we'd been
spared the worst.
I'd be lying if I told you
I didn't see it coming.
But...
at that time,
Felix and I were barely talking.
It had been months
since we talked properly.
Maybe I didn't know how to...
or maybe I was too scared
to ask him what happened.
I didn't go to the people
he had fought with.
I didn't even ask
how it had got to that point.
Felix is the oldest
of my two children.
He had always been
beyond reproach.
Like every kid,
he did some stupid things.
But I trusted him.
And I couldn't stop him
from going astray.
When I realized he was hanging
out with that far-right scum,
I tried to do something
but it was too late.
So, I plead guilty, too.
I didn't stop him in time.
Maybe I'm the real culprit here.
The father of the m*rder*r.
But, Mr Hohenberg,
a crime was committed here,
and not by you.
The death didn't occur
just like that.
The victim was hit violently
several times.
With a metallic weapon
that was clearly made
for this purpose.
Your son has a diploma
in metalwork, hasn't he?
No, he didn't get his diploma.
All I can say
is that my son's life...
changed dramatically
when he met those people.
He followed them,
and that's when it all started.
(scoffs)
Until the day
he decided to attack this...
Julien Descombes.
(exhales deeply)
It's still hard for me
to say his name.
They went
to the same middle school,
maybe they even played
together as kids.
I've gone over it
a thousand times in my mind.
Every time, I think
it could have ended differently.
I just can't,
I don't understand.
When you've received
a reasonable amount of love...
from your parents,
when you've never suffered
w*r nor misery...
(exhales shakily)
He lost his mother,
that's true,
but he's not the
only one who did.
How can you end up like this?
Prison time won't
change a thing.
His life is ruined,
my son's life is ruined.
So, what should I have done?
I knew he was on
the wrong track.
I couldn't fight it alone.
I thought...
there had to be a bigger plan
to change the situation.
But not just for my son,
a real plan
that could bring hope.
But Felix rejected everything.
Maybe I should have explained
that when you start talking
about "them" and "us",
when you hate everyone
who's not like you,
things can only go bad.
It can only end badly.
You think you're defending
your own culture,
but actually,
you're fighting against
every other culture.
You end up creating
two sides,
you think
you're defending yours,
but all you want
is to destroy the others'.
All you want is w*r.
There's nothing
left but violence.
It's these ideas
that k*lled Julien,
And my son was stupid enough
to believe in them.
(footsteps receding)
(inhales shakily)
(indistinct murmuring)
Mr. Hohenberg, please rise.
To the question:
Was Mr. Hohenberg
criminally responsible
at the time of the events?
The answer was "yes"
by a majority
of at least seven votes.
To the question:
Did Mr. Hohenberg
deliberately cause the death
of Mr Julien Descombes?
The answer was "yes"
by a majority
of at least seven votes.
To the question:
Was Mr. Hohenberg,
at the time of the events,
suffering from a mental disorder
that has impaired his judgement
or control over his actions
when the crime was committed?
The answer was "no"
by a majority
of at least seven votes.
And finally, to the question:
Did Mr. Hohenberg
premeditate his action?
The answer was "yes"
by a majority
of at least seven votes.
Consequently,
the Court imposes a sentence
of 20 years' imprisonment.
Ladies and gentlemen,
the hearing is closed.
(hand cuffs clicking)
(courtroom bustling)
(birds chirping)
(somber music)
(gate creaking)
(engine stops)
(gate clangs)
(gravel crunching)
(somber music continues)
m*rder*r
(slurping)
(scraping)
I could apply to college here.
That's a great idea.
When he's transferred
to the South of France,
you'll go south too?
Huh?
You'll quit studying?
Follow him
for the next 20 years?
(slurping)
What will your life be like
with a brother in prison?
And when you meet new friends,
talk and laugh with them,
when are you going to tell them:
"My brother is in jail.
- "Because he k*lled a guy."
- I don't care.
He's my brother.
Do you want me
to stop seeing him?
I didn't say that.
But I've already lost a son,
I don't want the other
to ruin his life.
Save yourself, Louis.
Save your skin.
My life is here and that's fine.
It's behind me.
But I don't want you
to give up yours.
(distant airplane passing)
(distant children playing)
(machine beeping)
(announcement over PA)
(fence rattling)
(bird chirping)
(door clanging)
(distant child crying)
(keys jingling)
I won't understand
if you don't speak to me.
Not talking isn't a solution.
There's no point.
Silence doesn't protect us, Fus.
If we're too different
to communicate
it means they've won.
I hope Loulou will make it.
For the three of us.
(exhales deeply)
(keys jingling, door opening)
(distant chatter echoing)
(somber music)
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Quiet Son, The (2025)
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