Silk (2007) Edit

A few days before her lilies bloomed.

A few years later, they opened the Suez Canal.

A new era had begun.

A strange illness has entered into the sheds.

A trader.

Aah!

About us.

Afford the risks. Gentlemen.

Africa?

After that, a journey to Japan would take twenty days,

All I new was that

All she's been doing is resting.

All this for such tiny eggs.

All you have to decide is whether I'm...

All you have to do is bring back the eggs.

Always.

Amen. Amen.

An uprising.

And a little less to come back.

And a sort of peace Entered our lives.

And a thread could be obtained from it

And at worst?

And Baldabiou has already paid us our share.

And Baldabiou sent over a dozen quail.

And bring them back before they'd hatched.

And for the next three days,

And haunting.

And he believes it can be done.

And he did.

And he felt sick.

And he left for good.

And his father...

And I am here at your side.

And I started a new life.

And I thought of Helene...

And I want to look at you.

And if it serves your happiness,

And if it serves your happiness, do not hesitate for a moment

And in the whole world, there was nothing beautiful left.

And it tore me apart.

And it's forbidden to travel inland beyond Japan's harbors.

And maybe it's you.

And maybe it's you.

And more money than our town had ever seen.

And more than anything...

And none of this is who I am.

And now you know the real story.

And now...

And on to Kiev.

And once again, I made it to the village.

And one of them lives right here.

And she speaks Japanese?

And so, I headed off to the end of the world.

And started planting a garden that very day.

And the beautiful thing is,

And the eggs became worms.

And the father of his father.

And the fox caught the cheese, and ran off with it.

And the house is also ours, if you want it.

And the results are guaranteed.

And the worms grew stronger.

And then she discovered

And then, one morning, I knew it was over.

And then, something extraordinary happened.

And they'll insure them.

And they've never even heard of a diseased egg.

And this moment will continue from now until forever.

And this, uh, Italian fellow, Ferreri,

And we all grew richer.

And we finished most of it by the fall.

And what about Mutzu?

And what do you want me to do now?

And what does it say?

And what makes you think you're rich enough

And when will you be back?

And why do I need to hear this?

And why should we succeed where others have failed?

And with the thought of all that had happened...

And with the work that Pasteur is doing,

And you will feel the warmth.

And you?

And, finally, I reached the port of Sakata.

And, once again, I left Japan.

And, together, we'll build Helene's garden.

And, yet, a place

Answer me!

Anyone who's strong enough to dig

Are eggs of fish.

Are perfectly healthy.

Are we old, Hervé?

Are you alone?

Are you hurt?

Arigato.

Arigato.

Ask Hervé Joncour.

At best, 10,000 francs.

Au revoir!

Authorizing the export of silkworm eggs.

Baldabiou had to make up stories to explain my failure.

Baldabiou repaired the old silk mill in six months,

Baldabiou.

Be careful.

Be patient. I am being patient!

Beatrice stopped by.

Beatrice was about to have Ludovic.

Beatrice was so proud to show off her baby that day.

Before I speak to the others,

Believe me, my love, we have done it forever.

Believe me, my love, we have done it forever.

But back at the village,

But he can tell which ones are good.

But I had a military career to pursue.

But I have it from a trustworthy source

But I heard her read that letter...

But I knew...

But I'll tell you this

But it didn't last long.

But it had a Japanese seal in the corner.

But it was about to change.

But my my leave is up in two days.

But there's a risk.

But there's still no guarantee, no matter how good the plan.

But this time, I want no money.

But why did he stop talking in the first place?

But why should I tell you about this?

But you have to be patient. You have to keep trying.

But you will not know where.

But you've already said you would go. I wasn't thinking...

But you've been saying that for weeks.

But, I don't understand.

By the time I returned the following year...

Can I help you?

Careful.

Careful. I'm going to fall.

Chickens pecking in the dirt, laughing children.

Close your eyes.

Come back or I shall die.

Come back or I shall die.

Come back? That's what it says.

Come to bed.

Come.

Come.

Congratulations.

Death is a strange thing, Ludovic.

Did he just disappear?

Do not be afraid.

Do not be afraid.

Do not be fooled by his kindness.

Do not hesitate for a moment

Do not move. Do not speak.

Do not speak.

Do you feel me?

Do you feel me?

Do you have a moment?

Do you have any ideas?

Do you play?

Do you remember the first day you showed me the land?

Do you think about it?

Do you understand?

Don't be sorry.

Don't forget.

Don't make it difficult.

Don't open them. No, I'm not. I'm not.

Door was open.

Et filii,

Et spiritus sancti.

Et spiritus sancti. So winter came, and

Even Hara Jubei's losing grip.

Even if it means I have to pay for the trip myself.

Even less to come back.

Every day to watch them...

Everyone had enough to eat.

Fancy that.

Farewell.

Farewell.

Fearful that they would hatch early.

Fine. Thank you.

Finish your work tomorrow.

For now, it's a plot of land, our land.

Forget about her.

Forget about it.

Four.

Gentlemen, please.

Give me a child.

God knows where he got them.

God made them to keep us busy.

Gone to Paris.

Good day, Ludovic.

Good day, Madame.

Good day, sir.

Good luck.

Good night.

Good night.

Good.

Guns?

Guns.

Hai.

Hai.

Half the silkworms are either sick or dead.

Hara Jubei has never offered me anything like this before.

Hara Jubei.

He built it completely straight,

He can't cure them,

He died on their return to France,

He had a reason for that.

He was a boy.

He was carrying no message.

He was closed...

He was the message.

He'll help you find the village.

He's come back from China with eggs, tons of them,

He's discovered how to isolate

He's going to need your help.

He's made the voyage twice.

He's pretty darn clever.

He's still safe.

Healthy from first to last, same with Bolée.

Helene?

Helene.

Hello, Ludovic.

Her skin...

Hervé Joncour.

Hervé.

Hervé...

His life.

His protectors in Edo will fall soon.

Hm.

Hm. You'll have to thank her for me.

Hoping she might return.

How did you find me?

How did you find us?

How I'd failed the village, how I'd failed Helene...

How long?

How much?

How was Africa?

How was your trip to Paris?

Hundreds, thousands.

Hyah!

Hyah! Hara Jubei!

I am a man of trade.

I am the man you see before you.

I can't do this.

I can't recall what it was.

I cannot go.

I climbed the mountains of Shinobu,

I couldn't stop thinking about her. We used to say that

I crossed the border at Ségny.

I don't think you're working.

I don't want to lose you, Hervé.

I don't want you to give this up because of me.

I found dead worms.

I give you my word.

I grew up like any child.

I guess it all began when I came back home

I guess it all began when I came back home

I had my Christmas dinner at Lake Baikal,

I had to find her.

I had to keep those tiny eggs away from heat,

I have a favor to ask you.

I have a few things to finish,

I have bad news.

I have Hara Jubei's protection.

I have need of you.

I have protection there.

I have to go to Lyon tomorrow.

I have to know that you're ready for this.

I hear you would like to speak with me.

I held some in my hand once.

I hired a caravan to cross the Russian steppes

I joined the army.

I just I couldn't find the words.

I just spoke with Baldabiou.

I knew a man once who built his own railroad.

I knew nothing about silk or how it was made.

I knew that it couldn't last forever.

I knew you'd understand.

I know it's hard to understand...

I know that.

I know that.

I know.

I know.

I leave a week from tomorrow.

I leave Thursday.

I left to marry the woman I love.

I love you.

I mean, in the future.

I mean, we're very, very rich.

I need a young man, a clever man.

I need to find someone who can speak Japanese.

I need to know what is written on it.

I need you to go and get healthy eggs...

I need you to go to Japan.

I need your help with something.

I need your help.

I never understood what happened to him.

I packed the boxes in crates filled with ice,

I paid for what I bought.

I promise.

I reached my destination.

I reached the Russian coast by the end of March,

I remember, when I was in the military,

I sailed across the sea on a smuggler's ship.

I sank into silence.

I searched the village.

I set off to Egypt to get the eggs.

I shall read it for you,

I stopped eleven days in Vladivostok,

I suppose we won't be eating

I think it will come to a head by summer.

I think you like this place as much as I do.

I thought love would always be that easy.

I thought you were dead.

I told you everything.

I traveled by train from Vienna...

I want to look at it. No.

I want to look at you.

I want to send Hervé to trade for eggs, not silk.

I wanted to tell Helene.

I wanted to tell her everything.

I wanted you to see this place.

I was born in a village you've never heard of,

I was clothed and fed, educated.

I was surprised to find our life was still there,

I went to see that fellow, Pasteur.

I will always love you.

I will be fine.

I will forever be shaking off my tears.

I will press my mouth to your eyes,

I will... I will be fine.

I wish I could,

I won't be long.

I won't.

I would like you to help Hervé with the garden.

I'd be on my guard, if I were you.

I'll always love you.

I'll always love you.

I'll always love you.

I'll be back before nightfall.

I'll be up in a minute.

I'll hire everyone in the village...

I'll take care of him.

I'm afraid not.

I'm back.

I'm going to bed.

I'm going to Japan, Baldabiou.

I'm going to repair the silk mill.

I'm here at your side.

I'm here to buy silk eggs.

I'm offering you a life.

I'm sorry, sir.

I'm sorry, your honor.

I'm sorry. I cannot help you.

I've ask Madame Berbek to help with the chores.

I've knocked on every door in Paris.

I've received some news from Japan.

If anybody understands the dangers, he does,

If the Austrian's ever decided to attack,

If things continue like this, we'll all starve.

In a country you've never seen.

In a way, I suppose it's your garden, too.

In Africa.

In nomine patris,

In nomine patris, et filii,

In the palace garden.

Is a place where no disease can enter.

Is give him a reason to come back.

Is that a warning?

Is that why you paid for them with fake gold?

Is the day I leave town and never come back.

Isn't it difficult enough with two hands?

Isn't there some way you can stop him?

It could be dangerous.

It has ancient laws.

It may not be so easy to get in and out the next time.

It might as well be me.

It might as well be now.

It took me 11 days to reach Sakata,

It took me a month to find them...

It took me five days to open it.

It was a happy time that summer.

It was beautiful.

It was Helene.

It was like holding nothing.

It was not I who wrote it.

It was stamped in Oostende,

It was you who wrote that letter, wasn't it?

It will be with my lips.

It would be madness to go back there.

It'll be a longer journey this time.

It's a flower garden, not a potager.

It's all right.

It's all right.

It's better than you going off to fight some stupid war.

It's fading away.

It's grown so tall now.

It's hard to remember all of it. It...

It's late now.

It's money, a man's stuff.

It's my garden?

It's not work I'm offering you.

It's that way.

It's the same in Lyon,

It's too risky.

It's your garden.

Japan is an ancient country.

Japan is too dangerous. We can no longer

Japan?

Join me.

Just as I had left it...

Just keep going to the end of the world.

Just make sure no one gets in my way.

Keep them clean,

Keep them closed.

Keep your eyes down.

Keep your gold and go!

Keep your head down.

Laughing children.

Legend has it that she was preparing tea

Let me show you.

Letting me slide on to you.

Life was simple again. Opened his beak...

Like Ludovic's father.

Listen, Hervé...

Listen...

Look at me.

Ludovic Berbek.

Ludovic is growing. They must need the money.

Ludovic!

Ludovic?

Ludovic.

Madame Blanche will see you now.

Madame Blanche.

Make it weeks.

Marry me, Helene.

May I have some water?

May I see?

May we continue to trade in peace.

Maybe I just need to tell someone...

Maybe I just need to tell someone...

Maybe months.

Men pay a lot of money to be with her.

Men, women, children, too.

Millions of them, all dead.

Mm hmm.

Mm hmm. And the lilies?

Mmm, mmm...

Mmm!

Mmm!

Mmm. Really?

Money.

More fish, dear?

Mr. Baldabiou.

Much longer.

Much more than the previous trip.

My beloved...

My dear master...

My faint cry, your body quivering.

My father insisted.

My father used to come here

My father.

My Japanese contact will meet you in Vladivostok.

My name is Hervé Joncour.

Never mind the price.

Nice try.

Nine plus seven equals sixteen.

No change. She needs to rest.

No one can see us.

No one will see us.

No Westerner has done it.

No, it's not finished.

No, no, Papa.

No. She was Chinese.

Nobody knows, but the clock is ticking.

Not long after that, I found something

Not long enough.

Not much.

Not the money, the woman.

Nothing?

Nothing.

Nothing. You'll be the mayor of a very rich town.

Now go and never return here again.

Now, I, for one, am staking my money on another trip.

Now, sometimes it may seem like numbers keep their secrets.

Now.

Number 12, Rue Moscat.

Of course.

Of course.

Oh, my.

Oh.

Oh.

Oh. Sorry.

On leave from the army, when I first saw Helene.

On leave from the army...

On my return,

One day, I'll have a whole garden of these

One that was strong enough for weaving.

Only a few, but, still, too many.

Only here can you see them.

Only this time, it was different.

Only war, and it's not your war.

Open your eyes now, my beloved.

Or so I was told, as I was still in the army.

Packed one suitcase,

Papa!

Papa!

Pébrine?

Perhaps another time.

Perhaps, it will be on your eyes.

Perhaps, it will be on your eyes.

Please, sir!

Please.

Please...

Preserve your life out of my reach,

Probably sent someone on a journey.

Pulled off an impossible shot.

Really?

Remember that little tree I planted with Madame?

Sakata, yes, yes. I came...

Schuyler. I am Dutch.

Secretive.

Seems the pébrine got to Egypt before you did.

Selling the eggs to you or someone else.

Selling.

Seven francs for the gram.

She accidentally dropped a cocoon into the hot water...

She asked me to copy it out in Japanese, and I did.

She brought us dinner.

She did not.

She died in late April...

She had already written it when she came to see me.

She had to fend for herself.

She is Japanese.

She married a French merchant in Yokohama,

She read me that letter.

She read those words with a voice

She runs a brothel in Lyon

She wanted to be that woman.

She was that woman.

She was the Emperor's third wife.

She won't die, and you know it.

She's gone, sir.

She's just getting weaker.

She's not Japanese.

She's not what you think.

She's quite something, isn't she?

Shh.

Silly.

Sit.

So she's not Japanese?

So the lilies are everywhere.

So the years passed.

So this is the path, and the fountain is there.

So while I waited for the eggs to be prepared,

So you've got to pull them out.

So, he gave his mill to Verdal,

So, here you are.

Some trimming and weeding.

Someone else was about to hatch

Something has to be done.

Sometimes.

Sooner or later, you're gonna have to talk to someone.

Stay as you are.

Stay as you are.

Steaming water.

Strange trees.

Strange trees...

Strange.

Strange...

Summer had already come to Europe.

Take me there, do you understand?

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

That a cocoon's fibers could be unwound,

That I have never been able to forget.

That is all.

That is not what I came for.

That is not who you are.

That is what they say.

That is what you do.

That sent me on another journey...

That the Japanese are trading their silk on the black market.

That was 1862, the year of the Great Snow.

That was a terrible summer.

That was quite a blow.

That year, in Edo, they signed a treaty,

That you will never come back here.

That's a good idea.

That's all I knew.

That's all?

That's my problem.

That's one of the many things he never talked about.

That's rubbish.

That's where the Lyon breeders go.

The Austrians are fools, hmm?

The boy committed one of those crimes

The cheese fell out of his beak,

The day the one handed player wins,

The eggs had hatched.

The eggs have hatched. They're perfect.

The eggs you were given

The French Consulate in Yokohama have been sending dispatches.

The house is too much for me.

The infected eggs from the healthy ones.

The Italians, too.

The Japanese eggs are pristine.

The journey's long and dangerous,

The lilies are everywhere.

The mill?

The Mogami River.

The next day, Hara Jubei took her and left the village.

The one handed Baldabiou... Hmm.

The outcome is inevitable.

The reasons get forgotten.

The rebellion had reached the village.

The same everywhere, as far as Turkey.

The snows of Yamagata.

The worms were dead.

Then a letter arrived.

Then I followed the Amur River along the Chinese border...

Then I journeyed through Europe.

Then I suppose all I can do

Then one day, he woke up, packed a suitcase, and left.

Then why do we have them if they are bad?

Then, after countless freezing days and sleepless nights...

Then, someone came along to solve my problem.

There are crimes here for which it is acceptable

There is a price for everything.

There is no end to it, don't you see?

There is no end to it, don't you see?

There is no point in being secretive.

There is nothing for you here.

There is something else.

There seems to be some trouble over there...

There were three more mills...

There's no evidence that we will succeed,

There's nothing more to say.

There's nothing more to say.

There's things that I haven't told you, Helene.

There's trouble again in Japan.

These eggs are unreliable.

They are closed. We're almost there.

They are worth nothing.

They gave me the eggs, but I waited two days,

They make the most perfect silk there.

They say it's chaos.

They take their food,

They will crumble like a stale linzer torte.

They won't know what to do when

They're faced with our military forces.

They're offering us a good deal.

They've been chased to the east.

They've been making silk for over a thousand years,

They've given it a name.

Things are heating up in Austria.

This is a rifle, my friend.

This is my son you are talking about.

This is where we'll grow old, Helene.

This moment had to be.

This moment is...

This time, I belonged.

This time, I had brought back 10 boxes of eggs,

This time, I was not treated as a stranger.

This time, it really was the end of the world.

This time, it's serious.

This year's production will be huge,

Those eyes.

Though not quite as far this time.

Three thousand miles of ice and storm.

Through Moravia...

Tired, but... but very beautiful.

To condemn a man to death.

To forget this woman, who now says,

To forget this woman, who now says,

To make her happy, I would have knelt down

To our lasting friendship.

To sleep with me?

To you.

Trade fast, leave as soon as you can.

Two weeks later, I gave up my uniform...

Uh, I have to return to the barracks.

Uh, no.

Until I reached the ocean.

Very few people have seen it with their own eyes,

Very much, sir.

Voilà.

Wait.

War is an expensive game.

Wasn't it?

We accepted the fact that we would not have a child.

We are rich, Helene.

We cannot solve the problem, but we can get round it.

We continued through the peaks.

We had to close three of the four mills.

We have the night to ourselves,

We have to be patient.

We have to try harder.

We have to. Otherwise, this town will starve.

We might get by on our own.

We never talked about it.

We shall not see one another again.

We started to work in late summer.

We traveled.

We'd finish our lunch...

We'll build a garden.

We're interested in making silk, not buying it.

We've been trying to have a child for two years.

We've heard that the eggs coming in from Turkey

Weeds are bad for trees.

Weeks...

Well, first, he stopped talking.

Well, how did she wind up in Lyon?

Well, not quite. Not... Yet.

Well, then why don't we do the same?

Well, what is it?

What about this man?

What are you doing here on a Sunday?

What are you writing?

What can I do for you, Baldabiou?

What do you know about her?

What do you mean?

What do you see?

What do you think, son?

What do you want then?

What happened in Japan?

What happened?

What I want is a promise

What if you don't make it to him?

What is it you need to translate?

What is it?

What is it?

What is it?

What is it?

What is it?

What is it?

What is your trade?

What we were meant to do, we have done.

What we were meant to do, we have done.

What?

What?

What's wrong with you?

What's wrong?

Whatever I can do.

When are you going?

When he carried a love message from his mistress.

When I first saw Helene.

When I reach the limits of your lands, alive...

When I touch you for the first time,

When I touch you for the first time,

When was it easy?

When you leave here, you will have what you want.