Territory of Love (L'autre continent)

I reread your letters.

You write about us.

About all the beauty you've forgotten.

All you've lost.

You ask me what remains.

For me,

memories remain,

scattered, poorly sorted moments

and places

to revisit.

TERRITORY OF LOVE

- You're abandoning me. - No !

Keep going... Go on.

It's there.

Just stop there.

I love you !

There.

What's this about a Dutch agency ?

Why not be a French guide ?

I'm not going to speak French, Mom.

Are you going to speak Chinese or Dutch ?

- I thought it was for your novel. - I'll tell you later.

I love you !

Carpe diem !

Yeah, yeah.

There are about 375 temples which celebrate Mazu in Taiwan.

This temple is one of the oldest in Taiwan

and is also the oldest one in Kaohsiung.

The architecture is derived from a style from the South,

which comprises two halls, five doors

and two halls for the guards.

What are they doing ?

They're praying.

And what's he doing ?

No idea.

- OK ? - Yes.

All these colors are magnificent.

- Is it really old ? - No.

The building dates back to 1910.

It was built in memory of the soldiers.

Can we go in ?

Yes, of course.

Hi !

- I meet you everywhere. - Yeah.

Yeah, I saw you at the temple.

Where are you from ?

From the Netherlands.

But you sound French. Where are you from exactly ?

Groningen.

"Nice to meet you. How are you ?"

Fine, thanks. You speak Dutch ?

Well, that's all I can say.

It's similar to German though, it must be easy to learn.

Why come to Asia to speak English ?

Sorry ?

You don't speak Mandarin ?

I think it's your tones, I can't really understand you.

How long have you been learning for ?

Sixth months.

Well, in a year's time you'll start to pick up the various tones.

- You'll see. - OK.

So ?

What ?

Well, now is when you're meant to ask me what I'm doing this evening.

- Evenings are complicated for me. - Do you have a girlfriend ?

No, no. But I've either got basketball or studying my languages.

Too bad.

Wait. I should be able to find some time on the weekend.

Some tourists are looking for their guide. Is it you ?

Can you say it again more slowly, please ?

Some tourists are lost.

It's my group. They're for me.

Thank you for coming to find me.

You were bullshiting me ! You're Mandarin is better than mine.

I told you it's your accent. You're not emphasizing the tones.

I can tell you're French ! Bye.

What's it about ?

It's an account of survival, solitude, nature.

Kind of "Into the Wild" in Taiwan in the 19th century.

About a man who gets lost on a mountain.

Oh, it's your foot.

Is it your first novel ?

That depends. I started lots, but it's the first I'll finish.

It makes me think of a great book I'm reading about Xueshan mountain.

I have it at home.

OK.

- What ? - Let's go.

What is this place ?

I rent it off a Portuguese guy who rents it off a Russian.

- Mind if I use the bathroom ? - No.

Don't touch the globe. It changes the speed.

You share this place ?

Your roommates are like the Tower of Babel !

Why ?

Whose are these books ?

Mine.

No, the others.

The Hindi, Arabic...

Whose are they ?

Mine.

How many languages do you speak ?

It depends how you count.

Properly: only 14.

4 or 5 I can chat in.

3 I have a smattering of.

2 are dead languages, so I don't speak them.

You're shitting me !

No, why ?

What can you speak ?

Well, actually...

I'm not good at languages.

Take care of it.

I have to return it next week.

Don't worry.

- OK, then... - OK, what ?

I have to study.

I have to do 3 hours of Mandarin a day.

You'll work now ?

Well... yeah.

Why did you ask me up ?

For the book.

OK.

Well, I'll see you tomorrow ?

OK.

Get home safe.

What are you doing ?

Tidying some Mandarin away.

Be serious !

Don't you know the places method ?

The kingdom of memory ?

No, what is it ?

Close your eyes.

Where are we ?

- Kaohsiung memorial. - Yes.

Can you picture it ?

- Meaning ? - Close your eyes.

We'll move forward.

What is there...

50 meters behind us ?

- The entrance. - Yes.

What's in front of us on the steps ?

- The columns. - How many ?

6... No, 8.

Correct.

See ? The place is in your memory.

So, what about Mandarin ?

It's our capacity to memorize places

and use it to remember data.

I don't understand.

Well...

You visualize a place in your mind.

Then, you stock, say, vocabulary, lists, numbers...

Then, you walk around your mind...

OK ? And the more you walk, the more the things are recorded in your memory.

At first, you use simple places.

Later, you can build streets and towns.

Entire kingdoms to store your memories.

Let me try.

Come...

For example...

English...

is in my childhood room.

Mandarin: here.

German: in high school.

Polish: in junior high. Etc.

You should've brought it three days ago.

Oh, I forgot it.

The library can wait.

I'll get a fine.

Are you listening ?

Do you want some ?

Yeah.

- And you ? - Thank you.

I can't think.

I can't even write.

I need a routine.

So, I suggest we get organized and have a fuck.

- Want some water ? - No, thanks, I'm OK.

But we don't sleep together. I need a good night's sleep. OK ?

Is the tea tasting today ?

Yes, at 4.

OK with you ?

What did she say ?

I don't understand.

It's up to you.

Get your book, have a drink, then go.

Olivier, if you don't want to, I won't rape you !

Broca's area concerns speech functions.

It's the part of the brain which lets you produce words.

If your nose is France...

Well... it's somewhere between Kazakhstan and Turkey. Here.

Whereas the comprehension of these words

is elsewhere. It's...

here.

It's Wernicke's area.

It's China.

It communicates with Broca's area.

I didn't do a thing.

What now ?

I think I love you, Maria.