My Little Princess

- Is it you, mother? - I said I'd be back.

You're the prettiest mother.

- Leaving already? - I'm going out.

You're going out at night?

Exclusively at night.

I just came by for a kiss.

Mother, don't go.

- We've no food. - I can't stay with that up there.

We've no money.

My love.

Mother will be back, darling.

Is that all there is?

We could've gone on credit.

That's nonsense.

You think mother will return?

With your mother, we never know.

I'm sure she'll come back.

At ten, she'll be back...

Marlene Dietrich had hollow cheeks.

Listen. Do you want to know why?

Because she had her molars and wisdom teeth removed.

I'm going to be like Marlene Dietrich.

That way we'll both eat only marble cake dipped in milk.

- No, stop. - Come on, yes.

- Stop, Marlene Dietrich. - Go on.

- My love. - It's Marlene.

It's mother.

Hello, Hanna.

Thanks for the money.

Don't touch that.

It's valuable.

This is your gift.

And this...

is my gift.

What's wrong?

Who gave you all that?

You're too old for photography.

Oh, stop. My head hurts.

Are you in any trouble?

I won't tell you since I can't talk to anyone here.

If your feet hurt, sit down.

You're irritating me.

Go and criticise her. She's out relaxing,

sipping on cocktails with her billionaire lovers.

If only you worked.

As if expression through images wasn't work.

It's the most beautiful, sacred thing.

I'm going to make it.

I'll make it.

- Leave me. - Why not?

Why? Why can't I exist, too? I'm human, not a dog.

That's not nice. At all.

I'm afraid of coming here.

I hardly dare coming. I know you'll torment me.

It takes a day to recover, like being hammered on the head.

She wrote to me.

I'd just like you to respond to her.

Why do you hang my mother's portrait up?

You forget you threw my mother out when she was...

pregnant at fifteen.

Don't tell me you've forgotten.

Violetta, listen.

Someone was nasty to Grandma when she was young.

When she was very attractive.

She blames me now.

Right, Grandma?

Am I wrong or right?

Please, leave the child out of all this.

Let's be calm. Everything's fine.

Besides, she's mine.

Then why did you leave the two of us alone for so long?

For all these months. Why?

Stop, Grandma. Get up.

Get up, Grandma.

Enough is enough.

If it's like that, I'll do what she did.

I'm never coming back.

There's no reason to.

Will you come up with me?

Up there?

Oh dear. My crummy paintings.

I'm done with those. Hasta la vista.

Come on.

Come in.

Leave your bag there.

And take off your skates.

Come here.

Sit down.

You haven't come here in a long time.

We'll have to make up for lost time.

- How about some halva and fruit? - Sure.

I ate that in Constanta when I was little.

Undo your plaits.

You should show your lovely hair. Don't you think?

- Do you like it? - A lot.

You were too young for me to say anything before.

But, you know, I take pictures now.

When I don't see you?

Would you like to pose for me?

Lift your arms.

Oh no, don't smile.

Smiles are stupid. They're for weddings.

Direct your gaze...

Look at me. As if looking at Hell.

There. Turn your face a bit.

That's it...

Like this.

Lie on the floor.

Like an offering, see...

More effort. Don't you want to go on?

- Yes, I do. - Well, then?

Now, arch backward. Like this.

Very far back, then...

Like that.

And your hand on your forehead.

Like so. Your fingers

spread on your forehead.

Very good.

We're finished.

Go downstairs. Grandma's waiting.

Don't tell Grandma. Promise?

It's between us. She wouldn't get it.

We agree, alright?

I won't say a word, mother.

Promise.

Simmer down. Adèle.

Violetta.

Hand in your copies.

Grandma overdressed you again.

She's always scared of who knows what.

Aren't you glad to see me?

Go home.

She's coming with me.

Are you going to the parent meeting?

Don't ask that of me.

The other parents will.

They're bored. They're hicks.

- What are hicks? - People with nothing to offer.

We've better to do.

You'll no longer dress her.

Put this on.

Is it for me?

You're not actually dressing her in that get-up?

What get-up? I don't see any get-up.

It's a very pretty lace dress.

Handmade.

Everyone's looking.

That's why it was made. So she'd be looked at.

Why wouldn't they?

- They'll criticise. - There's no harm.

We're enjoying ourselves, aren't we?

Look. She's very happy and pretty in her dress. See.

Right?

Grandma thinks we'll die if we laugh. Watch me laugh.

Come on, let's go.

Violetta, you're the prettiest girl in the world.

My girl is beautiful.

I dreamt of you both last night.

You were much older, Violetta.

If I'd seen you the way you are, it would've been more interesting.

- What time is your flight? - 9 pm...

for Oslo.

I'm coming, too.

Not with your girl.

Take her to your grandmother's.

Oh, Ernie. Why is it so complicated?

I've too much anxiety.

Relax, Hanna. You're hysterical.

It's Grandma. She'll drive me mad.

Isn't it about time to stop thinking of Grandma?

Yes. Let me show you my work.

What work?

I take pictures.

Let's have a look.

I took them with the camera you gave me.

What do you think?

Better than your crummy paintings.

For you, her and Grandma.

And so you can get some decent photos developed.

Did you see how my women are enchanting and intoxicating?

With heavy breasts...

...and hair like Arabian drapes.

Their rumps are...

splendid.

It's exceptional, Hanna.

I want you to continue.

Stop it.

Stop. Can't you see I'm choking?

Look what she's done.

- Why did you do that? - Do what?

Why did you smear his painting?

I didn't do it on purpose.

Oh, come now.

Is Ernie your boyfriend?

No, not really.

Your mother is a physiophobe. End of story.

Physiophobia is claustrophobia of the flesh.

Picture yourself in a lift

going up, up, up. It's full of people and...

you can't get away and...