Mississippi Mermaid (La Sirène du Mississipi)

Young girl, romantic, attractive, BA degree...

would marry college graduate,

Box Number 3645.

Divorced man, 38, modest income, wishes to marry--

working girl, 25, slender, seeks tall, gentle, young man...

with view to matrimony. Box humber 3771.

- Wanted: Smart, youthful woman. - 21-year-old girl, virtuous...

college graduate, wishes to marry Catholic professional...

doctor, pharmacist, dentist. Box number 4817.

...loves the sea. Box number 3671.

- 23-year-old school teacher... - Blind gentleman...

- sensual, wishes to wed... - interested in matrimony...

Technician with good income, wishes to correspond with...

-strong personality, steady job. -good housekeeper, affectionate.

- Letters returned, discreet. - Serious-minded bachelor, 30...

Mature young woman, attractive, good job, wishes to marry--

Impossible to answer everybody, letters destrovyed.

Thanks, best wishes for happiness.

...affectionate, dynamic--

- Bachelor, 36, mature, wishes-- - Dark, 28, 5 feet 10...

-good looking-- - Desirable from all viewpoints.

Would marry woman 28 to 40.

Would accept deafness or other slight handicap.

Box number 4791.

Reunion is a small island Situated in the Indian Ocean.

Discovered on February 9, 1507, by Diego Fernandez de Pereira...

it was known successively as Santa Appolania...

Mascarene and the Isle of Bourbon.

Forward!

In 1848, the National Convention decided to rename...

the Isle of Bourbon the Island of Reunion...

to commemorate the "'reunion” which took place...

on the 10th of August, 1792, between the volunteers...

from Marseilles and the National Guard defending the Tuileries.

Brothers, come! Join us!

Long live France!

Long live France!

"This film is dedicated to Jean Renoir”

Good morning. Please, tell Monsieur Mahe that I'm here.

Of course, sir.

Monsieur Mahé, Mister Jardine is here.

He's waiting for you downstairs.

Monsieur Mahé will be right down.

So today's the great day?

Come on, don't be so mysterious. Everybody knows.

Don't people have anything else to do?

- Is what they say true? - I don't know what they say.

They say he's never seen his bride.

That he doesn't even know what she looks like.

Of course he does. They must have exchanged pictures.

Here's his breakfast. He didn't even touch it.

There, you see how excited he is, Monsieur Jardine.

You know, one of my aunts got married by correspondence.

I'm all packed.

I'll send someone to pick up the bags and pay the bill.

- Did you go by the house? - Yes, the blinds came.

We're not going to be late, are we?

I'll go with you as far as Ling Wo's. You can drop me off there.

- Whose? - The jeweller.

Did you know that out of the 14 jewellers in this town...

eleven are Chinese, and three, Creoles?

I almost forgot to give you the bouquet.

- What bouquet? - The bridal bouquet.

I completely forgot about it.

My wife reminded me this morning. It's in here.

Good-bye. I'll come by this evening to pay. Thank you.

Here's the ring.

That's the little string she sent you for the size.

I suppose you'll want to keep it as a souvenir.

I don't keep souvenirs. It's the ring that matters.

excuse me.

excuse me.

I'm sorry.

Are there any other passengers?

No, Monsieur. There's nobody else on board.

All the passengers are ashore.

Don't you recognize me, Monsieur Mahé?

I'm sorry.

What do you mean by that?

I am Julie. I am Julie Roussel.

Julie Roussel?

I don't understand.

You don't think I'm like my picture?

The picture I sent you wasn't really of me.

It was one of my friends.

It's hard to confide in someone in a letter.

I was pleased with your letters, but--

Well, especially at first I was a bit afraid of you.

That's why.

But then, after you had proposed to--

I mean, when you'd asked me to marry you...

I was too embarrassed to send a real picture of me.

And besides, Berthe, my sister, said...

"When Monsieur Mahé sees you, he will forgive you."

Your sister's absolutely right.

You're not disappointed?

Look at me. Do I look disappointed? You see...

I thought I'd already come part of the way...

but I'm afraid it's not true.

I'll have to readjust myself to you.

I must learn to know you.

Do you forgive Julie Roussel for lying?

I find it charming.

Your plans? Will this affect them?

- And yours? - I'm here.

It's difficult, isn't it?

What's so difficult?

It's really hard to get to know someone...

even if we told each other a lot of things in our letters.

Exactly because we have told each other a lot...

there will surely be some big silences between us.

But that doesn't bother me.

Me neither.

I hope Reunion won't disappoint you.

I don't know New Caledonia. I've never been to Noumea.

Where you're from is a long strip of land.

Very long.

Whereas Reunion is shaped like an egg.

By the way, do you know how Reunion was populated?

No.

Three hundred years ago, there was hardly anyone.

And Colbert, who'd founded the India Company...

decided to send 1,000 settlers...

and 32 women.

During the voyage there were many storms...

and a scurvy epidemic.

So when the boat docked...

there were many dead bodies and sick people too.

And among the 32 women...

the only five remaining got married within three months.

And one of them was my great-great grandmother.

Who were these women? Did they come here to marry?

I doubt anyone asked their opinion.

Many came from La Rochelle.

They were orphans, like you.

But I'm not sure they were as beautiful.

This is our house. This is where we'll live.

Our house?

Yes, I have a confession to make.

I didn't tell you everything in my letters.

- I'm afraid that I even lied. - What do you mean you lied?

I told you that I was a foreman in a factory making cigarettes.

Yes, you did.

That's not true. I'm the owner of the factory.

I inherited it when my parents died three years ago.

I'm not proud of myself for hiding it...

but I hoped money wouldn't enter into it.

I'm afraid your lie is much nicer than mine.

- I hope you're not angry. - No, Monsieur.

Not Monsieur, Louis.

No, Louis, it's not important at all.

Besides, I don't understand business.

Louis Mahé...

do you take for your lawfully wedded wife, Julie Roussel...

here present, according to the rites...

of our mother, the Holy Church?

I do.

Julie Roussel, do you take for your lawfully wedded husband...

Louis Mahé, here present...

according to the rites of our mother, the Holy Church?

I do.

I NOW pronounce you man and wife...

in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

Amen.

You may Kiss the bride.

What's the matter?

What's wrong with you?

What's wrong?

Julie, answer me!

What is it?

There.

Any better?

Yes.

Yes, I'm much better.

It seemed you were having trouble breathing.

Yes.

- Has this happened before? - Yes.

I was embarrassed to tell you...

I'm unable to sleep without a lamp on.

I can't sleep in the dark!

You should've said so. It's simple.

We'll leave the lamp on the table lit.

No, it's too bright. It might keep you awake.

Shall I leave the light in the bathroom on?

Yes, would you, please?

There we are.

- Is that better? - Yes.

You're like those little children who can't sleep...

without a door open or a light on.

And who say, "Leave the door open a little wider...

a little more, more.

There, like that."

You've had enough of this little cage, haven't you?

You'll be happier in here.

Look, no, come on.

That one's better.

Come here, come here. come on.

It's bigger than this one.

Here we go. That's right. Get on your perch.

That's better, huh?