Vie devant soi, La (Madame Rosa) (La Vie devant soi)

- Hello, Madame Rosa! - Hello, Mr. Mimoun.

- Hello, Madame Rosa! - Hello.

- Hello, Madame Rosa! - Hello.

He's on his last leg just like me.

How's your health, Madame Rosa?

My health... I wouldn't wish it on a dog!

My legs won't carry me anymore.

- Let me take that. - Thank you.

See you later, Madame Rosa.

Yes, see you later, Madame Lola.

These stairs are going to kill me.

Let me know where you are...

...I will write...

...Okay... Madame Rosa... Okay.

So long.

So long. The money orders...

Yes...

The family means nothing.

I know familes

who go off on vacations and abandon their dogs.

They tie them to a tree.

You know how many dogs have died of a broken heart

because they're abandoned all alone?

But I'm not a dog...

You are more precious to me than anything in the world.

Why do you receive money orders, for my keep?

"The man hesitated a moment,

then abruptly said:

- Then, you don't have a mother? - I don't know, answered the child.

Before the man could respond, the child added:

No, I don't think so.

Others do. But not me.

After a moment of silence, the child continued:

I don't think I've ever had one.

The frail face of Cosette

was vaguely lit by the glow of the sky.

- What's your name? said the man. - Cosette!"

I want my mother. You're not my mother.

I want my mother. You're not my mother.

Enough is enough, Momo. You're asking for trouble.

I want my mother. You're not my mother.

Everybody shut up!

Shut up!

I'm going to hand you over to Public Welfare!

"I want my mother, I want my mother". And me, do I have a mother?

You're a pretentious one...

justl like the other Arabs. You give them a hand and they take a leg.

You're a trouble-maker. And trouble-makers

are put in jail.

Your mother knows what you're up to.

So if you want to see her again,

you've got to lead an honest life,

you understand?

Now listen, Momo,

you're the oldest and you must set an example.

No more raising havoc here about your mama.

Besides, I'll tell you something about your mamas,

you're lucky not to know them, because

at your age you're still sensitive

and your mothers are all whores.

At times it's beyond belief,

and do you know what a whore is, eh?

People who sell their ass to whoever comes along.

Is this a manner to talk?

You sold your ass too when you were young and beautiful.

Listen, Momo, you're a good kid.

But you've got to calm down, because I need your help.

Well, Madame Rosa, I know I can't have a mother,

but how about a dog, instead?

A dog? A dog in this place?

Are you crazy? Besides, you've got to feed a dog, eh?

Who would send money orders for the dog?

Here, he's coming all by himself.

Ah... Isn't he cute?

Oh, he's so nice! Here you hold him! There you go!

Pet him! Don't scare him!

It's said that "One moment of love

is worth more than 70 years of adoration without love."

And Sidi Abder Rahman, the patron of Algiers, said

"Love everyone you want, you will have to leave them.

Live as you want, you will have to die."

Continue reading.

Mr. Hamil, why are you always smiling?

Every day I thank God for my good memory, Mohammed, my son.

Fifty years ago, when I was a young man,

I met a woman who loved me

and whom I loved, too.

It lasted eight months, then she moved to another place.

And although it's been fifty years, I still remember.

Mr. Hamil, when I was a little smaller, you told me that

it's impossible to live without love. Is it true?

Did I say that?

Yes, Mr. Hamil.

Mr. Jamil, why don't you answer me?

Mohammed, my son, there are certain things that it's better not to know.

Mr. Hamil, is it possible to live without loving someone?

What a nice doggie!

- Is he yours? - Yes.

Can I hold him?

What's his name?

Super.

Is he for sale?

I don't know...

How much do you want for him?

500 francs.

Doctor, please examine this kid.

You told me it's bad for my heart to get upset...

He went and sold his dearest possession

and then he threw 500 francs into the sewer!

Even at Auschwitz, such things never happened.

Calm down, Madame Rosa. I don't understand... What did you say he sold?

He's completely insane. Completely.

I want you take a blood test,

because I'm afraid that he's syphilitic being an Arab.

Watch what are you saying, Madame Rosa!

What's all this talk about?

Syphilitic Arabs! Old wives' tales.

Spread rumors like this and that's how

you wind up one fine morning in Auschwitz!

Now, tell me exactly what happened.

Well, he took the 500 francs, and threw them down a sewer.

He loved that dog more than anything else in the world.

The dog would sleep in his arms.

And what does he do? He goes and sells him

and throws the money away.

Is that true, Momo?

This child is not like the other ones.

And my fear is he'll suddenly go mad, you know what I mean, Doctor.

I can assure you, there's absolutely no reason for concern.

Come, come Momo! Don't need to cry!

but go ahead and cry if it makes you feel better.

Does he often cry?

Never! This child never cries.

God knows how much I suffer. Here you are, Momo...

He's better already. He's crying!

Everything's normal. You did well to bring him over, Madame Rosa.

Very well, I'm going to give you some tranquilizers.

Take two per day.

You just worry too much...

Doctor, when you raise children you have to worry,

otherwise, they'll grow up to be bums.

Goodbye, doctor, thank you.

Goodbye, Madame Rosa.

No. As I've said, it's impossible to keep him.

He's too old for the class.

But I'm telling you he's eleven.

Come now, Madame.

He's always been precocious, right, Momo?

Here's the proof in black and white. See the date for yourself.

- He'll be eleven in one month. - Yes, yes, of course...

Of course... But during his last medical check-up...

Mohammed, could you wait outside in the hall?

Well, go on, do as the principal says!

School, you know, isn't everything in life.

School won't make you a Mensch!

Whereas with Mr. Hamil you'll learn Arabic,

and he'll make a fine young Muslim of you.

And how do you know I'm an Arab, and not a Jewish like you?

Oh, how do I know? I know!

Do you believe that I'm raising you as a Muslim just for fun?

And, by the way, when you're in trouble,

it doesn't matter if you are a Jew or an Arab.

And if Jews and Arabs are fighting each other,

it's because they're no different the one from the other.

And how come, if I don't have a father or a mother,

you have papers proving that I was born?

Goodness, Momo. You're certainly full of questions today.

The papers... the papers are worthless.

If the French police come to search my home, I've got papers,

proving that for generations I've never been Jewish.

Even the Israelis couldn't prove it.

In any case, you have nothing to be afraid of now, Madame Rosa.

It's all over with the Germans. They can't harm you any more.

So they say, Momo, so they say...

Don't bother, Madame Rosa. My treat.

Oh, it's you, Amedee.

Besides, I'm planning to honor you with a visit soon.

You're going to write a beautiful letter for me.

Don't worry, Amedee. Of course, I'll write your beautiful letter.

It's a good thing to think of your parents.

I'll bet they're proud of you back there!

Everybody's proud of me, Madame Rosa.

In Pigalle, the Corsicans call me Mr. Amedee.

I'm respected. And I'm the King, Madame Rosa.

- King of Mishugas! - Mishugas?

What does that mean, Madame Rosa?

It's a word, it's... it's king in Jewish.

That's it. You're the King of Kings.

The King of Kings?

I'm the King of Kings!

I'll bring her back by tomorrow noon, Madame Rosa.

Yeah. Make sure she eats something besides candy,

cake and chewing gum.

Don't worry, Madame Rosa. I promise I'll take good care of her.

See, your mama didn't forget you after all, did she?

We're gonna have lots of fun, we'll go to circus, to the movies,

and then we'll spend the night together, eh?

What a beautiful girl I've got! What a beauty!

Momo, go see who's there.

Good-bye, Madame Rosa.