Suite Francaise

PARIS, JUNE THE 3rd 1940

BUSSY, CENTRAL FRANCE

A WEEK LATER:

It began with a storm in June.

In the days before, German bombs

had fallen on the outskirts

of Paris for the first time.

Terrified people were

fleeing the city any way they could.

But deep in the countryside the war

still felt far away

and I remained pre-occupied

with the one I was already fighting,

much closer to home.

- Are you not dressed yet?

- We'll be late.

- Do you really think we should go

out today? -Why ever not?

My mother-in-law,

Madame Angellier,

refused to accept

the prospect of defeat,

even as the first refugees

from Paris started to arrive.

Three years before, I'd married

her precious son

at my father's insistence

and moved to Bussy.

With Gaston away fighting,

she felt I should learn

how to run his properties.

So every month we visited

our tenants,

on a Sunday, because Madame knew

the farmers would be home.

Don't make any noise. That way you

see how they really live.

She liked to catch them out.

I hated every minute of it.

- Have you heard anything

from your son? -No.

- Not for over a week. And you?

- No nothing from either of our boys.

People say Paris is going to fall.

People say a lot of things.

Luc?e?

Madame, it's a big farm and it's

been difficult without my brothers.

We'll put what they owe us down

to next month.

If I make any exceptions,

then Gaston wouldn't have a home

of his own to return to,

and then what

would he have been fighting for?

Come along, Lucile. Good morning.

They don't want to pay the rent,

but they don't think twice

about buying silk stockings for that

daughter of theirs. Did you see?

I know it seems harsh,

but if you show them any weakness,

they'll bleed you dry.

When Gaston comes home,

he'll see he has a wife

who knows what it is

to be a land...

Stop! Stop the car!

- We should turn back.

- No.

We've got potatoes to buy

and four more rents to collect.

Madman.

- Sack looks heavy.

- He can manage.

- How much do we owe you?

- Four francs.

Thank you.

There are more cars on the road.

From Paris.

My father always said,

"if you want to see what people

are truly made of you start a war."

What is this?

Go and see how long it goes on for.

Keep UP-

Keep UP-

Excuse me, Madame, I wouldn't ask

for me, but my wife's very tired.

We've walked all the way from Paris.

Could she rest in your car?

- Yes. Yes, yes, of course.

- Thanks.

Oh, Lord.

- Are those ours?

- Theirs, always theirs.

Anna!

Anna! Anna!

Thank you.

- Lucile.

- We need to get off the road.

Could you take us to

the nearest town?

Hey, you! Get away from my car!

Lucile. Get in the car.

When I tell you to do something,

you damn well do it.

Children!

So this was war.

Paris had suddenly descended

on Bussy.

Women and children escaping the

bombs, looking for food and shelter.

But the enemy

had followed them here.

Move!

Madame Perrin.

It's Lucile Angellier, Gaston's wife.

Get out of the damn way.

You've got to leave. They're coming.

ABANDONED PEOPLE,

TRUST THE GERMAN SOLDIER!

Frenchmen and Women!

In these painful times,

I think of the unfortunate

refugees who...

are streaming along our roads

totally stripped of all they own.

I offer them my compassion

and my solicitude.

It is with a breaking heart that I

tell you today

that we must stop

fighfing.

I have spoken with the enemy tonight

to ask him if he is ready...

to seek with us, among soldiers,

after battle

and with honour the means of putting

an end to the hostilities.

Fear had seized the town.

Rumours spread that a regiment

was heading to Bussy.

I left only the bare essentials

in Gaston's office.

Madame Angellier

would rather see his things burn

than in the hands

of one of their soldiers.

Brethren of Bussy,

a great tragedy

has befallen our nation.

Millions have fled their homes,

many thousands have lost their lives

and the fate of a whole generation

of brave young men

still remains unknown.

Only God knows what's in store

for all of us

and the country that we can

no longer call our own.

We must hold firm together.

hold firm together.

We must put aside anything that

will divide us from our neighbour.

We must unite into one being,

one family under God.

They're here already.

Let us pray.

Anna, stand up.

Under the authority

and the signature

of Marchal Ptain,

a new constitution

of the French State is signed

guaranteeing

the rights of Iabour, of family

and of the Fatherland.

You are defeated

and we are now in charge.

All firearms must be surrendered

to German headquarters

tomorrow morning.

As our Fuhrer writes,

"The sword will become our plough

and from the tears of war...'

- How long will they be here?

- I don't know.

"...the daily bread

of future generations will grow."

But I'm damned

if I'm living by German time.

Those who have been billeted

an officer

should return home

and prepare for their arrival.

We don't look to him.

We don't speak at him.

Madame.

Madame Angellier,

I'm Oberleutant Bruno Von Falk.

You have been told to expect me?

Madame.

I will try not to inconvenience you.

I only require a room

and somewhere to work.

Excuse me.

I hope you don't mind,

but I can't be late.

He didn't say anything about a dog.

May the Lord bless these gifts

we are about to receive.

May he bless those

unable to share his bounty with us.

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