LE MONDE: Moon Child is a unique film
which mixes ice and fire
and in which the wind blows from the supernatural.
A spectacular film that takes us
where movies very rarely go today:
to a dream, to the magic.
LE NOUVEL OBSERVATEUR: Moon Child is the relevation of the Cannes Festival,
a movie adventure, intimate and pernicious,
mystical and sophisticated,
where we feel the thrill of seeing the invisible with the magic of their images.
Nothing existed yet,...
...but his heart had opened...
...to receive a solitary moonbeam...
...which then fell on the mother's lap.
Then, as now, on the dark continent,...
...black-skinned men awaited the coming...
...of this pale and radiant child.
A great fire in the sky would announce him.
And, pulling back the veil,...
...they would have their god revealed to them,...
...the moon child.
Make the table fly.
Pale children have the power...
...to do whatever they will.
Mother.
Remember, David,...
...you have the power of the moon in your eyes.
MOON CHILD
Idiot!
Run a routine check.
Did you draw these?
You think you're different?
Why?
You know why I'm here?
You can talk to me.
- This is useless. - You've come to adopt me.
- What? - You've come to adopt me.
Is it yours?
May I keep my drawing?
Good afternoon.
I can't be sure.
It may just be childish pride,...
...or a desire to be different.
He may not be a prodigious being,...
...but he has a powerful mind.
And...?
We have no proof.
Adopt him, then.
He is the moon child.
They are waiting for him.
Keep this with you.
I promise I'll go there.
Africa?
Just remember.
This is a drawing...
...of how to get to my house.
In case you need it.
David!
Remember, David,...
...you have the power of the moon in your eyes.
They are your parents now.
Go downstairs.
- He's the new boy? - Yes. Wait over there.
I wanted you to see this. You'll soon get used to it.
You'll be better off here than at the Orphanage.
I don't know.
Come along.
I'll show you your room.
We test people like you who can do strange things.
You understand?
We'll talk it over later.
Look, here it is.
Do you like it?
This is for you.
Maybe you've been scared up to now...
...because you felt different.
I don't know...
But here, we are all a bit strange.
If you have the ability, we can teach you a lot.
But don't forget we are your family.
And what you learn here...
...you mustn't use just for yourself.
If you do, you'll be punished.
Good.
Can anyone do better?
I can.
What about something more solid?
That!
You are all part of the new project.
I am happy to tell you...
...that success is at hand.
Many of you, as prodigious beings,...
...already belonged to the Center,...
...and know our limits.
Today, albeit secretly,...
...we are a solid group, with infiltrators...
...at all levels.
But we must go even further.
For this reason, we have experimented...
...with your minds and bodies,...
...to create, through you, a special being.
We have considered your physical and psychic state,...
...your birth chart, position of the planets,...
...the influence of the stars,...
...and especially of the moon,...
...on each of you.
All this, in order to give material form,...
...so to speak,...
...to something which will come from the unknown.
For this reason, we have gathered here...
...all those who have helped us find the path...
...which will lead us to an important...
Obviously, only two of you,...
...a man and a woman,...
...can produce this being.
Those who are not chosen, however,...
...must not think they have failed in any way.
The choice is made to obtain...
...a specific result.
It is in no way a reflection on the rest of you.
We will shortly have the final results.
You will then be free to stay at the Center,...
or to return to your everyday life.
But I am sure...
...that what you learned here will help you greatly.
Meanwhile, we must carry on...
...in order to create this being.
We must prepare the gestation,...
...select the father,...
...control the conception.
This implies a great dependence on the Center.
There can be no interruption...
...at any stage of the process.
Not with the conception, pregnancy or birth.
We must create this being ourselves.
The pregnancy.
The birth.
We must create this being ourselves.
Make the moon child.
May the solitary moonbeam enter me,...
...and fill me with power.
I want to be your child.
They are not fools.
After so many tests, they know what's going on.
- A drink? - No, thank you.
However little it may be,...
...they know something.
You told me they had to die.
It's up to you.
These are the two you have chosen?
They don't look like much, and if fact they're not.
But, genetically, they're perfect.
Edgar...
...had quite an occultist eduction.
He is the son of Laval, the desert soldier.
They haven't met for years.
The father won't miss him.
No one will miss her either.
She is the absolute negation of everything.
Look.
Georgina.
Georgina!
A sweet name for such a ridiculous woman.
She was difficult at the start.
She's under control now.
She's a complete alcoholic.
Mentally unbalanced,...
...and, I would say,...
...retarded.
Nevertheless, the results couldn't be better.
She shouldn't be totally isolated,...
...she's very jittery,...
...but we must be careful.
Will you accompany me? I'm tired.
Of course.
It's ironic that someone like that...
...should be the fabled mother of the moon child.
The Black would have been worse.
Georgina.
Mother.
Well! It's the mouse again.
Are you thirsty?
Yes,...
...and I'm engaged.
I hate that strange orange squash they serve.
Fuck!
How did you get that?
I'll be in the wash-house.
All right.
You're to be the mother of the moon child.
At the next full moon,...
...you'll be mated with that boy with glasses,...
...and long hair.
With Edgar?
How do you know?
- I know lots of things. - So I see!
To help you, I must know more.
What?
You'll see why. But you must tell me...
...everything, especially where it's to be done.
Why should I?
Because it's important.
Please.
And I know where to get it.
David!
Come here tomorrow. I'll be waiting.
What were you doing?
Wee wee.
The party's over.
Go to your room.
What are you doing?
Nothing.
I was talking to myself.
Here.
Why are you so concerned about me?
I don't want anything bad to happen to you.
- You'll protect me? - I know a lot.
Not again!
I've never had a mother.
And now you do?
Do you know where your friends have gone?
They've just gone, that's all.
They've been killed.
It's the truth.
How do you know? Oh, yes. "I know a lot".
I heard it.
I came to help you, but I must know...
...when you'll be mated with Edgar.
I don't know.
Please.
At the next full moon.
In the Observatory.
Come here.
Kiss me.
Believe me, this is the first time.
Come on!
Why are you waiting?
Stick it inside me.
Such a rapid development of pregnancy is remarkable.
I do believe...
...that it augurs well.
But we still haven't noted any sign of life.
- No type of energy. - That's just it.
I know what you're driving at.
But no-one knows exactly what we are hoping for,...
...nor how it will turn out.
Not even you.
I won't press the point, but I believe...
...we've put too much pressure on a nervy woman.
She knew she had to give birth,...
...she knew exactly when,...
...how important it was, everything.
We may be dealing with a phantom pregnancy.
At such an advanced stage? Impossible!
What would be the outcome?
She would simply expel air.
That only happens with dogs.
I can't take any more!
- Wait! - I've waited enough!
- It'll be worse. - Worse than what?
- That it is now? - Yes.
Are you sure?
Georgina...
...I don't care.
I don't want to know about it.
I'm frightened.
Don't go.
Don't go in.
I'm fed up with all this!
You're destroying that woman and my child!
Give me our papers so we can get out of here!
There's no contract! Nothing legal!
All right!
Let him go. He was going to die anyway.
He'll just die sooner.
I heard it.
I knew it already,...
...but they're going to do it now.
I know.
I'm a nuisance.
And after the birth, they won't need Georgina.
But, God, how can we escape?
I've been watching all their movements.
There's no way to get out.
- David! - What?
Victoria wants you.
I'm coming.
I know of a way.
All this part is guarded,...
...but not this other part.
Of course not. Why should it be?
Our windows are here,...
...and they watch the corridors.
If we could get to the roof, and jump across...
- It can't be done. - Yes, it can.
All the rooms have air vents.
You can get to the roof that way.
I've done it.
And on the other side?
I don't know.
There's an unguarded wall.
That's all I know.
Take this.
It's a house where we can go. It belongs to a friend.
It's in the country.
No! I can't. I've gotten too big.
That's why we must go.
Once the baby's born, it'll be too late.
We can go to my father's house.
We'll be safe there.
It's in the desert.
In Africa.
In Africa?
He'll think you're my wife.
And I'll be your son?
Get the map back to Victoria.
What?
What have you there?
- Nothing. - And what's that?
It's O.K.
I won't say anything.
But what's worrying you?
Nothing.
Why should you let me off?
You know,...
...I could never have children.
- Why do you look at me so? - So? How?
You know what's worrying me?
Can someone be born twice?
I'm sorry.
We do it tomorrow night.
Steal the money now.
Is everything ready?
You've got the money?
Let's go.
Is something wrong?
Open up. I must check out a room.
I can't...
It's important. Hurry!
Come with me.
How pretty!
Come on! Let's move!
I'll hold you.
- Where does this lead to? - To the roof.
Come on!
- You know how to do it? - Yes.
Open it.
This way.
Go on, move! Quick!
Let's go. Something's wrong.
What about him?
Come on.
What are you doing here?
Wee wee.
I didn't know.
I thought he was escaping on his own.
Then it was too late.
We must control the pregnancy.
She must give birth here.
You are close to the boy, aren't you?
We don't want to hurt him.
But he won't talk.
You understand?
They've sent me to persuade you.
They want to hurt you.
Tell me! Where are they?
David!
You love that woman.
You do, don't you?
She's like a mother for you?
Yes.
All right. Do you know where to find her?
Do you? Yes or no?
I think so.
Take this.
It's the kitchen-door key.
Tonight, I'll open this door.
And then, good luck!
Thank you.
I think we had a good idea.
Now, let's hope he leads us to her soon.
They're going to Africa.
So am I.
I know what you're thinking.
- What about her? - She's my mother.
May I go in?
They're asleep.
There's just an old woman.
Finish it off then.
Give me some more.
She must give birth here.
Is that clear?
But the other two?
And the old woman?
They must be killed.
All three of them.
Do it cleanly.
This way, or this,...
...or this.
We'll take the boat.
When we get to Africa, we join a caravan...
...to get to the military hamlet.
It's a long trip. It'll be very hot.
Are the Blacks far from there?
They're near the river.
They're used as slaves,...
...and then as sausage meat.
It'll be better when we get away.
It's them! They're coming here.
There are no cartridges!
Here. Take it!
Come in.
Hold it very tight.
Shoot!
Check the area, all the city exits,...
...train stations, ports, all means of transport.
Check the woman's family,...
...and all routes leading to her country.
I'm going for some water.
Could I have a glass of water?
Come on. Hurry up.
They're going on board.
That man!
Come on.
Africa...
Africa!
What's his name?
The man we're going to see? Monsieur Laval.
The soldier?
Why are you going there?
So he can meet his grandson.
His grandson.
He asks when will you pay him?
Not before...
...you leave.
Exactly.
Come back here in three days.
Before the sun has risen.
me, moon child.
I remember David stole some pages.
Of course, it may just be a supposition,...
This is no time for suppositions.
We've lost all trace of them.
Old Roger!
- What? - Edgar's father!
Of course!
We presumed they'd go to her family,...
...not to his.
In the desert.
They're crazy!
They couldn't have picked a worse place than there.
Me, David, and you?
It's a hard journey for a woman.
I know that.
- You've helped once. - And can again.
Nevertheless,...
I know the boy. And I can fly a plane.
It has to be her.
I think that it is written.
Do you feel better?
Yes,...
...but I'm cold.
Mid-e-Mid said that we'll soon reach...
...grandfather's house.
Grandfather? What are you talking about?
You'll get better there.
There'll be less heat and less cold.
When you're better, we'll go to the river.
Stop talking rubbish.
Mid-e-Mid knows the Blacks who live by the river.
They are waiting for us.
Waiting for the moon child,...
...for me.
Stop it!
Mother...
I'm not your mother.
And I'm tired.
What are you doing to my child?
We'll be there soon.
Where?
At the river, mother.
So, my son...
...is dead.
And you are his wife?
Well,...
This...
...is his son?
You are still afraid...
...they will find you?
You are very sick.
You know that?
It won't be long now. I need to rest.
All right.
There is enough room here.
There's little food,...
...little work,...
...but you can stay.
Give him a kiss.
Don't call me grandfather, please.
Thank you, sir.
It's evil!
The moon is evil!
I've killed him. I've killed grandfather.
He was like them.
I did it thanks to the moon.
The moon has baptized me.
I am its child.
Mid-e-Mid's grandmother showed me.
Look.
It's the oasis route to the river.
The black slave marked the place...
...where the tribes await the moon child.
They wait for a fire in the sky...
...that will announce his arrival.
It's our sign.
We mustn't be late.
Mother!
The river...
We must leave at once. They'll catch us here.
Mid-e-mid will help us.
You'll get better.
Wait and see.
Come on.
Victoria!
- What? - We're nearly there.
I hope so.
There's going to be a storm.
It seems he had a bad heart.
David and the woman weren't involved.
She's very ill but hasn't given birth yet.
There's somebody who knows where they are.
There she is!
You didn't believe me.
I've been born again.
They'll have to rest up after the Erg,...
...by the old temple, in Darmej.
It's the first well.
Let's hope they're still there.
They will be.
It's him! Hurry up!
No, David. No. It's all a lie.
The old woman was wrong.
You have no power in your eyes.
You are not the child of the moon.
Georgina couldn't possibly be your mother.
The old soldier had a bad heart.
The moon didn't baptize you.
It didn't kill Georgina.
None of it is connected.
It's all coincidence.
Your stories don't interest me.
I just want to know where the baby is.
You can't escape now, David. You must tell us.
Leave me with him. Go check the animals.
David,...
The old woman told me I had the power of the moon...
...in my eyes.
I don't know if it's true. She said so.
I knew things.
You know that.
I knew that I had to go somewhere...
...that wasn't the Orphanage or the Center.
The moon...
...was waiting for me.
No one understood.
I was its child. I am.
Nothing else matters.
The moon baptised me.
His grandmother gave me the new power.
It rained. I was soaked!
She gave me the new power.
Grandfather died because he was in the way.
The moon killed him.
And I...
I...
...I must get to the river.
They have always waited for me. And I for them.
A fire in the sky will announce my arrival.
It is so!
I'm waiting for it.
And the baby?
It is I!
It is you.
We can escape in the plane.
Run, but quietly.
Now!
Get in quickly.
Don't move.
Check the tent.
Victoria?
There's no one there.
I hope it all turns out as you wish.
And you?
Me...?
I'll go back.
To the Center?
Of course.
They won't harm you?
Of course not.
Don't you worry.
I'll wait for the fire in the sky, too.
And I'll know that all is fulfilled.
I love you very much.
Good-bye.