What are you doing here?
Nothing, I'm looking for Swing.
Miraldo said he'd get me a jazz guitar.
What about this guitar?
How much is it, dad?
It's worthless.
- How much is your discman? - It depends.
Scram, idiot!
Here...
A string's missing.
I'll fix that.
Do you want it?
I'll trade my discman for it.
It's a good deal.
- It was Django Reinhardt's. - Who?
The king of the guitar.
- Want it? - Yeah...
I'll keep the batteries.
FOR THE MUSIC THANK YOU
Still here?
I want to take Manouche guitar lessons.
- You got a guitar? - Yes, a beaut.
Swing said you gave lessons.
What'll you trade for them?
- Can you read? - Yes, of course.
And write, too?
Yes.
- Where's Miraldo's house? - Dunno.
- Get out of here! - Okay!
- You have a guitar, too? - Yes.
- How's the guitar? - Great.
I came to see Miraldo.
Your guitar is out of tune!
Listen, it's out of tune.
Can't you hear it?
Yes...
Where did you get that thing?
- It's Django's. - Whose?
Django Reinhardt's!
- Django Reinhardt's? - Yes.
You've been had, kiddo!
I'll show you something.
Look...
Isn't it beautiful? Listen.
Sounds nice, huh?
What a sound. Here...
Go on, play!
Come on!
No. Like this... See?
That's it!
Same thing higher up.
Position your fingers.
Yes, lower. Like that, yes.
Like this.
No, not the thumb, the fingers.
- Here? - Yes, go ahead.
A little faster.
That's it! The second chord.
Keep going!
Keep going, that's good!
Continue like that.
Continue.
I'm going to make coffee
and then we'll stop. - Already?
- Yes, why? - After 10 minutes?
But 10 minutes is long!
You'll get tired, and so will I.
I'll make some coffee and I'll be back.
Come here, Swing.
Walk Max home, he's afraid to go alone.
Okay.
Here, write.
- Write what? - To Welfare...
- The Welfare Services. - Write what?
I don't know.
They only sent me half of what they owe me.
- How should I write it? - Just write!
- You can write. - Yeah, but...
- I don't know the sentence. - Just write!
Okay: "Dear Sir..."
"Dear Sir", okay, if you want.
"Dear Sir..."
What did you write?
"Dear Sir,
"I want to know why your company
"didn't send me my dough."
What's he doing? Really!
What's that?
Are you crazy?
I don't know what to write!
- You live... - Across the river.
By the big houses?
Yes, I'm staying with my grandmother for the summer.
Why are we going this way?
It's a shortcut to the rich area.
I'm not going that way!
The water will ruin my guitar.
- Gimme. - Why this way?
It's a shortcut.
Come on!
Shit! My guitar!
Damn, I don't believe it!
It's ruined!
I didn't want to go this way!
- Wanna buy a guitar? - Yes.
- You got money? - I have this.
It's a "Jallet".
- Who's that? - The king of vases.
Yes, it's a "Gallet".
I'll change the string.
"As per your letter dated March 17th,
"I am pleased to inform you
"that after examining
"our accounts and records,
"we have transferred the remaining balance
"of your benefits for the following period:
"April and May.
"The total amount due is 4,144 francs."
Wait, what's that? I didn't receive anything!
"Employer": just any name?
Yes.
That's it.
Hold on, what's that noise?
Wait, it's out of tune.
Go ahead.
A bit faster, go on.
No, that's not good. Like that...
Just a little faster.
Yes, that's it.
Press a bit harder.
What's all this?
Come, it's too noisy here!
We'll go to the campsite.
- Do your fingers hurt? - No.
Go on, loosen up your fingers.
It's no big deal. Keep playing, come on!
What are you doing?
- You're it! - No, you're it!
What are you doing?
Not like that.
Don't play it so high!
It sounds empty.
Do it like this.
- Go on, eat. - No, thanks.
- Eat! - I already ate.
Never refuse food from a Gypsy.
Here... Eat.
Eat! You have to eat!
I'm glad you're eating.
You'll play better, you'll see.
Take another one.
Eat!
You fell into the river!
You spit...
You don't bathe anymore!
This is no good, young man.
"I went to the Polygone today for another guitar lesson
"with Miraldo.
"I take my lessons in the Tabbert caravan.
"It's much nicer and bigger than the others.
"There are old photos of Miraldo
"and of Django Reinhardt, the king of Manouche music."
What?
I told you to stay out of my room!
- What? - Come down!
- Hi! - Are you coming?
No, I'm grounded.
What's grounded?
- I can't go out. - Come! Who cares?
There's a party at Miraldo's!
I can't go out, my grandma locked the gate.
Stop! You're crazy!
Stop, get down!
Get down!
- Climb up! - No!
- Climb! - Okay!
You can't run away!
- I'm telling grandma! - Beat it!
You're not allowed to!
I'm telling grandma!
Watch out for the hole!
- Push! - Stop it, Swing!
- Push! - You're heavy!
- Push! - You're too heavy!
Push!
You're heavy, Swing! Stop!
Shit, I forgot the doctor's bottle! Wait up.
Let's have one!
Here.
If my father saw us...
Sparks would fly!
He changed, he didn't care before.
He was a punk.
He would've been proud of me then.
What's a punk?
The teenagers,
the rebels of the 70's.
See, it's something
like that.
- Can I tell you something? - Yes.
- You won't get mad? - No.
- Your cousin Swing... - Yeah?
He's got tits like a girl!
He's a girl!
What's this? What are you giving me?
Mine is flat, look!
Yeah, but you can hold it.
You're used to it.
I'm used to a curve.
This goes...
My hand comes up empty!
Put something in front of you.
Damn, it's beautiful!
Let's go!
I can't do the pompe.
You okay?
The princesses!
- Hi! - Where's your wife?
She's here.
Forget your potatoes, come!
Forget about your potatoes!
Don't rehearse here. The police will come.
Go get your violin!
- No. - Go get it! What are you doing?
I've got to go.
Listen, we understand, I'm an understanding guy.
Come here.
- Bye, doctor! - Bye, brother!
Hey, Khaled!
Hey, Arab!
Hey, you, the Arab!
You woke up the kid.
Come on, doctor!
Go away, we're closed.
We're thirsty!
You're too drunk!
We'll bring him down with some music!
What are you looking for, doctor?
Hey, Jew! Hey, Gypsy!
Your turn!
Listen to that.
Every time I see barbed wire,
it turns my stomach.
- Good morning, sir. - Hello.
I'm looking for Bambino's caravan.
Bambino... Mandino!
I'm Mandino.
- My grandson, Max... - Max is here, in the caravan.
This is no good, young man.
This is no good.
- What is it? - This is no good.
Here it is, Mr. Bambino.
Mandino... Mandino Reinhardt.
This house was built in the 1900's.
- You're an expert! - I sell antiques.
- Thank you. - You're welcome.
Would you like a tea, Mr. Bambino?
I'd love one.
- My grandson! - I'll go get him.
Max...
Let's go.
No, it's not from the 17th century.
Is your lovely bronze an antique?
No, my granddaughter posed for a sculptor.
- Can I have her number? - Excuse me?
- That's a "Gallet". - It's a shame...
I used to have the pair.
It's no big deal. It's fake, anyway.
"Friday 25th,
"I learned a new chord with Miraldo.
"He told me that everybody used to play music, even children,
"and that the Gitans, Manouche and Gypsies
"are the same people."
What are you doing?
You have forgotten everything, haven't you?
You must not forget.
You are playing much too fast.
Fingers like this, look.
Yes, right. That's it!
The other one higher.
What's wrong? Did you forget everything? Really!
You're out of it.
I have a headache, I have to go.
- Again? - Yes, it really hurts.
Well, then go.
- Don't forget about Saturday. - Okay.
Wait up, Swing!
My grandma wants to see your dad.
- Why? - He has to clean out the attic.
Great.
Give me your guitar.
Are you sure my guitar will be okay?
- There are lots of trout there. - For sure?
- Yes, maybe. - Okay.
- We'll fish with our hands. - Hands?
But we need a water hole. There's one there.
Move your feet to blind the fish.
Like this?
- Huh? - Yes.
Tickle their stomachs with your fingers.
Move your feet to blind them.
So?
Wait...
I got one! I got one!
Look!
Your fish is sick.
Let it go, it's contaminated.
This is the electrical company's reserve.
It's the only place with clean water.
Come on!
- Are you okay? - Yes.
Help me out.
"Saturday 26th.
"Calo is really nice to me.
"He showed me his guitar, it's so nice!
"We played. I can't do the pompe Manouche.
"Sunday 27th.
"Calo, Swing and Bob found a big hedgehog.
"The Gypsies call it a niglo.
"Not much else happened."
Listen...
I'm teaching you how to play music,
by ear.
Not the music you can read.
It's this...
and this.
See? This...
and this.
See?
That's it.
Come here!
- Do you want a drink? - I'm not thirsty.
You'll sleep in the caravan tonight.
I felt sick yesterday.
I'll tell your father.
Okay.
Do non-Manouche guys marry Manouche girls?
Sometimes...
- What's wrong? - I have a headache.
- It hurts? - Yes.
You have another headache?
Come with me.
Leave your guitar.
See that? It's Meadowsweet.
If you have a headache,
you make an infusion
and it takes the pain away.
What's that called in French?
I don't know, I'll ask my pharmacist.
You can make great jelly with this fruit.
It makes you strong.
Watch out, there's a hole!
Be careful!
Don't fall!
- See, that's a plant... - Yes?
If a bug bites you,
take this,
rub it in, you'll feel better.
It's a willow. Take the bark
of this tree and make a soup.
It will lower your temperature
and cure rheumatism.
Just with a soup?
Look at this flower.
You take it and chop it up.
Then take 2 or 3 grains of rice,
take a pinch of salt and 3 or 4 stones...
Put this in the middle.
Put the stones in circle, like for a pyramid.
And when you get home, you'll fall asleep
thinking about the one you love
and see her in your dreams.
You'll see her before your eyes.
I have a niglo, Max! Come see!
Come see, Max! I have one, look!
Careful, it's prickly!
Millions of quills, like a toothbrush!
Let him go, he's scared.
- You're nuts! - He's all rolled up.
You took a lot!
Why are you doing that?
- Give me a hair. - Why?
Give me a hair.
Ouch! Wait!
Pour the salt.
Sleep, sleep, little girl
Come doze upon this canopy
Come sleep in my arms
My sun will soon come
And its love will grow inside of us
Come snuggle in my arms
Sleep, sleep, little girl,
Come doze upon this canopy
Your daddy will soon come
With a little piece of sun
Come, sweet little bird,
Your dark hair is shining
He who loves you shall kiss you,
He who looks at you shall flourish
Sleep, sleep, little girl...
Grandma, I'm going to show her my room, okay?
Good job!
That's marvelous!
They're wonderful.
They're as good as new.
My cousins gave you a deal because they know Max.
300 francs a chair.
But Mr. Bambino,
I traded the gramophone
for reweaving my chairs.
I beg your pardon?
Well done, old lady.
I'll show you where I'm going.
It's...
It's here.
It's small!
It's a Greek island.
- Why are you going? - My mother's coming to get me.
She travels a lot.
She moves every year.
- I'm sick of following her. - I've never left my neighborhood.
Come to the sea with me.
My dad won't let me.
You can stay.
I'll hide you in the forest and bring you food every day.
My good-luck charm...
It's for you.
Thank you.
It'll keep you from leaving.
If we're apart and you want to talk to me, touch it.
We used to travel everywhere.
Everywhere!
All over France.
We would bring everyone,
the entire family.
We would walk next to the caravan, sometimes.
That was our life. That's how it was.
The caravan must've been big.
Yes, but it had to be, it had to be big.
That was our life.
It's good that you want to know all of this.
My children aren't even interested!
One day, I'll leave. I'll take the caravan and go...
Far, far away.
Not knowing where I'll end up.
They hurt us.
They would chase us like game.
When the war started,
we weren't allowed to travel or play music anymore.
One Sunday morning,
they put my whole family on the road
in a line...
Men, women and children.
And we were guarded by German soldiers.
Then they forced us into trucks.
I remember...
the smoke of the fire.
My mother was cooking potatoes.
They took us far away,
to a camp.
And the Nazis guarded us.
They watched us
and mocked us.
We were crowded in like cattle.
Then, that was it.
The only survivors...
were me and my brother.
And we left,
my brother and I escaped.
We walked North,
to Lille.
And the planes...
We would sleep on the road.
"They put them in cattle cars, the children were crying,
"and the Nazis laughed at them.
"Now they're all dead.
"The only survivors were Puri DaÔ and her brother.
"Doctor Lieberman said
"the Manouche don't speak of the dead.
"When a Manouche dies,
"they burn all of his belongings."
- How are you, Max? - Fine.
- And the guitar? - I can play Dark Eyes.
I'm getting better.
I'm happy to hear that.
What have you got there?
Oh...
It's my birthmark.
This is no good, young man!
I will get you, just wait.
Stop it, Swing! Shit!
Stop!
Cough.
Breathe.
More deeply.
I know you don't want to quit smoking, but...
try to cut down.
It's very important for you, okay?
Here...
- As usual. - Yes, I know.
Have you seen this?
"Women's Orchestra with male assistance."
Posted everywhere!
What the hell is this?
Really! They're nothing without us!
We are the musicians!
Try to do this, okay?
Wait! I'm going to...
It's not...
Shall we try?
It's not... It's...
That means: "I'm drunk".
No, that's not right.
- It's the end... - Yes, it is,
but you have to get it right.
One more time.
There's no support,
and we can do it with the drums.
Let's try. I'll show you...
The onomatopoeias mark the rhythm.
Say it.
Okay, so...
dum is high and teca teca is low.
Let's do it.
You girls can do this...
You keep going...
Let's sing.
That's good.
Almost! Do it one more time.
Wait, wait!
You want to go...
Not like that, just...
The other sound is...
Very good!
So, now...
Yes, but I hear...
No, it's...
Shall we sing that again?
Good, let's keep going!
That's good. Keep going...
It swings!
Bravo!
Dear friends, dear friends,
I am drunk,
Drunk from an eternal chalice
Filled with an everlasting love
That will never abandon me
Come, song, come, song,
Tell people to drink
And get drunk
Refill each chalice,
Each chalice
That is empty,
So the souls
May be filled with love
So that love's fire
May burn our skin
So that, emptied of ourselves,
We may be filled with love
Dear friends, dear friends
I am drunk,
Drunk from an eternal chalice
Filled with an everlasting love
That will never abandon me
For he whose heart
Has not burned with love,
For he whose heart
Has not burned with love
For he whose heart
Has not burned with love,
He who has not been
The slave of love
Will never know
The secrets of the hereafter,
Will never know
The secrets of the hereafter,
Will never know
The secrets of the hereafter,
And will never know
The uniqueness of being one
Come on, climb.
See you tomorrow.
Watch out, I feel awesome this morning!
You're not playing right.
Keep in time, stick to the rhythm!
The rhythm, the rhythm!
What the hell are you doing?
What are you doing?
That's too fast, you've lost the rhythm!
I didn't say that, I said like this!
Yes, that's it.
What's that?
I wrote it during my vacation.
But I can't read!
You're wet!
What did you do?
Let's go. Bye, Swing!
Sleep, sleep little girl
Stop being afraid
Leave your body on this earth
Go amongst the fragrances
Of the flowers and the plants
Amongst the waves and the light
Sleep, little girl, don't be afraid of the sky and the earth.
Subtitles: Soraya Aouidad and Courtney Kolar
Subtitling: Eclair VidČo