Jim's Story (2024) Movie Script
1
I'm Aymeric.
I was born in '76
in St Claude in the Jura.
Friends say I've a knack
for twisted deals and sick stories.
Especially with girls.
At 14, in middle school,
I dated Jenny.
At 18, in high school,
we were still together.
I'd recovered
my father's old Canon camera.
Printing cost so much,
I stored the films in a box.
Jenny left me in early June,
without a word, without a tear.
I paid for my first colour print.
A photo of Jenny I carried on me.
You ok?
I'm ok.
I dropped out of uni
and went back home
to St Claude where I did temp work
at the SPAR supermarket.
I was 20.
I forget what I was like.
JIM'S STORY
SUMMER 1996
Jenny's not like that.
She wants to teach.
You know her, Titi.
Maybe I'm the problem.
Aymeric
Come with us.
Where?
For a fairground ride.
It's World Music Day.
Loosen up.
The crowbar
Keep watch, ok?
Put your gloves on.
Here you go.
We don't do slow.
Good news.
The stoup sold well.
By the kilo?
I know who bought it,
we'll get it back.
Rmi, how's it going?
Have a good one.
What's up?
Hold on
I think this is yours.
It suits you better.
- Is it good?
- Fantastic.
Breakfast as late as possible.
That'll be 10:30.
What do you drink?
Coffee. A nice long one.
Room 3, third floor.
You'll never see me naked.
Neither you, nor anyone.
How so?
That's how it is.
Wild.
Draw the curtain.
Sure.
I was like an actor.
That was the problem.
Where are you?
Over here.
The play had to end.
It did six months later,
early one Saturday,
in the room where we met
every Friday.
No way.
I've seen you naked asleep.
Impossible!
There's no sense in it, La.
No one's more beautiful.
Who is it?
The gendarmerie, open up.
The gendarmerie?
Yes, open the door, please.
I'm not alone.
Yes, we know.
Are you Mr Aymeric Bailly?
No.
Aymeric, we know everything.
Drop the weapon.
Sorry.
Know why we're here?
Yes.
Get dressed.
No criminal record.
a broken heart, an error of youth,
but I got 24 months
in the Lons-Le-Saunier jail.
I finished the film,
but don't know how to get it out.
- You took photos?
- Yes.
Self-portraits of me.
In the nude.
I used the timer.
Alright.
- You rewound it?
- Yes.
Thanks.
For everything.
Goodbye, Aymeric.
But, La
I need to X-ray it.
Goodbye.
I got out after 18 months,
for good behaviour.
My sister came to fetch me
in a friend's Twingo.
It was no Al Pacino movie.
That's worse.
The local paper did one tiny article.
"The Student Burglar".
With no photo or name.
Two years ago.
18 months.
WINTER 2000
That evening,
it wasn't a total stranger
who approached.
She'd been on the SPAR checkout.
How about that!
You vanished overnight.
Four years ago?
- More or less.
- We worried.
Actually, I left shortly after.
I retook all my exams
at 30,
then studied nursing.
Now I'm a nurse at the hospital
in Oyonnax,
but live here in St Claude.
Aymeric, right?
Yeah.
Remember me?
Florence?
Flo
It's funny, I thought of you,
a while ago now,
when I heard
about that student burglar.
I thought of you for some reason.
Yeah?
Was it you?
It was you!
You're a bandit?
Tonight's bandit,
want a drink at mine?
Just a tiny beer for me.
Been out long?
Six months now.
Six months too.
No father.
Well, there is, Christophe,
a health auxiliary.
Two kids, married. He knows,
but won't leave his family.
I never asked him to.
I was never in love with Christophe.
Love is pretty rare actually.
I could've had kids with Martial.
I left home at 17 for Martial,
a stone-cutter.
A stoner, more like!
We lived in a van for 10 years.
10 years of odd jobs, concerts,
encounters and everything.
Too much of everything.
We killed each other a hundred times.
Why on earth am I telling you that?
Guys say I'm shameless.
It suits you.
Funny, I hate being photographed.
Does my bump scare you?
No.
You're gentle. I like you.
Come on,
my bedroom's more comfortable.
We'll have a drink after.
I see you face on, from behind
and in profile.
Yeah, it's cubist fucking.
Never tried it?
No.
Come.
It's tough, men don't look at me now.
I miss that.
Well, I missed it.
I really like your bump.
It scares ghosts off.
You're kind.
People often say I'm kind.
Maybe it's true, but I'm no exception.
Most people are kind.
I attract complicated stories
and dodgy deals. No idea why.
Because you're kind.
Mean guys never sleep
with pregnant women.
There's a barn there.
Dad sold his cows off,
restored it to make a gte,
and then he died.
My mum, Monique, runs it alone.
It earns her a living. It's a bit old,
but people come for the scenery.
And for Monique.
Sorry, I was in the shower.
A hunting accident.
Look at you, my girl!
Giving birth at the farm?
Hi.
Meet Aymeric, my boyfriend.
Boyfriend
Hi, Aymeric. I'm Monique.
Hello.
Alright.
We'll fit the window before coffee.
Aymeric That's a Breton name.
Yes, my mother was born in Brest.
So who'll take care of the little lad,
or little lass?
Me, of course.
With the guy who's there when I pop.
Yeah.
And you, as the grandmother.
Yes, and very happy to be too.
It's a boy.
There.
That's one done.
No need for a Turk.
Cut that out.
Let's make the coffee.
Thanks. See you in a bit.
The asters are already in bloom.
Is it your waters?
Her waters have broken!
Jesus fucking Christ!
That's good, Florence. Again.
I can see his head. Come on.
Nearly there.
That's good!
That's it, here he is.
The dad?
Let's cut it.
Cut the cord, go on.
Where?
Between the clamps.
- Here?
- Yes.
Bravo! Congratulations.
Lovely. What are you calling him?
What's his name?
Jim.
Jim.
Welcome, little Jim.
He's really, really beautiful.
My best day ever.
Coming tomorrow?
Great. See you then.
Thanks.
You too?
Yeah
I was working when Florence went
to register Jim's birth.
Born Pelletier, his mother's name.
Father unknown.
Hi, Ccile. Ok?
No, I just weighed Jim.
He hasn't gained a gram, it's scary.
- Call a doctor. He's starving.
- What's up?
It's not easy.
I brought stuff.
Ccile, do you mind?
No way, my nipples are on fire.
I'm a bad milkmaid.
You're holding something back.
Mentally, I mean.
I need to piss.
She has to try.
It's important to nurse him
for his immune system.
It's ok, Ccile, you can go.
You have kids too.
True, older ones aren't easier.
They're worse even.
Bruno is just great.
But he's their real dad.
Maybe it's easier.
No doubt.
Sure it'll be ok?
Yes.
Bye, Ccile.
Bye, Ccile, thanks.
You're welcome.
Bye, Jim.
You think so?
Yes, Ccile's gone.
Go and rest, I'll see to it.
Just five minutes.
Look, here we go.
That's good.
Is it good?
Welcome, Jim.
We celebrated Jim's first birthday
at Monique's, in Bellecombe.
We got the whole family together.
Ccile, Flo's friend, was there.
Playing the godmother.
Another, with his dad.
Look over there.
And with his mum?
A baby brother or sister next year.
No way, I'm too old for that.
No, not yet.
Don't hang about.
Right, Aymeric?
Sure. Why not?
Here, like this.
Hey presto!
I've never gone beyond the meadow.
But you'll see.
The forest shelters
the universe's biggest giants.
We'll go in there
cos we're adventurers.
We're taking risks.
Daddy.
Want this?
Here.
Come on.
Come to Daddy.
Come, Jim.
You're walking.
Come on, son.
Don't move.
Don't move.
I have an old woman's body.
Look.
Not at all.
Ok, but it's a beautiful old body.
A mature-nal body.
I preferred my hot rock chick body.
Guys don't dream of a perfect body.
Not guys like me anyhow.
So you'd be ready to give our Jim
a little brother or sister?
No.
I think Jim's happy like this.
And I am too.
It'd be like betraying him.
Betraying Jim?
It's like what I have with Jim
couldn't happen twice.
Flo got up.
She went back to the window.
For the first time,
she wanted her photo taken.
Naked.
Let's live here.
In Bellecombe?
Yes.
Our initial happiness lasted.
As a family, we rented Monique's gte.
She wasn't going to host tourists
forever.
Florence got a nursing job
at St Claude hospital,
and I kept on doing temp work locally.
Jim loved the outdoor life.
WINTER 2007
Ever caught a fish by breaking the ice?
I don't think so.
Spotted one?
He's right here.
Got him!
- Help me.
- Got him?
Come on
- A nice one, huh?
- Yes.
He's for you.
That's kind.
One, two, three.
Here we go.
Here.
Get ready.
Spring was here.
Jim turned 7.
Mr Aymeric Bailly.
Your dad has to put it in the box.
- Is this allowed?
- Tolerated.
Voted.
Why isn't your name
the same as Mum's and mine?
Kids usually have their dad's name,
but Mum and I decided to be different.
Who did you vote for?
I did a blank vote.
In just 50 seconds now,
we'll know who the new
He doesn't have my name, fine.
But a schoolmate will tell him
I'm not his dad.
We said we'd tell him at 6 or 7.
It's time.
If anything happened to me,
what would you do with Jim?
I'd adopt him.
our exit poll result.
Nicolas Sarkozy is elected
with 53% of the vote.
No surprise.
A result hailed by an ovation.
We didn't tell Jim that evening.
Hi there.
Good evening.
Martial?
The stoner?
Christophe,
the health auxiliary I mentioned.
He lost his wife and two daughters
six months ago in a car accident.
- Is Jim in bed?
- Yes, for a while now.
November 3rd.
Between Poligny and Arbois.
A caravan swerved to dodge a car
that had braked suddenly.
Marion and the girls
rammed into the back of the caravan.
I should have been there.
No thanks.
I'm on a ton of meds.
They don't really help, but
I see the accident on a loop
as if I was there.
I can't sleep, I
It haunts me around the clock.
I understand.
I'll leave you to it.
I'll take Jim to school tomorrow.
Christophe came by taxi.
He'll sleep here.
Sure.
Good night, honey.
Good night, Aymeric.
Good night, Aymeric.
Finished?
Yes.
Who's in there?
An old friend of Mum's.
Let's go.
Hello, goodbye and we're off.
We slept here. Well, slept
Have a good day, son.
Bye.
Christophe,
we can drop you in town.
You're right. I need to move.
- Have a good day.
- You too.
Mind if I sit in the back?
Of course not.
Jim, sit next to me.
She's gone away and Jim is down
Jim drinks gin in his Chrysler
The peninsula,
the promenade are pointless
She's gone, watch out,
Jim's going in circles
- Thanks, Aymeric.
- Bye, Christophe.
Mum's friend is weird.
He's not in great shape.
For soccer,
want to join the St Claude club?
- You bet.
- We'll do it then.
Go on, Jim!
- Charlotte wants to play soccer too.
- Great!
We'll see each other again.
- We're in Bellecombe.
- Neighbours!
Did you see?
Yes, I saw.
We're near the bar. Join us.
It's Christophe.
I told him to come if he felt like it.
You did right.
To neighbours.
To us.
Hello, everyone.
Are you ok?
This is Christophe.
Caroline, Franois.
Delighted.
Hello.
Something to drink?
I'll have Orangina.
I just stopped by.
See you later.
If you go to San Salvador
See the fortune teller
Hi, Aymeric.
Hi.
Florence is at her mum's.
She'll tell you powerful things
Hi there.
- Ok?
- Yes.
Homework in the kitchen now?
I don't really like Mum's friend,
the widower.
Did Mum tell you his story?
Yes.
He scares me.
Don't worry.
Here.
Watch, ok?
Me too?
You too.
- What's that?
- Dad's chewing gum.
Careful, that stuff's full of junk.
Jim sucked his first felt pens
until they turned white.
A blue tongue from gum is progress.
No reason to poison him.
Is he a bit screwy?
Sometimes.
Finish your homework.
I'll be right back.
Are you ok?
No, I'm not.
What's wrong?
Christophe complains about Jim's gum.
This won't work.
Don't get your back up.
I know it isn't easy.
Make room for him.
I've been thinking.
We have to help him.
Even if it's tough for you.
Give Christophe a chance
to know his son.
His son?
Well, Jim.
My son.
Yours, mine, ours.
But without him, Jim wouldn't be here.
Still, he's not his father.
Jim isn't a spare wheel.
You don't sow seeds
as a solution
if the official kids get hurt!
Don't be stupid. It's hell for him,
he lost his daughters.
You want me to give him a share
of my paternity?
That's not how we envisage things.
You've talked?
No, we don't talk about it that way.
Neither of us knows what we want.
I'm just suggesting we make room
for Christophe with Jim.
There's no devious plan.
I'm just trying to adapt.
I'm sure we'll all gain from it.
A chance to save someone
is a big thing.
We must try.
Everything ok, kids?
Hi, Monique.
Everything's fine. We're going in.
Have a good evening.
Alright
I'm ready to try something
with Christophe.
But, for Jim, he stays
an old friend of yours we want to help.
He's in pain,
but Jim's happiness comes first.
You're right.
- What did you tell Monique?
- Nothing.
She guessed it all.
She finds you heroic.
Yeah
I thought of a thing for Jim.
We could get him a TV subscription
for the championship games.
Nice idea.
And you can watch movies all day
while we work.
Allowing Jim to grow
with his two fathers,
with "shared paternity"
as Florence calls it,
it's good to try.
It's a fine plan, but
You can't go against nature.
And here
Shut up, please, Ccile.
What's wrong? The subject's taboo?
Aren't you more open?
I see now
why you love pissing us off.
You hate any life
other than your shitty one.
Against nature?
You and I have never had
anything in common
because you're a granny.
An eternal granny.
Have you looked at yourself?
At your life?
No one's more conventional!
You raise your kids to be perfect.
You clean three times a week!
You and your guy
sorry, husband, handsome Bruno,
refused a house so you wouldn't dirty
your 4x4's tyres with cowpats!
You're totally nuts!
While we're on the subject,
where's handsome Bruno?
You know, when you and I met,
I thought your Bruno wasn't bad.
So I tried my luck.
That's how I am, I like to try.
A couple, guys, kids,
shared paternity, the lot!
Your Bruno didn't want me.
He rejected me, imagine that?
You found the ideal guy.
Plus he's faithful.
There, you have your dream.
But it's just a dream!
When you see us living,
trying to live as we want,
without crap rules,
you see your dream
in its true colours,
as one shit nightmare!
It's not funny.
It's not funny!
No, it isn't.
Look out!
Nice catch!
Come on, let's play.
Alright.
Kids versus grown-ups.
Charlotte in goal.
Who do I play with?
With us!
Ok, I'll be on your side.
Laying waste to Ccile and soccer
strengthened our trio for a while.
The three of us got through winter
with Jim.
SPRING 2008
Gee up!
Christophe!
He's replaced the dog.
Stop it.
You can do it!
Shit
Shit, it's beautiful!
It's fucking beautiful.
I'm living again.
I'm pleased.
I'm pleased you're here.
Right, my boy?
I'm sick of this whole act.
We need to talk to Jim.
We've something to tell you.
- What?
- Is this a good time?
Yes, now.
Remember how kids are made?
Yes.
With a seed, like flowers.
Right.
In your case,
the one who put the seed
in Mum's tummy
wasn't me.
- It wasn't you?
- No.
Who was it then?
Him.
Christophe.
Yes, it was me.
What we're saying is
often, the dad who puts the seed
in the mum's tummy,
and who cares for the child as he grows
is the same.
But not for you.
You have two dads.
Christophe, who planted the seed,
and Aymeric who's cared for you
since you were born.
But, right now, who's my dad?
I am.
Let's go back down.
Gran's doing chicken and mash.
A real feast.
Do I have to call Christophe
Dad too?
No, you don't have to.
Eliminate him.
Kill the jerk
and disguise it as suicide.
It'll work, the state he's in.
It's win-win.
You get rid of your son's dad
and your woman's lover.
They're not having sex.
I'm sure of it.
Christophe can't touch a woman
and maybe never will again.
- He caused the shit between you.
- No.
If I'm honest, no.
I can't stand him. I never could.
He's not why Flo and I
have drifted apart.
In love,
we'd have never let him move in.
To tell the truth,
I think we stay together for Jim.
It's been 7 years.
What if I came to live here?
It's time Jim saw a city.
To get away from Mr Depressed.
He may be depressed,
but he's Jim's genitor.
In court, you'd be screwed.
In court?
Why?
Mum! Dad's here!
Hi, Jim.
Hi, Dad.
- Hi, Aymeric.
- Hi, Monique.
I'll talk to Mum then see you, ok?
I've come for my things.
I was expecting it.
I thought about it too.
It's for the best.
We're over then.
Yeah, I think so.
And Jim?
Shared custody.
We'll see, weekends first.
Something normal.
Normal's good.
Ccile would like that.
And Christophe, where is he?
He's gone home for a few days.
Will he be back?
Yeah, I think so
It was bound to happen.
Maybe.
He's getting a dog.
He's really crazy.
Look, there he is.
Goodbye.
Hi, Jim.
Hiya.
Didn't we say 3 pm at mine?
Yes, but we were early
and Jim wanted to see your work.
Can you bring him to Oyonnax tomorrow?
I finish late.
Hospital car park?
What's wrong, Flo?
Sorry, I'm fine.
It's Monique.
She's back in hospital.
She's giving me hell.
Next weekend, Jim and I will go
to cheer her up.
There's something else,
a little more upbeat.
I think.
Tell me.
I had an idea.
I'd like you to be Jim's godfather.
Officially. With a ceremony
at the town hall.
Godfather?
Dad to godfather is a downgrade,
isn't it?
Christophe's idea?
It was mine. I swear.
It may be symbolic, but
We'll celebrate at Bellecombe.
It'd make Jim happy.
He wants us all together.
Jim? Come here.
Want me as a godfather?
Yes.
It'll be my coronation.
When shall we do it?
Before winter?
I'm so happy.
Bye, Jim!
See you tomorrow!
The next weekend, we saw Monique
in hospital,
without Florence.
Jim found her more fun
with us than with Mum.
Classic. It was the last time
I saw her.
Monique died a month later.
Heart attack.
We postponed my coronation
until the warmer weather.
Long live the godfather!
My friends, I'm very happy.
Us too.
You're looking good.
Just need the sheriff's star.
No, you rather.
All ok, partner?
To Jim.
You should move into Monique's.
Let Jim have the gte.
His hideaway, and his godfather's
at weekends.
Everything back to normal.
Jim doesn't like the city but
I can see him in Lyon.
If he does a soccer study programme
in a year of two.
Godfather.
And coach.
Flo and I have a plan.
We wanted to tell you once certain.
But as you mentioned the future
You're worrying me.
It's fantastic actually,
we plan to live elsewhere far away.
- Where?
- Canada, Montreal. I've a friend there.
- And Jim?
- Jim's coming with us.
It's worth trying.
Christophe! Aymeric!
Got to move. That's life.
You'd fly for the first time.
There's cake and booze left!
I heard your exciting plan.
- Christophe told you
- About Canada.
That idiot, he can't hold his drink.
Bad timing.
- Jim knows?
- Yes.
He said,
"How am I going to see Aymeric?"
Don't worry. We'll figure it out.
You'll visit us.
Canada, the snow, the lakes
Jim will love it.
After Monique died, I felt
we needed a change of air.
Life goes on after all.
Wait, Aymeric.
Dad
What are you doing?
Listening to the forest spirits.
What are they saying?
Pack your bag. We're leaving.
So it's true?
What?
Canada!
We're leaving now? With you?
You in here?
What are you doing?
Talking about Canada.
What were you saying?
We're leaving now
and Dad's coming with us.
Not right now.
We don't have a house there yet.
But we'll get one pretty soon.
And then, Aymeric will come and see us.
As often as possible
Of course
We'll find real Indians in the forest.
Christophe's found a flat
in a nice area of Montreal.
It's big, with three bedrooms.
I'll send photos.
Hold on.
With this,
we can video call,
send photos and everything.
I've put in my number.
I got you a plan for Canada.
Unlimited calls.
Great, thanks.
Your plane will hit the ice.
Idiot.
Here.
Come on, boys
We're back at Christmas.
It's not long.
Or before, if the house sells.
Yeah
We're Indians, right?
Yes, Flo.
It's Jim. We're at the airport.
Great
Or rather have a nice flight
Hello, Jim?
You're my real dad.
He's bright, my boy.
A week before Christmas,
Florence texted me.
The house had sold,
but they weren't coming to France.
Too tricky to organise a trip
during the holidays.
She and Christophe had work.
And as new staff at the hospital,
weren't entitled to time off.
She said
if Jim came alone, he'd never return.
She didn't trust me
to put him on the plane back.
Flo was right. I couldn't have.
Get the whale pictures? We're going
to see them. Great, isn't it?
I've booked the boat and the chalet
for a whole month, the whole summer.
You can book your leave!
This summer? As if!
Flo, summer's way off
In the holidays,
the station's swamped but
In January, I can try
Tell Jim.
Leave me be! No!
Call soon?
I don't wanna watch TV.
You hear me?
I had my first Christmas without Jim.
The last Christmas I spent
with my folks was over a decade ago.
- One more game!
- Go on.
Jim was 6,000 km away.
I was just his godfather.
A bummer of a Christmas.
A permanent bummer.
I left that night.
I didn't see Jim again.
Not in January.
Neither in spring.
Nor the following summer.
The messages began to dwindle.
Then the telephone number was blocked.
I had one last email from Florence.
"It's best for us all.
For us, for Jim and for you.
I know it's hard,
but we have to move on.
You'll rebuild your life."
What's up?
I got this an hour ago.
We're not coming this summer.
I didn't get you a ticket.
It's best for Jim
We should have killed them both.
THREE YEARS LATER
Thank you.
Olivia.
Sorry, I'm sweaty.
Don't like dancing?
I do sometimes.
Whose house is this?
No idea.
My sister, Aurlie, is the DJ.
You don't know her?
No, I followed a friend.
Saturdays, I have to dance.
I'm nearly 40 and dance with people
the same age as my pupils.
I'm a French teacher.
I met one at a party once.
His face!
"What are you doing here, Miss?"
And you?
Me?
Stock-handler. Temp work.
Auchan, Carrefour, Darty,
Monoprix, Dcathlon.
Factories too.
Saint-Fons, Saint-Priest, Chassieu.
By night, I clean Bron hospital.
And recently, I discovered
riverboat renovation.
In Japan,
you'd be a "freeter."
It's a guy or girl, with a string
of low-paid jobs,
who rarely gets out.
They have loads of them.
It's had a major impact
on the birth rate.
"Freeters" can't afford kids,
so the population ages big time.
No kids?
No.
Plans this summer?
This summer?
In summer, I usually work.
But this summer
I'll ask my parents
if they need a plant-waterer,
or someone to scare burglars
while they're away.
Every year, they go camping
in Le Grau-du-Roi.
The house is empty.
It's in the Jura.
If ever you want to dance,
let me know.
A summer in Tahiti!
Have you ever travelled?
I mean, far away.
No.
I nearly did.
In another life.
You had another life?
Yes.
Can we talk about it or not?
Or not.
Let's leave Secret Island.
Super U's fish come gutted
unlike Robinson Crusoe's.
They're from a local fishery.
I used to sell tons.
To the trout!
From Super U.
Don't go.
Stay a while.
Aymeric, I need to tell you something.
Yeah?
I don't want children.
I don't either.
I'm bored of Lyon.
I'd love to live here.
It's your hometown.
Hometown life isn't for everyone.
You have to leave.
Can't be a kid your entire life.
It'd be my sister's nightmare.
She'll think I'm crazy.
You'd need your own place.
Yes.
Your own place.
I'd come on weekends.
And in the holidays.
I get lots of holidays.
SUMMER 2017
I found a place two years later.
15,000 euros. The price of a ruin.
It wasn't far off one.
Everything had to be redone.
Jobs of every kind.
Brickwork, plumbing, electricity.
I had all the basics
But basically, nothing.
The advantage of your hometown
is the help.
The weekend's here!
Hi, sweet pea.
How are you getting on?
- They aren't beams?
- It's a truss.
Aymeric, come here.
This is Pierrot.
He'll be doing the wall.
- I invited him for a drink.
- Of course.
Hi, I'm Aymeric.
We know each other
Your face does look familiar
- Titi.
- Titi, no way!
It was another life
You went down for a while.
I confessed.
Without squealing on anyone.
It was a classy move.
I never told you.
It was classier
to have denied everything.
I was a prize idiot back then.
I got caught 5 years later.
Shady enterprise.
Illegal asbestos removal.
Anyway
That's over now.
How's it going? Live alone?
Yes and no
Not weekends or holidays.
Ok?
Olivia.
Pierrot.
- Hi, Pierrot.
- Delighted.
- You ok?
- Yes, and you?
I'll just get changed.
Shall we have a drink?
Ladies and gentlemen. Pierrot.
Hi, I'm Aymeric's dad.
- His mum, hello.
- Hello.
Hi, I'm Gatan.
I'm Marius.
Hi, it's Flo. I'll understand
if you don't reply,
but I hope you're well.
We're in France a few days.
I'd like to meet up.
- Ok, Aymeric?
- One sec.
Hi, Flo.
Will Jim be with you?
We agreed to meet that Saturday,
at the Bar de la Fraternelle
in Saint-Claude.
The day before, Flo sent me a message
to say Jim wouldn't be with her.
Yes, I stopped dying it
It suits you.
So you moved back here?
To Saint-Romain.
I'm renovating a house.
Thank you for replying
and agreeing to see me.
I need to tell you what happened
with Jim. Not to apologise,
but to let you know,
and maybe you'll understand
Go ahead.
I was so scared of losing him
Everything went to shit
when we got to Montreal.
It was awful.
Jim was in a bad way.
He wasn't the same.
He wouldn't talk.
He closed himself off completely.
He made us pay for moving.
He'd leave school at midday
and be back at midnight.
He ran away from home.
He'd threaten to come back to France.
It was really scary.
Christophe began to pull through.
He had plans.
He finally saw a future.
Why throw it all away
because Jim refused to adapt?
So we decided on a clean break.
To cut all ties.
We wanted to protect Jim
as much as our relationship.
We wanted to try, you know me.
We didn't know what it would lead to.
We told Jim you didn't want to come
or see him any longer.
I told Jim you'd met a woman,
with whom you wanted
to have a child.
With the seed and all that.
A child fully yours.
You see, I really went all out.
I even gave your new woman a name
Samantha.
It was unfair and cruel,
but what else could I have done?
Slowly, his anger grew
and he ended up hating you.
It had worked
The amazing thing is that it worked.
It felt like a resurrection.
We got the old Jim back.
Just the other day, he wrote a song
called "The First Father."
He's no longer mad at you.
It's a sweet song,
a bit like a fairytale.
I can send it to you.
Jim might not like me doing it
behind his back, but
He doesn't know I'm seeing you.
I imagine
it must've been hard for you.
I'm not asking for forgiveness.
I wanted you to know that Jim's well.
Very well, in fact.
Aymeric
made his life
it's over
You're here.
So you're back?
I wanted to wake up here, with you.
The party was in the woods.
I got my fill of loud music,
good God!
And you?
Up all night too?
Who is it?
It's Jim.
My son.
The island reveals its secrets.
Can you translate?
In the folds of history.
Almost out of memory.
The first father
made his life.
The first father is me.
Was me
It's no longer my problem.
Tell me.
I wrote to Florence.
I told her I hoped
she'd tell Jim the truth.
It wasn't up to me.
It wasn't my job to tell Jim
his parents acted like bastards.
I never got a reply.
SIX YEARS LATER
Please, if you could gather round.
Don't move
Bride and groom, jump on "3".
Just the newlyweds, on "3".
Look at me
Great! You're marvellous.
And now the bride and groom,
to the lake!
Am I at Aymeric's?
I'm a friend,
the daughter of a friend
- Hello.
- Hello, Aymeric.
You might not remember me.
We met in Bellecombe and Lyon.
Charlotte,
Caroline and Franois' girl.
Charlotte, of course.
Come in.
A real young lady!
What brings you here?
Jim's in France,
since last autumn.
We're in a flat-share
in Grenoble
and he found you online.
He'd like to see you.
Charlotte, we're old pals here.
Of course, Jim can see me.
See us Olivia
Jim's always welcome here.
I'll go and tell him.
He's in the car.
I came as messenger.
Come.
Hi, Aymeric.
Hi, Jim.
Christ
You're in good shape.
I just spent 10 days in the Alps.
Terrific.
No Quebec accent?
Not at all.
A bit, at times over there
You hungry?
Time for a snack, isn't it?
There's some papet Olivia made.
Jim, this is Olivia, my partner.
Papet from the Jura, remember?
No, I don't. What is it?
It's this, a kind of flan.
We brought back some Radoune.
A gin from Quebec.
Papet and Radoune then.
Got any candles?
Candles? What for?
It's the 3rd. My birthday.
You're right.
We'll find some.
Come on.
Radoune?
Radoune is gin infused with mushrooms.
It's a bit strong.
23, isn't it?
That's right.
Cheers!
So
You came back to France?
- Yes.
- And what are you doing?
I want to be a mountain guide,
or at least a tour leader.
Right now, I'm at Grenoble University,
studying music.
Torn between music
and the mountains?
The music's your mum?
My dad too.
Chris took up the guitar.
He taught me loads.
Then I got into electro,
altogether different.
I go out a lot. I love dancing.
You dance, Aymeric?
- A bit.
- Only with me.
Or maybe on his own in secret.
Let's do a photo, shall we?
No, wait, my papet.
Here we go!
Homecoming!
I hate being photographed.
Come and see something.
We'll be back.
- Shot of Radoune?
- Yeah.
Photos from our old life.
I don't think your mum has any.
Not that she's shown me anyway.
There are 82,733 of them.
2,000 rolls printed.
I got it all scanned 2 years ago.
Set me back a bit,
but no regrets.
Want to see?
Why not.
I didn't catalogue them.
I never know what or who
I may come across.
I open files at random. I explore.
There.
Look.
The Bellecombe years.
You liked being photographed then.
Any other kids?
In these photos?
No, no other children.
Haven't you got kids?
I mean
No, I haven't.
No other children, Jim.
I don't get it.
What don't you get?
Does your mother know you're here?
Yes, we talked on the phone last night.
She just said, "Que sera sera."
Plans tomorrow?
We could take a walk, just us two.
I need to talk to you alone.
I'm free in the morning.
It'll be fine, Aymeric.
You'll find the right words.
Should I pack a picnic?
It might take a while.
You need to get some sleep.
Downstairs, so I don't wake you?
No, come here.
I'll pack oranges and chocolate.
That'll be nice.
- All ok?
- I'm fine.
Right, here we are.
You know,
climbing's not really my thing.
Hold on to the bars.
Like a ladder.
You'll be ok?
Just follow me.
I'll give it a go. You're the guide.
We'll take it easy?
Of course.
Here we go.
Here's the traverse.
Well done.
It's beautiful.
I'm happy we're here.
Did Florence tell you we met?
Six years ago in Saint-Claude.
That's when I should've reached out.
I found out they lied to you.
I don't care, Aymeric,
about your issues.
Yours, Mum's or Chris'.
And fuck Samantha.
Wherever she is,
with or without your other kids.
I shouldn't have come.
It was stupid.
Charlotte insisted.
I thought I was over it,
but not at all.
I was just a kid in Montreal.
For months, at night before bed,
I'd lean out of my window
and watch the shadows of passers-by.
I'd wait for one thing.
For someone to stop,
wave and I'd recognise him.
My dad who'd come for me.
I'll never forgive you.
You're on your own now.
You get used to it.
Shit
Can you fetch me?
I'm all alone at Lake Vouglans.
What happened?
Jim's really mad at me.
Did you tell him? Everything?
There wasn't time. He ditched me.
He doesn't care.
Look, I'm coming
but we won't go home.
Olivia, I'm not sure about that.
Trust me.
I'll be there before dark.
- Sir
- He's my son.
Backstage passes only.
Jim!
It's ok. Let him through.
- Why're you here?
- To talk.
The damage is done, Aymeric.
Let me go.
You don't get it!
Shut up! You don't know.
I didn't abandon you. I screwed up.
Samantha never existed.
If you knew how many times
I imagined, in the evening after work,
that someone would knock
and I'd hear a voice.
Your voice.
"Hi Aymeric, it's me, it's Jim.
I'm back."
You did it.
What I could never do,
you did.
You're the one
who crossed the Atlantic.
It's you who
who crossed the Atlantic to
I'm going
Aymeric, you with us? Can you hear?
Aymeric, it's Aurlie.
Can you see me?
Stand back. He needs water.
He's moving. Hand me the bottle.
I'm here, Aymeric. It's Jim.
I was afraid you'd gone.
You were the goner.
- Do you know this man?
- Yes. He's my
Does anything hurt, sir?
He was my father
He's still alive. Look, he's breathing.
It's not what I meant.
Step back a bit.
Don't speak. Stay still.
I feel fine.
- Stay calm, sir.
- I am calm.
- Did you take any drugs last night?
- No.
How old are you, sir?
It's alright, I still know my age.
Can I sit up?
- Want to sit?
- Yes.
We'll help you.
Is this the first time you've fainted?
Yes, first time.
Can I get up now?
Go on, steady.
There we are.
Any health problems? On medication?
No, none of that.
Would you like to walk, sir?
He's walking.
Taking his first steps.
Come on. Shall we go?
These sandwiches aren't bad.
Delicious.
- Could you pass me the water?
- Catch.
It's not even 8 am yet.
The day is just beginning.
JIM'S STORY
Ian Burley & Sophia Till
I'm Aymeric.
I was born in '76
in St Claude in the Jura.
Friends say I've a knack
for twisted deals and sick stories.
Especially with girls.
At 14, in middle school,
I dated Jenny.
At 18, in high school,
we were still together.
I'd recovered
my father's old Canon camera.
Printing cost so much,
I stored the films in a box.
Jenny left me in early June,
without a word, without a tear.
I paid for my first colour print.
A photo of Jenny I carried on me.
You ok?
I'm ok.
I dropped out of uni
and went back home
to St Claude where I did temp work
at the SPAR supermarket.
I was 20.
I forget what I was like.
JIM'S STORY
SUMMER 1996
Jenny's not like that.
She wants to teach.
You know her, Titi.
Maybe I'm the problem.
Aymeric
Come with us.
Where?
For a fairground ride.
It's World Music Day.
Loosen up.
The crowbar
Keep watch, ok?
Put your gloves on.
Here you go.
We don't do slow.
Good news.
The stoup sold well.
By the kilo?
I know who bought it,
we'll get it back.
Rmi, how's it going?
Have a good one.
What's up?
Hold on
I think this is yours.
It suits you better.
- Is it good?
- Fantastic.
Breakfast as late as possible.
That'll be 10:30.
What do you drink?
Coffee. A nice long one.
Room 3, third floor.
You'll never see me naked.
Neither you, nor anyone.
How so?
That's how it is.
Wild.
Draw the curtain.
Sure.
I was like an actor.
That was the problem.
Where are you?
Over here.
The play had to end.
It did six months later,
early one Saturday,
in the room where we met
every Friday.
No way.
I've seen you naked asleep.
Impossible!
There's no sense in it, La.
No one's more beautiful.
Who is it?
The gendarmerie, open up.
The gendarmerie?
Yes, open the door, please.
I'm not alone.
Yes, we know.
Are you Mr Aymeric Bailly?
No.
Aymeric, we know everything.
Drop the weapon.
Sorry.
Know why we're here?
Yes.
Get dressed.
No criminal record.
a broken heart, an error of youth,
but I got 24 months
in the Lons-Le-Saunier jail.
I finished the film,
but don't know how to get it out.
- You took photos?
- Yes.
Self-portraits of me.
In the nude.
I used the timer.
Alright.
- You rewound it?
- Yes.
Thanks.
For everything.
Goodbye, Aymeric.
But, La
I need to X-ray it.
Goodbye.
I got out after 18 months,
for good behaviour.
My sister came to fetch me
in a friend's Twingo.
It was no Al Pacino movie.
That's worse.
The local paper did one tiny article.
"The Student Burglar".
With no photo or name.
Two years ago.
18 months.
WINTER 2000
That evening,
it wasn't a total stranger
who approached.
She'd been on the SPAR checkout.
How about that!
You vanished overnight.
Four years ago?
- More or less.
- We worried.
Actually, I left shortly after.
I retook all my exams
at 30,
then studied nursing.
Now I'm a nurse at the hospital
in Oyonnax,
but live here in St Claude.
Aymeric, right?
Yeah.
Remember me?
Florence?
Flo
It's funny, I thought of you,
a while ago now,
when I heard
about that student burglar.
I thought of you for some reason.
Yeah?
Was it you?
It was you!
You're a bandit?
Tonight's bandit,
want a drink at mine?
Just a tiny beer for me.
Been out long?
Six months now.
Six months too.
No father.
Well, there is, Christophe,
a health auxiliary.
Two kids, married. He knows,
but won't leave his family.
I never asked him to.
I was never in love with Christophe.
Love is pretty rare actually.
I could've had kids with Martial.
I left home at 17 for Martial,
a stone-cutter.
A stoner, more like!
We lived in a van for 10 years.
10 years of odd jobs, concerts,
encounters and everything.
Too much of everything.
We killed each other a hundred times.
Why on earth am I telling you that?
Guys say I'm shameless.
It suits you.
Funny, I hate being photographed.
Does my bump scare you?
No.
You're gentle. I like you.
Come on,
my bedroom's more comfortable.
We'll have a drink after.
I see you face on, from behind
and in profile.
Yeah, it's cubist fucking.
Never tried it?
No.
Come.
It's tough, men don't look at me now.
I miss that.
Well, I missed it.
I really like your bump.
It scares ghosts off.
You're kind.
People often say I'm kind.
Maybe it's true, but I'm no exception.
Most people are kind.
I attract complicated stories
and dodgy deals. No idea why.
Because you're kind.
Mean guys never sleep
with pregnant women.
There's a barn there.
Dad sold his cows off,
restored it to make a gte,
and then he died.
My mum, Monique, runs it alone.
It earns her a living. It's a bit old,
but people come for the scenery.
And for Monique.
Sorry, I was in the shower.
A hunting accident.
Look at you, my girl!
Giving birth at the farm?
Hi.
Meet Aymeric, my boyfriend.
Boyfriend
Hi, Aymeric. I'm Monique.
Hello.
Alright.
We'll fit the window before coffee.
Aymeric That's a Breton name.
Yes, my mother was born in Brest.
So who'll take care of the little lad,
or little lass?
Me, of course.
With the guy who's there when I pop.
Yeah.
And you, as the grandmother.
Yes, and very happy to be too.
It's a boy.
There.
That's one done.
No need for a Turk.
Cut that out.
Let's make the coffee.
Thanks. See you in a bit.
The asters are already in bloom.
Is it your waters?
Her waters have broken!
Jesus fucking Christ!
That's good, Florence. Again.
I can see his head. Come on.
Nearly there.
That's good!
That's it, here he is.
The dad?
Let's cut it.
Cut the cord, go on.
Where?
Between the clamps.
- Here?
- Yes.
Bravo! Congratulations.
Lovely. What are you calling him?
What's his name?
Jim.
Jim.
Welcome, little Jim.
He's really, really beautiful.
My best day ever.
Coming tomorrow?
Great. See you then.
Thanks.
You too?
Yeah
I was working when Florence went
to register Jim's birth.
Born Pelletier, his mother's name.
Father unknown.
Hi, Ccile. Ok?
No, I just weighed Jim.
He hasn't gained a gram, it's scary.
- Call a doctor. He's starving.
- What's up?
It's not easy.
I brought stuff.
Ccile, do you mind?
No way, my nipples are on fire.
I'm a bad milkmaid.
You're holding something back.
Mentally, I mean.
I need to piss.
She has to try.
It's important to nurse him
for his immune system.
It's ok, Ccile, you can go.
You have kids too.
True, older ones aren't easier.
They're worse even.
Bruno is just great.
But he's their real dad.
Maybe it's easier.
No doubt.
Sure it'll be ok?
Yes.
Bye, Ccile.
Bye, Ccile, thanks.
You're welcome.
Bye, Jim.
You think so?
Yes, Ccile's gone.
Go and rest, I'll see to it.
Just five minutes.
Look, here we go.
That's good.
Is it good?
Welcome, Jim.
We celebrated Jim's first birthday
at Monique's, in Bellecombe.
We got the whole family together.
Ccile, Flo's friend, was there.
Playing the godmother.
Another, with his dad.
Look over there.
And with his mum?
A baby brother or sister next year.
No way, I'm too old for that.
No, not yet.
Don't hang about.
Right, Aymeric?
Sure. Why not?
Here, like this.
Hey presto!
I've never gone beyond the meadow.
But you'll see.
The forest shelters
the universe's biggest giants.
We'll go in there
cos we're adventurers.
We're taking risks.
Daddy.
Want this?
Here.
Come on.
Come to Daddy.
Come, Jim.
You're walking.
Come on, son.
Don't move.
Don't move.
I have an old woman's body.
Look.
Not at all.
Ok, but it's a beautiful old body.
A mature-nal body.
I preferred my hot rock chick body.
Guys don't dream of a perfect body.
Not guys like me anyhow.
So you'd be ready to give our Jim
a little brother or sister?
No.
I think Jim's happy like this.
And I am too.
It'd be like betraying him.
Betraying Jim?
It's like what I have with Jim
couldn't happen twice.
Flo got up.
She went back to the window.
For the first time,
she wanted her photo taken.
Naked.
Let's live here.
In Bellecombe?
Yes.
Our initial happiness lasted.
As a family, we rented Monique's gte.
She wasn't going to host tourists
forever.
Florence got a nursing job
at St Claude hospital,
and I kept on doing temp work locally.
Jim loved the outdoor life.
WINTER 2007
Ever caught a fish by breaking the ice?
I don't think so.
Spotted one?
He's right here.
Got him!
- Help me.
- Got him?
Come on
- A nice one, huh?
- Yes.
He's for you.
That's kind.
One, two, three.
Here we go.
Here.
Get ready.
Spring was here.
Jim turned 7.
Mr Aymeric Bailly.
Your dad has to put it in the box.
- Is this allowed?
- Tolerated.
Voted.
Why isn't your name
the same as Mum's and mine?
Kids usually have their dad's name,
but Mum and I decided to be different.
Who did you vote for?
I did a blank vote.
In just 50 seconds now,
we'll know who the new
He doesn't have my name, fine.
But a schoolmate will tell him
I'm not his dad.
We said we'd tell him at 6 or 7.
It's time.
If anything happened to me,
what would you do with Jim?
I'd adopt him.
our exit poll result.
Nicolas Sarkozy is elected
with 53% of the vote.
No surprise.
A result hailed by an ovation.
We didn't tell Jim that evening.
Hi there.
Good evening.
Martial?
The stoner?
Christophe,
the health auxiliary I mentioned.
He lost his wife and two daughters
six months ago in a car accident.
- Is Jim in bed?
- Yes, for a while now.
November 3rd.
Between Poligny and Arbois.
A caravan swerved to dodge a car
that had braked suddenly.
Marion and the girls
rammed into the back of the caravan.
I should have been there.
No thanks.
I'm on a ton of meds.
They don't really help, but
I see the accident on a loop
as if I was there.
I can't sleep, I
It haunts me around the clock.
I understand.
I'll leave you to it.
I'll take Jim to school tomorrow.
Christophe came by taxi.
He'll sleep here.
Sure.
Good night, honey.
Good night, Aymeric.
Good night, Aymeric.
Finished?
Yes.
Who's in there?
An old friend of Mum's.
Let's go.
Hello, goodbye and we're off.
We slept here. Well, slept
Have a good day, son.
Bye.
Christophe,
we can drop you in town.
You're right. I need to move.
- Have a good day.
- You too.
Mind if I sit in the back?
Of course not.
Jim, sit next to me.
She's gone away and Jim is down
Jim drinks gin in his Chrysler
The peninsula,
the promenade are pointless
She's gone, watch out,
Jim's going in circles
- Thanks, Aymeric.
- Bye, Christophe.
Mum's friend is weird.
He's not in great shape.
For soccer,
want to join the St Claude club?
- You bet.
- We'll do it then.
Go on, Jim!
- Charlotte wants to play soccer too.
- Great!
We'll see each other again.
- We're in Bellecombe.
- Neighbours!
Did you see?
Yes, I saw.
We're near the bar. Join us.
It's Christophe.
I told him to come if he felt like it.
You did right.
To neighbours.
To us.
Hello, everyone.
Are you ok?
This is Christophe.
Caroline, Franois.
Delighted.
Hello.
Something to drink?
I'll have Orangina.
I just stopped by.
See you later.
If you go to San Salvador
See the fortune teller
Hi, Aymeric.
Hi.
Florence is at her mum's.
She'll tell you powerful things
Hi there.
- Ok?
- Yes.
Homework in the kitchen now?
I don't really like Mum's friend,
the widower.
Did Mum tell you his story?
Yes.
He scares me.
Don't worry.
Here.
Watch, ok?
Me too?
You too.
- What's that?
- Dad's chewing gum.
Careful, that stuff's full of junk.
Jim sucked his first felt pens
until they turned white.
A blue tongue from gum is progress.
No reason to poison him.
Is he a bit screwy?
Sometimes.
Finish your homework.
I'll be right back.
Are you ok?
No, I'm not.
What's wrong?
Christophe complains about Jim's gum.
This won't work.
Don't get your back up.
I know it isn't easy.
Make room for him.
I've been thinking.
We have to help him.
Even if it's tough for you.
Give Christophe a chance
to know his son.
His son?
Well, Jim.
My son.
Yours, mine, ours.
But without him, Jim wouldn't be here.
Still, he's not his father.
Jim isn't a spare wheel.
You don't sow seeds
as a solution
if the official kids get hurt!
Don't be stupid. It's hell for him,
he lost his daughters.
You want me to give him a share
of my paternity?
That's not how we envisage things.
You've talked?
No, we don't talk about it that way.
Neither of us knows what we want.
I'm just suggesting we make room
for Christophe with Jim.
There's no devious plan.
I'm just trying to adapt.
I'm sure we'll all gain from it.
A chance to save someone
is a big thing.
We must try.
Everything ok, kids?
Hi, Monique.
Everything's fine. We're going in.
Have a good evening.
Alright
I'm ready to try something
with Christophe.
But, for Jim, he stays
an old friend of yours we want to help.
He's in pain,
but Jim's happiness comes first.
You're right.
- What did you tell Monique?
- Nothing.
She guessed it all.
She finds you heroic.
Yeah
I thought of a thing for Jim.
We could get him a TV subscription
for the championship games.
Nice idea.
And you can watch movies all day
while we work.
Allowing Jim to grow
with his two fathers,
with "shared paternity"
as Florence calls it,
it's good to try.
It's a fine plan, but
You can't go against nature.
And here
Shut up, please, Ccile.
What's wrong? The subject's taboo?
Aren't you more open?
I see now
why you love pissing us off.
You hate any life
other than your shitty one.
Against nature?
You and I have never had
anything in common
because you're a granny.
An eternal granny.
Have you looked at yourself?
At your life?
No one's more conventional!
You raise your kids to be perfect.
You clean three times a week!
You and your guy
sorry, husband, handsome Bruno,
refused a house so you wouldn't dirty
your 4x4's tyres with cowpats!
You're totally nuts!
While we're on the subject,
where's handsome Bruno?
You know, when you and I met,
I thought your Bruno wasn't bad.
So I tried my luck.
That's how I am, I like to try.
A couple, guys, kids,
shared paternity, the lot!
Your Bruno didn't want me.
He rejected me, imagine that?
You found the ideal guy.
Plus he's faithful.
There, you have your dream.
But it's just a dream!
When you see us living,
trying to live as we want,
without crap rules,
you see your dream
in its true colours,
as one shit nightmare!
It's not funny.
It's not funny!
No, it isn't.
Look out!
Nice catch!
Come on, let's play.
Alright.
Kids versus grown-ups.
Charlotte in goal.
Who do I play with?
With us!
Ok, I'll be on your side.
Laying waste to Ccile and soccer
strengthened our trio for a while.
The three of us got through winter
with Jim.
SPRING 2008
Gee up!
Christophe!
He's replaced the dog.
Stop it.
You can do it!
Shit
Shit, it's beautiful!
It's fucking beautiful.
I'm living again.
I'm pleased.
I'm pleased you're here.
Right, my boy?
I'm sick of this whole act.
We need to talk to Jim.
We've something to tell you.
- What?
- Is this a good time?
Yes, now.
Remember how kids are made?
Yes.
With a seed, like flowers.
Right.
In your case,
the one who put the seed
in Mum's tummy
wasn't me.
- It wasn't you?
- No.
Who was it then?
Him.
Christophe.
Yes, it was me.
What we're saying is
often, the dad who puts the seed
in the mum's tummy,
and who cares for the child as he grows
is the same.
But not for you.
You have two dads.
Christophe, who planted the seed,
and Aymeric who's cared for you
since you were born.
But, right now, who's my dad?
I am.
Let's go back down.
Gran's doing chicken and mash.
A real feast.
Do I have to call Christophe
Dad too?
No, you don't have to.
Eliminate him.
Kill the jerk
and disguise it as suicide.
It'll work, the state he's in.
It's win-win.
You get rid of your son's dad
and your woman's lover.
They're not having sex.
I'm sure of it.
Christophe can't touch a woman
and maybe never will again.
- He caused the shit between you.
- No.
If I'm honest, no.
I can't stand him. I never could.
He's not why Flo and I
have drifted apart.
In love,
we'd have never let him move in.
To tell the truth,
I think we stay together for Jim.
It's been 7 years.
What if I came to live here?
It's time Jim saw a city.
To get away from Mr Depressed.
He may be depressed,
but he's Jim's genitor.
In court, you'd be screwed.
In court?
Why?
Mum! Dad's here!
Hi, Jim.
Hi, Dad.
- Hi, Aymeric.
- Hi, Monique.
I'll talk to Mum then see you, ok?
I've come for my things.
I was expecting it.
I thought about it too.
It's for the best.
We're over then.
Yeah, I think so.
And Jim?
Shared custody.
We'll see, weekends first.
Something normal.
Normal's good.
Ccile would like that.
And Christophe, where is he?
He's gone home for a few days.
Will he be back?
Yeah, I think so
It was bound to happen.
Maybe.
He's getting a dog.
He's really crazy.
Look, there he is.
Goodbye.
Hi, Jim.
Hiya.
Didn't we say 3 pm at mine?
Yes, but we were early
and Jim wanted to see your work.
Can you bring him to Oyonnax tomorrow?
I finish late.
Hospital car park?
What's wrong, Flo?
Sorry, I'm fine.
It's Monique.
She's back in hospital.
She's giving me hell.
Next weekend, Jim and I will go
to cheer her up.
There's something else,
a little more upbeat.
I think.
Tell me.
I had an idea.
I'd like you to be Jim's godfather.
Officially. With a ceremony
at the town hall.
Godfather?
Dad to godfather is a downgrade,
isn't it?
Christophe's idea?
It was mine. I swear.
It may be symbolic, but
We'll celebrate at Bellecombe.
It'd make Jim happy.
He wants us all together.
Jim? Come here.
Want me as a godfather?
Yes.
It'll be my coronation.
When shall we do it?
Before winter?
I'm so happy.
Bye, Jim!
See you tomorrow!
The next weekend, we saw Monique
in hospital,
without Florence.
Jim found her more fun
with us than with Mum.
Classic. It was the last time
I saw her.
Monique died a month later.
Heart attack.
We postponed my coronation
until the warmer weather.
Long live the godfather!
My friends, I'm very happy.
Us too.
You're looking good.
Just need the sheriff's star.
No, you rather.
All ok, partner?
To Jim.
You should move into Monique's.
Let Jim have the gte.
His hideaway, and his godfather's
at weekends.
Everything back to normal.
Jim doesn't like the city but
I can see him in Lyon.
If he does a soccer study programme
in a year of two.
Godfather.
And coach.
Flo and I have a plan.
We wanted to tell you once certain.
But as you mentioned the future
You're worrying me.
It's fantastic actually,
we plan to live elsewhere far away.
- Where?
- Canada, Montreal. I've a friend there.
- And Jim?
- Jim's coming with us.
It's worth trying.
Christophe! Aymeric!
Got to move. That's life.
You'd fly for the first time.
There's cake and booze left!
I heard your exciting plan.
- Christophe told you
- About Canada.
That idiot, he can't hold his drink.
Bad timing.
- Jim knows?
- Yes.
He said,
"How am I going to see Aymeric?"
Don't worry. We'll figure it out.
You'll visit us.
Canada, the snow, the lakes
Jim will love it.
After Monique died, I felt
we needed a change of air.
Life goes on after all.
Wait, Aymeric.
Dad
What are you doing?
Listening to the forest spirits.
What are they saying?
Pack your bag. We're leaving.
So it's true?
What?
Canada!
We're leaving now? With you?
You in here?
What are you doing?
Talking about Canada.
What were you saying?
We're leaving now
and Dad's coming with us.
Not right now.
We don't have a house there yet.
But we'll get one pretty soon.
And then, Aymeric will come and see us.
As often as possible
Of course
We'll find real Indians in the forest.
Christophe's found a flat
in a nice area of Montreal.
It's big, with three bedrooms.
I'll send photos.
Hold on.
With this,
we can video call,
send photos and everything.
I've put in my number.
I got you a plan for Canada.
Unlimited calls.
Great, thanks.
Your plane will hit the ice.
Idiot.
Here.
Come on, boys
We're back at Christmas.
It's not long.
Or before, if the house sells.
Yeah
We're Indians, right?
Yes, Flo.
It's Jim. We're at the airport.
Great
Or rather have a nice flight
Hello, Jim?
You're my real dad.
He's bright, my boy.
A week before Christmas,
Florence texted me.
The house had sold,
but they weren't coming to France.
Too tricky to organise a trip
during the holidays.
She and Christophe had work.
And as new staff at the hospital,
weren't entitled to time off.
She said
if Jim came alone, he'd never return.
She didn't trust me
to put him on the plane back.
Flo was right. I couldn't have.
Get the whale pictures? We're going
to see them. Great, isn't it?
I've booked the boat and the chalet
for a whole month, the whole summer.
You can book your leave!
This summer? As if!
Flo, summer's way off
In the holidays,
the station's swamped but
In January, I can try
Tell Jim.
Leave me be! No!
Call soon?
I don't wanna watch TV.
You hear me?
I had my first Christmas without Jim.
The last Christmas I spent
with my folks was over a decade ago.
- One more game!
- Go on.
Jim was 6,000 km away.
I was just his godfather.
A bummer of a Christmas.
A permanent bummer.
I left that night.
I didn't see Jim again.
Not in January.
Neither in spring.
Nor the following summer.
The messages began to dwindle.
Then the telephone number was blocked.
I had one last email from Florence.
"It's best for us all.
For us, for Jim and for you.
I know it's hard,
but we have to move on.
You'll rebuild your life."
What's up?
I got this an hour ago.
We're not coming this summer.
I didn't get you a ticket.
It's best for Jim
We should have killed them both.
THREE YEARS LATER
Thank you.
Olivia.
Sorry, I'm sweaty.
Don't like dancing?
I do sometimes.
Whose house is this?
No idea.
My sister, Aurlie, is the DJ.
You don't know her?
No, I followed a friend.
Saturdays, I have to dance.
I'm nearly 40 and dance with people
the same age as my pupils.
I'm a French teacher.
I met one at a party once.
His face!
"What are you doing here, Miss?"
And you?
Me?
Stock-handler. Temp work.
Auchan, Carrefour, Darty,
Monoprix, Dcathlon.
Factories too.
Saint-Fons, Saint-Priest, Chassieu.
By night, I clean Bron hospital.
And recently, I discovered
riverboat renovation.
In Japan,
you'd be a "freeter."
It's a guy or girl, with a string
of low-paid jobs,
who rarely gets out.
They have loads of them.
It's had a major impact
on the birth rate.
"Freeters" can't afford kids,
so the population ages big time.
No kids?
No.
Plans this summer?
This summer?
In summer, I usually work.
But this summer
I'll ask my parents
if they need a plant-waterer,
or someone to scare burglars
while they're away.
Every year, they go camping
in Le Grau-du-Roi.
The house is empty.
It's in the Jura.
If ever you want to dance,
let me know.
A summer in Tahiti!
Have you ever travelled?
I mean, far away.
No.
I nearly did.
In another life.
You had another life?
Yes.
Can we talk about it or not?
Or not.
Let's leave Secret Island.
Super U's fish come gutted
unlike Robinson Crusoe's.
They're from a local fishery.
I used to sell tons.
To the trout!
From Super U.
Don't go.
Stay a while.
Aymeric, I need to tell you something.
Yeah?
I don't want children.
I don't either.
I'm bored of Lyon.
I'd love to live here.
It's your hometown.
Hometown life isn't for everyone.
You have to leave.
Can't be a kid your entire life.
It'd be my sister's nightmare.
She'll think I'm crazy.
You'd need your own place.
Yes.
Your own place.
I'd come on weekends.
And in the holidays.
I get lots of holidays.
SUMMER 2017
I found a place two years later.
15,000 euros. The price of a ruin.
It wasn't far off one.
Everything had to be redone.
Jobs of every kind.
Brickwork, plumbing, electricity.
I had all the basics
But basically, nothing.
The advantage of your hometown
is the help.
The weekend's here!
Hi, sweet pea.
How are you getting on?
- They aren't beams?
- It's a truss.
Aymeric, come here.
This is Pierrot.
He'll be doing the wall.
- I invited him for a drink.
- Of course.
Hi, I'm Aymeric.
We know each other
Your face does look familiar
- Titi.
- Titi, no way!
It was another life
You went down for a while.
I confessed.
Without squealing on anyone.
It was a classy move.
I never told you.
It was classier
to have denied everything.
I was a prize idiot back then.
I got caught 5 years later.
Shady enterprise.
Illegal asbestos removal.
Anyway
That's over now.
How's it going? Live alone?
Yes and no
Not weekends or holidays.
Ok?
Olivia.
Pierrot.
- Hi, Pierrot.
- Delighted.
- You ok?
- Yes, and you?
I'll just get changed.
Shall we have a drink?
Ladies and gentlemen. Pierrot.
Hi, I'm Aymeric's dad.
- His mum, hello.
- Hello.
Hi, I'm Gatan.
I'm Marius.
Hi, it's Flo. I'll understand
if you don't reply,
but I hope you're well.
We're in France a few days.
I'd like to meet up.
- Ok, Aymeric?
- One sec.
Hi, Flo.
Will Jim be with you?
We agreed to meet that Saturday,
at the Bar de la Fraternelle
in Saint-Claude.
The day before, Flo sent me a message
to say Jim wouldn't be with her.
Yes, I stopped dying it
It suits you.
So you moved back here?
To Saint-Romain.
I'm renovating a house.
Thank you for replying
and agreeing to see me.
I need to tell you what happened
with Jim. Not to apologise,
but to let you know,
and maybe you'll understand
Go ahead.
I was so scared of losing him
Everything went to shit
when we got to Montreal.
It was awful.
Jim was in a bad way.
He wasn't the same.
He wouldn't talk.
He closed himself off completely.
He made us pay for moving.
He'd leave school at midday
and be back at midnight.
He ran away from home.
He'd threaten to come back to France.
It was really scary.
Christophe began to pull through.
He had plans.
He finally saw a future.
Why throw it all away
because Jim refused to adapt?
So we decided on a clean break.
To cut all ties.
We wanted to protect Jim
as much as our relationship.
We wanted to try, you know me.
We didn't know what it would lead to.
We told Jim you didn't want to come
or see him any longer.
I told Jim you'd met a woman,
with whom you wanted
to have a child.
With the seed and all that.
A child fully yours.
You see, I really went all out.
I even gave your new woman a name
Samantha.
It was unfair and cruel,
but what else could I have done?
Slowly, his anger grew
and he ended up hating you.
It had worked
The amazing thing is that it worked.
It felt like a resurrection.
We got the old Jim back.
Just the other day, he wrote a song
called "The First Father."
He's no longer mad at you.
It's a sweet song,
a bit like a fairytale.
I can send it to you.
Jim might not like me doing it
behind his back, but
He doesn't know I'm seeing you.
I imagine
it must've been hard for you.
I'm not asking for forgiveness.
I wanted you to know that Jim's well.
Very well, in fact.
Aymeric
made his life
it's over
You're here.
So you're back?
I wanted to wake up here, with you.
The party was in the woods.
I got my fill of loud music,
good God!
And you?
Up all night too?
Who is it?
It's Jim.
My son.
The island reveals its secrets.
Can you translate?
In the folds of history.
Almost out of memory.
The first father
made his life.
The first father is me.
Was me
It's no longer my problem.
Tell me.
I wrote to Florence.
I told her I hoped
she'd tell Jim the truth.
It wasn't up to me.
It wasn't my job to tell Jim
his parents acted like bastards.
I never got a reply.
SIX YEARS LATER
Please, if you could gather round.
Don't move
Bride and groom, jump on "3".
Just the newlyweds, on "3".
Look at me
Great! You're marvellous.
And now the bride and groom,
to the lake!
Am I at Aymeric's?
I'm a friend,
the daughter of a friend
- Hello.
- Hello, Aymeric.
You might not remember me.
We met in Bellecombe and Lyon.
Charlotte,
Caroline and Franois' girl.
Charlotte, of course.
Come in.
A real young lady!
What brings you here?
Jim's in France,
since last autumn.
We're in a flat-share
in Grenoble
and he found you online.
He'd like to see you.
Charlotte, we're old pals here.
Of course, Jim can see me.
See us Olivia
Jim's always welcome here.
I'll go and tell him.
He's in the car.
I came as messenger.
Come.
Hi, Aymeric.
Hi, Jim.
Christ
You're in good shape.
I just spent 10 days in the Alps.
Terrific.
No Quebec accent?
Not at all.
A bit, at times over there
You hungry?
Time for a snack, isn't it?
There's some papet Olivia made.
Jim, this is Olivia, my partner.
Papet from the Jura, remember?
No, I don't. What is it?
It's this, a kind of flan.
We brought back some Radoune.
A gin from Quebec.
Papet and Radoune then.
Got any candles?
Candles? What for?
It's the 3rd. My birthday.
You're right.
We'll find some.
Come on.
Radoune?
Radoune is gin infused with mushrooms.
It's a bit strong.
23, isn't it?
That's right.
Cheers!
So
You came back to France?
- Yes.
- And what are you doing?
I want to be a mountain guide,
or at least a tour leader.
Right now, I'm at Grenoble University,
studying music.
Torn between music
and the mountains?
The music's your mum?
My dad too.
Chris took up the guitar.
He taught me loads.
Then I got into electro,
altogether different.
I go out a lot. I love dancing.
You dance, Aymeric?
- A bit.
- Only with me.
Or maybe on his own in secret.
Let's do a photo, shall we?
No, wait, my papet.
Here we go!
Homecoming!
I hate being photographed.
Come and see something.
We'll be back.
- Shot of Radoune?
- Yeah.
Photos from our old life.
I don't think your mum has any.
Not that she's shown me anyway.
There are 82,733 of them.
2,000 rolls printed.
I got it all scanned 2 years ago.
Set me back a bit,
but no regrets.
Want to see?
Why not.
I didn't catalogue them.
I never know what or who
I may come across.
I open files at random. I explore.
There.
Look.
The Bellecombe years.
You liked being photographed then.
Any other kids?
In these photos?
No, no other children.
Haven't you got kids?
I mean
No, I haven't.
No other children, Jim.
I don't get it.
What don't you get?
Does your mother know you're here?
Yes, we talked on the phone last night.
She just said, "Que sera sera."
Plans tomorrow?
We could take a walk, just us two.
I need to talk to you alone.
I'm free in the morning.
It'll be fine, Aymeric.
You'll find the right words.
Should I pack a picnic?
It might take a while.
You need to get some sleep.
Downstairs, so I don't wake you?
No, come here.
I'll pack oranges and chocolate.
That'll be nice.
- All ok?
- I'm fine.
Right, here we are.
You know,
climbing's not really my thing.
Hold on to the bars.
Like a ladder.
You'll be ok?
Just follow me.
I'll give it a go. You're the guide.
We'll take it easy?
Of course.
Here we go.
Here's the traverse.
Well done.
It's beautiful.
I'm happy we're here.
Did Florence tell you we met?
Six years ago in Saint-Claude.
That's when I should've reached out.
I found out they lied to you.
I don't care, Aymeric,
about your issues.
Yours, Mum's or Chris'.
And fuck Samantha.
Wherever she is,
with or without your other kids.
I shouldn't have come.
It was stupid.
Charlotte insisted.
I thought I was over it,
but not at all.
I was just a kid in Montreal.
For months, at night before bed,
I'd lean out of my window
and watch the shadows of passers-by.
I'd wait for one thing.
For someone to stop,
wave and I'd recognise him.
My dad who'd come for me.
I'll never forgive you.
You're on your own now.
You get used to it.
Shit
Can you fetch me?
I'm all alone at Lake Vouglans.
What happened?
Jim's really mad at me.
Did you tell him? Everything?
There wasn't time. He ditched me.
He doesn't care.
Look, I'm coming
but we won't go home.
Olivia, I'm not sure about that.
Trust me.
I'll be there before dark.
- Sir
- He's my son.
Backstage passes only.
Jim!
It's ok. Let him through.
- Why're you here?
- To talk.
The damage is done, Aymeric.
Let me go.
You don't get it!
Shut up! You don't know.
I didn't abandon you. I screwed up.
Samantha never existed.
If you knew how many times
I imagined, in the evening after work,
that someone would knock
and I'd hear a voice.
Your voice.
"Hi Aymeric, it's me, it's Jim.
I'm back."
You did it.
What I could never do,
you did.
You're the one
who crossed the Atlantic.
It's you who
who crossed the Atlantic to
I'm going
Aymeric, you with us? Can you hear?
Aymeric, it's Aurlie.
Can you see me?
Stand back. He needs water.
He's moving. Hand me the bottle.
I'm here, Aymeric. It's Jim.
I was afraid you'd gone.
You were the goner.
- Do you know this man?
- Yes. He's my
Does anything hurt, sir?
He was my father
He's still alive. Look, he's breathing.
It's not what I meant.
Step back a bit.
Don't speak. Stay still.
I feel fine.
- Stay calm, sir.
- I am calm.
- Did you take any drugs last night?
- No.
How old are you, sir?
It's alright, I still know my age.
Can I sit up?
- Want to sit?
- Yes.
We'll help you.
Is this the first time you've fainted?
Yes, first time.
Can I get up now?
Go on, steady.
There we are.
Any health problems? On medication?
No, none of that.
Would you like to walk, sir?
He's walking.
Taking his first steps.
Come on. Shall we go?
These sandwiches aren't bad.
Delicious.
- Could you pass me the water?
- Catch.
It's not even 8 am yet.
The day is just beginning.
JIM'S STORY
Ian Burley & Sophia Till