THE QUIET SON
Hurry up, guys. We've got three blocked trains.
That's where the catenary exploded.
Alright, let's reconnect at 3.5 tons.
Let's go.
OVERHEAD LINES DANGER OF DEATH
Now we break everything down and we come back.
Bye, guys.
Alright, sleep well.
See you tomorrow.
Bye, kids.
See you tomorrow, Pierre.
It's been a decade
that the very idea of taking an interest in youth
has been completely absent from the political agenda.
They say they will get to it at some point...
...but it's still far from the truth.
This disinterest,
this impression of being abandoned,
makes this, I'd say, "forgotten generation"
feel uncomfortable...
Fus!
You have to get up, Fus.
Come on, sleepy head, wake up.
I made some coffee, don't go back to sleep.
and air out your den, it reeks in here.
Don't go back to sleep.
Here.
Put that on, it's cold.
I'm not made of glass.
- Want me to turn it down? - Yes, please.
I'm exhausted, I haven't slept.
Problems always occur at night.
And of course during the weekend. When else?
Of course.
- You don't care. - Of course, I do!
Come on, Fus!
Go on, go on!
Well played.
- Go on! - Keeper!
Fucking hell!
- Well done. - Did you like it?
All good?
Hi.
- It was a great game. - Yeah?
Yes.
- Yeah, well, a bit... - The tackle.
- Yeah... A bit! - I'll wait for you outside.
Great game, guys.
I liked it.
Fus!
We're off in 5, alright?
I'll go get a drink with them and I'll head home after.
Alright.
The tackle was a bit violent, It was harsh.
But hey...
It was a great goal, though.
Here.
So, he scored after a foul?
Loulou!
No card, no foul, as he says.
There we go!
Did someone say "goal"?
There you are.
- We were worried. - Really?
- You were worried? - As if!
No, I was worried.
Sorry.
I'm dead.
- Here. - Thanks.
Who drove you back?
Some guys, you don't know them.
Some guys?
- The ones from the stadium? - Yes.
Who are they?
Guys from school.
They're great.
They go to technical college?
Yeah.
What's the plan today?
I have to study.
And I have to sleep.
Come on, guys...
It was a close one.
- Very close. - I know.
Alright, I'll score one.
- Call it out before. - Yes.
So, left post in.
Five points.
I'm snowboarding!
- All good? - Damn!
Big boy, isn't it?
Very big boy.
That's great.
- You're happy now? - I am!
Great toy.
- You OK? - Yes.
Doesn't look like it.
When sticking up posters for the demonstration yesterday
a group of fascists came by.
They tore all our posters down to put their crap up.
Things got heated.
No one was really up for a fight on our side...
Bernard, I'm over it now.
I support you.
My ideas haven't changed.
You know me.
But it's just that...
Sticking up posters and all. I'm done.
My father did it, I did it for a long time,
now I'm all alone, my free time is for my boys.
That's the thing.
I think your son was with the group that insulted us.
I wouldn't bet on it
but one of the guys looked like your boy.
Doesn't he wear a jacket with a dragon on the back?
No.
Pierre, sometimes these things get out of hand.
You know how things go: these thugs can brainwash the kids.
Fus was with me last night,
the three of us, we were tired,
We went to bed early.
I'll grab a quick bite, I'm going out.
What was Bordeaux's score yesterday?
Nothing.
Nil-nil.
Reaching Premier League will be tough.
Where's my jacket?
Damn.
Have you seen it?
No.
Did Loulou take it?
I threw away your jacket, I dumped it.
What?
I threw your jacket away.
Bernard saw you sticking up posters
with your new friends.
He recognized your jacket.
Crazy, isn't it?
- You've really got a problem. - Yes.
The fact you hang out with your friends near the railyard.
And you lie to me.
- Give it to me. - Let go.
Let go of it.
Let go!
Hey!
The posters weren't for a rock band.
I'm not an idiot.
I just wanted to see.
I followed some friends.
It's nothing political.
You know what?
It's when they say it isn't political that you should worry.
Watch out, if you see them again... - What?
What are you gonna do?
Is that what we taught you?
What I taught you?
And look where we are.
I feel betrayed.
We're not going to fight over a jacket.
I'm starving.
- You alright? - Yeah.
You're wearing big boy clothes now? Good!
One day, I'll leave,
and you'll be alone like two idiots.
Pass the ball!
- Put it down. - Let's clear the table.
- You alright? - Yeah.
What about you?
- Did we wake you? - No, I was already up.
- Some coffee? - Yes, please.
- What? - Nothing.
You're going to be late, hurry up.
Yeah.
- Here. - I'm doing the night shift.
So, If you're hungry, the freezer is full.
- Alright, you hear me? - Yeah.
Do I have everything?
You done fucking around?
- Stop talking like that. - He's super slow.
Alright, bye Dad.
Bye, Dad.
- I trust you, yeah? - Yes.
- You're going to class. - What?
- You're going to class. - Yes.
You'd better.
- Bye, boys! - Bye, Dad.
"France For the French"
Go back to where you came from!
This is our country!
Stop!
Dad?
Yes?
You OK?
Have you seen this?
Aren't you bothered your brother is into this?
His friends are into that, Fus isn't like that.
He seems to like it.
Did you know?
That he had ultra friends?
They're not only ultras.
This is a pile of...
What the hell is he doing? And he's skipping class too.
I got another call from his school.
Who is he hanging out with?
What the fuck is he doing?
He'll come around, don't worry.
"He'll come around."
"Don't worry, don't worry", but I do worry!
No more downplaying this.
"Seven injured in a street fight"
Click on it, he has a webpage.
- Where? - Here.
"Youth Knife Attack"
"They should go back to Africa."
Can you believe what he's saying?
- He didn't write that. - You just said it was his page.
Ah, OK.
Have you seen these names?
"Dodolf."
He's really screwing up.
"Wash with similar colors."
Well...
Did you have a good day?
Yeah, and you?
No, I didn't.
I spent the afternoon online.
I saw what you're saying there.
I saw the page of your friends, your friend Hugo.
He's all clean-cut but he's full of shit.
What the hell are you doing, Fus?
Are you spying on me?
You're snooping and spying on me.
Stay put.
I'm talking to you! - Trust me, it's not what you think!
I believe what I see.
You don't believe in anything.
You follow the rules, like everyone. - But I don't hang out with racists!
- They're not racist! - Of course not!
They're just against immigrants!
Those who are already here, fine, as long as they stay calm.
Alright? My friends are like us!
They're legit, they're clean-cut.
- They're clean-cut? - Yeah.
Everything they say is dirty.
They "fuck" everything.
Your friends are obscene!
They are against whoever doesn't agree.
Even the opposing team.
Your friends are scum!
I say and I do what I want.
- No. - I see who I want.
- I'm not in jail! - Not as long as you live here!
Lock me up then, so that I don't see anyone.
Good idea! At least you won't hang out with fascists.
I'm out of here, I'll leave you with your perfect son.
Fus!
No, Dad!
Fighters, ready?
- What the hell? - What are you doing here?
You're fucking embarrassing me. - Get back home.
Let go of me!
Come on! Come on!
Get him!
There you go, hold him tight!
Get him!
There you go!
That's what we want!
Hello?
No, he doesn't answer me.
You know what?
Call him and say he'd better get home.
I've got to get back. See you later, bye.
Guys!
We have to finish off the ends!
Did you get to him?
Yes but he's stubborn.
Let's go.
He wants to live his life.
Let him live his life.
His loss.
It can't be on the left.
- It is. - No, it's a turning circle.
I can't turn left.
I have to go right.
- It says to go left? - Yes.
You shouldn't listen to everything people say.
You weren't so sure of yourself coming into Paris.
Thanks.
Hang on.
Let me fix you up.
No, I'm good.
Let's go.
So beautiful.
We were right, it's better to come beforehand.
Dear students, dear parents,
as Dean of the Faculty of Letters,
I am honored and proud
to welcome you to the Sorbonne open day.
The path you have chosen is one of high standards,
self-sacrifice, humanistic culture
and of dreams that materialize.
It's a path of dedication.
By choosing it, you're joining a long line
of illustrious men and women.
Wow, no kidding!
This is an emotional moment for you as well as for me...
She would have been so happy.
...to see so many of you,
so full of hope and enthusiasm.
I wish you success in your exams
and to be with us next year.
Fus will go crazy when I tell him.
Yes.
Look who's here.
Fus, you're back.
- Show me, Parisian. - Show you what?
No, your head didn't get too big.
- Not that much. - Idiot.
Damn.
No!
- You outdid yourself! - I have my secrets.
Chef Fus!
Wow...
Yeah.
Come on, tell me.
A Paris university is not the same.
It's hard to get in but Jérémy said he would help me.
He's got some work too, you know.
Let's eat, I'm hungry.
Alright.
It's not every day Fus does the cooking!
It's ten times bigger than our high school.
Can you imagine?
And...
it was built in the Middle Ages.
The only time they shut down was during the French Revolution!
But you're not the only one who wants to get in.
As they say, "many are called but few are chosen."
Don't get too excited.
It's not in the bag.
It's very good.
- Yeah? - Yes.
Thanks.
The French Revolution!
Well, well.
That's good, the transfers are taking shape.
The Paris bench for you, home for me.
Stop it.
It's true.
What am I going to do with my metalworking degree?
The best I could do is land a job at the mine,
like your grandfather.
Open one day, shut down the next.
We're just cannon fodder.
I'll show you a few things, and then I'll be off.
No, not at all, stay. It's our pleasure.
Have you started "Major issues in today's world"?
These lessons will help you get into the Sorbonne.
This one shows how the left wing
has gradually cut itself off from its electoral base.
What's next after your internship? Looking for a job?
I still have one year left.
Next year, I get to spend six months abroad.
I'm trying to go to the US.
Really?
After your internship, you'll do another one?
I have to finish my thesis.
It's like a big report about...
I know what a thesis is, thanks.
I'm working on new forms of activism.
In addition to the unions, there are now lots of associations.
And also more and more violent groups.
It's...
They might just be fed up of the system.
What do you think?
For me, all this paperwork...
These surveys are bullshit for Parisians.
- Stop it. - Seriously.
Stop it, will you?
Go sit over there, you'll be comfier.
It's full of crumbs here.
Thanks.
We tried the left wing,
we tried the right wing...
we need another solution.
So, what's your solution?
We know the program.
Do you know what they'll do if they get elected?
- Change the Constitution. - They can!
And their hands are free.
Then you live in a society where there's no more freedom,
no right to any difference and oppression everywhere.
Is that what you want?
You end up in a totalitarian state, and there's no way back.
Freedom for whom?
Equality for whom?
And fraternity...
Fus, stop it, will you?
- Come on. - Stop it or you leave.
Got it?
I'm off then.
No worries.
He thinks he's the king...
Stop it!
Come on.
As you can see, this is an exceptional phenomenon.
Animals, sheep in this case,
have been going round in circles for a dozen days.
They form a perfect circle...
as if it were compass-drawn.
I got angry but he was an idiot.
I shouldn't have brought him back from the station.
He's such a drag...
Such a know-it-all.
You're not wrong.
How about we spend some time together,
just the 3 of us, like before.
- No? - Yeah.
I can get some tickets for a soccer game.
Not too expensive.
Great.
Let's do that.
And it's a big game!
- That's great. - There, there!
Come on, come on!
That's it!
Football Club Metz!
Metz!
Damn!
That's awesome.
Get that keeper in our garden, and I'll score five points.
Their keeper is hopeless!
In the garden, I would beat him flat out!
Awesome.
"I could score five points."
The guy next to me shouted so much, I'm deaf.
The goal made him go nuts.
Fus! Fus!
I'm coming down!
You're late.
How are you, bro?
Hi, how are you?
Do you want to find another seat? - Impossible.
After.
Call your brother, make him come down.
Tell him to come down.
If you need me, I'm here.
Fus, come down!
For Dad, please.
- What? - I didn't know they'd be here.
Alright, I'm off.
We'll see each other later.
Twenty years old and top of his class!
Happy birthday Louis!
So, what's next?
I don't know yet, I'm still waiting to hear from some schools.
But I'm registered at the community college.
Going from prep school to undergrad.
It's great and the town is not too far.
- I got into the Sorbonne too. - No?
- Yeah. - What a genius!
History and Political Science.
- Nice! - Yeah.
But I didn't get into the student housing so...
They accept you but you have to figure the housing out.
- But the town is... - You got in for Paris?
- Yes. - And you didn't tell me?
No, because I am not sure yet.
Well done Louis!
Well done!
This is Paris!
Why didn't you tell me?
Did Dad know? Did you know Dad?
Dad, did you know?
For the Sorbonne?
Yeah.
Nobody told me anything!
If you got in, you go there, aim high!
Don't stay here.
The housing, the money, we'll find a way.
Right, Dad?
We'll figure it out.
You Little Parisian...
I'll come home often.
With his little satchel.
On the Sorbonne's benches!
Awesome!
Take this. You deserve it.
Let's try a twirl.
- Like this. - Alright.
My elbow's inside out!
I can't dance rock at all.
You weren't kidding, you can't dance.
- This way. - Yeah.
And here...
Hang on.
Dad knows.
Dad!
Sorry, passing through.
Show me how to dance, please. Come on, Dad!
Dad, help me out here!
Come on, show me!
- Hi, nice to meet you. - They're forcing me.
Just show me.
Grooving, Dad!
Good, there!
There you go!
And here.
Go, Dad!
Where's he at?
Dance with your friend!
Show me first!
Oh, come on...
Loosen your arms. Loosen up!
I'm going to throw up!
Alright!
- It's easy, look. - I can't do it!
You do it like that!
And here... You stay put.
I think I got it!
Good.
OK, and now one, two, three...
- There you go. - OK, I got it now!
- It's easy actually. - Now jump.
- We jump? - Yes, jump on me.
I almost died!
He's already double-checked his papers,
triple-checked, even.
OK, it's all here.
Thank you.
- You call me? - No, we're leaving for good.
With your car!
LAST TRAIN BEFORE RETIREMENT
- You lucky man! - Congrats!
Congratulations!
I did the math, I'll be 118 when I retire!
Didn't they just increase pensions?
- Yes, 2.5 euros... - Per year!
I hope they find an apartment for him.
You know how it is in Paris.
It's no picnic.
He's afraid to let him go.
Fortunately, you still have Fus.
Yeah.
Why do you call him Fus?
It's from the word Fussball.
His mother used to call him that.
Though he's not that much into soccer anymore.
He hangs out with strange guys.
I've forbidden him from seeing them, he said he wouldn't,
but whether that's true...
- So? - Great.
We found one.
And classy!
It's not huge but...
It's clean.
Yeah? - We visited some really gross ones.
And tiny ones with busted toilets in the hallway...
For 800 euros a month! They're crazy.
There was one above a dry-cleaner's,
the smell of it!
- It stank so bad. - Horrible.
- Awful smell. - So yes, we found a nice one.
Pretty close to school, no transport needed.
Fits our budget.
Seventh floor, no elevator.
Leg day every day!
What do you still need? Bed, chair?
Sheets, dishes?
- Towels? - We took care of it.
We've already got him a mattress.
Cute shelves, a desk.
The little prince is set.
Who's "we"?
I even got him a jacket.
So he doesn't look like a nerd in the big leagues.
Who were you with?
A friend of Fus.
You stayed with a friend of yours?
Lucky he was there.
No hotel room for you to pay.
And he's actually the one who found the apartment.
You can spit at them all you want, but I can count on my friends.
We agreed on something, didn't we?
You move back in,
but you stop seeing them, am I wrong?
We're from the same place.
We run into each other, we're from Lorraine. It's our region.
We are 100% Lorrain.
You can become French, but you're born Lorrain.
Do you hear what you're saying? It's a ready-made speech.
It's nonsense.
It's always been mixed origins here.
One day we are German, the next we're French.
It doesn't mean anything, they're just labels.
For me it's real.
They're not labels, they're camps.
You can't go against me.
You can't.
I don't want to go against you.
Is that what you think?
If you're not with us...
you must be against us.
But "us" used to be the three of us.
Not anymore.
You listen to me.
Don't you drag your brother into your shit.
You can ruin your life but don't you dare ruin his.
If your mother could see you...
- What did you say? - If...
- Fus, no! - Don't you ever say that again.
- Hear me? - Get off me.
Stop it.
You loser, with your lectures about tolerance!
You can't stand us being different from you.
You're both insane.
You have to get off his back.
Just let him be.
He's never good enough for you.
When she was at the hospital,
he always took care of me. He never complained.
That's not enough for you?
We don't have to do it all your way.
Think like you, be like you.
I get why he wants to leave.
We're suffocating over here.
Couldn't you shut up for once?
Are you for real? What about what you did?
- It's nonsense. - Do you hear yourself?
Aren't you happy about the apartment in Paris?
- It has nothing to do with it. - You think so?
You're becoming screwed up.
- Get lost. - I'm going.
Look at him, drinking his woes away!
Is something funny?
- Excuse me? - You find a sad man funny?
Come on, we're just joking.
- She'll be back, don't worry. - What are you talking about?
No, she won't! She won't be back!
Calm down!
- I am calm! - Relax!
- Enough! - It's OK, we're good.
I said it's enough! You stop it!
It's OK, Pierre. Calm down.
They are not worth it.
Get off me.
It's OK.
Calm down.
Just go home.
We can put that on top with straps.
Driving like that wouldn't be safe.
- So I'm not coming? - What?
I'm not coming then?
No, you're not.
We could remove the chair, Dad. - No, you need it for your desk.
Hand me those blue bags.
Wait! Wait!
You forgot your socks.
My socks!
Don't forget about me.
Don't be stupid, I'll be back soon. - It's moving!
We're off, let's go!
Come on, stop it. We're going.
Stop it.
Fus, please.
Here we are.
Living room, dining room, bedroom, kitchen...
and...
bathroom.
Which can serve as toilets at night...
- Good idea. - ...instead of the hallway.
It's great.
You'll be fine here.
Yes.
You're not watching the game?
Yeah?
Will you pick up your brother with me tonight?
No, I'll wait here.
I'm leaving work, wait for me.
- Pierre, a drink? - I can't.
Come on, it's Saturday.
I'm picking my son up from the station.
- It's Saturday, honey! - Next time.
- He's not here. - He can't be far.
Maybe he no longer loves us.
Fus?
Fus!
What happened to you?
Fus?
Can you hear me?
What happened?
What happened to you?
Help me.
Take his arm.
Wait, wait!
It's going to be OK.
Can you walk?
Easy, easy.
I'm right here.
I'm here.
- Easy. - You're going to be OK.
Careful, his head!
Wait.
Be careful with his head...
Wait.
- I'll take the motorbike. - No way!
Call Bernard! Louis, don't you take the bike!
I'm here.
Fuck!
Calling. Please wait.
Calling.
- Are you the father? - Yes, he's my son.
- What's his name? - Felix.
Felix Hohenberg.
- How old is he? - He's 22.
Has he lost a lot of blood?
- Did he lose consciousness? - No.
- Does he have allergies? - I don't think so.
I'm here, Fus.
Sorry, sir, you can't come any further.
We'll take care of him and we'll come back to you.
Hello?
Yes, just hold on a sec.
Please keep me informed.
Sorry Sir, you can't come in. We'll let you know.
Yes, he's in.
They're taking care of him.
I don't know, they won't tell me anything.
Wait! Louis, don't.
No, stop crying. Please don't cry.
He'll be fine.
He's not made of glass.
He always says that and it's true.
I...
Yes, I'll call you.
I've been waiting for hours,
can't a doctor tell me how he's doing?
There's nothing I can do, they're overworked.
Sorry.
Did you find anything out?
I heard there was a fight in front of the supermarket.
Some guys were handing out leaflets and a fight broke out.
I didn't know about it.
He never tells me anything.
You have to press charges, we must find them.
But it's not like it used to be, the anarchists, skinheads...
Now they are in small mixed groups.
Linked with Germans and Luxembourgers.
I wish he'd go back to who he was.
I'd leave him alone if he did. I'd get off his back.
It's going to be alright.
That's what everybody keeps saying!
Sometimes things aren't alright.
I've been struggling for years to hold it together.
I'm human.
I can't take it anymore.
You don't know how it feels,
to tell your two kids their mother is dead.
He's sleeping.
You can't miss your train, what time is it?
You need to leave at 7:45, even 7:30.
- Do you have your stuff? - Yes.
- Bernard, go with him. - No problem, I'll take him.
Here's some money.
- No Dad, it's OK. - You need to eat.
- Don't worry. - Louis, don't say that anymore.
I do worry and I always will.
It's so humiliating.
What is?
There's no shame you're my son.
Come here.
It's OK.
Let's change the bandage, OK?
Let me help you.
Grab this here.
There we go.
I'll stay here this week.
No way, you won't. - I'll catch up on my lessons later.
No, you go to Paris. I'll take care of him.
Don't ruin your school year for this.
What are you doing?
I won't play anymore anyway.
Isn't it a risk for your eye?
I'm a metalworker.
Shit!
You need to be patient.
It takes time. You've made so much progress already.
I'm going to press charges.
You were assaulted, we can't just let it go.
Fus, you'll go crazy.
What?
Why won't you press charges?
I don't trust the justice system.
Here.
- Nice. - Let me see.
Isn't he handsome with this?
Can we talk for a sec?
Yes.
That means get out of my house.
I'll join you later.
Why did you do that?
Are you stupid? Do you know what it means?
- It's just a tribal tattoo. - Really?
I'm not blind, you know.
What are you doing, Fus? What's your problem?
Last time wasn't enough for you?
What are you playing at?
Bye, Dad.
Are you OK?
Yeah.
I fell off my motorbike.
- Show me. - It's nothing.
- Did you disinfect it? - No.
- Put some ice on it. - It's fine.
What did you do?
I'll get some ice.
All rise.
The court is in session, please be seated.
Please remove the handcuffs from the defendant.
Please state your full name, age, address and occupation.
Felix Hohenberg, 23 years old,
Number 3 Station Street. Villerupt.
Unemployed.
Very well.
Please be informed that you have the right
to listen in silence or to answer the questions from the Court.
Silence.
You may sit down, sir.
Here are the charges against you.
On the morning of February 20,
the body of a young man was found in the industrial zone in Villerupt.
The victim, identified as Julien Descombes,
born on July 10, 2000,
was a science student.
The victim suffered numerous blows,
several to the head,
from a metallic object,
leading to a fatal hemorrhage.
The investigation led to the arrest of Felix Hohenberg the next day,
at his home.
He was alone and did not resist arrest.
Mr Hohenberg,
you are accused of deliberately causing the death
of Mr Descombes,
by hitting him with a blunt weapon,
and of acting with premeditation.
You are therefore accused of murder.
Some images stick in your mind.
I don't want you to see him this way, it's humiliating for both of you.
Your brother is cuffed in the dock.
You already know everything.
He wanted revenge on the Antifascists who beat him up.
I don't want you to come, OK?
I don't want you to.
We'll talk later.
See you later.
My youngest son went to see his brother in jail,
but I won't go back.
Once was enough for me.
I kept quiet in the visiting room.
He kept quiet too.
Maybe I'm an unworthy father,
but I won't go back there.
For the moment, but what about the future?
The future?
He killed someone.
I can't go back in time.
Your son will never be the same, that's for sure.
But soon you might want to see him again.
I'm ashamed.
Would you defend your son if he had killed someone?
Would you?
Do you want to help reduce his sentence?
Mine won't be reduced.
But you won't be locked up.
OK, but I won't go against my beliefs.
...a phenomenon which is not limited to the French political scene,
but has been spreading for a few years
across Italy, Hungary, Poland, England,
Germany, with the resurgence of the far right,
and the same in Brazil, in the United States...
Good morning, sir, you have the floor.
Thank you.
My son was nothing like a murderer.
He was a regular kid.
What I mean is...
there were circumstances
which led him to commit this crime.
And I, his father, wasn't able to prevent this.
When he came home,
broken and bleeding,
because he got beaten up,
my first reaction was, of course, to look after him.
I couldn't find the words.
I was just glad he wasn't dead.
I thought we'd been spared the worst.
I'd be lying if I told you I didn't see it coming.
But...
at that time, Felix and I were barely talking.
It had been months
since we talked properly.
Maybe I didn't know how to...
or maybe I was too scared to ask him what happened.
I didn't go to the people he had fought with.
I didn't even ask how it had got to that point.
Felix is the oldest of my two children.
He had always been beyond reproach.
Like every kid, he did some stupid things.
But I trusted him.
And I couldn't stop him from going astray.
When I realized he was hanging out with that far-right scum,
I tried to do something but it was too late.
So, I plead guilty, too.
I didn't stop him in time.
Maybe I'm the real culprit here.
The father of the murderer.
But, Mr Hohenberg, a crime was committed here,
and not by you.
The death didn't occur just like that.
The victim was hit violently several times.
With a metallic weapon
that was clearly made for this purpose.
Your son has a diploma in metalwork, hasn't he?
No, he didn't get his diploma.
All I can say is that my son's life...
changed dramatically
when he met those people.
He followed them,
and that's when it all started.
Until the day he decided to attack this...
Julien Descombes.
It's still hard for me to say his name.
They went to the same middle school,
maybe they even played together as kids.
I've gone over it a thousand times in my mind.
Every time, I think it could have ended differently.
I just can't, I don't understand.
When you've received a reasonable amount of love...
from your parents,
when you've never suffered war nor misery...
He lost his mother, that's true,
but he's not the only one who did.
How can you end up like this?
Prison time won't change a thing.
His life is ruined, my son's life is ruined.
So, what should I have done?
I knew he was on the wrong track.
I couldn't fight it alone.
I thought...
there had to be a bigger plan to change the situation.
But not just for my son,
a real plan
that could bring hope.
But Felix rejected everything.
Maybe I should have explained
that when you start talking about "them" and "us",
when you hate everyone who's not like you,
things can only go bad.
It can only end badly.
You think you're defending your own culture,
but actually,
you're fighting against every other culture.
You end up creating two sides, you think you're defending yours,
but all you want is to destroy the others'.
All you want is war.
There's nothing left but violence.
It's these ideas that killed Julien,
And my son was stupid enough to believe in them.
Mr Hohenberg, please rise.
To the question:
Was Mr Hohenberg criminally responsible
at the time of the events?
The answer was "yes"
by a majority of at least seven votes.
To the question:
Did Mr Hohenberg deliberately cause the death
of Mr Julien Descombes?
The answer was "yes"
by a majority of at least seven votes.
To the question:
Was Mr Hohenberg, at the time of the events,
suffering from a mental disorder
that has impaired his judgement or control over his actions
when the crime was committed? The answer was "no"
by a majority of at least seven votes.
And finally, to the question:
Did Mr Hohenberg premeditate his action?
The answer was "yes"
by a majority of at least seven votes.
Consequently,
the Court imposes a sentence of 20 years' imprisonment.
Ladies and gentlemen, the hearing is closed.
MURDERER
I could apply to college here.
That's a great idea.
When he's transferred to the South of France,
you'll go south too?
You'll quit studying?
Follow him for the next 20 years?
What will your life be like with a brother in prison?
And when you meet new friends, talk and laugh with them,
when are you going to tell them:
"My brother is in jail.
- "Because he killed a guy." - I don't care.
He's my brother.
Do you want me to stop seeing him? - I didn't say that.
But I've already lost a son,
I don't want the other to ruin his life.
Save yourself, Louis.
Save your skin.
My life is here and that's fine.
It's behind me.
But I don't want you to give up yours.
I won't understand if you don't speak to me.
Not talking isn't a solution.
There's no point.
Silence doesn't protect us, Fus.
If we're too different to communicate
it means they've won.
I hope Loulou will make it.
For the three of us.
Subtitling: MEDIA SOLUTION