Starting in 1861, the American Civil War
divided the North and the South in a devastating battle.
Napoleon lll requested that French settlers on the new continent
adopt a clear position in this conflict...
Strict neutrality
Are you cold?
I forgot my gloves.
Very kind.
Are you sure we can trust them?
You should've asked yourself that before.
I never understood why the French militia sided with the South.
I'm not a politician, Mr. De Lisle.
When New Orleans fell to the Yankees,
the locals were ready to pay a higher price for their safety.
I didn't know they paid you.
Sometimes we forced their hand...
But let me reassure you,
you're far more generous.
What will you do with the money?
Going to buy a new suit.
Become civilized.
Good journey?
We missed you.
I can't say as much.
He's saying that to hurt me.
Let's get this over with. Where's the perfume?
In the belly of the beast.
You'll have a better sense of the fragrance
on a woman's skin.
Do you like it?
[bottles clatter]
You better show me the real ones right now.
You're looking at them.
You know the risks we had to take
to bring all this French shit all the way over here?
I don't understand.
[glass shatters]
[grunts]
Is that clearer, now?
I'll ask you for the last time, Victor.
Where are the diamonds?
They aren't any others.
[body thuds]
Don't be an idiot.
[grunts]
[crickets chirping]
[water lapping]
[woman moaning softly]
What are you doing?
I'll read. I can't sleep.
Go back to bed or you'll be too tired for Christmas.
Go on.
[door opens and closes]
What's wrong?
I had a nightmare.
[Layla] Was it a man's face?
Yes.
[chanting in Creole]
[chants in foreign language]
I'm not 12 anymore, Layla.
What are you talking about?
All this stuff...
I don't believe in it anymore.
We've always believed in it.
[footsteps]
[wind gusting]
[piano being played]
December 1863 St Charles County, Missouri
♪ The joys of... ♪
-Oh! -[piano playing stops]
I-I'm sorry, Madeleine.
Can we-- Can I call you Madeleine?
-Sure. -May we start again?
[piano playing resumes]
♪ The joys of love ♪
♪ Are but-- ♪
-Oh. -[piano playing stops]
I tell you, it's that French R.
It is so hard.
I don't know how you do it, you people.
We'll try one more time.
[piano playing resumes]
♪ The joys of love ♪
♪ Are but a moment long ♪
♪ The pain... ♪
-[clears throat] -[piano playing stops]
[resumes playing]
[Miss Davis sings] ♪ Love! ♪
♪ France! ♪
Not staying with your sisters?
The holidays are always the same.
[inhales sharply and sighs]
Tell me a story that will take me far away.
You don't believe in them anymore.
I'm sorry I hurt you the other night.
Did I tell you about the Marassa?
No.
The Marassa...
It's the name given to twins,
living or dead, in the voodoo pantheon.
They are respected and treated like deities.
Any family with twins must make offerings to them.
or fear of being struck by mishaps.
There was once much talk about two Marassa:
a little girl and a little boy.
Their names were Ezilli and Auguste.
They could never be separated.
Never.
[door opens]
Layla, I've told you. none of that under my roof.
I'm sorry, Ma'am.
I asked Layla.
I don't want to know.
Where is the key to my husband's study?
[Layla] I'm to lock up when he's at the shop.
Does he have anything to hide?
[keys click]
[door closes]
Do you love him?
My father.
[sighs]
[Miss Davis] Do you think I need to improve my accent?
No, It is very nice the way it is.
Aw.
I have been promising Helen some French perfume for ages.
Please thank your husband.
You're not celebrating Christmas with your family
in Baton Rouge this year?
Unfortunately, no.
Things aren't the same now that the Northerners
have taken over.
My sister sent me this.
What is it?
General Order number 28.
General Butler's new decree to control the population
in the occupied territory.
"Any Southern female
who shows contempt for any officer
or soldier of the United States
shall be regarded as a woman of the town...
plying her avocation." What does it mean?
When the Union soldiers invade Saint Charles,
we'll have to show the sons of bitches great courtesy.
It's just meant to intimidate.
They're already making arrests in Baton Rouge
Women are disappearing.
Miss Davis says this and that... Since when do you talk politics?
I'll ask Mr. De Lisle tomorrow.
Maybe he'll know more.
Listen, Madeleine.
He's to marry your daughter.
He won't marry anyone if she kidnapped.
They're just stories to frighten ladies.
I still have time for the alterations.
You'll be fine for New Year's.
It's much too tight.
This torture instrument was invented to stop us breathing.
Look at how pretty we were last year.
You've changed, Esther.
Good.
These one...
or that one?
How will he be dressed?
Mr. De Lisle?
As usual
with his silly check jacket.
Your sister's future husband.
What about you, Justine?
Never been with a man?
I've encountered enough of them.
Unlike you.
-[gasps] Ow! -[bell tolling]
It must be him.
[exhales]
[door opens]
[door closes]
Mr. De Lisle is a good man.
You'll be happy with him.
I'll miss you, Abi.
[sighs]
I'll miss you too.
[footsteps]
[dog barking distantly]
Who let you in?
I work for Mr. De Lisle.
Are you Abigaëlle?
No.
Esther.
Who should I announce?
Victor Ludd.
Your father knows who I am.
[door lock scratches]
De Lisle is dead.
The deal went badly.
I'd promised him my daughters hand.
He told me.
I'm sorry.
What happened exactly?
When you deal with these people,
unfortunately you must be prepared for bad surprises.
With the war, I had to call on smugglers to move my goods.
I'm not judging you.
What do you want from me?
I wasn't paid for my work.
[door opens]
[sighs]
Thank you, ma'am.
Ah.
[sighs]
The money will be delivered soon.
Perfect. I'll be in St. Charles for another few weeks.
Then I'm sailing for Europe.
What would a man like you do over there?
I'd advise you to do the same.
And leave everything behind?
You might as well accept
that the Yankees have won the war. You'll lose all you have here.
The war isn't my concern. I'm French.
From what I can see, you live like a Southerner.
Layla is emancipated, I pay her.
Don't compare me to those barbarians.
Your clients?
You're a vulgar man,
If I go to Paris,
I promise I'll learn good manners.
I wish you...
a fine evening.
[door opens]
What did he want?
One of Mr. De Lisle's partners.
He won't come this year, he's held up in Europe.
What's he doing there?
Things are getting complicated, it's not personal.
Maybe he found a woman more to his taste.
-Ah! -[gasps]
I don't know what's wrong with her.
[door closes distantly]
Go talk to them.
[footsteps recede]
He'll come back for a girl as pretty as you.
Bless, O Lord,
this meal and those who made it.
Give bread to those without.
Amen.
[all] Amen.
[piano being played]
♪ The joys of love ♪
♪ Are but a moment long ♪
♪ The pain of love ♪
♪ Endures the whole life long ♪
[applause]
[violin music playing]
[no audio]
Gentlemen, welcome to my home.
I'm Miss Davis.
How can I be of service to you?
We're on the move, madam.
[Miss Davis] Be my guest.
[soldier] Thank you, madam.
It's a mobile battalion.
They're just seeking hospitality.
Everything will be all right.
Stories to frighten ladies!
We'll have to get used to them.
To what degree?
[indistinct chattering]
Thank you.
Ah.
Would you grant me the honor of this waltz, miss?
I don't know how to dance.
Me neither.
I'm not in the mood.
If it's my uniform that bothers you,
I can take care of that.
[laughs]
Stop it.
I'm not good enough for you, is that it?
[Justine] Ahem. She's dancing with me.
[waltz music plays]
[discordant piano notes being hammered]
[screaming]
Whoo!
What's this?
Are they tired?
Do you think they're tired, Captain?
-I don't know. -You don't know.
Why don't you fucking dance, bitches?
Huh?
[all gasp and murmur]
What did you say?
[woman] Nothing.
Somebody?
Why don't you dance?
[snapping fingers]
Come on, dance with me.
Dance with me. Dance with me.
Do exactly the same, all right?
Come on!
Okay, all right, I'm sorry.
-[all gasp] -I'm sorry, really.
Come on. Be careful, guys.
Be careful.
Does she want to hold it?
I didn't hear anything.
Do you want to hold it?
Why don't you want to dance, baby?
Hmm?
[gasps]
You.
Do you want to hold it?
Come on, make people dance.
-No. -Please. Make people dance.
Come on, make people dance. Please.
[sobbing softly]
Make people dance.
Come on! Make people dance!
[sobbing] No!
So, you don't want to.
All right.
-[gunshot] -[all scream]
[gunshot]
[audio muted]
[liquid dripping]
[faint thud]
[door closes]
[footsteps descend]
Couldn't we go up to your room?
He doesn't speak French, if it makes you feel better.
Five times that sum if you get us to the next boat for France.
[sniffles]
Why the sudden hurry?
The rest once we've arrived safely.
[sighs]
You, your wife, your three daughters...
And Layla.
That makes six.
Plus at least
two porters, depending on your luggage.
Eight times that sum.
[coughs]
You're sleeping, Abi?
No.
Do you have any memories of Paris?
Some.
I mainly remember our grandmother's house.
There were blue curtains
and it had a funny smell.
[Justine] She was always boil camphor for her rheumatism.
I was scared stiff of her.
She'd say:
"Why did I only have me granddaughters?"
You're lucky you never knew her, Esther.
[Justine] When we arrived in St. Charles,
Daddy told her of your birth.
A few days later, we learned she died.
The disappointment of a third girl was too much for her!
The first thing we'll visit in Paris will no doubt be that witch's tomb.
Hmm.
Is your book set in Paris?
No. In Touraine.
[Abigaëlle] Didn't you already read it?
Yes, but it helps me fall asleep.
So I'm rereading it.
I heard it is sad.
The main character's life is so intense that...
I seem to vibrate with him.
What we're going through isn't enough?
[coughing]
Abi?
[gasps and sniffles]
I'm scared, Justine.
[Abigaëlle sighs]
What do we do when this war is over?
When them Union Pacific Rails
crisscross the whole damn country.
Like everyone else.
We'll jump on the bandwagon.
[heavy breathing]
[horse whinnies]
[thunder rumbles]
[whispers]
[Madeleine slurps]
[sighs]
Every morning, this coffee reminds me how long the road still is.
Abigaëlle isn't awake yet?
She's coughing more and more.
I'm worried.
I gathered some plants.
I'll make her a decoction.
[Edmond] What we would do without you?
What you would do.
Keep your remedies for you.
[thunder rumbling distantly]
[water burbling]
Ma'am.
Where did you get it?
I shot it, by Jove.
I meant your jacket.
Oh.
Stole it on the front.
I did not know you'd been drafted.
They said this war would be over in the blink of an eye.
Yesterday you had Confederate stripes.
[Henry chuckles]
We'll soon be moving into Yankee territory.
Got to adapt to each situation.
That's absurd.
-[coughs] -That's your opinion, missy.
Did you desert?
Call it whatever you like...
but believe me,
whether you're from the North or the South,
'tain't no glory to be had in killing a man.
Now, just remember to wedge it firmly
between your shoulder and your hand.
Just like that, feet well grounded.
Nice, Justine.
Samuel, maybe on your way...
maybe it'd be better if you call me "ma'am."
It's all right.
You want a try?
So, just remember to...
It feels like we left ages ago.
As if our life in Saint Charles had never existed.
Shortly before you arrived...
I had a strange nightmare.
People should keep those things to themselves.
Did you have many lives before this one?
You're too curious...
Esther.
Let's say I've never really had time to settle down.
Anywhere.
You ever ridden a horse?
My father had a client who raised purebreds.
You know, English racehorses.
We often went there on Sunday afternoons.
But I don't know if I still know how.
It's something you never forget.
Need some help?
[caws]
The bond that united the two Marassa was so firmly respected
that the village school teachers agreed to make an exception for them.
Auguste was the only boy
allowed to frequent the girl's school.
So he would never leave his twin sister.
Soon, seduced by his aura,
the school girls tried to talk to Auguste.
Ezilli became insanely jealous.
She put a curse on them.
All of the women of the community
were struck down by an illness
as abrupt as it was strange.
The spell immobilized them
and prevented them form walking.
The bond between Ezilli and Auguste which was so respected
now acted as a poison.
You think that Victor is my Auguste?
He leads your heart away from the truth.
[Bettie singing distantly]
♪ A hero ♪
♪ Shines in my window ♪
♪ Love me ♪
♪ And now he's come ♪
♪ Like a dream That awaits in the dawn ♪
[humming]
Hello.
What are you doing here?
Resting.
Are you lost?
Do I look lost?
I should be asking you that question.
I'm with my family.
You have an accent from New Orleans.
Yeah.
I left home too,
a long time ago.
There's food at the camp if you want.
I learned to fend for myself.
I picked some. You want some?
Where are y'all headed?
Paris.
Hm.
Nice town for ladies.
Do you know it?
From afar.
I don't think I'd like it there.
I have to go back.
They will be worried.
You're a good girl.
-What's your name? -Esther.
How many men are with you, Esther?
Who are you?
How many men?
My father and two porters,
Victor...
He's the only one who has a name?
No.
No, my father's name is--
Do you find him attractive?
Why are you asking me all these questions?
Just curious. I didn't mean to offend you.
[unsheathes knife]
When do you know that you really love someone?
Afterwards.
Always too late.
Are you sure you don't want any?
[panting]
What's wrong?
There was a woman...
Where?
By the river.
What did she look like?
She looked...
deranged.
What did she say to you?
[Esther] She wanted to know where we were going.
What else?
She was singing.
She was talking about... I don't know--
-What else did you tell her? -Nothing.
She wasn't dangerous.
Stay here.
[horse grunts and pants]
[horse galloping]
I've been waiting for you.
Move back.
I'm not armed.
You've got no reason to be here.
I was tricked with the merchandise.
I don't have the diamonds. I never had them.
It doesn't matter.
I don't care about the diamonds.
[sighs]
Where are the others?
Far enough.
It's just you and I.
I know this thing between us isn't over.
I know that you still think about me.
That you wake up in the night...
that you can still feel me under your skin...
and it makes you burn.
You're wrong.
We can't change just like that, Victor.
[Victor] What do you want, Bettie?
Return to them...
or leave with me alive.
I'm leaving with them.
You mean, with her?
Esther.
[cocks gun]
You wouldn't dare.
[Victor] Stay away from her.
Next time,
I won't hesitate to shoot.
Me too.
Next time...
I'll aim here.
Why'd you tell her?
I didn't say anything.
She knew your name.
She meant no wrong.
I'm the one who decide what's right or wrong around here.
Don't talk to strangers,
and don't leave the campsite without telling me.
Start packing.
Easy.
[loud crash]
[shushing]
We'll have to leave the wagon behind.
It's to heavy to push it over.
Carry on with the bare minimum.
You don't need all that.
It's important for us.
I'll carry it myself.
Come on this side.
Slowly. Don't look down.
You'll go first.
That's an order.
Ready?
[Victor] Easy.
-[gasps] -Easy.
Grab my hand. I got you, I got you.
I got you.
Okay, next one.
-[pebbles shift] -[gasps]
Hail Mary...
full of grace...
Blessed art thou among woman...
Grab my hand. Ma'am, grab my hand.
I got you, I got you.
[gasps]
[crying] I can't!
I'll go with you.
Sorry, ma'am?
The two of us are going together.
No, no, no. One at a time.
She won't do it alone.
[Samuel] Your decision.
[whimpers]
-Okay... -Watch your feet.
-[gasps] -Easy.
-[breathing heavily] -Easy.
-[coughs]
-[screams] -Easy, easy, easy.
[gasping and panting]
Go on.
I've got you.
-Okay. -[Victor] Listen. Listen.
Grab my hand.
Listen, look at me, look at me. Grab my hand. Grab my hand.
I got you. I got you.
[gasping and panting]
[panting]
Whoa. Where-- Where are you going?
I'm going over.
What? Wait--
Step aside.
What the hell are you trying to prove?
You were right, Esther.
All this...
It's the best thing that ever happened to us.
I too loved someone a long time ago.
I mean, truly...
Remember the distant cousin
who stayed with us after her parents died?
Carol?
Yes, I was little.
I was just old enough.
It lasted for several months.
Mother surprised us one day in her room.
So she left.
Why didn't you ever tell me?
You were too little, you said it yourself.
Did Abigaëlle knew?
When Carol left the house,
the colors of the furniture grew paler,
the sound of the wind seemed weaker.
As if the world was starting to go out.
So I withdrew into a corner
and became closer to Abi.
I watched her grow up.
People started to say "Abigaëlle and Justine."
Never "Justine" alone.
For me you're Justine.
No-body else.
Since we left,
I've never been afraid for myself, always for her.
When I heard De Lisle wasn't coming at Christmas...
I felt relieved.
Abi could still say no.
You said he'd make a good husband.
Only to reassure myself.
Her path is no longer mapped out.
And yours even less so.
That's all that matters now.
[wind gusting]
[Madeleine] Oh, Lord.
We can take shelter.
There are more rooms upstairs.
[coughs]
[bubbling]
Bless, O Lord, this meal
and feed our souls.
I'm not hungry.
[door closes]
Do I have the right to ask questions about your scar?
It's the past.
I prefer to look ahead.
And what do you see?
[sighs]
Remember that mountain over there?
One day.
That's how long it took us to come this far.
Soon it'll only take a few minutes.
The train...
There'll be no need for men like myself anymore.
But between now and then,
I'll have become someone else.
When it's time to lay those last rails...
I'll be there.
When it's time to find men capable of working all day
under the beating sun, I'll be there too.
At their head.
And in the meantime?
In the meantime?
[sighs]
I'll keep saving my dishonestly earned money...
and tranquilly dream of my future life
in European cafés.
My father says you can drink whisky there
without carrying a gun in your belt.
[chuckles] Is that right?
Do you have family in Europe?
Not anymore.
And when you come back here...
will there be someone by your side?
A woman?
[sighs]
I'm not fit to marry.
[gasps softly]
[coughing]
[gasping weakly]
[sobbing]
[sniffling]
Justine.
[crying]
[door opens]
[tin clatters]
She can't stay like this.
We must do something.
What's wrong?
Abigaëlle.
She's dying.
We can't wait any longer.
[Samuel] There's that pass through the mountains,
not too far from here.
A shortcut back to the main route...
it would save time, but...
I'm not sure it's still open.
How far?
[Henry] Day's ride.
If this pass exists,
we could reach our destination quicker than we thought.
Saddle the horses.
They'll be back tomorrow.
[water splashes softly]
Why do you always act like I don't understand?
I know no-one will be waiting for me in France.
I knew it the day Victor paid us a visit.
De Lisle is no more.
I saw it in your eyes
and in Daddy's.
A man isn't worth dying for, Abi.
[Henry] ♪ And the skies are not cloudy all day ♪
♪ How often at night ♪
♪ When the stars are right ♪
♪ And the tears Of the glistening stars ♪
♪ I've stood there amazed ♪
♪ And I asked as I gazed ♪
♪ Does their glory exceed That of ours? ♪
♪ Home, home on the-- ♪
-[gunshot] -[horses whinny]
[gunfire]
[whinnies]
[grunts]
[gunfire]
[whinnies]
-[gunshot] -[screams]
[groaning]
[gunfire]
[moaning]
[gunfire]
[grunting]
[gasping and panting]
[groans]
[gasps]
[breathing heavily]
It's too late.
Always too late.
In your arms.
[chuckles]
You remember?
Why run away?
I want to know that place where we'll go together.
What's wrong?
Why don't you answer me?
I'm here.
[horse galloping]
[horse whinnies]
[Samuel] Anyone comes near, shut yourselves inside.
Justine, you aim for the cross.
And make sure you finish the job.
All right?
It's Bettie.
Bettie.
[bedsprings bounce]
Where is Father?
[Victor screaming]
[grunting and panting]
[clears throat]
Who's Bettie?
-[Victor clears throat] -Hm?
[breathing heavily]
Bullet went through. It's infected.
Get some bandages. We need to stop the bleeding.
What happened?
[sighs]
Edmond?
Who's going to pay me now?
[door opens, closes]
He'll be fine.
Soldiers?
A gang, no doubt.
-And they were after him. -This is all his fault.
-He dragged us into this. -I'm leaving him here.
No!
Any other idea?
[Layla] Edmond...
we have to bury him.
Too dangerous.
We can't leave him.
Sorry.
I'm leaving tomorrow, ma'am.
Make up your minds.
[door opens, closes]
I forbid you to cry.
You never loved him.
The only man you love is that God...
you don't even believe in.
Lord...
[Layla] Your prayers are empty.
You can't hear anything at all.
What do you hear there?
Madeleine?
What do you hear?
Nothing.
You can't hear anything at all.
Quiet!
Edmond?
You didn't hear him.
Your daughters?
You don't hear them.
You'll end up alone...
in a world that no longer exists.
Alone.
With no-one by your side.
That is the fate of us all.
No.
There are things...
that are bigger than us.
Things that surpass us.
But you can't see them.
[Layla] You're crying now too?
Over whom?
Over him?
Or over you?
Quiet!
Was it that woman?
The one from the river?
Samuel wants to leave you here.
She means nothing to me anymore.
The first time I saw you...
I knew that a new life was possible.
Trust me.
[gasps]
[panting]
Oh!
[gasps]
[breathing heavily]
[gasps]
[Bettie] Come in, Mama.
Go!
There are men outside.
Go, go, go, go, go, go!
Where's Victor?
[breathing heavily]
He's coming with me, Esther.
No?
You think he's yours, just like that?
He doesn't want you anymore.
What are you going to miss about him?
Hm?
What are you going to miss?
[gasping softly]
This?
Mm-hm.
Does he kiss you like this?
[gunshot]
[gasps softly]
Yah!
[horses galloping]
[gasps]
Aim for the cross!
I'll do it!
Wait 'til they're close.
[breathing heavily]
[gunshots]
-[gunfire] -[whimpers]
[gunfire]
[gasping]
[gunfire]
[screams]
[gunshots]
[gunshot]
Ah!
-[grunts] -[screams]
[gasps]
[gun clicks]
[breathing heavily]
He's the man I dreamed about before leaving.
Victor?
[Esther] He abandoned us.
Now you see...
[grunting and breathing heavily]
[coughs]
Ah!
[breathing heavily]
[glass bottles shatter]
[coins clatter]
[Esther] What happened to the twins at the end of the story?
[Layla] Ezilli was cast out of the community,
and Auguste was struck dumb with pain.
When he tuned 18,
Auguste discovered that Ezilli was married.
She had learned to live without him and had surely forgotten him.
He uttered a word whose meaning is lost today,
and the spell was broken.
[waves lapping]
[piano music plays]
SAVAGE STATE