Next!
Galatee?
Yes.
Hello.
Would you like something to drink?
Coffee, maybe?
A glass of water, please.
Do you know the basics?
You're looking for a young actress.
I suppose it's for the role of Philippe Guerande's wife.
Yes, he's gotten over Marfa's death.
I know the Vampires kidnap her and try to kill her.
But I haven't watched the whole serial yet.
It's very slow and in black and white.
It's a silly question, but...
We'll speak in English.
Cut!
We have it. Aurelia, you were great!
That's a wrap. Thank you all!
Sorry for the long hours!
We'll start an hour later tomorrow.
Check the call sheet!
Everyone got that?
Looks pretty good.
I think with the Japanese robe...
it'll be even better, you'll see.
Look.
Yes. Much better.
Any news from Mira?
We can't reach her.
She texted me.
She's running late.
Ok.
- I love your robe! - Cool, right?
I'm so into those Japanese silk prints.
We can't reach her.
I'm on it. She told Zoe she's on her way.
Those slamming doors.
- Can I go smoke? - You have plenty of time.
Thanks, bye.
- You good? - Yeah.
The basement set is ready.
I want to see the dance rehearsal.
Upstairs on the left.
- The choreographer's waiting. - I'm on my way.
I'll fix a few movements for the dancers' energy.
It's 90 seconds.
I can shave off 30 seconds if you like.
No, I want to see it all.
I'll start by showing you the first dance for the wedding.
It starts with two random Vampires, see?
The energy must build to a crescendo.
Right.
Mind if I play it loud?
No, I love it.
Ok.
You know my heart, Sire.
And I can say
that never did it sigh for the Empire.
Rome's grandeur, the purple others prize,
has never proved attractive to my eyes.
I loved, Sire,
wanted to be loved, no less.
This day, I will admit, I was distressed.
I thought your love had run its course.
I know my error.
You love me far more.
Thank you, Galatee,
for your heartfelt rendering of Berenice's last monologue.
I'd just like for you
to emphasize the verse
"I loved, Sire, wanted to be loved no less."
What was wrong?
You sped through it a bit.
One of the most beautiful French verses.
No need to overplay it.
But you must revel in its beauty.
The Perrier's for me, thanks.
Can't stay long, I'm shooting today.
Coke Zero.
What are you shooting?
A series for some platform.
A small role, but cool.
What kind of role?
- I can't tell you. - Cut it out.
They're remaking Feuillade's Vampires.
You posted about it!
I'm the one who kills Mira Harberg.
You kill Mira Harberg! Fuck! How?
I shoot her point-blank.
Some fucking part!
I hear she's cool.
- Who gets the second herbal tea? - Me.
They're almost done. They wrap today.
Too cool! Last day, you kill Mira Harberg.
I'm so jealous.
Who's directing?
Rene Vidal.
Buzz kill! He's a total has-been.
He made some good stuff, right?
I saw part of a film on YouTube. Didn't stick with me.
Honestly, why remake a silent classic?
Shot a century ago.
Unless you want to see Mira Harberg in a catsuit.
Works for me.
What a sexist twat!
- Guilty as charged. - Same here.
We'd rather see Mira in a catsuit than Vidal's whole oeuvre.
Given my star status, I had to go out with a bang.
- Mr. Feuillade awaits you. - Thank you.
It was the last episode.
With this gun, you will kill Musidora.
Here.
Shoot.
Roi-des-Puces!
Shoot again.
The gun's jammed again. This is the third time.
It's an antique.
It'll go off in someone's face!
The pretty newcomer, Miss Zouzou Lagrange,
would blow Irma Vep into obscurity.
Shoot!
She was nervous and terrified.
- Better! - Much better.
Much better.
So, who's the gunshot for?
You. You're getting killed. Finally.
The Police Chief will be thrilled.
Meet Zouzou Lagrange.
Top of the class in drama school.
Roi-des-Puces,
bring us a piece of sheet metal to practice on.
Yes, sir.
Better safe than sorry with these things.
Lean it here, against the barrel, please.
Go ahead, they're blanks.
Shoot.
That was too close-range.
What's wrong?
Shrapnel impacts.
Isn't that dangerous?
Zouzou, step back a yard or two.
Ok.
Musidora...
You go to the door.
Zouzou, sit down.
Wait, safer to move the crate back.
There. Sit down.
Take out your gun.
Aim, not too close to Musidora, and shoot.
Manichoux, we're rolling.
Yes.
Rolling.
Action.
More expression!
Musidora, take your time dying!
Musidora, are you hurt?
Alas, in a panic,
Zouzou forgot Feuillade's instructions,
and shot at too close-range.
I fell, screaming in pain.
I was more frightened than harmed.
With Zouzou Lagrange having killed me,
our faithful audience needed a new evil heroine.
So, several weeks later,
Feuillade hired me for his next film,
with the mysterious title, Judex.
Hello.
Mira's not answering. She must be packing.
Very well, I'll wait.
Hello, sir.
Could you tell Ms. Harberg that her chauffeur has arrived?
Uh...
Sorry. Ms. Harberg checked out early this morning.
Hi!
I'm producing the Dreamscape photoshoot.
Is everything ok?
Mira will be happier at the Plaza.
I got her one of their best suites.
There may be a change of plans.
What's wrong?
Mira is gone.
- Since when? - She was here last night.
It was our last day. The death of Irma Vep.
- Did you call her agent? - She never answers.
I'll handle this.
Zelda always takes my calls.
She respects me.
It's very cool. Thanks.
Ok.
Got it. I'll call him right now.
Mr. de la Parcheminerie?
Angus needs to speak with you urgently.
Right, thank you, David.
- Hello? - Am I bothering you?
Yes, you are. What's the fuss.
I'm on the Dreamscape photoshoot.
Excellent.
Is Mira happy?
Hard to say.
What do you mean?
She wasn't at her hotel.
Where is she?
We don't know. She left this morning.
I bet she's gone home.
Which would be a disaster.
Of course, she's gone home.
You know what?
I've been expecting this.
Should we lawyer up?
No. You don't sue Mira Harberg.
We'd be in the wrong.
The public identifies with her
because she trusts her instincts. She's free.
We're trying to buy a bit of her freedom
for our band.
We can't whine about it.
So we wait?
As long as she wants.
What if she's a no-show?
Then too bad. Too bad for us.
When you shoot a film, you enter an alternate reality.
It's way beyond cinema.
It's like a dream?
Yes. And one day you wake up.
The bubble bursts. Dissipates.
Mira Harberg becomes herself again.
It's inescapable.
I guess so.
She leaves your fantasies.
Yes.
The shoot ends, and the illusion fades away.
It's much more than an illusion.
It's a far more profound experience.
A trace of it remains, though.
The films.
You may be right.
Once a film is finished,
it takes on a life of its own.
That's their magic.
Their black magic.
You conjure them,
they awaken you,
and then they leave you stranded.
In limbo.
Right. Between reality and imagination.
You lose yourself.
Ask any filmmaker.
Meanwhile, the films live their lives.
Yes, well... their lives are often extremely dull.
No doubt.
But it's no longer your concern.
And what's more...
What's more?
Well... you move forward.
You rebuild your fantasy world.
Yes.
You can always try.
There are no guarantees.
The beauty is in the risk.
You're always a step away from failure.
One step away from stagnating
in the dullness of daily life.
Daily life is never boring.
But you have to overcome the past and leave it behind.
Like Mira's left me behind?
Hello?
Hi, it's me.
How are you?
I'm ok.
The kids are happy to be in the countryside.
Me, less so.
Guess what?
We're done, we finished.
It's in the can.
Good.
Do you realize it's been two weeks since you called?
It's been a tough 2 weeks.
But that's behind me, I'm better now.
Always a bit weird when it all comes undone.
Mira's gone.
The crew has moved on to other films.
Right.
It's always the same story. You should be used to it.
I know.
So, can we come back,
or must we remain with my mom in the boondocks?
Of course.
Come back.
I miss you.
I miss you, too.
Really?
I love you.
I love the kids.
As much as your films?
More.
That wasn't an honest answer.
It is. Because you deserve the truth.
So, that's the new truth?
No, it's always been the truth.
I just...
I just needed to reassess it.
You know...
movies take me so far away,
but love
always brings me back to you.