J'ai vu tuer Ben Barka Page #3

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of millions of rebels

after the war, in the colonies.

Truly fantastic images -

men ready to die to change the rules.

See, it is a film for you.

Can this kind of film interest people?

Backers, I mean.

It interests the whole world.

So it will interest backers.

I have some serious contacts.

Especially with...

With?

Ben Barka as historical adviser.

Ben Barka? The Moroccan opponent?

The Third World's leader.

The only one to bring together

dissenting forces around the world.

He knows that.

The conference is set for January in Cuba

with the film to inaugurate it.

In January?

It's already August.

We don't have a minute to lose, Georges.

That's not much time.

I knew Ben Barka in '55

when I was with Radio Morocco.

The French had just deported

Mohammed V to Madagascar.

The French were arresting,

killing and torturing all the time.

Mauriac ended up founding

an intellectuals' committee in Paris.

Mauriac? That reeks of holy water.

He wasn't alone. There were left-wingers,

anarchists, Gurin...

I prefer that.

I can't abide nuns, it's physical.

The prisons are full of them

trying to make you feel remorse.

As if the Christians

hadn't invented remorse.

I was stupid enough to say that

one evening on TV.

Mauriac wrote to Le Figaro

to say that a man who said that

had to be a true Christian.

the guy's incorrigible.

Believe me, Mohammed V

recovered his throne in '56

thanks to men like Ben Barka

and his incredible energy.

He got his nickname, Dynamo,

at that time.

He can't be ignored.

They want him dead.

Ben Barka gave a progressive impulse

to North African independence.

- Progressive!

- Yes, against colonialism

and those who try

to define the anti-colonial struggle

as a war of religion

against Christianity.

Here are your tickets.

Flight T221 to Cairo.

You board in 30 minutes.

Your bags are registered.

Tell me, Mr Lopez, that ruddy fellow...

Is he a cop?

indeed he is. With the Drugs Squad.

I sniff them out, I can't help it.

We often cooperate, to our benefit.

And the honour of France.

Exactly. Drugs are a true plague.

Unpleasant chap, with his innuendos.

You leave from Le Bourget in two hours.

I'll get you a cab.

Don't bother, I'll do it.

As you wish.

Don Pedro to Thomas...

They have the tickets,

they're on their way.

You've finished this?

You need an "S" here.

There. Very good.

What can you say

about lines D1 and D2?

They're parallel lines.

Good girl. Draw the figure now.

Open the compass.

You've arrived.

Yes, I'll put him on.

Mehdi, the Cubans...

You've met the African delegates?

Very good.

No, the most urgent point

is the third one.

Mr Chairman...

This is Georges Figon,

the film's producer.

Mr Franju didn't come?

He had a last-minute problem

and missed the flight.

- That's a pity.

- He was very sorry too.

He is very motivated about the film.

Not to mention Marguerite.

Marguerite Duras.

It's all she talks about.

You know her?

Only by reputation.

The authorities gave her mother

some useless land in Indochina.

It ruined the family.

Colonialism inspires her.

Take my word on that.

Is the Havana conference coming along?

100 countries and movements will attend.

Vital issues will be raised.

From the Third World's angle for once.

I hear the Americans are worried.

All these leaders will attend

because you'll be there.

It will be a major first.

A conference launched by a film.

Highly unusual.

The film will also be a first -

the first major overview

of decolonisation.

With interviews with Third World leaders

and unseen footage on decolonisation

and the anti-colonial struggle.

Can you help us get it?

Some of it is virtually newsreel stock.

Cameramen managed to film

the massacres in Casablanca.

You see former Moroccan officers

in the French army hard at work.

Is it true that Oufkir himself

fired on the crowd from a helicopter?

- Hot, isn't it?

- Paris is chillier.

My jaw brings back memories

in this heat.

I took a German bullet

as Paris was freed.

- You're busy?

- Indeed

I'm afraid I am.

You'll see to the details

with Mr Franju directly

but you obviously have a say

in the final cut.

You'll see a first print in December

and the final one in January,

just before the conference.

This is Mr Franju's project outline.

- I'll send you the contracts.

- Very good.

Thank you.

That went well.

He's interested.

the dance begins.

All the Haoukas must be possessed.

Those who are possessed

all wear colonial uniforms -

the military,

government agents, the governor...

They make a mockery of them

as they rave.

The law of the strongest -

that explains

the colonised peoples' rage.

Mr Franju? Mehdi Ben Barka speaking.

I'm in Cairo. Am I disturbing you?

Not at all. It's good to hear you.

A pity you missed our meeting.

I'm very sorry

but I'm terrified of flying.

You still want to make the film?

Yes, my mind is made up.

I keep thinking about it.

I'm watching a Jean Rouch film

on the colonial period as we speak.

Can you hear it?

Very well.

Your producer told you everything?

I also had your reply

with your suggested title.

"Basta!"

Castro said that to the Americans

in one of his speeches.

It's clear and precise.

The film will be imbued

with years of rage.

We have to meet. I'll be in Paris

in October. I'll call you.

I'll be honoured.

Mr Franju, I'm honoured

to work with a man like you.

I'll see you soon. Good-bye.

Tomorrow at 12.. 30

at the Brasserie Lipp.

It's all ready.

Lopez has hired two policemen

to intercept Ben Barka there.

Two French Connection heroes

he works with.

I see who you mean.

Be there, Mr Figon.

When do I get the money?

As planned.

As planned...

I could do with an advance.

No advances in this deal.

If it fails, we start again.

If it works, you're rich.

He'll soon be here.

That guy is never late.

Let's go.

A bottle of wine?

Ben Barka doesn't drink.

- A Pouilly and mineral water.

- We're expecting someone.

Well, Georges my boy,

are things going well?

Nice and easy.

There's interest abroad.

Ben Barka's involvement

is good for the South.

They are not rich but, like the poor,

there are a lot of them.

- Has Marguerite signed on?

- As good as.

She can't back out

she's in the contract.

We just need Ben Barka to sign.

I have to make a quick call.

What is Phantoms?

A hooded face, fine.

But the most frightening thing

is Phantoms without his mask

when he walks in the crowd

with nothing to set him apart.

- He'll be here soon.

- He knows the place?

He chose to meet here.

Ben Barka will receive two per cent

of the film's gross.

A wound on the left parietal lobe

that is the source

of two heavy flows of blood.

The anterior thorax and the abdomen

are against the floor.

The lower members are bent slightly

with the two feet turning to the right

of the supine body

and the right arm under the abdomen.

Hard to explain

how I ended up like chi's

after shooting myself

in the back of my head.

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