The Red Violin Page #4

Do with it what you will.

It matters little to me.

Regretfully yours, Frederick. "

I'm dying.

Dying.

Do you know anything about music?

Have you heard of Frederick Pope?

Composer, genius.

The only virtuoso...

the nation of England

ever came up with.

In a few minutes, his violin

is going to be sold...

and if I don't get there because of

your driving or this goddamned traffic...

I'm going to lose my precious testicles.

I'm going to be castrated.

- Please hurry.

- It's there. Duval's.

- That's it?

- Yeah.

Why didn't you tell me?

I need a receipt.

Hello. Nicholas Olsberg.

I'm late.

- Yes, you are.

- Please don't let me forget this.

Olsberg, Nicholas.

I registered by telephone.

- Check again under "Pope Foundation".

- Pope?

- Last violin of Nicolo Bussotti...

- There we are. Please sign.

There you are.

...72, the so-called "Red Violin".

Last order bid is at US$ 250,000.

So we'll open the floor.

And who will start us off?

US$ 260,000.

Good evening, Mr. Ruselsky.

US$ 270,000. Suzanne, on the phone.

US$ 280,000. Back to you, Sir.

Here. US$ 300,000 at the back

of the room. Thank you.

US$ 320,000.

Suzanne, I see you.

US$ 400,000 at the back of the hall.

US$ 400,000.

Darling, come here.

Do you like it?

Justice.

There will be a trial,

a great trial...

before a powerful magistrate.

And you, you will be guilty.

Beware!

Beware of the heat of the fire!

Comrade Chan Gong

has come from Beijing.

Welcome her, please.

Comrades, students,

revolutionary companions-in-arms...

I give you my proletarian salute!

I congratulate you

on today's grand festival...

for which you have worked so hard.

Your cultural unit has

done exceptional work.

I would also like to commend you

on the children's presentation.

It made my heart rejoice.

The story of "The Three Heroic Girls"

was a vivid lesson.

It galvanized our historic crusade!

But some efforts are less successful...

unfortunately.

Sometimes the teacher must learn

from his students.

Give it to me.

Capitalist exploitation

survived for centuries...

yet its "classics" are pitiful!

Foreign music is

meaningless and empty.

What do they mean by "symphony",

"concerto No. 1, No. 2, No. 3"?

This is empty formalism.

It speaks nothing to the people.

What good is making music...

except to teach

and inspire the people?

- Long live Chairman Mao!

- Long live Chairman Mao!

- Overthrow the cultural establishment!

- Overthrow the cultural establishment!

- Chou Yuan!

- Present.

Why do you teach this instrument?

Comrade Chan Gong,

what you say is true...

Louder, please.

Comrade Chan Gong, you are right.

Much of western music

is unrefined, worthless.

This is a fact.

Everything you said is true,

but the music I teach...

Go on!

The music I teach

is revolutionary music.

- Beethoven, Prokofiev...

- Do you think so?

In his speech, Comrade Li said...

Comrade Li was purged

and humiliated.

Do you still want to quote him?

I didn't know.

- I have taught for many years...

- That is apparent.

We believe in the rule

of many voices.

- What should we do here?

- Throw away that old junk!

Chou Yuan, just admit your guilt!

Let's challenge

degenerate Western art!

Comrade, may I say a few words?

Of course.

Students, comrades,

revolutionary Red Guards...

I'm not an authority

on foreign music.

I have not studied

like Comrade Chan Gong.

But in my opinion...

there's nothing as beautiful

as our traditional music.

Chou Yuan also teaches

the hu chin.

Could he not focus on that?

Comrade Xiang

has shown her wisdom.

Put this down with

the other "great olds"!

To every problem

there is a solution!

I'm sure you can

discover the problems.

And I'm sure you can solve them.

Who is it?

Who's there?

Ming! You scared me.

I didn't hear you.

It's a mess. I was tidying up.

What's that?

This is a violin...

a musical instrument from Europe.

From Europe? Is it a bad thing?

No. A violin itself is a good thing.

Here. Take a look.

We have to study foreign music

so we can move on...

...as Chairman Mao said.

- Dad asked if you're coming.

- He's waiting.

- Yes, tell him I'll come right away.

As soon as I finish my work.

- Ming?

- Yes?

What you see here...

don't tell anyone.

I want you to listen.

This will be our secret, all right?

Go.

Ming? Ming!

- Was she home?

- Yes.

- Is she coming?

- No. She said she'd meet you.

- What? Is she coming or not?

- I can't say.

- Why not?

- I promised her to keep it secret.

What are you saying? I'm your father.

You must tell me everything.

Papa, wait!

- Xiang Pei?

- Papa, don't!

Xiang Pei, open up! It's me!

Where is the key?

Go.

Quiet!

Where is she?

Water! Water!

She's gone!

Is this her?

Look at the date: 1937.

It must be her mother.

Chou Yuan!

- What do you want?

- Please let me in.

- I've done nothing.

- Let me inside.

- This is for you.

- I don't want it.

It's for you. Take it.

It's a violin.

- A violin.

- I remember.

Do you want it or not?

I'm an old man, but I'm not a fool.

Where are your comrades?

- Are they waiting outside?

- This isn't a trap.

I've changed.

I don't need it now.

- I speak from my heart.

- Enough!

And I don't need this.

It's from another time.

If you want it, you can have it...

or else no one will.

Do you want it or not?

I've no time!

No more arguments!

Take it.

I am a cadre in the Party,

do you understand? I can't keep it.

I love the people.

Do you understand?

Xiang Pei!

I will keep it safe.

- Let's go eat. I'm starving.

- Go ahead. I'll wait here.

- I'm sure she'll be back.

- Let's go, you all!

US$ 1,950 million.

And... sold to the lady

on the left.

The last sale of the evening, lot

number 72 on the turntable there...

and star of the night...

Where is she?

The last violin

of Nicolo Bussotti, 1681.

- A masterpiece of the Golden Age.

- Do you see it?

- No, not yet.

- If she will give us the pleasure.

And here she is now, lot number 72,

the so-called "Red Violin".

- It's not how I remember it.

- They've cleaned it up. It's better.

US$ 260,000.

Good evening, Mr. Ruselsky.

- US$ 270,000. Suzanne on the phone.

- Maybe if I heard it again.

US$ 280,000. Back to you, Sir.

US$ 300,000 at the back of the hall.

US$ 320,000. Suzanne, I see you.

The last card.

The last card.

- Oh my God!

- Courage, Madame. Upside down.

At this point in the spread,

it might be good news.

I feel...

I feel the fast air

sweeping around you...

carrying you, furious wind...

and then stopping.

Your journey will end.

No question. I see it.

One way or another,

your travels are over.

And there is trouble in this,

like always.

But you... you are strong by now...

strong like a tree in the forest.

Where is he?

Upstairs.

You are not alone.

A crowd of faces...

friends and family,

enemies, lovers.

You will attract many admirers...

fighting to win your hand.

And money! Lots of money!

No, Madame.

Don't be afraid.

In this card I see...

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