I don't know exactly what year it was when that happened,
but my cousin says that it was probably around 1916.
My grandfather, Luigi Trogi, had fallen in love with Filomena Zanotti.
Although, like me, my grandfather wasn't a wordy man,
not in his love life anyway.
He wasn't able to tell a girl that he loved her, as stupid as this.
So, on that day, he tried it in a way that I would qualify as the safest.
This is for you.
Thank you.
Have a good day.
Except that it didn't really impress my grandmother.
You see, she was the one growing the flowers...
The following week, Luigi Trogi came back with a more astute plan.
Yes?
This is for you.
He's cute.
What's his name?
Good day.
But that didn't work either.
Apparently, Luigi had found the cat in a stable
and my grandmother got fleas...
Two years later, back from the war
where he served as cook, a more confident Luigi
gave it his best shot...
with a mushroom risotto.
What's the surprise this time?
I did it for you.
Thanks.
Good day.
This time, after only a mouthful...
Wait!
Bang! My cousin believes that it was the mushrooms,
others say that it was because there wasn't a single man left in the village.
In any case, this is how my Trogi grandparents' love story began...
With a mushroom risotto!
Seventy-five years later, at almost 6500 km from there,
another love story has just begun:
the love story of Ricardo Trogi and Marie-Ève Bernard.
Marie-Ève Bernard, the dream-girl I had met in Maine the preceding summer.
I had been there with some friends as she had been.
We had gone to all the usual places visited by everyone in Old Orchard:
beach, rides, pizza stand, cheap motel,
but, above all, the mini-putt.
I don't know why, but in my mind, this is where I fell in love.
Somewhere between the pirate's hole and the one shaped as a toilet bowl,
Marie-Ève Bernard had effed up my life.
That's why, even if she was 45 minutes late, I didn't complain...
Marie-Ève Bernard, communication student, was the woman of my life.
Happy birthday! - Thanks.
I'm sorry. I know I'm late. But while I was shopping for your gift,
I stopped in a super nice shop
and I bought myself this!
Check it out!
What? - You don't recognise who this is?
No! No! Who is it?
This is Cindy Crawford's lipstick!
Cool! - Here!
Wow! - Isn't it great?
Yeah, really! - Look! I have the same!
Ok, now give me your hand... You and I won't ever take it off.
Like never, never?
Never!
Oh shit! This is my song!
Well, I have to admit... that she wasn't peefect.
Her damn habit of lip-synching all the time was really annoying.
On the other hand, she was always in a good mood.
A mix of Cinderella and a weekend FM radio hostess.
You would have surely liked her too.
Anyway, she was perfect for me.
BEST STUDENT ITALIAN 101
BEST STUDENT MEDIA HISTORY
WORST STUDENT SCRIPTING ANALYSIS
RUNS 5K IN 24:12
NO TOOTH DECAY SINCE 1983
CAN READ A BOOK UNTIL THE END
AMATEUR MODEL
MASTERS THE PARALLEL PARKING
AND HAS A PERFECT ASS
Hello!
Hey, got any cigarettes?
Even though she wasn't really smoking, whenever she did, it had to be Americans!
She was the girl I've been expecting for so long.
I'm not afraid of saying it: even if I still had all my life in front of me,
I knew that she was the woman of my life.
I knew that she would be my children's mother.
Ok! To set the context, in 1991,
I was studying at UQAM in screenwriting.
A strange place, I would say.
First of all, because half of the students were disguised as "director",
which means that they all had the outfit, but not the actual job,
while I was still wearing my Levi's shirt from Sears...
But mainly, because the teachers were kind of scary, I'd say...
Learn to know yourself.
You are all unique...
You each have a unique perspective of the world because you are unique.
Start by writing on what you know before writing on anything else.
And what you know best is not the neighbour,
it's not the Joker in Batman, it's not Juliette Binoche, it's you!
In order to get the people to identify with your characters,
these characters need to be credible.
Well, this credibility doesn't come from outer space,
it is right there...
And the meaning of all this is: don't be afraid to say what you think.
Don't be afraid to take risks.
Express yourself with no restraint.
Show us your most ugly side,
the less flattering parts of yourself.
We want to see them. This is what makes you human.
Do you understand?
Good! Let's do a small exercise.
You, what's your biggest shortcoming?
Reveal the darkest part of your soul to us.
Eeeh...
I would say that I'm not really punctual...
You're not punctual?
Hm no...
And that's your biggest flaw?
How many movies will you make on this?
Three? Four?
Hey, people will go crazy, no?
The tetralogy of the guy not on-time!
Watch out for the overwhelming emotions!
Not punctual! What a darn stupid answer...
The truth is that I knew exactly what my biggest flaw was.
The one that was rooted deep inside of me, but WTF,
I wasn't going to unveil that casually in the middle of a classroom...
Ricardo? - What was he thinking?
Ricardo?
I think I did something stupid!
What?
Oh my God! - What?
I have to ask you something, but I'm afraid that you'll say no.
What's going on? What is it?
Remember, last week in the Italian class,
the teacher talked about a summer course in Italy...
Yes...
I enrolled in it!
It's a done thing. I'm in. I'm going. I have no other choice.
My parents sent the cheque!
Oh yeah? - Yeah!
For real! - Ok!
So now... you're leaving for Italy?
Wouldn't you like to come with me?
We could live together. Come on, it's gonna be crazy!
The place is full of students from every part of the world
going there to study, but partying all the time.
My cousin went last year, haven't I told you?
Oh yes, yes... I didn't think that...
Say yes...
You'll miss me if you don't come... so?
Is it yes?
Or no?
You got enough money to go study in Italy?
Yes! - How come?
You're in school, you don't work. - I got loans and bursaries.
We hear that you never get enough of those, I'd like to get the real picture?
Look, I'll explain everything. I spent the whole year studying.
I don't go out much. I have enough, ok?
My rent is only 200$ a month, what do you want me to say?
So we won't have a dime to pay? - No!
Where will you go? - To Perugia.
Perugia... Is this in Tuscany?
No, it's in... Umbria, right below.
It's very expensive in Italy. Where will you stay? - Yeah?
Well, I don't know yet.
The university where we take our course finds us an apartment.
And you believe that you will be able to learn Italian in a month?
No! Of course not! Hey, I already know the basics.
Your father arrived here 35 years ago and still struggles to speak French.
No but...
Well, bon voyage my son.
And you, when are you going on a trip? - I don't have money.
You just have to quit your job and go back to school!
It seems that nowadays you don't need to work in order to travel.
Ah! That's what your father used to cook when we met!
A man that knows how to cook well is priceless.
Don't talk to me about a half-wit who only serves baloney.
Hey, go easy on this! - What?!
What what? The doctor didn't insist enough on this?
What? What about the doctor?
Your father has been told no more than a glass a day.
Ah the doctor! Make me laugh... - He told you! You're an alcoholic!
Alcoholic! What does he really know?!
Well, he's a doctor! He should know what he's talking about more than you, no?
He said a form of alcoholism. Not alcoholic.
What's the difference?! Alcoholism makes alcoholic. Don't be silly!
Wai-wai-wait a minute... You're an alcoholic?
Of course not! - Sure, he's an alcoholic!
Do you know a lot of people that keep four hundred bottles of wine
in their basement who are not alcoholics?
I am not an alcoholic, I am Italian,
it's in my culture to drink wine!
Every day? - He doesn't drink every day.
Oh yes, he drinks every single day! Have you ever seen your father drink a Pepsi-Cola?
Dad, daddy, cut that out now.
No. One glass a day except today, ok?
And I don't want to talk about it anymore. Basta! - There, you see how stubborn he is?
E dai! - Damn!
I'm sorry.
So what, you don't eat your risotto? - No I can't. I'm going to be late.
Hey, brother? You're beginning to lose your hair.
C'mon, what are you talking about? - Where?
At the exact same spot as dad. - What are you doing?
It's true! - No! Let it go! Don't touch it! Let me go!
C'mon, damn it!
Why?
Why me?
Are you ok?
No. I think I'll head back to Montreal.
Want some? - No.
Well! Let me have a look!
Oh! Dad!
Don't worry about it!
Yeah sure!
Everybody loses some hair one day or another.
Yeah, but not at 21, shit!
What am I going to look like with that baldness in front of the girls?
There's a way to avoid this.
There's a way to avoid this?
A trick that my father told me about when I also started to lose my hair.
But in your case, it shows that you're losing your hair. What a trick, it doesn't work at all.
I'm fifty-four. I don't care about my hair.
I'm talking about a trick for you, not for me!
So, you want to know it or not?
No, this trick is no good, no!
Please, leave.
Wai-wai-wai-wait...
What is your trick?
Good!
You want to know? - Yeah. I want to know the trick.
Well! Then listen.
I love you!
I love you too, my love!
And that's your whole trick? A hat?
Why not? It works! You put on your hat and nobody sees anything!
Ah c'mon, for Christ's sake!
Ok! You got a better idea?
One month later, Friday the third of May 1991,
I did a last check-up of everything I needed for the trip.
All my clothes are in my backpack,
and all the most important things in the fanny pack my mother gave me,
which included: train pass, plane tickets, traveler's cheques,
100 U.S. dollars, my wallet, my passport,
a Canada Direct calling card and some chewing gum.
Well, thanks for coming!
Don't forget to go see my brother. - Yeah, yeah.
They are waiting for you and they will give you some mushrooms as I requested.
Some mushroo... no, no, no! I don't want to bring back any mushrooms here.
For the risotto. We never ask you anything!
Where did you put uncle Lino's phone number?
Inside my bag. - You'll put it in your fanny pack on arrival.
No, my fanny pack is getting overpacked.
You call us when you get there, we want to know you're safe and sound.
Yes, yes. Ok, fine. - And I want some postcards.
Yes, yes, yes. - Here! A gift.
What is that? How much is it worth?
When I left, it was worth a fortune.
Ah! Well, thanks! - No! No, no! Put it in your fanny pack!
Yes, yes, yes... - You know better...
Ok, now I really have to go.
I'll miss you.
When I finally got seated into the plane all by myself, I found myself very lucky.
I thought of my friends who were going to spend their summer
setting up tables in some old Quebec restaurant,
painting their parents' chalet
or shopping some damn jeans with their girlfriends...
This time, I was skipping my turn!
I was really casting off for adventure! For Italy, my dear friends!
A real country with real things to visit,
not just the damn Château Frontenac and the French crêperie on St-Jean street!
No-no-no, not only Americans that want to see the Montmorency falls!
No my dear friends! I was flying for the country de l'amore!
Ricardo?
Maria-Eva?
You finally came?
Indeed.
You're so elegant.
American?
Of course.
Maria-Eva?
I have to tell you something.
Tell me?
I didn't come here to learn Italian...
Why then?
To find the woman of my life...
But there are so many women in this world...
Yes, but not in my world...
Oh! Hmm! Thank you!
Miss, can we have another one?
I decided to land in Paris because it was cheaper than Rome.
I was travelling on a tight budget, with only 30 dollars a day.
Therefore, I had to complete the trip to Perugia by train.
By the way, I probably drank a dozen of bloody Caesars,
not because I liked that, but because they were free.
First step, take the commuter train to the Gare du Nord.
Then, take the subway to the Gare de Lyon,
since this was the station where the trains heading for Italy were leaving.
It's weird but while looking at the names of these cities
I've heard so much about all my life,
I had the feeling that everything was possible in life.
That one could get anywhere he wanted to.
That I could do all I wish at twenty-one!
I could have gone anywhere!
But I was too hungry so I went there.
Coffee, sir?
Eeh... yes! Please.
Sorry, can... Can I take some?
That's what they are there for, sir.
"Tonsure toned. Find back your dignity. The ladies will thank you!"
For Christ's sake!
Do you want some?
Yes, thanks, that's kind of you.
Yes.
Here.
Thanks. Take it.
You are Canadian?
Eeh, yes! Yes, yes I am.
I have a cousin who just came back from Canada.
Oh yeah? - Yes!
Her name is Murielle Deschamps.
She's a small brunette like me. Maybe, you've met her?
Eeh, no.
Here it is...
Are you gonna take this one also? - Yes, yes.
Well, you are really starved!
So, 1 -2-3-5 croissants, with a latte,
that's a total of ninety-five please.
No-no-no, I thought the croissants were free, I didn't order them...
They're at the clients' disposition, but still not free!
Oh no?
Fuck!
Hey, talk about a jolly bunch of crooks here.
According to my shitty budget, I had only 12 bucks left
for a hotel in Paris, and this was counting on the fact that the croissants would last
because my food budget was already busted...
It took me almost 27 km of walking to realize
that a 12$-a-night room in Paris...
just doesn't exist.
You could think that I came back with a long face.
But no! Primo: because I had found some spray-on hair.
"Tonsure toned! Find back your dignity, the ladies will thank you."
And secondo: because by taking the night train,
I would at last be able to sleep and, above all, I could save the hotel night!
I'm a genius!
Damn it!
Now! If I exclude my trip to Old Orchard the year before,
this was really my first trip without my parents
and to say the less I was a bit on my guards.
At the first sight of his face, I knew that he was in deep shit.
WTF? Does he speak all languages?
A bit of French...
French? Fantastic!
Here it is! Just like this. Hop!
My name's Arturo, and you?
Ricardo. - Ricardo... no shit!
You speak Italian!
Eeh... more French...
Then where do you come from?
Canada. - Canada! Great!
Canadians are good people! - I'm more of a Quebecer...
Listen Canada, I have to ask you a very important favour.
Sorry, but I don't have any money.
You think that I'm here to ask you for money?
No! No-no-no...! - Listen buddy, money is not important.
I never got any and I manage just fine.
Have you seen Krizik fountain in Prague?
Eeh... no.
Well, it is the most beautiful thing I've seen in my life...
And it's free, you see?
Shit, it's hot in here, it's like a sauna...
Can I have a sip?
Of this? - Of course!
Thanks, buddy.
It's... I'm sorry but... what do you want exactly?
Well, it's pretty simple.
Since I don't have any money, I don't have any ticket,
and since I don't have any ticket, I would need to hide in your cabin. It's easy...
What's the long face for, Canada?
No. It's my first day of travelling, and I don't want any trouble.
No, no, you won't get any trouble, I came all the way from Brussels like this.
It's very easy. Look: we just have to lay down the seats like this,
and I hide under them. As simple as that!
Can I get it back?
Ah yeah, yeah...
Here, thank you!
We'll save the world, Canada.
Sorry?
We...
The young people,
we'll save the world...
Holy Christ! That guy was a bit weird.
You don't want to save the world? - I don't know...
Of course Canada, you want to save the world!
Otherwise, what is our purpose here?
Fine, you need to get out a second so I can set the place up.
It's done Canada, come back in!
Jump over. Oh... I'll keep my bag.
You take care of my guitar. She's called Sofia.
Be nice Canada, help me with this bench.
Here, let me hold your beer to help you.
Oh... there...
Oh yes, wait. One last thing Canada,
could you make sure that the cabin's door is never completely closed.
Leave it ajar, by at least a few centimeters,
otherwise, I can't breathe under here. OK?
But you know that it takes 8 hours to get to Milano?
Yeah. Don't worry. I told you I've done this since Brussels, no sweat!
I don't know what you would have done in my position,
but me... I didn't dare to say no.
I don't know, I'm not that kind of guy, I just say "yes" all the time.
You would bump into me on the street with a bloody knife in your hand
and ask me to hold it for a minute, and I would surely say yes.
I'm as stupid as this.
French! I speak a bit of French.
You also have... a very nice accent.
I live in Hamburg, in Germany.
You know what is Hamburg?
No.
It's, it's a city beautiful.
You have to come one day.
Sure! I'd love that!
Wait...
It's very hot in here.
Hee, holy macaroni!
Hey, we have to honestly agree that
we all dreamt of the day where two beautiful German girls would get undressed in front of you.
I only needed to find a way to start the big party...
But the only thing that came up to my mind was Jean-Pierre D'Astous' face.
Four in the morning.
We were coming back from the Belmont. THREESOME PARTICIPANT
And we just wanted to fuck. So, we go to her best friend's place.
She had the key and the other wasn't supposed to be there.
We get in and settle ourselves in the living room, but a couple of minutes later,
her friend walks in the living room!
Christ, I already had my pants down!
And?
Well, and... I just banged both of them, what do you think? Bang-bang!
Holy shit!
When D'Astous told me about his threesome-
which he told everyone-
I never thought of asking what he exactly did,
I mean what do you have to say to get the two girls to say yes?
How precisely do we start a business like this?
Are you a musician?
No, why?
This!
Ah... this... well this... Christ!
This eeh... Did you close the door?
Thanks!
Who spoke? - No one.
So, this is how my threesome became
a foursome singing Bob Dylan's Like a Rolling Stone...
Come on Canada! How are you feeling? Feeling good?
Oh Canada, don't be shy!
Here you go, Canada!
Much better!
And you girls?
Bye!
Canada? We will save the world.
Yes! Yeah-yeah.
I don't know for how many hours I've been travelling,
but it was a hell of a long time for sure.
I thought that it was really generous of me to do all this for Marie-Ève.
Not that I didn't want to do it, but still.
I was beginning to question if she would have done the same for me.
It's silly, but I was thinking about this particular Friday evening
where she was supposed to call me so I could meet her somewhere on St-Laurent street
or something similar... I spent the whole evening waiting for her phone call.
But she never called.
I felt like a jackass because I had even bought red Gazelle shoes for the occasion.
I remember that I felt good when I got to Perugia.
Italy is so beautiful, the people, the ambiance, the temperatu...
We'll talk about this later. Now, I have to rejoin Marie-Ève at eleven.
Time to grab something to eat and go!
This time, I figured that I would only eat one of those.
Travelling makes you smarter!
Good morning.
Is everything fine?
Yes, yes.
What are you eating?
How do you call this in Italian?
It's a croissant.
Yes, a croissant!
And it's MY croissant.
If you want a croissant, go buy your own one at the bar.
I'm sorry...
The other one is also yours?
Yes, they're both mine.
I'm so sorry...
I forgot which bus I was supposed to take.
I only remember that I was getting more and more nervous about the hour of the meeting.
I just jumped on the first bus I saw hoping that he was passing by the university.
Not that I went crazy but I was finding intolerable
the fact of travelling 30 hours to finally get there half an hour late.
Except that 6 km further, by the time the bus driver made me understand
that the bus wasn't going near the university at all, I ended up on that spot!
I thought: the hell with it, I'll get there on foot, that's all.
In the worst case, I'll arrive a few minutes late but Marie-Ève will understand.
So I wanted to take the city map out of my gray bag, but...
no more gray bag!
No more passport, traveler's cheques, wallet, train pass,
discman, university documents, and, above all, no more damn spray-on hair can!
This can't be true. Shit!
Why?
Why me?
My thoughts were wildly spinning inside my head.
Where did I leave it? Or worse, who fuckin' stole it to me?
The gypsies?
The two little brats?
The policeman? It's Italy, after all!
It's crazy but in all that mess, the loss of my spray-on hair can was what pissed me the most.
Fuck! Fuck!
Oh! Fuck!
Fuck!
Damn!
Fuck! Shit...
Damn fuckin' shit!
Shit!
Fuck!
Damn!
When I finally got down there, I was fuckin' drenched...
Shit!
Where were you, Ricardo?
I lost everything!
I'm right here, you don't need anything else.
Really? Look!
What... happened to your hair?
I lost everything!
The spray can too!
The spray can?
Yes! The spray can!
...The spray can...
Hello?
Hello, do you accept the charge of mister Ricardo Trogi's phone call?
What? - Mom, just answer si!
Ricardo?
Madam?
Ricardo, are you back there?
Mom! Tell her a damn si!
Si! Si! Si! Si!
Thank you, I'm transferring the call.
Ricardo?
Yeah mom, I lost the bag with all my documents.
How did you lose your documents? Where are you now? Are you in Italy?
Yeah! I've arrived but I lost everything. Christ!
How come? What happened?
Nothing, but I've lost the bag.
But how? Do you at least have your passport?
Mom! I told you that I lost all my damn documents!
Passport, wallet, traveler's cheques, train pass. All of them!
Dammit! I told you to put them all in the fanny pack I gave you, you twit!
Well! The fanny pack was so full that I couldn't breathe anymore, shit!
And now, you see the consequences? - Hey, what's going on?
All I have left is the money dad gave me.
Go see the police now and ask them what to do!
The police? No-no-no. It hadn't been stolen, I just lost it.
How can you be sure? You're in Italy and Italians are all thieves.
Really, they're all thieves! That's why I gave you that damn little fanny pack!
What are you talking about? What's going on?
It's your son... He lost all his things.
Ok, is it dad? Let me talk to him.
Your son wants to talk to you!
Yes? - Dad, I'm in Perugia.
I lost all my documents. What should I do?
Which documents?
Everything! He lost his passport, his traveler's cheques and his wallet. All of them!
I told him to keep them all in his fanny pack...
Stop!
Yes? Where are you now?
In Italy! - Quiet!
I'm in Perugia without papers, what should I do?
Call my brother.
I just told you that I'm in Perugia.
It's more than 12 hours of train to uncle Lino's place.
I've also lost my address book, I don't have his phone number.
I'll get his phone number, wait on the line.
You stop messing around and you call the police now
so they can catch these thieves before it is too late.
Then, you call us back because these long distance calls are expensive.
Mom? Ah shit!
Name?
Trogi. Perfect.
Nationality?
Canadian.
Cana-
You're a Canadian?
My cousin lives in Toronto.
His name is Nicola Leone. Do you know him?
No Toronto.
I'm from Montreal.
Ah, from Montreal!
And Lorena Fava, do you know her?
Lorena Fava... She lives in Montreal?
No, not in Montreal. She lives in Toronto.
She's the wife of my cousin Nicola. Don't you know her?
No, no, Montreal.
Not Toronto.
I don't know anyone in Montreal.
Address?
In Montreal?
No, not in Montreal, here in Italy.
In Italy... I don't know yet...
You don't know yet...
Wait here.
Sorry to interrupt.
He says he doesn't have an address here in Italy, what do I do?
Hold on, I'm coming.
My superior is coming.
It's you again?
What did you do this time? Did you eat my colleague's pizza?
Listen to me.
We can't help you.
You have to go to Rome.
Rome? - The capital.
You have to go to the Canadian embassy to get a new passport, you understand?
In Rome?! But can't they do more to help you out?
It seems not.
Tell me about a bunch of dim-witted toe draggers!
Benito? Come and help us, they want to send him to Rome!
So what?
So what? You speak Italian for Christ's sakes! Tell them it doesn't make any sense!
And what will that change? He has to call my brother!
Yes, but give us your brother's number!
It won't be long, I'm looking for it! - He's still searching!
Stop shouting! People are trying to sleep here!
We're not shouting, we're helping out your brother who jumped both feet into deep shit again!
Benito! Bring me that damn number fast!
This is a long distance call!
When I finally got to the university, I think it was lunchtime.
Anyway, I still went to see if by miracle
Marie-Ève could have waited for me during two hours, we never know...
Oh! Fuck!
But, deep down, I already knew.
Well, I remember that I took my first break at that spot.
A good three-hour break.
And I shouldn't have done this because...
So?
Getting back to the youth hostel, I thought of Leonardo da Vinci.
In the sixteenth century, this guy had already invented the tank,
a giant crossbow, the parachute and even the helicopter.
How come his own country never thought of inventing the damn elevator?
Sorry, but I can't take you in without a passport.
But why? Where's the problem if I pay you now?
These are the rules. I'm sorry, sir.
What can I do? I got nowhere to go.
You could try other hotels but you will have the same problem.
They'll ask for your papers...
Go to the railway station, they tolerate the illegal immigrants over there.
Illegal? - Yes.
I have been through the same thing.
No, no, no, I'm not an illegal immigrant.
Of course not, sir...
What can I expect at the railway station?
Ah, fuck it! Trips are made to meet people.
I asked them if they knew Bomboleo, but they didn't like the Gipsy Kings.
Where are you going?
Rome... I'm going.
Wait.
This is a gift for you.
Please, take it.
Thank you. - It's my pleasure.
Goodbye! - Goodbye!
Ah, yes! Once in Rome, counting my gelato, I had nine dollars left...
I'm only saying this in case you were wondering how deep in shit I was...
CANADIAN EMBASSY
Wow! Seriously, I can shamelessly say that on this day,
even if I had always liked René Lévesque a lot,
I was pleased that the 1980 referendum had failed!
I was really glad to be Canadian!
Hey, just take a look at that mud hut!
I want to be clear on this, I was still a proud Quebecer but,
I don't know why,
I had the impression that if the Quebec embassy would have existed,
it would have been set up in a condo, not in such an impressive building...
...My traveler's cheques
and also my train pass. Yes.
This whole thing is so crazy, I don't know what to do...
Well listen, we will arrange everything,
we are used to help travellers in trouble here.
Ok, ok, well thanks, this is very kind of you.
Caroline will take care of your traveler's cheques,
Tracy of your train pass and I of your passport.
We can't do anything for your discman though.
Yeah, that's ok...
Hey, this place is freaking nice!
All this will take some time,
we'll need 24 hours to do this...
I suggest that you make a reservation at the youth hostel right away.
I will get the number for you. It is frequently full, so do it fast.
Would you like to eat something?
We're paying.
Yeah! Thanks, very kind of you.
Yes, yes, I would probably start with a second Fanta, if you have anymore.
Do we still have some Fanta?
No, Pepsi.
There's only Pepsi left.
Don't worry...
OK, thank you very much.
I'm sorry for your Sushi but we can't have any.
The restaurant where we usually order is out of stock.
A group of Japanese came by at lunch time and ate them all.
Would a panini do?
Yes, yes-yes.
Here's your new passport,
your new train pass and also 40 thousand liras.
That is the amount we usually give to people in situation like yours.
That should be enough to pay for your bed at the hostel.
Your new traveler's cheques will be at the American Express office tomorrow morning.
Ok, great. Thank you very much.
Canada? - Hey!
Shit Canada! What are you doing?!
I can't explain why, but I felt as if I'd found back an old childhood friend...
At the same time, he was the only friend I had in Europe so...
TREVI FOUNTAIN
FORUM OF AUGUSTUS
STONE PINE
Why don't you stay here with me?
You don't have to go to the university to learn Italian.
You can learn it here.
No, I prefer to go there.
Why?
I've never set foot in a university and I speak 5 languages.
Yeah, but that's you...
In fact, I don't really care about Italian, I want to get there mainly for a girl...
Which girl?
A girl...
Your girlfriend?
Eeh yeah...
Why isn't she travelling with you?
Well. At this point, I need to tell you something.
Marie-Ève, wasn't really... Oh fuck!
It's because... she's not really my girlfriend.
Not yet at that very moment,
I know that we kissed a solid kiss before in the pub, but...
...that never happened.
She has only kissed me in a friendly way like a kiss a girl gives to her gay friend...
Same thing this time around.
I know that I should have told you this from the start,
but I was afraid you'd think I'm dumb for doing all this only for a girl.
Please, come...
Say yes. - Ok.
So, who is that girl?
She's...
She's the woman of my life.
The woman of your life?
Yes...
The woman of my life, shit.
She just doesn't know it yet!
You are going to get married and do like everybody else?
I don't know. Surely.
Yeah...
Everybody does the same, that's stupid.
What about you,
you won't be travelling for life?
Why not?
Oh, I'm drunk Canada...
Canada?
What?
Kill the lights please.
You there,
you don't really want to save the world?
Yes, Canada.
But not today,
I'm too tired.
Where are you heading for now?
Oh, I don't know, I'll stay in Rome for a while, then I'll see.
Ok... If... you want to come to Quebec, you have my address.
Yeah, now that we know each other, why not?
There's only one thing
that bothers me, you never told me where you're from.
Nowhere. I'm a citizen of the world...
But seriously, are you French?
I don't give a damn about where I come from, I only care about where I'm going.
What a strange guy!
Half the things he was saying sounded like a song of the band Indochine.
Come on! Come here!
Bye!
At twenty-one, I don't know if we really want to save the world.
Honestly, I only wanted
to be like the couple in front of me.
Deeply in love and holding Marie-Ève in my arms on a train.
I don't know why, but I find that trains have something romantic.
I couldn't have said this at the time, but I know today
that of all the times I fell in love in my life, this one was the strongest.
Thank you. - Next?
I had the feeling that he would bring me back a message from Marie-Ève...
What?! So I did all that for no reason?
Running for six kilometers, checking there, there and over there,
call the hysteric woman, listen to this dumb ass,
call the hysteric back, get there for nothing, buy a ticket,
climb all these stairs, go to this other place,
become a gypsy, miss my first class,
take a train to Rome, see the federal reps,
get to this spot for nothing, become a gipsy again and sleep outside?
Yep, everything was there,
except my damn spray-on hair can.
Why was my precious can the only fuckin' thing missing?
This is how Mamadou and I became roommates.
He was a medical student and knew the city very well.
That was his third year here!
I've never told him, but he was clearly
way too much into the Fresh Prince of Bel Air.
I hope you know how this thing works?
What are you doing?
And that one?
You want this one?
I don't know...
I'll take this one, it's perfect. - Then I'll take the other one.
Hey, I wanted to ask you...
Where is this stair?
La Scalina? - Yes.
I'll show you later if you want. - Ok! Great! Thanks.
But for now, what you need to do is to take a good shower, buddy.
You've seen what you look like?
For a second, I thought you were serious.
Of course, I'm serious!
No, nobody called for you here.
Are you sure? Ask dad.
Your father went out for a walk.
I found a damn bottle of wine hidden in your room.
Well.
Are you going to make collect calls everyday
to find out if you got a phone call?
Your friends know that you went on a trip.
Yes, yeah-yeah. It's fine...
Is the weather nice in Italy?
Yes, very, very nice.
And? How's the university?
You really need to send me some money, because I'm running out.
Lord! I knew it!
I knew that this whole scheme would blow back in our faces.
Like if one should go on a trip when he doesn't have a job?
Wo! Wo! Wo! Take it easy.
I couldn't have known that the apartment would be a lot more expensive than expected...
I... had to get a roommate.
A roommate? Come on, you don't know anyone in that region!
Who is that roommate?
He's... Mamadou.
Mama what? - Dou. Mamadou.
Mamadou! Oh, well... What a strange name he got!
I don't know. It's an African name.
Not an African?
Anyway, it's possible... that a girl phones home...
And who is that girl?
She's called Marie-Ève Bernard...
And, if she phones,
could you please write down my number and give it to her?
Hold it, is the money for you or your African?
Mother, please!
What? We hear
that they're always in deep shit in Africa. Your African mustn't be very rich, no? No?!
Ok, bye!
Come on, dammit.
Ouh! Sexy!
If you want to join the Franciscans, there's a monastery not far away...
I didn't know Mamadou for more than three hours
and I had already understood that he was a party animal.
He knew everybody and everybody knew him.
And in a place like this, it was particularly exciting. I mean...
it was like a UN gathering with alcohol flowing freely.
There was this English barman who was an Axel Rose's fan;
the Danish who got dumped just before leaving;
the Chinese girl wearing her huge spectacles always seated at the same spot,
or she might have been Korean... I forgot;
the beautiful Boston twins who always got free drinks;
the Belgian that no one understood;
the Spanish-looking German girl who hung around the 6 feet 6 inches guy;
the French who, who, well... who looked like Frenchmen;
the three stooges about whom nobody knew anything, not even where they were from;
and a bunch of Greek hard-drinking girls who were seated at my table on that evening.
I remember one of Mamadou's friends
was a minister's son and, because of that,
we didn't have to pay a dime during the whole evening!
He was always wearing Hugo Boss' suits, a real player.
I think we all need a friend who is a minister's son in our lives...
Sofia and Yorda were part of the Greek group.
Sofia was really cute.
I mean, I didn't find her as beautiful as Marie-Ève, but... she was something to see.
I don't know if it was all the scotch payed by the minister's son
but I began to believe that the beautiful Sofia could be the real woman of my life!
Except that the morning after, I woke up with the wrong one...
Why?
Why me?
And the worse was her breath.
It was breathtaking.
Hello, my dear.
Good day.
Your girlfriend is really a screamer, no?
OK, stop it! Dumbass!
Can you take this? I'm not here if it's for me!
Hello. - Hey!
How are you? - Fine, fine and you?
I'm so happy to see you!
Me too! Me too... How did you manage to...
The university's receptionist gave me your address!
Ah yes! Ok! - I was worried! What happened?
I even called your parents.
Oh yeah? - Yes. I talked to your father.
Did he give you my message?
My, my father? No, how stupid of him...
This is my guy-in-deep-shit face, I guarantee it.
In a second, I evaluated my options.
The first one: shut the door at Marie-Ève's face,
run to the terrace, and throw Yorda over the fence.
Second option: eeh, I didn't find any.
So I stood there like a complete bonehead.
Hello. I'm Mamadou. - Marie-Ève.
Do you want to come in?
No, no, no coffee now, Mamadou. One moment please.
What is it? - Eeh... nothing.
It's only my roommates. And seriously,
the African's coffee is awful. It is undrinkable, so...
I'm dressing up and we'll go to the little bar down the street.
I'd liked that, but I have a train to catch at 10.
I'm going on a university-organized trip!
We'll spend the weekend in Florence. I just came to see if you were there.
Oh, ok, ok, ok.
Do you want to come with me at my place to pick up my stuff
and we'll walk to the railway station together?
Yes, you... do you want me to accompany you to Florence?
Ah... yeah, but you had to register before,
and don't think you still can, everything is already settled.
Ok. Just sit there.
And I'll be back in a second.
Since you weren't arriving, I had to take a roommate.
Oh yeah? - Yeah.
Who?
A Spanish guy, he's from Barcelona.
Ricardo, Raphaël.
Raphaël, Ricardo.
The guy is quite a character?!
Yeah, he's something, stoned all the time and always smoking.
If there's something that really annoys me, it's that kind of damn potheads...
You speak Spanish?
I know the basics...
Where do you sleep, on top?
Yes. The funny thing is that I had the exact same bed when I was little.
And where does he sleep?
In the living room.
Hold on, I can't find something. Give me a second...
You got it!
We're going to Numana next week, if you want to come.
Numana?
Yes. It's on the Adriatic Coast. I saw the beach, it's fantastic!
Well, it's time to go. You want to walk with us to the railway station?
Was I mistaking or was she telling
that she was leaving for Florence with the Spaniard disguised as a Jamaican?
And, on top of that, she was bringing her provoking red bra?
And, to top it all, she wanted me to wave stupidly at them from the station platform?
Come on dammit, what kind of jerk did she think I was?
Bye! - For the one I probably was: the worst kind!
Ricardo? Come, come, come!
I forgot to ask you earlier, but could you be at my apartment
on Sunday morning?
A plumber is coming for the leaking sink.
Please!
Yes, yes.
You're so kind! - Ok.
When I'll be back, I'd like to spend an evening just the two of us, ok?
Ciao Ricardo. Go screw yourself, you wanker.
Mamadou might have had a big mouth, yes,
and he might have been a bit of a liar as well but,
things were rolling for him.
So, if I wanted to get Marie-Ève, I just had to work towards that goal,
stop waiting for it to happen by itself and tell her the real things.
It was as simple as that!
I won't accept being overpassed by a damn Spanish from Montego Bay!
I had dilly dallied long enough. It was now time to act!
The time has come to make Marie-Ève Bernard succumb to Ricardo Trogi's charms.
Ricardo Trogi the man, but mainly, Ricardo Trogi the screenwriter!
Sorry, I was just fooling around... Hell no, I wasn't!
Why do you want the risotto recipe?
Because I need it, that's all!
Shit.
You're in Italy,
ask anyone around, he'll tell you how to do it.
No, I want Luigi's recipe.
The one he made for Filomena and the one you prepared for mom!
Ah! You've met a girl, did you?
Yes! I did!
And you are going to make risotto for an Italian girl
because you think that she has never eaten this...
She's not an Italian but a Quebecer.
Hey, you're in Italy, you meet a girl and she's a Quebecer?
Yes, what does it change?
I don't know, I would have liked you to meet an Italian girl in Italy...
Why? You've married a girl from Quebec!
Yes, but I was in Quebec so I met a Quebecer,
not an Italian, that's normal.
Just give me the recipe. You don't understand, this girl is...
She's the woman of my life.
Because you think that you will seduce the woman of your life with some risotto?
What are you talking about?
First of all,
there's no such thing like the woman of your life.
I've spent the last 25 years with your mother
and I still don't know if she's the woman of my life so...
My scenario was pretty simple.
It was a classical Italian love movie.
Why? Because at 21 when you're in film studies,
everything's nicer in black and white.
PERUGIA MY LOVE
Wow! What are we celebrating?
Today is the first anniversary of our very first encounter.
Ah! You remembered!
Of course! I've been growing these darn flowers for you since last year!
You really believe in that thing?
I prefer not to take any chances!
And at that moment, he appears from under the bench,
the German girls are having the jitters of their life and I don't get a word they're saying!
He suddenly utters something in German and the girls burst out in laughter!
May I dare imagine that the most beautiful girl in Italy
would agree to have dinner with me?
She would be delighted!
What are you cooking?
Let's say that this is no shepherd's pie!
Oh my god, this is unreal! Such a tasty risotto is pure witchcraft!
No, it's really easy when one feels inspired!
Are you ok?
Not really.
There's something I have to tell you.
What is it?
By Jove! How astonishing! I can't believe it.
Of course, darling. It's in the tourism brochure. Come at once.
Marie-Ève?
What?
If I went through all this mess, it's not only for your beautiful ass.
What for?
I adore everything in you, except your fucking lip synch sessions,
but whatever, you are the woman of my life!
So that was it. It was now or never. May the movie start.
Dammit!
Canada? Fuck!
What's going on?! - Isn't it clear? The controller is on my tail!
Come on!
Are these flowers for me?
Even if the most romantic evening of my life had gone down the drain,
I was still happy to see that jerk!
Furthermore, I didn't know where Marie-Ève was, so...
What do you want me to say?
Ok, if it's for me... - You're not here as usual!
Ok now stir it slowly and continuously.
I hated when she was doing this to me...
And this time, it almost looked like a warning...
I don't know anymore.
How can you say this? If everybody was thinking like you, it would be the end of the world!
The end of the world! The world has always functioned like this and we are still here!
Excuse me, but if as you say, everybody has prejudices,
How can we manage not to be racists?
We just don't! - So we're all racists? You, me, him?
Exactly! - You? You're a racist?
And you too, don't worry.
Never.
Ah, me neither. - Of course.
Well, no!
Then, if we are all racists, if we all have prejudices as you say,
tell me Mamadou,
what are the three of us doing all together and eating at the same table?
What does it mean?
It only means that we're on a trip, that's all!
No, no, no, precisely, the fact that we're travelling shows that we don't fear
and proves that we're not racist, no?
Not at all. Listen.
It's normal to have prejudices. It's your brain that's sending you a signal.
From the moment you meet someone,
you can't prevent your brain of sending you a signal,
a message that tells if you're in danger or not.
Ok, it may be true in some extreme situations... - Let me finish.
For example, you, the first time you met Arturo,
what did your brain tell you?
Arturo? Eeh...
I don't know, nothing special.
Stop this, just say the truth.
At the same time, I would be surprised that our brain would tell us...
Ah come on Canada, say it,
what did you think when you first saw me?
That was a particular situation because Arturo barged into my train cabin and...
No-no-no-no... - Well, I found you a little invasive but...
What did your brain tell you?
Danger or no danger?
I don't know. - Well, you don't want to displease.
You tell me if it sounds like this?
You want to know what my brain told me earlier when you walked in here?
Ah yes, go on, why not? What did your brain...
Good! My brain told me:
his hair is a mess;
his clothes look like they've not been washed for the last ten years;
on top of the fact that you had the courage of swallowing two plates of this shitty risotto!
So, all this put together gave me the impression
that you're in deep shit, thus danger!
This guy doesn't know anything about me.
What gives him the right to judge people like this?
I don't know...
he's usually cool.
And you think the exact same thing?
Of you? - Yep.
Hell, no.
Then, what do you think?
I don't know,
I think you're a good person.
Ah yes, there...
You know that If I had some money, I would gladly give you something to drink...
Of course, of course... - No, because I...
I don't want you to think that I'm taking advantage of you...
Of course not! It's ok, it's ok...
Isn't it fantastic to see that destiny always bring us back together?
Oh yeah, it's... it's...
Still, it's more the train than destiny...
Oh stop fooling around!
You don't find this extraordinary?
Ah it's crazy!
In such an immense world...
two guys like us that bump into each other unexpectedly...
twice...
Yeah, yeah, it's true.
It is more than true.
It's... it's extraordinary!
In my case, it had never happened with no one before.
Me neither...
You're a good person, Canada!
You too. You too.
You know that people like us will save the world.
Yes! We...
we'll save the world!
What?
Come on... - We will save the world!
Just say it! - Well, we will save the world!
That's it!
We will save the world! - We will save the world!
Now you're talking, Canada! - You and I will save the world!
That's true! - We will save the world!
Let's save the world! Let's save the--
Hey, stop!
What are you doing?
Same thing as you, Canada.
I'm looking for the woman of my life...
Shit, I drank too much.
Wai-wai-wait!
Arturo?
Well. How should I put it?
One thing is sure, I didn't see it coming neither.
I tried to remember at what point I could have given him the impression
that I was the "woman of his life" but... I couldn't find anything.
At that very moment, I thought it was maybe the risotto's fault.
We never know.
In the place I'm from, Quebec City, when someone was going to french kiss you,
he would give you some hints or do like me
and wait for a slow dance or something in the mood.
But not like this.
Hello?
I knew that Arturo would have to go back to the apartment to pick up his guitar, and...
I didn't want to go through another awkward situation, so...
since I had the key, I went to Marie-Ève's place.
And... Oh fuck!
The plumber.
Think of the worst day of your life and you wouldn't even be close to what I felt.
Hey, at that very moment, I was so shocked
that the only thing that came up to mind was D'Astous' freaking face!
Shit!
I came for the sink, ok so...
Fuck.
Ricardo?
Ricardo, wait please! - Hey, I was there for the fucking sink, ok?
Forget about the sink! Ricardo Trogi!
Say something!
You got a nice damn ring!
I didn't know that you were going to be there!
Ricardo, please talk to me!
Hey, I told you all I had to say.
You didn't say a word! - Shit, you know what I'm going to say!
No! What?
You really don't know?
You don't have a damn clue?
What is it that I don't know?
That I'm in love with you, dammit!
It's impossible that you didn't know it.
Ok, I... I suspected it.
You suspected it? - Yeah, a little...
And you didn't feel like discussing it with me, just have a little chat about it?
And you? - What about me?
You've never told me anything!
Each time we're together you keep fooling around and tell jokes.
I can never know what you really think. It seems like you keep hiding your thoughts!
I don't know who you are!
Ok, ok, maybe I'm not always saying everything...
but dammit, is there a lot of people in your life
who call you every single day and who invite you to go out to dinner...
You don't call me everyday... - Well, I call you regularly!
Do you know a lot of people who call as... often as me?
Yes, I know some, they're called friends!
Ok! Ok! Your friends, right!
Do you know a lot them that would storm three different video clubs
just to find a damn copy of Pretty Woman to watch with you,
do you have a lot of friends like this?
Or friends that would come as far as this place?
Only for you!
Do you have plenty of friends like that?
What do you want me to say?
If you'd have talked to me sincerely just once of how you were feeling,
maybe things would have been different.
But you never do it!
You're the one who told me that your Raphael was quite a character,
that he was always stoned and that potheads like him annoyed you...
So, I've changed! Ok?
You've changed? You only left two days ago!
Yes I changed ok! I didn't know what smoking was before!
It, it opens your mind. It makes you see things differently...
Ok please! I know what smoking is!
We smoke hash, listen to Pink Floyd, and gobble a big poutine afterward...
Ricardo, I'm on a trip!
I don't owe anything to anyone.
If I feel like having fun with a guy and smoke some joints, I have the right to do it.
And what about the girl at your apartment the other day? Who is she?
Her? No, it's nothing! - Oh it's nothing.
No, she doesn't mean a thing!
You're no better than me.
Fuck!
You won't make me believe that you're in love with a guy who wears dreadlocks, shit!
I'm not in love with him!
And his dreadlocks are irrelevant!
Since you've been here, you keep wearing a hat and I'm not hassling you about it!
We all know that you're losing your hair if that's what is bothering you!
The hat is a gift! Ok!
Wait, wait...
Marie! Marie! Marie! Marie!
The only reason that made me come here is to be with you.
And only that.
I don't give a damn about everything else.
You're the woman of my life.
Why, why did you want me to come over here?
To be with you?
Or what?
I don't know, because you're my friend
and I thought that you wanted to learn Italian, because...
we're having fun together... Because we like being together.
And you didn't think for a second that I might have wanted more?
Honestly...
Yes, I've thought that it could work between you and me.
Ok! Ok! Perfect but,
tell me what's missing for things to work between us?
I don't know...
Ok.
Ricardo.
You know what?
I think she knew why she didn't love me,
but just like me, she was unable to say everything.
I mean to say everything when it's really important,
when it might badly hurt someone.
Come to think of it, it's not necessarily a shortcoming
to want to spare others' feelings.
Sometimes, I also think like this.
I mean, I never learned exactly why Marie-Ève Bernard didn't love me.
Not only because she didn't tell me on that day,
but mainly because I never wanted to know it.
That was my biggest flaw,
I don't want to know why people don't love me,
I'm not sure that I could deal with it.
But who is this Ricardo Trogi?
Ricardo Trogi from Canada.
So what...
So...
The following morning, I decided to leave Perugia and go visit my father's brother.
I had to go get the mushrooms,
and I also didn't want to be in the same city than Marie-Ève anymore.
I didn't tell anyone that I was leaving. I didn't want to...
I didn't feel like it...
I'd like to tell that once on board the train,
bang, I had finally realized that I was in love with "Georgia",
that I had jumped out of the train at the next station to run back to her and all these things...
but life is not exactly like a romantic comedy.
Not mine anyway.
Well, now I have to go out so you can...
No, I'm tired of hiding.
Eh, Canada?
Did you find the woman of your life?
No, not yet...
And you?
Me, I prefer to be searching for the woman of my life than finding her!