A wife complains about her husband’s over spending. She wishes that her unborn son doesn’t
turn out like his father. Inside her belly, the baby can hear and understands what she is saying.
The baby is born and he grows up to be very frugal - saving money wherever he can. His name
is Francois Gautier /fran·swaa-gow·tee·ay/. Francois hides from a man collecting for a
colleague’s retirement gift. When the man leaves he emerges from behind a curtain and
continues the child’s violin lesson. The student is about to leave when
Francois asks if he has money for payment - the kid only has 5 euros which he takes.
At the supermarket, Francois disputes the total with the cashier. She is obviously frustrated.
On his way home, he is given a lift by his neighbor - Cedric/SED-rik/. They have never
spoken before. Francois is astounded that the amount of groceries in the car
will only feed Cedric’s family for three days. Cedric is separated from his wife and lives by
use of a revolving loan. Francois is horrified as that is daylight robbery but Cedric has no choice.
As they arrive home, there is a sign painted on the wall - “Gautier - Bastard”. The neighbors
don’t appear to like Francois because he does not contribute to the community.
Cedric’s kids appear and ransack the car as Francois leaves.
In his house we see how Francois saves money by eating cheaply and saving electricity.
At school, Francois meets the new Cellist named Valerie.
He hurriedly leaves because he sees the man coming again to collect the retirement gift.
He and Valerie practice the following day. She asks him to go for a drink and - as he
explains to his friend Remy - although he finds her attractive, he still says no.
Remy suggests taking her to a restaurant. Remy works in the bank and lets him know how
much savings he has. He says that it still isn’t enough and must economize further.
Francois goes to the restaurant that is owned by the parents of the kid that he
gives violin lessons. He strikes a deal where they exchange a lesson for his meal.
After a concert, a girl named Laura comes to Francois for an autograph which he gives.
Laura wants to talk further but Francois goes to make a date with Valerie. The other members
of the orchestra laugh when they learn about this and advise her to take her credit card.
Laura has followed Francois home and reveals that she is his daughter. He brushes this off as a
sales tactic and closes the door in her face. She rings the bell to attract his attention
and as the neighbors watch, Laura explains who her mother is. He lets her inside.
Francois calls Laura’s mother, Carole, who confirms the story. She makes him promise
not to shatter her dreams before he runs out of credit on the phone.
Laura believes Francois to be a very generous man - giving his time and money to charity.
Francois runs next door to use Cedric’s telephone and calls Carole back. She says that she told
Laura that her father runs an orphanage in Mexico. She now works 20 minutes from him - helping
people in need - just like her father. He returns home and tries to explain.
Laura offers to pay for a room with him in order to help the orphans.
He leaves notes around the house so that she doesn’t waste money
and makes preventative changes. She rationalizes this by asking
if he is an eco warrior which he confirms. Francois asks Remy why he thinks she has
come now - what does she want? He leaves his phone number with Remy and tells him to call
the police if he doesn’t contact him every 48 hours. He thinks that she is after his money.
It is date night for Francois and Valerie. They arrive at the restaurant but she reveals that she
has allergies so they have to go elsewhere. The seafood restaurant she chooses is very
expensive and he is horrified. He orders very cheaply
and insists on taking the leftovers with them. Valerie tries to ask him a question but he is too
preoccupied with the waiter calculating the bill. The waiter makes a joke about how cheap Francois
appears and so Francois stabs him in the leg with a fork, yells at Valerie
and runs from the restaurant. But this is just his imagination.
Valerie snaps him out of it and he goes to the bathroom where he sets off the sprinkler system.
All the guests leave the restaurant and Francois has avoided paying.
He puts Valerie into a taxi and sends her home. On his way home he calls Remy to tell him about
his night and invites himself around to eat. Remy’s wife grabs the phone and says no.
Francois walks home despondently. The following day, Francois’ student
pays him for the music lessons and presents him with a gift for the late payment.
At the retirement party, the retiree thanks Francois for his contribution
but his colleagues reveal that he did not chip in. The man is disappointed as
they have known each other for twenty years. Francois makes the excuse that he wanted to
give something more personal and hands over the gift that he just received.
In front of his colleagues, the man unwraps a book that has a personal inscription to Francois.
The crowd chuckles and the book is returned. Francois walks away in shame.
At home, Laura has made some small changes and Francois tells her
that she should return home to her mother. There is suddenly a knock at the door. It is
his neighbors who are holding a residents meeting and, to ensure his attendance,
are holding it at his house. He tries to make his excuses but they push in anyway.
They talk about the relocation of the garbage area which has been blocked for 5 years by
Francois because of his refusal to pay. Francois is also in arrears with his account payments.
He goes to call Remy to find a way to stash his money but Remy explains that there is
no other alternative than to pay. Meanwhile, the residents tell Laura that it must be hard
for her to have such a miser as a father. She explains to them about the orphanage in Mexico.
As Francois returns to the room, the residents apologize to him for their behavior and ask
why he never mentioned it to them. They tell him that he can pay his arrears whenever he wants.
Laura explains that she is proud of the selfless life he leads.
As Francois goes to work, the sign outside has been amended to “Gautier - Bravo”. The
neighbors also start to offer their support to Francois for his endeavors.
The musicians are preparing for a performance. Francois makes a call
to Laura and discovers that Cedric is in his house with his children.
His house has been repossessed and Laura has offered to help them. She found envelopes in
the house with money but tells him that he will need to go grocery shopping soon.
Francois’ phone is out of credit and he is angry but he must play in the orchestra before
he can leave. He hurries the performance and afterwards the conductor is furious.
However, the conductor is congratulated for his daring interpretation and all is forgiven.
Valerie drives Francois home and when he arrives he finds Cedric’s family running
amok in his house. Cedric thanks him for his help and his children sing him a song
declaring that Francois is their savior. Francois faints and wakes up 14 hours later
to find that Valerie is mopping his brow. She reveals that his neighbors have donated food for
his Mexican Orphans. Valerie has also set the orchestra straight regarding his selflessness.
Francois holds her hand and she asks him to play a duet with her this weekend at a fundraising gala.
It’s all expenses paid so he agrees. Francois borrows a neighbor’s car to drive to
the hotel with Laura. She tries to convince him to be more open with people about his charity work.
During a speech, Valerie thanks those for attending. She goes on to say that she is
relying on one man’s powers of persuasion to encourage everyone to donate and to his surprise,
she introduces Francois as a benefactor. He goes on stage and begins to make up a
story about the orphans. He goes on to make an impassioned speech and tearfully makes
the first donation to this hospice of 30 Euros. The crowd starts to chant and shouts 3000 Euros.
He writes the check and then demands that they all follow his lead.
After receiving his applause, he then goes to the bathroom where he tears up
the check. Laura follows him inside where she finds the remains of the check on the floor.
Outside, Valerie tells Francois that she has never met a man like him before and they kiss.
On the drive home, Laura is quiet. She leaves for work. Francois finds a picture that she
drew of him when she was younger and he is touched. However he suddenly notices her phone
and reads a message from her mother. They are conspiring to steal from him!
Laura has met with her mother and as Laura leaves, Francois arrives and confronts Carole
with the messages. He tells her that he would rather Carole had aborted the child
than he would be the father of a thief. Carole slaps him and reveals that Laura has
only one kidney and goes to the hospital three times per week for dialysis. She tells him that
she needs a donor and they need his help. Laura and Carole watch him as he leaves.
Valerie arrives and kisses him as with his help the foundation managed to double their target.
Back home, Francois is in a somber mood. The doorbell rings and Cedric is there with his kids.
His wife has returned and he thanks him for the banker's contact that he
provided. The children have made him a cake. Francois returns to the hospital to make peace
with Laura. She says that when she learnt that the father that she believed existed
was, in fact, the complete opposite, she was disappointed. They can make peace but it is not
enough. She asks him to leave and he duly obliges. Carole walks in and Laura tells her that he has
gone. Carole reveals that Francois took the tests two days ago and he is a match for her transplant.
Laura chases him down the corridor and they tearfully hug.
The transplant takes place and father and daughter awake facing each other.
Some time later, Carole and Laura are listening to a concert where Francois and Valerie are playing.
Afterwards he is still receiving plaudits for his work in Mexico.
Francois donates and supports a Mexican orphanage. He and his daughter backpack
through the country. She suggests he call Valerie to tell her all about it - but old habits die hard
and he doesn’t wish to pay for the charge. If you want to watch more on Movie Shortens,
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