CERTIFIED COPY
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.
Just a few words while you're waiting.
As you know, James Miller will be joining us.
He's a little late.
He can't blame the traffic, his room is upstairs.
I hope he won't be long.
We're here for the presentation of his latest book
Certified Copy
that was awarded best foreign essay of the year.
Well, that's about it...
Here's James.
Please, take your seats.
Autographing will be after the conference.
I'd intended to briefly introduce James to you
but who better than himself.
Over to you.
Good morning.
I'd like to sincerely thank
my friend and colleague Marco Lenzi
whose translation
is simply perfect.
He's really conveyed the spirit of my book
and made this Italian edition possible.
As well as our meeting today.
Well done and thanks again.
Will I take your bag?
No, it's okay.
It'll be too heavy.
Come on.
You ordered a cheeseburger?
Yes.
Fries?
Yes.
Double?
You won't eat them, but yes.
Coke?
Can you look at me?
Coke?
Yes.
How many books did you buy?
Six.
Lucky you didn't like it.
I never said that.
I heard you telling Pierre.
I didn't say I didn't like it, just that some parts annoyed me.
But he explained them to you.
Yes, but I wasn't convinced.
How come you bought so many?
To get you talking. And for presents.
Who for?
For Marie, amongst others.
But... she already has it.
Well, I want to give her a signed copy.
Good idea, no?
So, you want to see him again.
You want to see that guy again.
Well, maybe.
And the others, who are they for?
One's for Alain.
But you can't stand him!
Right. I want to give a book I dislike to a man I dislike.
Can't I?
Sure, you can.
So, what were you saying to that other guy?
What other guy?
The writer's friend.
You have to know everything?
You said we were buddies who kept no secrets.
But you were just being nosy about Elisa, right?
But who cares? I know it all anyway.
Good for you.
I know you like this James and want to fall in love with him.
And you gave your number to his friend, so he'll call you.
Not at all.
I did give my number, but not for what you think.
I just want to find out more about his book.
It is my job after all.
And you kept... I couldn't listen. We had to leave.
You weren't listening. You kept whispering...
Neither were you. You kept playing with that thing.
At least, I... I was playing
but I also listened. You were just starry-eyed.
Mind your own business, okay?
No need to get so mad.
We're just here, having a chat...
Yes, we're having a chat.
I don't see why you get so annoyed.
I'm not annoyed. You annoy me!
And get a haircut!
Just one thing, okay?
One thing and then I stop.
One question:
Why didn't you want him
to sign with my surname?
You're really going too far!
My name is Julien...
You're getting on my nerves. Enough!
But I do have a surname!
Are you leaving?
Be back for lunch?
I don't think so.
Remind Julien he's got a private lesson at 2.
Sure.
Yes?
No. It's impossible.
Speak up. I can't hear you.
No. You talk to him. I'm busy.
I can't talk to him now.
I don't know. Talk to him.
I have no idea.
I'm not far away.
I don't know yet.
Okay?
Yes. I'll let you know.
I can't right now. You see with him.
Speak to you later.
This is the famous Muse Polimnia,
the portrait of a woman,
whose dramatic story is told on the cartel
next to the painting.
For years, this painting was believed to be Roman Art.
It wasn't until the 20th Century, about 50 years ago,
that it was revealed to be the work of a skilled forger from Naples.
However, the museum decided to conserve
this fabulous portrait as an original.
It is actually as beautiful as the original.
When was it made?
In the 18th Century.
And it was considered as an original for 200 years.
After the Second World War,
in-depth research revealed even the name of the forger
who made this amazing work.
The museum then decided to keep it with great care.
In a sense, it's our Mona Lisa.
The original is in Herculaneum, near Naples.
The story of the discovery itself is interesting.
It was part of a Roman fresco.
And the excavation director happened to be from Tuscany.
He commissioned the forger to make this perfect copy,
so as to claim that it was found in his region
and use its prestige for Tuscany.
A coffee and a cappuccino.
Coming up.
It's ready.
His coffee's going cold.
That's how he is.
He's a good husband though.
Sorry?
He's a good husband.
How do you know?
I can tell.
Where do you come from?
I'm from France.
Where did you learn Italian?
I've lived in Italy for five years.
Where?
First in Florence,
now in Arezzo.
How come you speak English together?
He's English.
And he doesn't speak your language?
Nor Italian?
He only speaks his own language.
But you can speak his. Good for you.
He's not into languages. He's not into anything.
Except himself and his job.
That's good.
- A man must love his job. - What about us women?
It keeps them busy. And we live our lives.
I didn't get married to live alone.
I'd like to live my life with my husband.
Is a good husband too much to ask for?
Our lives can't be all that bad
if all we can complain about
is our husbands working too hard.
You see,
when there's not another woman,
we see their job as our rival.
We also work, but with moderation.
Moderation is our choice,
whereas they can't help it.
For them, not working is like not breathing: impossible!
I never asked my husband to stop.
Of course not. How could you?
The world would simply stop.
But we put the brakes on.
My sister keeps encouraging her lazy husband to work.
There are exceptions.
Don't you think there should be a happy balance?
Ideally, yes. But that doesn't exist.
Bring us some wine.
Coming. It'd be stupid of us
to ruin our lives for an ideal.
But mum's the word.
They don't need to know.
But how can I put up with a husband who's never there?
They're never totally absent.
He makes you a married woman.
That's what matters.
At my age, you understand that.
How long have you been married?
Fifteen years.
Do you have children?
Yes, a son.
It was his birthday last week.
He didn't even bother to call him.
I don't believe it.
It's true.
All he cares about is himself and his job.