Tristana (1970)

Catherine Deneuve: Tristana

Photos 

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Quotes 

• Tristana : I need something else.

  Don Ambrosio : I've told you lots of times; get married.

  Tristana : How can I marry him, if I can't stand the sight of him?

  Don Ambrosio : You have to overcome that unhealthy passion. When he was really doing you harm, you accepted it without a word. And now, when he's behaving so well with you... What more can you ask for?

  Tristana : The better he is, the less I love him.

  Don Ambrosio : But that's irrational!

  Tristana : Yes, I know that perfectly well.

  Don Ambrosio : Be careful. There's something diabolical about that bitterness.

• Don Lope : Look at that couple. Don't you get the sickly scent of conjugal happiness?

  Tristana : I don't understand.

  Don Lope : Did you see that bovine look of resignation? That boredom? Farewell, love. Never get married, Tristana.

  Tristana : One can be free and honorable.

  Don Lope : Exactly. Passion must be free. It's a law of nature. No chains or signatures or blessings!

• Saturna : It's a pleasure to see how Don Lope cares for you.

  Tristana : I wish he'd love me less.

• Saturna : You were lucky! He didn't scold you.

  Tristana : He certainly wanted to, but he didn't dare. What a sight. He's like a different man. The cock loses his feathers and doesn't crow anymore.

• Tristana : I didn't study much, but I think I could do great things. However, I'm no good at little things.

• Tristana : Is your studio bigger than this?

  Horacio : Twice as big. You can see the whole city from the terrace and the sunset from the bed. It's perfect for a couple.

  Tristana : For lovers.

  Horacio : I want you to be my wife.

  Tristana : I'll live with you for as long as you love me. If you ever get tired of me, we'll each go our own way.

  Horacio : You remind me of that scoundrel. You talk like him.

  Tristana : The worst thing is, he's right about many things.

• Tristana : Be patient my love. Do you think I don't loathe my life as a slave? I want to be free, to work. I wasn't a bad pianist, but when my mother died... If I practiced a little, I could give classes. And you could paint. It would be wonderful.

• Don Lope : Where are you going?

  Tristana : To bed.

  Don Lope : On a night like this, you're leaving me on my own?

  Tristana : Really! It's incredible that you still have those illusions at your age.

• Dr. Miquis : [the doctor cheerfully enters Tristana's room; Saturna and Don Lope are standing by]  How is my favorite patient?

  Saturna : Worse than ever, doctor.

  Dr. Miquis : Leave me alone with her.

  [Saturna and Don Lope leave the room] 

  Dr. Miquis : How are your spirits, Tristana?

  Tristana : I had a temperature last night. I'm very ill, aren't I? Tell me the truth.

  Dr. Miquis : [confidently]  I've told you before that this is a common case. It's painful, but that will soon pass.

  Tristana : A few days ago, I wanted to live. Now I'd rather die.

• Tristana : I've never been in the bell tower... There's a lovely view outside. You're very lucky. You must feel very important up here, like you ruled the world.

  Campanero : No, you get used to it and don't even notice. And as for being important... not at all. We used to be important, but not now.

  Tristana : Why not?

  Campanero : In those days when there was a lot of religion, people timed things by the bells and they obeyed them. There was the dying knell, the death knell, the fire warning, the victory bells, the call to Mass, and the peel for devotions. People listened, they went to visit the dying, to bury the dead, or to get their firearms if there was an alert.

  Campanero : [sighs]  Times have changed. People are chasing after money, they don't listen. They even complain when we're ringing the bell for Mass, because they say we wake them.