The Butcher (1970)

Stéphane Audran: Hélène

Photos 

Quotes 

• Popaul : But, shit, I asked you if I kissed you now, what would you say?

  Hélène : I'd say nothing, but please don't.

• Hélène : [Walking through a cavern]  You must understand that the instincts, the feelings, and even the intelligence of Cro-Magnon man was definitely human. The only differences to the problem were his needs to survive.

  Student : What does "survive" mean?

  Hélène : It means to stay alive. He began to draw. Do you know what we call desires when they lose their savage quality? Aspirations. If Cro-Magnon had not survived, the world in which we live wouldn't exist.

• Hélène : A crime is awful! Think of the poor girl!

  Popaul : I've seen a corpse or two - their heads in the wind, cut in half, mouth open. I've seen three or four piled together. Kids with their eyes punctured. Indo-Chinese as old as Madame Tirrant completely torn to bits. I've seen pals of mine rotting in the sun, being eaten by maggots.

  Butcher shop customer : Yes, war is a horrible thing. That's a fact, but murder like this - it's barbaric!

  Popaul : We counted corpses by the truckload, so... I'm rambling.