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Fred : Hello, and good evening. Today we are welcoming a personality of whom we can simply
say and without annoying her, as an established fact, that she is one of this second half
century's strongest image, Audrey Hepburn. Before beginning this show and meeting Audrey,
I was wondering, how this exceptional Charisma seen in Roman Holiday, my fair lady, funny
face,Wait Until dark has made of her one of the most admired people in cinema, of Hollywood,
photographers, fashion designers and from the audience. And without a doubt one of the
most long-lasting. Audrey Hepburn always made a few movies and chose her parts carefully
but ask to a producer nowadays, what she symbolizes, it's simple, it's like Brando, we can't mesurate
it. But this is not what is insteresting us for this today show even if this is meaningful
in a society where one has to use all that we has to succeed what's important for someone.
Especially, What Audrey Hepburn cares of is the subject's show and the reason why she
is here. Despite impressive calendar and planning. Audrey Hepburn is embassador for UNICEF. With
this title, She takes parts to the organism campaigns to save children. Don't believe
that it's about a star sinecure willing for a good image. I have to say that seeing Audrey
is enough for you to see this idea is impossible. Nor an actitivity that can only involved "important
people" of this world or Saints that would be forbidden to common mortals. No. it's a
solid and permanent inking point, an always elaborate and takeover woman's life that looks
around herself and wants to be useful. At least Audrey Hepburn's charisma is also this.
She brought grace to an infinite number of human feelings in Cinema and lives them in
life and the cameras were not mistaken nor people. No fame, no her artistic gifts, no
every destiny mystery as hers can do something about it. Audrey Hepburn is simply true. Here
it is. I wanted to make this compliment to you, Audrey Hepburn. All of us here are very
very moved to welcome you. We were hoping for a long time that you could come. You had
commitments worldwilde you're going to leave very soon, but you wanted to spend this hour
here and for this were are very touched. So what is your mission for Unicef?
AH : Thank you, Fr�deric. I have to thank you for this marvelous introduction. I almost
want to leave now and leave this so kind portrait with your audience.
Fred : But I think the audience will come at the end of this hour to the same conclusion
as mine. So Audrey, what is your mission for Unicef ?
AH : In fact, it's very simple. My mission is to go on the field, feel and to return
and tell. Because even if compassion in the world is big, there are a lots of people who
don't know that's why we are depending so much on you, the media. It's really essential
for us it's often a matter of life or death. It has been proved in Ethiopia for example.
People were dying and nobody knew about it. We can say the same about Sudan where there
was a long silence because nobody knew about civil war or what's happening there. And finally
I'm a witness, a witness for children and their needs.
Fred : So a witness that has to be active because going to Sudan is not taking a cup
of tea in some cosy Caf�. It's going on road that don't exist, bad roads in trucks,
being between rival camps. It's really something terrible. Do you have the feeling of making
easy to find a solution when you're there? For example in Sudan, I believe there was
something very important to you. the road to be safe and quiet for the first aid?
AH : I can do a very little there. What's marvelous is that this Lifeline Sudan Operation
has been negociated by the United Nations so they can bring reserves especially in Southern
Sudan where last year a million quarter of people died of Hunger. They tried last year
put were not allowed to. We had to negociate for months and they were then allowed and
now there are 8 quiet paths were airplanes, boats, trains can get through. And governments
and rebels agreed to this.
Fred : So it's the result put into practice, real.
AH : But I have to tell you now, that if there are so many people that survived even last
year it is thanks to people that have been there for quite a long time like the international
Red Cross, M�decins sans fronti�res that I really want to pay tribute to now I'm here
with you. Because I saw 4 young people of M�decins sans fronti�res working in a
huge camp in Maen, who are entirely dedicated to the others and are doing marvelous things.
Fred : So this is going on the field and observe with this satisfaction to feel things in progress.
But there is also returning and testify. Your putting a lot of your energy, in the US for
example in giving speeches, raising awareness and collecting money too.
AH : Of course naturally. But especially this time in Sudan...yes we always need money.
But we have to continue to help them especially. But we are not the only ones. There are many
private and public organisms and agencies that are here. But it's also explaining people
that there are other ways to help. Not only by giving money. But to make pressure on their
governments to persuade Sudan governments and rebels to stop the fight. We got a stop
of the fight for a month now and I hope that is is the beginning of a permanent peace because
at the end this is the worst thing in the world and for children, it's the war. The
war in Sudan, in Central America, in Lebanon, in Mozambique whatever. There are thousands
of thousands refugees children. All we can give is destroyed by war. Too much money is
given to governments for weapons. Just imagine if this money could go to poors and so to
children ? But Sudan and Ethiopia, I think are spending 1 million dollar per day for
their civil war. Imagine what we could do with this money.
Fred : So, Audrey we are going to get into all these aspects. But we can't do it without
making a detour in Hollywood. Because I think that Hollywood and today's Audrey, it's the
same thing and in the most thrilling way. So a shortdetour in Hollywood with Funny Face.
[Bonjour Paris video shown]
Fred : So this was a short passage by Funny Face. For information, for the innumerable
fans of Audrey Hepburn that there is now in Paris in Action Cinemas, marvelous Cinema
dedicated to American cinema's most beautiful masterpieces that there is actually an Audrey
Hepburn festival. I wanted you to see this image because when I was thinking about...trying
to resound, which is not very reasonable because it is too powerful and deals with feelings.
To resound this amazing impact that you have on cinema. I had this idea, that suddenly
you appeared in Cinema in the 50's and brought in Hollywood an image of Europe, fragile,
graceful but full of strength and civilization in fact you were suddenly, thanks to the Cinema
and the americans understood it immediately; you were the image of this Europe who had
not let itself brought down by war and that maybe had gone out of it weakened maybe, but
with more delicacy, tenderness and strength. That's because of that I wanted to show Funny
Face and to me, Hollywood really felt that and that has made, in particular this career.
Exactly when we see what was your childhood, this childhood had been really hard, in Nederlands,
occupied by the Nazi. And I noticed one thing. You're the exact contemporary of Anne Frank.
It is something that certainly touched you too, Audrey.
AH : Even. Very Deeply. Because at that time. Immediately after the war. I moved with my
mother because I could study ballet in Amsterdam, where there was a fabulous Russian teacher.
And I lived in a house where a room was rent by a jewish writer. We became very good friends.
And one day she gave me something and said :"Look these are the proofs of a book I'm
editing, read it because I'm sure that you will love it". And it was Anne Frank's diary,
the proofs and I have to tell you Fr�d�ric that it upset me. I had nightmares for weeks,
I was crying, it was as if something had happened in me. At the end, we are of the same year,
we were the same age. I knew there were similar cases. I knew that I was outside and that
there were chidren, people hidden. And she describes so well what we lived even being
inside because she had a great vision. Those extraordinary passages where the only way
for her to see seasons changing is the tree outside her window and she mesurated herself
on the wall with a pencil so did I. But reading it, it deeply touched me. Some years after
that when George Stevens was making the movie and kindly asked me to do the part, I read
the script and again, I was so upset, I couldn't accept. Now, maybe I would have loved to do
it...but I was not able and the same years later when I was asked to star in the play,
it was too close.
Fred: What strikes me too, in your filmography, Audrey, You has such marvelous co-stars (partners)
who were men too. I mean there were not only movie stars. Gary Cooper, Fred Astaire, Rex
Harrison, Bogart.They were always put in the same category. Seen by the audience as stars
but we were also sure that someone like Gary Cooper, we would have met him in a Caf�,
he would have been nice with you. And in the same way with directors you have had, there
was Wylliam Wyler, Stanley Donen of course, there was Fred Zinneman, whom I admired a
lot, he has a deep humanism. And there was this part "The Nun's Story" and this was a
part that was important for you.
AH: It has been very important to me, mainly as an experience. Because Fred Zinneman was
a perfectionist and for months and months he brought me everywhere, in hospitals, in
convents etc. And especially there was this experience in Africa. My first trip in Africa.
And if you remember there was a scene in a lepers Hospital. And this was also an amazing
experience to see all those patients well, looked after well and even doctors and nurses
working there despite the disease because it is contagious nevertheless.
Fred: But at the same time Audrey, you're not a Saint.
AH : No! I'm not a Saint at all!
Fred: You played roles that had almost a dark psychology. I think about "The Children's
hour", which is a beautiful movie, about "Wait Until Dark" too. You are someone who is well
able to have Anger. A sweet anger but an anger that..
AH: Maybe not that sweet finally!
Fred: Not that sweet! At the end, all of this was a psychology very close to the one you
would suit well what you would do next. When you had this brillant career in Hollywood.
Were you interested yet in problems that you're interested to now.
AH : First of all, I don't think that I brought this Hollywoodian life. In fact I arrived
in Cinema and Hollywood when things were changing.Yes, I saw big premieres, very beautiful houses,
wonderful dinners. But I lived in the end the same as I live today, at home with people
that matter to me, my dogs, my children especially. It was a really real life and very pleasant
with the Californian climate. If I had, I think you meant...
Fred : You had your mother that gave you lots of examples during your childhood...
AH: At lot because, I'm often asked why I'm doing this job etc for Unicef. But to me it's
so normal because during my childhood, everybody in my family was doing something. For the
poor, the blind people and it was very natural.We didn't speak about it. I have to say that
I'm embarrassed sometimes when I receive compliments. Because it was normal ethics at home to help
the others. Even, my mother when she was old yet, worked for old people in London. When
she was in San Francisco she worked in an hospital for Vietnam veterans, which was not
a very popular idea in that time because Vietnam had to be forgotten and unfortunalely their
ill people. But it was an automastism if want and to me too when I was asked to do this.
It was so natural and I think it is something that everybody would want to do but I had
the chance to be offered the opportunity.
Fred: So Audrey because we are now going to speak a lot about children after having felt
how all was there since the beginning of your involvement yet. I propose you to listen a
small piece of music. So we have with us young musicians that formed a classic orchestra
who chose to play 19th century french lyrical and symphonic repertoire. And for you today,
Sorties d'Artistes, it's their name, very beautiful one, chose to play Georges Bizet's
Jeux d'Enfants (children games). We couldn't choose better for this today's show.
[Jeux d'enfants played by Orchestra]
AH : Wonderful...
Fred : Thank you very much it was wonderful. So those children, in Africa, Central America,
Sudan you are going to bring them food, comfort and speak for them too, in the US and every
in every places you are able to speak. But at the same time, critisisms can appear with
this type of help and it's not easy to organize. So my first question is : how do we manage
to stay apolitical ?
AH : I think this is very easy. Because we don't speak about politics and everybody loves
children and in fact, I remember when I returned from Ethiopia, I was attacked "How can you
bring help to a Marxist country?" etc but it is as if we were asking to a child who
was having an accident in the street, his father's politics opinion. We can't think
this way. We have to help children to survive whatever religion, politics and it's the beauty
of all those organisms and Unicef too, we are apolitical.
Fred : So, we often do the...Don't be surprised we are live so..
Audrey: No, I understood this since a long time.
Fred: Sometimes there are video cameras coming closer...We are blaming sometimes. They say
that to bring food in a country, we help, we support at the end a terrible regime who
is the cause of horrors that hit children. What are you answering them ? Saving children
comes first?
Audrey: definitely. And first of all, us at last we don't bring help to governments. Our
help goes directly to children even money don't make it because it is spent in supplies
and gear. Medicine, technical help, drills for pits whatever...And I really find unacceptable
to don't help them. It's illogical, unhuman and I think that this is a loveless theory.
And this person who says that, would have said that after Armenia, to don't help people?
Would have said the same after the last world war ? When all Europe was in ruins, when we
didn't have infrastructures...
Fred :...Bridges...
Audrey: way to help, when 20 millions of people were homeless. We have been given help.
Fred: In fact it's a matter of choice...the first choice. I mean a choice between life
and death...
Audrey: Absolutely
Fred: How do you manage despite the situation, when you're between two armies? There must
be moments of discouragement?
Audrey: But I'm not discouraged by weapons because we are very well protected with a
flag, the UN flag and we don't think about it. We think about it before that it may be
will dificult but when there, we don't think about it anymore. And I may be more afraid
to cross the Champs Elys�es in these situations but...what was the second part ?
Fred: Discouragement
Audrey: Not. what discourages me sometimes is the immensity of things, the number of
things, the number of animals we destroyed, forests that we destroyed...the 100 millions
of children that live, work and die in the street, thousands of children that are refugees
in camps, how can't we at least, try to help them ?
Fred: So there are people, not selfish at all, or nasty and there are certainly people
who did what you're doing now, they come with arguments, they say. The main thing to do
is to do nothing. Because in fact it's the same reproach coming. Because doing this we
are keeping with situations that will continue the same situation. It's better to do nothing
and like this, something will happen. What do you think about this?
Audrey: First we haven't done anything during centuries, first with colonies, people are
as poor as before and maybe even poorer. Because now, all those countries have external debts
that add to their misery. How can we don't help them...
Fred: Don't help them, yes.
Audrey : All your question was?
Fred : About to do nothing, people that say that we have do nothing.
Audrey: But well, like I was saying before, to we have to let this year again 500000 children
being mutilated by polio, what's the benefit ? who benefits that ? Do we have to let children
becoming blind because of a lack of vitamins?
Fred: So, there is another idea...But I'm totally convinced by you. I think that all
matters is to do something even a small...
Audrey : And it went too far...they can't no longer help themselves. And don't think
they are there with an open hand asking for...they don't ask anything. They try to survive and
do it. because the poorer they are and the biggest misery there is their resistance is
amazing. They live of leaves and I don't know, some RADIS or whatever they eat to be able
to make it to the camps for example and often they arrive at the very end of their resistance.
In Mouglad, for example. There was a family of 3 who arrived when we were there. Father,
mother and child. The father was the worst of them. The nurses helped him immediately
and while we were looking at him, the mother and child had died.
The same night in Mouglad, 13 people died of thirst. Because there is water but not
enough. Camps are so big. So do we have to let them die of thirst only because... I don't
think. So we would have to say to ourselves ley's stay at home ? It's unatural. Do the
M�decins sans fronti�res would all return home ? Would all these people there that give
all their time and their heart...their life in some way...would they return home? It's
unthinkable and unacceptable.
Fred: So, Audrey you are extremely eloquent. I'm sure that people watching you now are
very impressed by how you develop these arguments and you evoked earlier and I want to speak
about it...what you're doing is linked with an entire chain of understanding. I mean saving
children is also to stand against the killing of elephants, make people aware of AIDS issue,
a country like Burundi is being helped, a child out of 3 has AIDS, all of this is part
of a chain.
Audrey: It will take a long time before we succeed. And we will succeed someday. But
in the meantime. Those who are saying don't do anything...well do we have to let elephants
disappear? Do we have to let forests being destroyed before doing something against it?
Do we have to stop Cancer research and AIDS research of which we don't have remedy yet.
One day we will have it...but it's long, but we can't stop.
Fred: So this eloquence that you have, it's really striking and very beautiful nowadays.
You are at the end intimidated. It means it has strong links with things deep in your
life. And with that eloquence you have you manage to use it everywhere and we found footage.
Where you're with heads of state and then in front of a crowd too and where you're trying
to make them aware of the situation, let's watch that footage.
[Unicef footage]
Fred: So, when I see this footage I think of various things. First, not everybody is
able to do what you're doing. Like a mother of 3, in France, in a flat with a husband
who earns not a lot of money and that is watching those images, what she can do ?
Audrey: Firstly, I think the most important thing is to understand and love. love these
children she sees on tv like her own. And if she has the opportunity to give 1 franc
is yet enough. Because, you know with a little money we are able to do a lot. I was telling
you earlier about the children (half a million) who become blind because of a lack of vitamins,
We are giving them, if we are able, two capsules of A vitamin a year. And it costs 4 US cents.
Think how many children will be able to have VUE for life with 1 franc.
Fred: So this is a thing
Audrey : A small thing.
Fred : We just have to know about it and have the desire to know about, and to want too.
Audrey: To want and whatever the ...if they send it to Unicef, I'm delighted but at "M�decins
Sans Fronti�res",Irish Concern... there are so many. The main important thing is that
money arrives.
Fred: This is one thing. Next, we see on the television near you, images being displayed.
We see heads of states entering, important people etc. You are certainly conscious that
you have a sort of wonderful weapon with your celebrity. It's a weapon.
Audrey: But the most important weapon is the child. Everybody loves children and even in
the worst cases when we speak about terrible political systems, there is not a polical
system that always want to kill or hurt children. And this is the most important weapon. Because
everybody loves...want to help a child.
Fred: So, it doesn't always work. There are negotiations, we see you there negotiating
in person. I know that it has been very complicated to install these "Quiet Roads" in Sudan. What
prevent men, who at the end have the same purpose : Save children, what prevent them
from finding an agreement? And How can you, with the people who surround you find a solution
anyway ?
Audrey: So, it won't be mine, it was the heads of UN who were there and M.Grant our Unicef
chairman who negotiated. I think that the reason why they had succeeded this year and
not the last one if they tried though, is because last year 1/4 of million people died
of hunger in Sudan. And I think it was quite a surprise even to them. They don't want it
to happen again. And especially because everybody's eyes are on them. And to this the media is
very helpful because nobody wants to be judge for killing thousands of thousands of children.
Fred: Exactly, I was coming to this, the media importance. This importance has two sides,
it can be dramatical when the media forget or when it's getting old-fashioned. I think
of the "boat people??"(I can't understand that bit) there is still a lot of "boat people"
but we don't talk about them anymore. But at the same time the media save. Do you have
a media plan? Do you say to yourself, "I have to go there quickly because going there, people
will follow me, they will talk about it" ?
Audrey: Certainly not. Because Unicef has already sent me, twice yet, in two forgotten
places. Because Ethiopia when they had their second drought, nothing could draw the attention.
Would it be to collect money or send something. Because they thought that in 85, it was over
and that they had already given. It was true. But there was a drought worst than the first
one and by sending me to there and then America and by meeting the media, it helped us a lot.
And in Sudan there was complete silence, a few people know about the civil war one of
the most severe in History.
Fred: You say that "helped us". And you use it. We have the feeling you're happy and proud
to be part of an organization.
Audrey: Of course. But the media saved thousands of lives in Ethiopia. We arrived late, last
time, half a million were already dead.
Fred: We have the feeling too, that adding to being proud of be part of an organization,
you already say "We. That is to say, the small Audrey Hepburn, an ambassador among many others...that's
one thing...
Audrey: I'm not that small at the end...
Fred : Not that small but with a rugged character though...
Audrey : ... 1m67 (167centimetres)
Fred: And the other thing, we have the feeling there is a big emotional investment. I mean
for Sudan, when you come back from it, you always continue to think about it.
Audrey: I'm still thinking about it and loving them. The same for Central America where I've
been. And like I said, don't think they are people sitting and asking for...children are
joyful and especially children of Sudan, they are very meaning and affectionate and once,
one had hold them in their arms, one never forgot them.
Fred: All these children don't know who you are...
Audrey : No, fortunately! Fortunately, but know very well who they are.
Fred : So, now, I know who you are a little. And I would want to see you too in a film
image, another one...it's My Fair Lady.
[Footage I could Have danced all night]
Fred: So, this was a movie scene from My fair Lady and I would want to continue to speak
about childhood. My fair Lady, of course because it has been one of your biggest films and
that was a sort of light Musical directed by George Cukor. It was all the pallets of
your character. You were both characters. The young girl of the street who becomes a
Lady. I mean, you can do everything. And it was quite amazing.
Audrey: Well, I had a great writer, George Bernard Shaw, who wrote a character with all
those facets.
Fred: There is something else than, the audience maybe doesn't know. By coincidence, which
is one of Cinema's jewels hasn't been nominated by the Academy and strangely the one who gave
the academy award to the winning actress, that could have been her that year, and who
did it with smile and her usual elegance was Audrey Hepburn, who gave it to Julie Andrews.
And this is a sort of hats off because this is such an elegant thing that when I read
this in your biography It got my attention. I don't know if at the Cesars in france, nowadays
it's something that we would see...
Audrey: Certainly!
Fred: Do you think so? Well, you're optimist. Now, let's get back to childhood. Symbol of
Childhood is the most touched at the end. And I know you're giving your help and study
very closely this declaration of the rights of the child. There is also a project of a
Children's Rights convention that goes with declarations that would be set up. I got some
of them. "The child shall be entitled from his birth to a name and a nationality." "The
child shall be protected against all forms of neglect, cruelty and exploitation", "The
child shall have full opportunity for play and recreation";I love this one; "No punishment.
No capital punishment nor life imprisonment without possibility of release shall be imposed
for offences committed by persons below eighteen years of age." ; "States Parties shall take
all feasible measures to ensure that persons who have not attained the age of fifteen years
do not take a direct part in hostilities.";"States Parties shall take all feasible measures to
ensure protection and care of children who are affected by an armed conflict." We are
far from that...
Audrey: And to this, we could add, all the chidren being sold each year to be "adopted".
There are documents very detailed about newborns taken from their mothers. They say to them,
that they were stillborn and then they are sold at an elevate price in Europe for example.
It happens in Colombia,in Latin America a lot.
Fred: And what can we do for that, learn and know?
Audrey: Yes, this declaration was done 10 years ago now and we really hope that this
year, it will be accepted and the declaration will be ratified by all nations and naturally,
it doesn't mean, once ratified that everything will be done immediately. But at least there
would be laws. I believe that a very few people realise that children are not protected by
the law. There are the Human Rights but not for children. We can kidnapped childrent and
sold them to protitution. They can still be recruited...in Iran, Lebanon and so on...and
make them work and this is happening in Europe, children who are still working in sweatshops
and too young.
Fred: At the same time, you are a supporter of repecting Children civilization's traditions.
For example, the right to keep their culture.
Audrey: That the child keeps it's culture but mainly, the right of expression. Because,
often a child would want to express. Often, Law takes a child from its family because
the law decide that it may have a bad influence. The child almost always wants to stay with
its family and there is naturally children leaving the house for various reasons, sometimes
for social ones but almost always-especially in India, in Latin America in order to survive.
And this, is another tragedy and these children must be protected too. And not put in institutions
but given respect and protection. For example, UNICEF has various "open houses" for these
children they can come and go as they want. They are given food and education if necessary
but they can leave, work or stay. A lot of them stay and others come and go.
Fred: Audrey, we have the feeeling that to manage to be involved in all of this, we have
to learn a lot, know the governments of the country where we are going to. Do you study
? Do you have notes? Do you have briefing or you read a lot?
Audrey : So, I read a lot the Newspaper on things happening in the world. I read a lot
on what's happening there. It's impossible to know it all. I've only been working for
Unicef for a year. But beofre going to Ethiopia for example, I read for 2 months and I'm continuing
because there are a lot of things that I don't know. And I'm always learning and this encourages
me a lot, what we do. Because indeed we are upset by this often apocalyptical misery but
when we see on the field what is being done, schools, Medical centres, vaccinations. In
1974 there was only 6% of the children's Third World vaccinated. Our children are protected
against all these diseases and nowadays 60% it gives them the opportunity to grow up and
try to have a normal life. Fred: So, Audrey we have in this TV show,
we are nearly at the end of the 2/3 of this show now...We have a small tradition. We have
a child here. A lovely child named Lila. So Lila is used to towards the end of the show
to give some news. You see, she's like you. She has read a lot. She doesn't need to be
protected anymore.
[Lila Speech : We are going to speak today of this poster made by Unicef. Because soon
it will be Mothers' day. There are countries where it is nice to be mother and others where
it can be dramatical. Today there are 700 women who die for 100000 childbirthes in the
Third World and 12 in industrialized countries. These numbers speak for themselves they are
enough to justify UNICEF action. Created at the end of the world war II. Its first aim
is today to help children and mothers of the world. 5 precise objectives sum up its action.
Vaccination, Nutrition, water and purification, education and development. If you want to
contribute to this action send your donation to the french Committee for UNICEF. 35, rue
F�licien David 75016 Paris- CCP 150. For information call the 45 24 60 00. Unicef is
also editing 5 times a year a newspaper, "Children of the world". The 66 poster for Human Rights
exhibition runs until July 14 in the "Couvent des Cordeliers", Paris 6. 66 famous graphic
designers of various cultures participated as a complement to this exhibition Artiste
89 is editing a book "For Human rights: Histories, images, voices". two other books now : Cinema
and Literature. By Philippe Paraire : Hollywood cinema. Bordas editions. Audrey Hepburn is
also photographed by Sanford Roth in a beautiful album Photo Souvenir, "50's portraits" Albin-Michel
editions. Thanks to .... and before leaving you. I particulary send my best wishes to
all who fight each hour and each day to give to others a better future. See you soon.]
Fred: Thank you Lila. Lila is always the one who makes this sequence.
Audrey: Thanks a million.
Fred: And she made this one thinking of you. So there is one thing that strikes me in what
you say. There is a refusal, a very violent one, an almost revolutionary one in you of
the fate of the misfortune, there is not such a thing for Audrey Hepburn. Am I wrong ?
Audrey: I don't think so, do you mean...?
Fred: That misfortune is inevitable and that's it.
Audrey: But it's true that Natural disasters, I don't know if they are sent by God but we
can do a very little, at least before. After, yes. And we saw after Armenia, help came from
all countries. Whereas the other disasters are caused by man. The extinct animals, forests
etc. Hunger is a result of poverty. Because hunger is not always a consequence of drought.
Because they have water. Too deep. Or when there is rain they can't collect it because
they are so poor. In Ethiopia or Central America, they don't have water to drink. I had wonderful
times in Mexico and in El Salvador for example where they inaugurated a pump for the very
first time, which brought water for the first time in a small community in mountains where
people never go. They never had for 400 years water close to them. Women are Water's slaves.
Those are the ones who walk kilometres a day and hours to bring water. And that don't have
enough time and health to take care of their children. I don't beliebe in that. I believe
in our contribution first to this. Because I think that we grew rich in those countries
and maybe we would not be as rich as we are today if we wouldn't have done this. And I
also think that it is ours...to don't say "We can't do anything about it, it's inevitable".
We can avoid it and surely improve this. I saw too many examples.
Fred: Yes that's it. You saw too many examples too. Instead of a pessimistic speech you consider
that, and you are very firm about it, that things nevertheles can be improved slowly,
maybe in a small dimension but improve.
Audrey: A great example to this: In Ethiopia there are various agricultural centres where
UNICEF along with government and other organizations brought water. I visited those places. They
are places are oasis. There is grass, vegetables, there are now animals replaced after the drought
in 1985. We have sown again with water from the centre. There are 200 families who live
there and didn't need help from the emergency the second time. So there are examples, not
enough though.
Fred: But it exists.
Audrey: It exists.
Fred: What do your children, for example, think about what you're doing ? Because if
we don't know it, we can imagine having a life...we are sure it's a beautiful life.
There must be beautiful houses, beautiful things , there must be flowers...
Audrey: ...Lots of flowers!
Fred: Yes, flowers, pets..we imagine that it must be very nice.
Audrey: Yes, Very.
Fred: Your children, when they see you leaving this life to go for a month on Sudan roads
or Central America, what do they say ? Mom you're doing too much ?
Audrey: Yes. I have to say, the last time, the youngest said :"Mom, this is not enough?
Have some rest". But they are very supportive, very enthusiast too. And if they meet the
man who says "oh, there is nothing we can do" A child will never agree to it. Go to
a school in Paris and ask if it's better to let these children die, they will answer you.
Fred: So now I propose you dear Audrey, to meet up once again with our friends of "Sorties
d'Artistes" who were children not so far away, they were moreover dissipated on the set earlier...meet
up with these children, former children in the Fortunio opening of Andr� Messager.
[Sorties d'Artistes playing]
Fred : Bravo, it was very good. So I would want...we almost arrive at the end of this
show Audrey. But I would have so many questions to ask you. First question. From time to time
we got unexpected allies like a General in a remote place in Africa from whom they say
he's terrible,who suddenly...You come in front of him and succeed to speak to him and he
helps him. It happens, you meet people you don't think they would help and then they
help.
Audrey: You mean in Sudan for example?
Fred: In Sudan...or an American billionaire that had never given money and who suddenly
gives
Audrey: I don't know the American who did this but I'm sure they do it. No but Americans
are extremely generous as everybody. But no, like I was saying before, even the -how we
say- all of the important people in all those countries want to help a child so it's not
dificult.
Fred: Sometimes are you also struck by the some perverse progress? For example, the breast-feeding.
In the 60's they said, powdered milk is better, we are going to give you some and the children
will have a better health instead of tiring their mother etc. And the result is that women
lost the breast-feeting habit in some places and then there was no more powerdered milk
and children died. Are you conscious of this that it is necessary to be attentive and very
careful?
Audrey: Yes, but it was unfair to give them this advice. Firstly, because water is bad
and often, almost always polluted. And if we don't put water to a certain temperature,
milk is bad. And then, you have to measure this precisely, how can they do that? Often
they don't even have plates or something to boil water, maybe not even enough wood to
light a small fire. And even in countries when it's possible, I think the knowledge of those things has progressed
and we know the importance of the Mother's breast. One : it's higienic, there is no germ.
Two : Because It's a complete meal for the child, there is all we can imagine of good
for the child in it, proteins etc And the longest they can breast-feeding, the better
is. Naturally the mother has to be fed at the same time. There is not such tiring thing
to feed a child without being fed itself. And indeed, we get to see that, and I saw
that a lot, children taking an empty breast.
Fred: Is the Audrey Hepburn of today Hollywood, Switzerland, or a Sudanese?
Audrey: It's the same person. Where I am.
Fred: It has always been the same person?
Audrey: Yes. It doesn't change. Not with the years nor places, nor the job. I've always
loved children, I've loved cinema, I've always loved Nature, the countryside, trees, animals...everything
is still here.
Fred: And everything is logical there. We can see it on the cameras. If Audrey Hepburn
is still beautiful, clear, precise it's because it's important too?
Audrey: I don't know because...I...You are nice Fr�d�ric.
Fred: But an image, a Hollywood Glamour, it's still important too.
Audrey: Yes, because I appreciate a lot. It has brought be a lot of happiness. Imagine
it. I wouldn't have had the wonderful experiences, the life, the security that I had thanks to my career.
Fred: Audrey we are arriving at the very end of this show. But I wanted to show you a sequence
that is dear to me during this month of May. We are in this show for the artbooks. Artbooks
because we buy them when it's Christmas and in general we don't buy them, the rest of
the year. So during this show, this "May of the Artbook", we show some artbooks.
Audrey: With pleasure
Fred: Only 2 minutes but it's interesting.
[Book review]
Fred: And we love Audrey Hepburn too. And we are really sorry now to leave her. So I
think, Audrey that you had planned to read two poems, which summarize well the climate of today's show. So they
are in English...
Audrey: One or two ?
Fred: Two, let's read both.
Audrey: So this is not a poem in the end. It's a letter written, which was sent to me
a few weeks ago now, by a wonderful man in America who was born in the poorer place of
New-York and with its intelligence and its great humanity and intelligence and its sense
of humor, he was a school teacher he became very famous and loved in America. And this
is a letter he wrote to his granddaughter when he knew she was born, and he knew he
wouldn't live for long... And It's a beautiful messsage for children and especially the beginning
for little girls .So firstly he gives Beauty tips: ....................-and then he continues-
..............Sam Levenson.
Fred: Thanks a lot Audrey Hepburn. I think a lot of people speak English and would have
understood the meaning of these two poems. I just only wanted to quote a small sentence,
but this time it is by you. "The 50's had a warm scent. Once again, we had the opportunity
to be optimistic about future. The world was still working and then, above all there was a wonderful hope quality born from the security
and gratitude for these two big things of luxury : Liberty and Peace." You wrote this
about the 50's when the world discovered you, Audrey Hepburn. It was a pleasure today during
this show to see that you still believe in
these two ideas : Liberty and Peace. Thank you Audrey.
Audrey: Thanks a million, Fr�d�ric.