Original subtitles

Are you ready to continue, Mr. Petrosyan?

Counselor Whitlow.

I'll repeat the question.

Mr. Petrosyan,

were you or your family

ever victims of direct acts of violence?

Oh, no.

Ohanna, help.

Oh, no.

No.

Grigor, what happened?

Someone decorated my window with a brick.

Are you okay?

Yes, I'm okay.

Did you see who did it?

Local teens.

Did you call the police?

Police don't care what happen to us.

I'm sorry my friend.

It's okay.

No one was hurt.

That's all that matters.

Go home to your family.

Tell my wife I'll be late for dinner,

but please, don't tell her why.

No, no, no.

I will stay here until we finish,

and then will walk you home.

Okay. Thank you.

-Thank you. -Of course.

Okay, here.

Can we have dolma for dinner?

It's your sister's night to pick.

But she likes it too.

She can tell me herself.

-Bye. -Oh, Principal Petrosyan,

please , this record needs your signature.

-Can it wait until tomorrow? -I'm afraid not.

Come on, Mom. Let's go home. I'm hungry.

Thank you.

The cat--

Sound this word out slowly.

What sound does each letter make?

Climbed.

-Climbed? -That's right. Good.

Mama.

Yes.

Hello.

Her reading comprehension is coming along day by day.

Oh, I'm so proud of you.

-I'll see you tomorrow before school? -Yes.

Good work today.

Thank you for your help.

Oh, it's my pleasure.

-I know you studied, correct? -Yes, I did a lot, actually.

-How'd you feel about that? -Good.

Let's go get dolma.

Yay. Dolma.

-See? -Did you tell her to say that?

Of course not.

I miss dolma too.

Mom, why does their signs say that?

What does the signs say?

-They say-- -Julia, we're leaving now.

Mr. and Mrs. Sarkisian, what's with all the luggage?

We're leaving for Moscow.

I didn't know you had family in Moscow.

We don't, but it's safer there for all Armenians.

Every few years or so,

Azerbaijanis and Armenians have a flare-up and things come right back down.

This time, it feels different.

Russia will not allow anything to happen.

Open your eyes.

The Soviet Union is crumbling.

Russia has no resources left to protect us.

We can't just leave. This is our home.

Is it?

Who wants to help prep the grape leaves?

-Me. -Yes, and the minced meat?

No, it's not me.

Why did the people in the streets have those signs today?

Don't you worry about that.

What signs?

There were people in the streets with signs that scared Mama.

Mama wasn't scared.

Sometimes people say and write things they don't really mean.

It's about war, isn't it?

-What war? -It's not a war.

Yes, it is. They talked about it in class today.

Julia, watch your tone.

There is a small conflict going on in the mountains right now.

What are they fighting about?

A piece of land

that both Armenians and Azerbaijanis each claim as their own,

but this has been going on for many, many years, off and on.

It's nothing new.

Aren't you Armenians and Azerbaijanis?

Yes, that's right, sweetheart.

Then whose side are we on?

We're on no one's side.

We are Armenians in our blood, but Azerbaijan is our home.

We have Armenians in our blood?

--No, what Mama meant

is that our families came from Armenia many, many years ago

before Mama and I were born.

Oh.

That's enough questions for now.

Time for baths.

No stalling.

Let's go.

Okay. Good night.

-Bye. -Good night.

-Are you going to tuck us in? -Of course. I'll be right there.

Are you going to tell me what those signs said?

"Death to Armenians."

Really?

I know,

but we've seen this before,.

We can't just run and hide

every time there's a flare-up in the mountains.

Someone vandalized Grigor's store today.

My goodness.

Was he hurt?

No.

Fortunately.

Russia said they would send troops

to protect Armenian neighborhoods if tensions worsen.

Do you really think Russia is going to come save us?

I believe in Russia.

I believe in the solidarity of the Soviet Union

and I believe in the Communist Party.

We are brothers and sisters. We do not fight amongst ourselves.

Except when we do.

What do you believe in, Ivan?

I believe in music.

Seriously?

Seriously.

I believe in you and the girls,

and I believe in love.

Baby, have a good session, okay?

-Mrs. Petrosyan. -Hmm?

We cannot take Olga today.

Why?

I'm sorry.

What do you mean you can't take her?

Some men came by yesterday evening

asking for the names of all the Armenian children.

What?

I'm sorry, but if Olga stays here, we cannot guarantee her safety.

You're joking.

I wish I was.

They're just children.

Mrs.-- you have to go.

We can't have any of you here anymore.

Come on.

Mom, you're hurting my hand.

Sorry, baby.

Where are we going?

You're going to spend the day with Mama.

Yay.

Have a good day, okay?

-Bye. -Bye.

You should go to my office.

Those attendance records that I signed last night,

can I see them?

Someone came by and picked them up.

Who?

I can't say.

You can't or you won't?

I wasn't here. I saw nothing.

Why don't you draw a nice picture for Mommy, okay?

-Okay. -There we go.

Baku Research Center.

Hi, this is Violetta Petrosyan.

Has my husband Ivan arrived yet?

One moment.

-Violetta. -Ivan.

What's wrong?

Would it be possible for the girls and I

to come and meet you at your office and then go to Papa's house together?

Are you all right?

I'm fine, yes, we're all fine.

Your tone tells me otherwise.

We'll meet you this afternoon, right after school, okay?

-Okay. -Bye now.

♪ Happy birthday to you, ♪

♪ Happy birthday to you, ♪

♪ Happy birthday, dear, Yuri, ♪

-♪ Happy birthday to you. ♪ -♪ -to me. ♪

My father used to always tell me on days like today,

"We live in exile,

and it's your duty to remember where you're from

and to your children

who've never seen the snow on Mount Ararat.

Remind them."

I'm Armenian

in my heart, my soul, my blood,

and I'm proud of it.

I've never seen the snow on Mount Ararat,

but what have I seen?

The morning sun

shimmering off the Caspian Sea,

spring afternoons,

,

and the old city,.

This is my city too.

These Azerbaijani nationalists think it's only for them.

I've sold tea and newspapers, and Prima cigarettes to them

for 50 years.

The city is the only home I've ever known.

To Baku.

To Baku.

To Baku.

♪ Sitting in an open window, ♪

♪ And a songbird landed near, ♪

♪ It was sweetly singing, ♪

♪ Country, country home forever be. ♪

♪ Country, country, home forever, ♪

♪ With the sky-- ♪

You're okay, Mama?

Your father and I are thinking

of going to my cousin Yana's place in Volgograd, Russia

just until the things settle down around here.

That's why he was extra moody tonight.

The invitation is open.

Even if we wanted to,

there's not enough space at Yana's place for all of us.

I know. She knows of an empty apartment nearby.

Mama, we're not leaving.

It's getting more dangerous out there by the day.

You and Ivan need to think of the girls.

I love my job, Ivan loves his, and Baku is our home.

We can just quit our jobs and leave everything behind.

It's just temporary.

Yana's phone number in Volgograd, should you change your mind.

You worry yourself sick over everything all the time.

The world is changing all around you,

yet you fail to see it.

We won't need this, and you don't need to go to Russia either.

No government, no political party, and no friends

are ever going to look out for you like your family.

Take it.

Mama.

Why don't you and Ivan head back before it gets too late?

Just get them to bed. Get them straight to bed.

Okay.

That's a good idea.

-Papa? -Yes?

What's that sound?

I'm not sure, my angel.

I will find out, okay?

No.

Help.

Ohanna?

Ohanna?

Help.

Oh, no.

Ohanna, help.

Help. Ohanna, help.

-What is going on? -Oh, help.

-I don't know. -Help.

-No, no. -Shh, and keep quiet.

- Nobody make a sound. - Help.

Help.

No.

Help.

No, no, stay away from the windows.

Stay away from the windows.

-Why? -Do as I say.

-Shh, shh, shh, shh. -No.

Oh, help.

It's Grigor the noise.

--No.

No.

No. Please. Please. No.

What do we do?

Shh, shh, shh, shh.

No, no, no, please listen, listen,

no matter what happens, no matter what you hear,

nobody makes a sound. All right.

Do you understand?

Do you understand?

Shh, shh, shh.

Open up.

Ivan and Violet Petrosyan,

open the door.

You're looking for the Petrosyans?

They left for Moscow last week.

When they return, so will we.

We have to leave here now.

-Did you put my monkey in the bags? -No, just your clothes.

-Did you, Papa? -No, my angel, I forgot.

We have to go back and get it.

Shh.

Get down. Get down.

It's not safe to go back now,

but I promise, when we get back from our trip,

your monkey will be there, okay?

I want him to go on a trip with us.

I know, my angel, but I promise you'll see him again.

We have to move quickly.

Let's go.

I assume you've been briefed by your lawyer

about the process that will take place today.

This is not a criminal trial.

However, you did break United States law

by willfully choosing to skip your return flight back to Moscow

-and overstay your tourist visa. -We did not mean to break the law.

We applied for asylum.

You will not interrupt when I'm speaking.

Do you understand?

We apologize for speaking out of turn, Your Honor.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry. What is this?

These are our congregation in West Virginia.

They came to support, as I told you.

- Please. - Did you mention this?

All right. Will someone please tell me what's going on?

Okay.

Your Honor, these are friends,

supporters, character witnesses from the Petrosyan's church.

Petrosyan.

Sure. Yes. Petrosyan.

These witnesses drove in from West Virginia this morning.

Counselor Owens,

the defense failed

to submit any witness lists ahead of this case this morning.

Therefore, the court cannot and will not hear

any testimonies from any character witnesses

for this case.

I must say that two interruptions in one morning are more than enough.

If anyone else would like to disrupt this court today,

I will gladly hold them in contempt.

Understood, Your Honor.

Today's hearing will decide

whether or not the court believes

there is justification to grant you asylum.

Now, if you cannot prove to this court that you qualify for asylum,

then you will be deported back to Russia immediately.

Do we understand what's at stake today?

My clients understand, Your Honor.

Let's begin.

I give the floor to Counselor Whitlow.

Thank you, Your Honor.

I would like to call Violetta Petrosyan to the stand first.

Please raise your right hand.

Do you solemnly swear

to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,

-so help you God? -I do.

You may sit, Ms. Petrosyan.

Good morning.

According to documents received by the court,

you and your family fled Azerbaijan due to targeted ethnic violence

during the 1988 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

First, you went to Armenia

and then shortly after that, you landed in Volgograd, Russia

where you were permitted to live with refugee status.

That is correct.

Ivan's cousin invited us to Armenia,

but when we got there,

we were treated as foreigners because we were born in Azerbaijan.

We do not speak Armenian.

We could not find any work, so it became impossible to stay.

Russia became your home after that?

I wouldn't call it home.

You were given residency in Russia,

-correct? -Yes.

Free to stay as long as you like for the rest of your life?

Yes.

Why would you and Mr. Petrosyan decide to leave a country

that welcomed you with open arms

only to apply for asylum in a brand new country

hoping this one would also welcome you with open arms?

We weren't exactly welcomed with open arms in Russia.

Is this a pattern for you and your husband?

Do you like to take vacations to other countries

and then stay when you see

it's just a little bit better than the one that came before?

Of course not. That is a lie.

What's next?

Cayman Islands?

-Objection, your honor. -Sustained.

Counsel needs to tighten up her line of questioning.

We may have been allowed to stay in Russia,

but we'll never have a real life there.

Can you elaborate for the court?

I don't like this neighborhood.

We won't be here forever.

Ivan, how much further?

We're almost there.

How did you find this place?

Your grandmother told us about it. She knows someone who lives here.

Why can't we live with Grandma?

Because they don't have the space for all of us.

This building looks scary.

It's not scary.

We have nothing for you. Go away.

Yana sent us.

Yana? She said you'll be here in the morning.

Our bus was late, I'm sorry.

Well, come in quickly.

Come on, come on, you're letting the cold air in.

Where's the bathroom?

Common, all toilets down the hall.

Papa, where are the beds?

You'll get beds.

We can't fit two beds in here.

We'll figure it out.

Is there no heat?

Yana's brother will come by tomorrow then work on it.

You have blankets right there.

How long we have to stay here?

We don't know, darling, but we're safe right now.

That's what's important.

I don't like this place.

I want to go home.

I miss my monkey.

Come here.

I know

this place doesn't look like much right now,

so we're going to make it cozy and beautiful just like our home, okay?

We're going to make it much better.

Where are we going to sleep?

I'm going to make you a bed so we don't get our clothes dirty.

I'm hungry.

It's okay, baby, I brought some things.

Okay, come on.

♪ Sleep, daughter, sleep, ♪

♪ The moon above is shining. ♪

♪ The Earth below is turning, ♪

♪ Just as my love. ♪

♪ Sleep daughter, sleep. ♪

You are Yana's brother?

Yes.

-Hello. -Hello.

-I'm Ivan. -Sasha.

Feels like Siberia in here.

We didn't realize there would be no heat.

And no furniture.

The main thing right now is the heat.

Yes, the heat.

It's always the heat.

Should be fixed, the leak, and get connected to the waterline.

I would've tried to fix it myself, but I had to leave my tools behind.

No problem. My tools, my job, my pleasure.

Thank you.

You wouldn't happen to know anyone around here who might be hiring?

What kind of work do you do?

I'm a rocket scientist.

Oh, you're a comedian.

No really, what kind of work do you do?

I'm a rocket scientist.

I specialize in spacecraft propulsion.

Serious?

I've worked at the space program, the Soviet Research Institute in Baku.

My friend,

I'm afraid you won't find anything like that in Volgograd.

I will do anything to take care of my family.

All right. I will ask around.

Okay. Thank you.

You're welcome.

Oh, do you know if there is a bakery or a market open at this hour?

Yes, it's just around the corner to the left,

and I am going to get my tools.

Okay.

If you need something to do,

I need you to go to the for this thing

-if it's only four of them. -Okay, good.

Yes? Thank you.

Is this Violetta and Ivan's place?

Who's asking?

I'm a friend of your mother-in-law, Annette.

Hello.

I'm Ivan.

--Vova.

Annette said you might be short on some items for the apartment.

Where should I put this?

Over there, I guess.

Okay.

I'll leave it right here.

You are American?

My New York accent gave it away.

I'm Duane. Nice to meet you.

I heard all about your family from your mother.

We have some more boxes.

That's right.

We'll be back.

The rest of the--

Do you know them?

-Hey. -Hello.

Oh.

Grandma and Grandpa.

I thought we'd never see you again.

- Oh, woah. - Look at you, my love.

We'll help you set up in this apartment.

-Don't worry. -Girls, come with me,

we have more things outside.

Here's something--

All right. Here we go.

-Another box for you. -Thank you.

These are my friends from church.

Mommy, you go to a church?

We met them shortly after we arrive.

They have been helping many of Armenian refugees.

Duane's been visiting and volunteering for a while now.

Why would you leave your home and come all the way to Volgograd, Russia?

Our church back in the States actually helped stock Vova's church,

and I wanted to make regular trips.

To do what exactly?

Anything that I could do to be useful.

We heard about your furniture situation,

so a few of us from the church will be stopping by later on

to help with that as well.

What are you expecting in return?

-We don't have much to offer. -No, no, no, we don't expect anything.

We don't want anything.

We're just really happy to be able to help you.

I don't know what to say.

Contrary to what you said earlier,

you were welcomed with open arms into Russia.

You had a new apartment, new friends, relatives nearby,

and it sounds like home.

We may have found some support through friends and family,

but we soon discovered

that everything else would be very difficult.

Everything else?

The government may have allowed us to stay,

but the people of Russia did not accept us.

I expected some level of racism towards Armenians in Russia,

but what we encountered was something beyond that.

As far as looking for work, it was very difficult for us both.

A bus driver?

Maintenance too, not just driving.

I want to ride a bus too.

Me too.

Well, it's not free.

You have to pay.

You work with calculations, engineers, propulsion systems.

You don't drive buses.

Think of it

as a different kind of propulsion system

propelling people through the streets of Volgograd.

Okay.

How about you?

Did you get the interview at the school?

-Tomorrow. -Good.

It's not administration. It's a teaching position.

Very low pay.

At least it's something.

It's something.

What are you drawing?

Ooh.

Oh, I love it.

I'm sorry,

could you run down to the store and get us a few more potatoes?

- Sure. - Thank you.

Do we need anything else?

-No. -No.

Hey,

everything's going to be okay.

Great.

How come she's not doing a cartwheel?

Hey.

You. Come on.

Me?

What do you think you're doing around this neighborhood?

I live right here.

Show us your papers.

Papers?

So you're deaf and dumb, huh?

I don't have any papers.

You're not White.

You're not Black,

and you're not so Brown either,

so what are you?

I'm Armenian

from Azerbaijan.

I just moved here with my family.

We given refugee status.

Armenian.

There's too many of you stinking up our city.

It's just temporary

until things calm down back home.

Vadim,

would you like to show what happens to foreigners who don't have their papers?

Hey, hey, Dimitri.

Vova.

Stop. It's okay.

I know this man.

Vova, you know this scum?

Ivan is a good man.

He has family.

Very, very, very good people.

Please let him go.

How can I take you for your word?

You are a hardworking officer, certainly you deserve something nice.

On me.

Please.

Educate your Armenian friend here

about the dangers of not carrying his papers.

Yes, of course.

You're okay?

Do you know those guys?

Yes, my brother with Dimitri.

The shorter one.

He's lovely.

Whenever you see him, go the other direction.

-Noted. -Please carry your papers at all times.

He wouldn't be the only one to harass you.

That goes for Violet too.

I will let her know.

Thank you.

-Bye. -Bye.

Come by the church sometimes to say hello.

Your mother-in-law has the address.

I'll think about it.

See you around, friend.

Take care.

Thank you, friend.

Mrs. Petrosyan, in here.

I understand

you've had trouble finding work since you arrived in Russia.

It has been more difficult than I expected.

That's because no one likes to give a Russian job to a foreigner

unless we have to.

In this case, we are understaffed, so we have to.

I would be very grateful if you hired me.

You are a Communist Party member?

My whole life.

You'll start Monday, 7:00 AM.

Thank you very much.

Just because you are going to work here doesn't mean you are one of us.

I'm sorry?

I need you to repeat something after me,

"I am quieter than water and lower than grass."

What?

If you want this job, I suggest you repeat after me right now.

Okay.

I am quieter than water-

I am quieter than water-

-and lower than grass.

-and lower than grass.

One more time.

I'm quieter than water and lower than grass.

One more time.

I'm quieter than and lower than grass.

Yes, you are.

Recite this to yourself every day when you enter the doors of my school

because this is your place here.

Get out of my office.

We are all very sorry to hear that, Mrs. Petrosyan.

I can only imagine

what a difficult moment that must've been for you.

I had never been so humiliated.

How was the rest of your experience during your time teaching at that school?

I did as I was told.

I never attempted to make friends.

I just tried to maintain the distance

from the school director and rest of the faculty,

but I was always the target for humiliation.

Why was that?

It was not only because I am Armenian,

but because I started to attend my mother's church in Volgograd.

Despite being a Communist

-at the time? -Correct.

I obviously had no interest in attending at first,

but I started to notice some positive changes in my mother's life

after she started going, and

she wasn't so worried about everything all the time anymore.

She had this new sense of peace

despite our circumstances.

I'm sorry, I don't know, I suppose I was looking for that too,

so we started to attend, myself, Julia, and Olga.

The more I listened,

the more I changed the way I carried myself.

Well, maybe you could give us an example.

Jesus's teachings on the concept of forgiveness.

When the faculty at the school would say or do mean things to me,

I would forgive them

and try to be even kinder to them the next time I saw them,

but unfortunately, this only made me stick out even more at the school.

Your relationships at work were negatively affected

by the fact that you had started to develop this new faith?

Yes.

One could even call it religious persecution.

Did your husband, Ivan, attend this new church with you?

He wasn't interested in going.

He was fine with us attending,

but he wouldn't let us go alone because Volgograd is not a very safe city.

My challenge for you for this week is simply this,

love your neighbor.

Who is your neighbor?

That's everyone you come in contact with,

no matter who they are.

Yes, our world is divided.

Nation fragmented, family torn apart

by opposing political ideologies,

but Romans 15 says

to accept one another as Christ has accepted us,

and John 13 says

to love one another as Christ loved us.

If you can do that for me this week--

Papa.

Oh, my angels.

I guess they ran a little late in there today, huh?

Yes, but when are you going to join us?

No, no, I like it out here where I can see the door to the street,

keep an eye on things, make sure everyone is safe.

Like the angels in the Bible.

Ah, but unlike the angels in the Bible,

your papa is real

and he's right here in front of you

where you can see him physically and hug him.

Do it.

You too, do it.

You know, there is a chair in the sanctuary

next to the girls'

with your name on it.

Oh, thank you.

This bench is comfortable enough for me.

Then I will set it in the front row next Sunday.

Nice try, my friend.

Who's ready for lunch?

-Me. -Me too.

And me three.

Okay, let's go.

I'm sorry, Annette.

I'm not going to be able to join you for lunch.

My shift starts soon.

Not even for a quick bite?

Well, if the pastor had finished his service on time,

maybe I can join you next time.

-What? -It's true.

-Okay. Goodbye. -Bye.

-Bye, girls. Have a great day. -See you tonight.

Goodbye, my love.

Hello there?

Hello.

Are you the Armenian?

Can you believe they let Armenians drive buses these days?

We hear you run from Azerbaijan

because the people weren't very nice there.

Enough.

Oh, he speaks.

Yes, he speaks,

and he carries a hammer.

Now leave me alone.

Not while you're in my country.

It might be your country,

but there is something you all seem to forget.

Enlighten me before I cut you open.

This world has been trying to eradicate Armenians for over 100 years.

We have been stabbed

and shot

and burned alive,

dragged onto death marches.

We survived a genocide,

and yet we are still standing,

but for some reason, you all seem to forget

that a man who has been driven from his home

and stripped of everything he has ever owned

and backed into a corner

has nothing left to lose.

My question to you three is,

what do you have to lose today?

Lighten up, big boy.

See you around.

Is this going to be our life forever?

At worst, always looking over our shoulder.

At best, always visitors, never neighbors.

Will we ever be accepted anywhere

till we ever find home again?

The church accepts us.

The church?

Listen to yourself.

Forever it was your duty to communism.

Now it's Christianity.

You're always clinging to some other community out there

when you should be focused on your own family in here.

All I do is think about the family.

I degrade myself every single day at that school

so our family can have a chance at survival.

I bring the girls to church so they can listen to stories of hope,

and I support you, my husband, no matter what you do and believe.

So don't you ever, don't you ever question my duty to it.

I am not questioning your duty to our family.

I just don't want you to put all your hope

into some other cause that's just going to let you down again.

Go in peace

and God be with you.

What else can you fix

or your skill set is limited to door hinges?

No, I can fix many things.

Plumbing, flooring, heating units?

With the right tools, yes.

If you are going to continue to spend time here every week

without joining in our services,

you might as well get paid to be here.

Paid?

What if we employed you part-time to give us a hand?

This building is very old

and it's a lot of things need fixing around here.

Can I ask you a question?

Yes.

You're Russian, correct?

Born and raised.

Why are you so nice to us

when it seems no one else in this country wants us here?

Jesus was a refugee too

and He could also fix a lot of things.

You accept my offer?

Yes, I accept your offer.

What offer?

Ah, I'll let your husband explain.

Dwayne is coming back in a couple of weeks with a team from the States.

Maybe you can lead them on the maintenance projects around here.

I would be happy to.

Great.

-Thank you. -Thank you.

Well?

Well,

it looks like I'm

the new part-time maintenance man for the church.

-Really? -Yes. That is wonderful.

God bless, we could use the money.

How are we doing on time, Ivan?

Soup's on the stove at home.

Seems like someone gave over the message.

I have just under 30 minutes before my shift starts.

Okay. So let's get you fed.

I'm so hungry I could eat two last suppers.

You found a job in education again and your husband found two jobs.

Although, yes, I understand, they weren't in his typical line of work.

Your children found a community at church.

Is that correct?

Yes.

That's wonderful.

Earlier in the trial, your attorney said

that all of these individuals behind me are friends.

Yes.

It's a shame they can't testify on your behalf.

It was really kind of them

to come all the way to DC for your hearing.

They wanted to be here to support us.

Is the church in West Virginia connected

-to your church back in Volgograd? -Yes.

They helped start the church in Volgograd

and continue to make many trips out to volunteer.

Is it fair to say

that the church in West Virginia financially supports

the church back in Volgograd?

Well, yes, they do.

Would you say that communism was like a religion to you?

It used to be, but not anymore.

Now that you've converted to Christianity?

Yes.

I'm a Christian now.

That's convenient, isn't it?

Now that you've left communism behind,

would you say that you're a capitalist as well?

No system is perfect,

but I can say, firsthand, that capitalism is a better option

But wasn't it your Jesus who said

that it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle

than for a rich man to get into heaven?

Mrs. Petrosyan, it seems like you're just a bit all over the place.

You move to Russia,

and you tell your new communist employers that you are also indeed a communist.

Then you move your family to the United States,

and you convert to a religion

that seems, at least to me, to be a bit anti-capitalist,

despite your newfound acceptance of capitalism.

From my perspective,

I am standing in front of a woman who doesn't seem to know herself.

Someone who lacks conviction.

Someone who will take whatever better path is in front of her

whenever she pleases.

The difference between who I was and who I am now

is that I finally made a choice.

I was born into communism.

I was born an Armenian in Azerbaijan,

and both my country and communism failed me.

They left my people to die in the streets.

They left us without the chance to better our lives.

I did not have a choice what I was born into,

but I chose Jesus, I chose Christianity, and I choose this country.

When the United States government offers asylum and a path to citizenship,

it is usually because of one or two reasons.

One, you and your family are in imminent danger of being killed,

or two,

you face religious persecution at such an insufferable rate

it becomes impossible to stay in your home country.

It doesn't sound like you will be in any imminent danger

if you return to Russia,

and I don't believe you were ever seriously threatened

for your new found Christian beliefs.

Maybe you were treated a little differently in the workplace,

experienced a bit of harassment,

but no one ever laid a hand on you.

Just because no one laid a hand on me yet doesn't mean it won't happen.

The threat is always there,

not just for me and my husband, but for our girls too.

I can tell you as a parent

that that fear is the greatest threat of them all.

My girls are safe here.

They are happy.

I can help them build a better life for themselves here.

Do you understand?

Do you have children, Ms. Whitlaw?

I'm not the one on the stand, Mrs. Petrosyan.

None of the evidence

that you've provided today convinces me

that your life in Russia would be any different

than your life here in America.

With all due respect, Ms. Whitlaw,

why don't you go put on a dark wig and dark eye contacts

and slap a dark tan on that light skin of yours,

and you go to Russia, and you tell me how you are treated?

No more questions, Your Honor.

You may take your seat, Mrs. Petrosyan.

I'd like to call Ivan Petrosyan to the stand next.

Please raise your right hand.

Do you solemnly swear

to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,

-so help you God? -Yes, I do.

You may be seated, Mr. Petrosyan.

According to your wife's testimony,

you and your family experienced

certain levels of racism and harassment in Russia.

Is that correct?

Yes, that's correct.

People in every country experience racism and harassment,

including this one,

doesn't mean they should be granted asylum

every time things get a little bit difficult.

I understand.

Were you

or your family

ever victims of direct acts of Violence?

Mr. Petrosyan?

Yes.

Did you hear my question?

Yes.

May I go to the bathroom, please?

Can it wait?

No, it can't wait.

The court will take a five-minute recess.

-Pops. -Hello, my angels.

Olga, can you put your coat on, please?

-Okay. -Hello, darling.

-Mm. -How many spare rubles you have?

-Spare? None. -Well, how many rubles do you have on you?

What for?

Don't worry. It will be worth it.

What are you doing?

Don't worry. Help your mother. Olga.

Are you going to tell me what's going on?

-No. Bye. -Bye.

Okay, look straight. Look straight. Don't peek.

-What are you doing, Papa? -You'll see. You'll see.

Cover your eyes.

Okay.

Ready,

and open.

- My monkey. - Can you believe it?

He came all the way here just to be with you.

Love you, monkey.

I love you, monkey.

Love you, Papa.

Aw. Okay.

He took very good care of him.

So let's pay him so we can show monkey our new home, huh?

Hello, my Armenian friend.

I thought you said your stay in Volgograd was temporary.

It is temporary just until things calm down back home.

I don't like liars.

I'm not lying.

-Are you planning to buy that doll? -Of course.

I have the money right here, and I have my papers.

We don't need to see your papers.

Did you steal that money?

Of course not.

I have a job.

Ah.

So you took a job from a hardworking Russian

and put him and his family out into the street?

No.

This is a donation for the hardworking families of Russia.

Please, don't do this.

We can arrest you for stealing.

But I haven't stolen anything.

You can't purchase that doll without any money,

so it seems you're planning to steal.

Okay. I understand.

I'll put it back.

-No, he's mine. -We have to--

Sorry, my Angel.

-We have to put him back. -You promised.

I know, my Angel. I'm sorry. Papa made a bad mistake.

-Okay, please? Let go of the monkey. -No.

-Shut her up now or we will. -Give me one sec.

You have one second

-to get this shrilling rat out of here Okay.

-I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. -before I stomp-

Go.

I'll repeat the question, Mr. Petrosyan.

Were you or your family ever victims of direct acts of violence?

It's an easy question, Mr. Petrosyan.

Were you or your family ever shot with a gun?

No.

-Stabbed? -No.

Beaten?

No.

Then you and your family were never victims

of direct acts of violence?

Somehow, by the grace of God, no.

Okay.

Your Honor,

I would like to speak with the Petrosyan's lawyer privately.

I have an offer.

10 minutes.

I'm not sure but it could be a good thing.

Doesn't mean she won't blow it up, but let's see.

Okay, let's hear it.

Mr. and Mrs. Petrosyan, I empathize with your plight.

You may not believe me, but I do.

That being said,

nothing I've heard in this courtroom convinces me

that you're going to qualify for asylum.

I know this judge and he sticks to the letter of the law.

I think you and your girls

are going to be on a plane back to Russia tomorrow.

But I am willing to make you a deal,

a special status called withholding of removal.

That means

there will be no more threat of deportation.

But?

But it means no asylum,

no petition

to bring additional family members to this country

and no path to citizenship.

It also means

that should circumstances change in Russia or Azerbaijan,

the United States government, at its sole discretion,

can send you back to either country.

Do you understand?

Wait, what?

If we accept this offer

and then we settle into a new life here with new jobs and schools, a home,

you could just send us back whenever, even 5 or 10, 20 years from now?

If conditions improve in your home country.

No, absolutely not. That will not work.

Violetta, listen.

I represent more families than I can count right now.

Some of them with conditions far worse than yours.

I think you should consider it.

No, absolutely not. Right?

How can we be expected to build a life

when we don't know from one day to the next,

if tomorrow is the day we will be pulled from our homes

and sent right back?

From my perspective, this is a win for you.

No, it isn't.

I agree.

We can't live with this level of uncertainty.

If it is meant to be, the judge will grant us favor today.

You're both making a mistake.

Let's finish this hearing.

Okay, then we're not done.

See you on the stand.

When the prodigal son returned home,

the father gave him a robe, a ring, and sandals.

The robe stands for honor,

the ring for authority,

and the sandals were a reminder that he was a member of the family.

That's what God wants to give us,

no matter where we are in life.

The true emphasis in this story

is not on the prodigal son

and what he went through on his journey of coming home,

but the emphasis is instead on the Father.

He wants us to come home

because he wants nothing more than just to be with us.

-Hello? -Hi.

Mr. Dwayne, you don't have to do this.

Good.

It's what I'm here for.

I don't understand you.

Any of you actually.

What do you mean?

You could be home or somewhere in comfort,

but you all decided to come here to Volgograd

to serve total strangers in the middle of nowhere.

Yes, I suppose we could.

Who are we to you?

No one is forcing you to be here.

Well, I can't speak for the others.

I was brought up in New York.

It's where I grew up.

Then I was given a scholarship to play football in West Virginia.

Total fish out of water,

homesick all the time.

When I was over there, I met this incredible woman, Charlotte.

Whenever I was with her, it felt like home.

Eventually, we got married.

Happiest day of my life.

The first time Charlotte got pregnant, she had a miscarriage.

You think one miscarriage is enough to rip your heart out?

Try three more.

I'm so sorry, my friend.

They found a very aggressive form of ovarian cancer.

Less than six months later, she was just gone.

I raged at God for many years.

I did many things

that I'm very, very ashamed of,

but one Sunday morning,

I stumbled into some church,

and the pastor,

he was preaching a sermon

about what a new life in Christ could look like.

At the end of the service,

he said they were looking for volunteers

to help out with a new church they started in Russia.

Every single time that I come back here,

that pain in my heart eases up just a little bit.

I don't know if it'll ever go away,

but this is where I'm meant to be right now.

Here.

I'll help you finish my job.

Let's get this done.

Okay, keep them closed.

Now I know this is not your monkey,

but open.

I love him, Papa.

Thank you.

Opa.

Aw.

Yes, I understand.

-It's complicated. -Hey, can I ask you guys something?

What's that?

How would you like to come to West Virginia,

meet the church, share your story?

Come to America?

Yes.

You, Ivan, and the girls.

What do you mean, share our story?

If the folks back home could meet you,

learn about your journey,

see the impact that this place has had on you,

they'd see the benefits of their own financial support.

I'm not very good at public speaking.

Violetta can do all the speaking.

Me?

What do you think?

So you were invited to America?

That's correct.

So it wasn't a premeditated decision on your part

to just leave Russia behind and settle in the United States?

No, of course not.

If I were to ask members of your church the same question,

would they give me the same answer under oath?

They're right there behind you.

You should question them.

They will tell you, we only packed our bags for one week.

Hurry, we don't want to be late.

Will we get to meet Mickey Mouse when we're in America?

-Not on this trip, My Angel. -What about Michael Jordan?

I don't think Michael Jordan lives in West Virginia.

-Oh, no. -What?

I forgot my teddy bear.

Oh, not again.

-Are you serious? -We have to go back and get it.

No, no, no. All of you get inside the taxi.

I will run back and get it. We're not going through this again.

-Make it quick. -Go, go, go.

Hey, looking for me?

You okay?

Here you go.

Thank you, Papa.

We should go.

I became tired of running.

It wasn't until we actually landed in America

that I began to wonder

what our lives could be like if we actually settled here.

I just wanted my family to live in a place

where they could rest their heads at night in peace.

Where we're not constantly looking over our shoulder,

always reminded that we will never be accepted.

Mr. Petrosyan,

when someone comes to the US and overstays their visa,

that is illegal.

We only overstayed our visa because the asylum process took so long.

You broke the law.

Pure and simple.

If we broke the law, we certainly didn't mean to.

Whether you meant to or not,

breaking US law is not a great first step towards seeking asylum.

My family has waited so long for this day to come,

to be in this room to share our story.

Thank you for hearing us.

No further questions, Your Honor.

Mr. Petrosyan, you can take your seat now.

I'll allow the attorneys to present your closing arguments.

We're behind schedule, so keep it brief.

Counsel Owens, you're up.

Thank you, Your Honor.

I will not take up much of your time here.

I believe the Petrosyans' testimony today speaks for itself.

They have endured way more than any of us could ever imagine.

They faced rejection in every new place they stopped.

They were not accepted.

They still face constant threat and insult back in Russia.

Most importantly,

they have not known peace in a very long time,

the kind of peace

that all of us in this room just take for granted.

All that Mr. and Mrs. Petrosyan are asking of us

is that we give them a chance

to finally settle into a place where they are accepted for who they are.

A safe place

where they can raise their daughters without having to worry

about the dangers lurking around every corner,

sometimes literally.

A life lived without constant fear should be the most basic human right.

In light of that,

I ask the court to rule in their favor

and grant the Petrosyan family asylum today.

Thank you.

Counselor Whitlaw.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Mr. and Mrs. Petrosyan, I believe your story.

I don't deny that they face challenges,

but the Petrosyan story has done very little

to prove

that they face imminent danger of life-threatening violence

if they return to Russia.

To the contrary,

they have shown that they have an intimate community

of friends and family, and church members in Russia.

Therefore,

I ask the court to deny this asylum claim today.

Enough.

No, it's okay.

It's not okay.

I've heard enough.

Mr. Petrosyan, please sit down, you had your chance to speak.

Haven't you heard anything we've said here today?

How much will it take?

How much more must we endure for you to think it's enough?

Mr. Petrosyan, please.

It's in here all the time,

everyday voices saying, "Watch your back.

You don't belong here. Go home."

Where is home? Where is it?

Where is supposed to be home?

Okay, okay.

We'll take a 15-minute recess,

and then I will come back and read my judgment.

What if the judge denies us?

-We can't go back. -I know.

I refuse to bring our girls back to that place.

It's out of our hands, Ivan.

Why don't I give the two of you a minute?

-No, they deserve a good life. -I know.

We have to give them a chance.

If it is meant to be, it'll be.

If not,

we'll give them the best life we can offer them.

I want them in the courtroom with us.

-No, Violet. We said Ivan, please.

No matter what the judge decides,

we should be together as a family.

Okay.

If that's what you want.

Do you guys want to go in the courtroom with us?

We're going to find out where.

All rise.

You may be seated.

The court found this to be a very tough case.

Counselor Whitlaw, you made a very strong case.

I commend your work here.

Mr. and Mrs. Petrosyan,

you've been through a great deal,

there is no denying it.

I have to admit

I've seen a lot of people come through here.

Some of them have experienced direct incomprehensible violence.

Their very lives would be at stake

if they returned to their country of origin.

I agree with Counselor Whitlaw that there are more egregious cases.

That the Petrosyans clearly have a semblance of community back in Volgograd

just as they clearly have a community here.

What I heard from you both, Mr. and Mrs. Petrosyan,

is utter exhaustion.

It's that insidious nature of racism that's quiet but persistent and known.

The daily suspicions,

the accumulation of tiny humiliations that are more menacing than anything else.

It reminds me of that poem located at the base of the Statue of Liberty,

and it states,

"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses

yearning to breathe free.

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore,

send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door."

It reminds us

we should strive to be a nation of freedom, enlightenment, and compassion.

A democracy that gives hope to those who have lost all hope,

a land of refuge

but I found nothing in your case

that compelled me to believe

that you would be in great physical danger if you returned to Russia,

but I have to ask you,

and I ask everyone else in this courtroom today,

haven't they been through enough?

It is my privilege as a servant of this court

to be the first person to welcome you home.

I hereby grant your family asylum

on the grounds of accumulated mistreatment.