Original subtitles

- We have to take the road to the sea. - It's this way.

- Look closely. It's this way. - I know this map.

- The road's over there. - You're blind. The sea's that way.

I'm telling you, we must go this way.

Look at the road, not the sea.

Check the map. It's obvious.

We came from here, right? We have to go this way.

- Not at all. - Stop shouting.

Catch it, catch it!

Run, damn it, run!

The shocks absorbers are dead.

Leave it. We already knew that.

Twenty dirhams for the parking.

They're all gone.

Really? Are you the only one left?

Here.

Too steep.

Not at all.

Come down. Don't be afraid. It's not that hard.

Come on, come on! Let's go!

Come on, hurry up. Move on.

- Hello. - Hello.

- Is this Mr. Azelmat's house? - Yes.

- You're his wife? - Yes.

- He's not here? - No.

- You do know about the loan? - Yes.

- You borrowed 20,000 dirhams. - Yes.

You haven't paid anything back in ages.

What?

- Do you speak Arabic? - No. Come here, Mohammad.

- Hello. - You haven't paid in a long time.

- What was that? - She says my father is in charge.

- How much have they repaid? - 3,000 dirhams, I think.

Let me check.

Go call your father.

Aicha! Go get your father.

His name is Azelmat?

Hemou Zelmat. Here's his name. There.

3,000 dirhams.

You have 17,000 dirhams left to pay.

You were paying 500 dirhams a month.

You haven't paid in eight months.

Where'd the money go?

It was for my brother's wedding.

You got a loan for a wedding?

20,000! They spoiled him.

How will you repay it?

We wanted the wedding.

We have a court order. If you don't pay, we'll seize your goods.

- Know what that means? - You'll take our things.

You want us to take stuff?

- Do you even have anything to take? - That carpet...

- There's this carpet. - Go get it.

- Hello. - Hello.

- Are you Hamou Azelmat? - Yes.

You forgot the loan, right?

No, I just had some troubles.

You borrowed 20,000 dirhams. Where did it go?

On a wedding. With what we had left, we bought goats.

Where are they?

The drought took away everything this year.

- You have nothing? - Right now, only God.

- How can we sort this? - No work?

I used to work in the mine, but since it closed...

How do you plan on repaying the money?

I used to have a salary every month.

But now I have nothing,

and I'm stuck with this credit.

I'll tighten my belt to pay for it.

You stopped paying. What did you expect?

Listen...

We'll call the agency. You'll be able to pay in instalments.

- Why take the carpet? - 250 dirhams a month.

- Give me this carpet. - Wait, wait.

- Do you have money to pay? - No.

We're offering solutions, and you're focusing on the carpet?

- Don't let the kids get cold. - Wait, tell him.

Will you be able to pay 250 dirhams a month?

- Huh? - I'll tighten my belt.

- 250 dirhams. - Yes.

- Pay this month's instalment. - I can't.

- What do you have? - 100 dirhams.

I'll take it.

I borrowed it today for shopping.

Give it to me.

You have 150 dirhams left to pay this month,

plus 250 dirhams next month.

- How much is 250 plus 150? - 400.

Get 400 dirhams by next month and send it to the agency.

We won't come back. Send it directly to the agency.

- Will you manage? - I'll tighten my belt.

- Or you'll get into deeper trouble. - We have another solution for you.

We'll take the carpet. Listen, listen, listen.

We'll take the carpet, and next month you only send 250.

OK?

Please don't make my kids sleep on the floor.

It's your life. That's none of our business.

Get that out of your mouth. He can't eat this.

It's a battery!

They haven't even had lunch.

- Leave the carpet. It's all they have. - Hamid!

Going down this mountain's annoying. Don't push it.

You'd let them sleep on the floor?

You said you don't have goats anymore, right?

- Hello. - Hello, sirs.

- Are you Assou? - No.

- What? - No.

- Your name is? - Abdesslam Zayed.

- Abdesslam Zayed? - Yes.

Is he on the list?

Do you have a loan? Did you borrow money?

No I didn't borrow anything from the state or the bank.

- I borrowed from people. - Huh?

My wife broke her leg, so I borrowed 4,200 dirhams.

I paid for her treatment and left.

I came here to work.

- No loans? - No.

- Where's Assou? - Here, underground.

- Shall I call him? - Yes.

- Assou! - Yes?

Come here.

- Hello. - Hello.

- How are you? - Good, thanks.

- We're from the bank. - Pleasure.

You took out a loan, right?

Just a little.

15,000 dirhams isn't a little!

I'm still paying it back.

It's been two years. You've paid nothing!

- Yes. I paid some back at first. - Where'd the money go?

I wanted to start a project, but my mother got sick.

I used the money to take care of her.

When she finally died, the money ran out.

- I have nothing to pay. - You're working now.

I'm barely scraping by myself. My children don't get any of it.

- What's down here? - I dig up kohl.

A little bit of kohl.

Let me have a look.

How much do you get for these?

Every day brings its own bread.

Sometimes I sell for 50 dirhams, sometimes 40, other times.

Per day, per day!

Per day...

Sometimes three kilos, sometimes two. Sometimes nothing at all.

How much money can you give us? Anything?

- I have nothing. - So, what's the plan, then?

This is all I have.

- How many kilos are there? - That's all there is.

Let me see if the others can lend me some.

- Fadi! Do you have any kohl? - A bit, yes.

Give it to me please, so I can find a solution.

Okay, take it.

Loans are easy at first. But when it comes to paying...

That's fate.

- I wish I could pay you back. - What can I do with this?

It's all we have.

Hurry up, she's about to pee on me.

I told you to put her in the trunk.

The trunk did... not want to open.

250, 350, 400.

600, 800, 1,000... we got 1,200 dirhams.

- Is that all right? 1,200? - Here's my 600.

Here's your cut.

600 dirhams.

Last month, I drove 18 days.

You drove 12. Give me 100 dirhams.

Fine. I have 500 dirhams left.

Last Sunday, when you took the car, you didn't fill up the tank.

I didn't notice the gas level.

Be careful next time. 100 dirhams.

Still got 400. Cool.

- And the falsified court judgments? - What?

- I asked you for 45. - I got them!

You count them when the guy handed them over?

I trust him.

There were 30. I had to make another 15.

150 dirhams. You have 250 dirhams left from the 1,200.

That's fine. Thank you very much!

You're thanking me?

I'm scamming you without even making any effort,

and you don't even flinch.

Are you doing it on purpose?

It's OK, 250 is a great amount.

They didn't even pay me at my first job.

Five months could pass without pay.

I was patient. Now everything's OK.

Patient? You didn't react! Now you thank me?

You... You...

Learn to say no!

If you don't like something, say no!

I'll tell you what,

I'm not like that, I can't say no.

I think it's rude.

I can't get into trouble with people for two cents.

Rude to ask for what's due?

Are you a prophet? The prophet himself wasn't like that.

- What did he do? - He negotiated. He was a merchant.

- He was a prophet. - Yes, and a merchant.

- Prophet. - Merchant.

Prophet!

Stop!

Merchant too.

You are really pathetic. Take your money. Take it!

Thanks. Thank you very much.

- Hello. - Hello.

- Is this Abbou's house? - Yes

- Call him. - He's in the car, the layabout.

Abbou!

Who's calling?

Are you Abbou?

What do you want from me?

- Forgot about your loan, huh? - What loan?

25,000 dirhams. You haven't paid anything in a year.

- How much? - One year! 25,000 dirhams. One year!

- I was paying when I had a job. - No need to shout.

I'm talking!

I was paying when I was working.

But I don't work anymore. I married a second wife.

She gave me too many kids, expenses exploded, she kicked me out.

How can I live in my car and use it for work?

That's up to you. Why'd you take out a loan?

- To buy this heap of junk. - Use it for your work.

I will. Just give me two weeks, maybe three or four. Seven, max.

No time for that. The agency in Casablanca's pressuring us.

Show him the court order.

Can you read?

If I could, I wouldn't be here.

It says you'll go to jail if you don't pay in 48 hours.

- Not jail! - Got a solution?

- Give me some time. - No more waiting.

Do you have any money saved up?

None. Give me some time.

We can't wait anymore.

I've got problems. Help me, please.

We can't.

Mehdi, Mehdi.

The guy's got sheep.

- We're not here to sell sheep. - Why not?

The Feast of the Sacrifice is coming up. We'll sell them easily.

Do I look like a farmer? They aren't mine.

- That's enough. We need a solution. - Be patient.

Come down.

Come to my place for a hot coffee.

- Come in. - Thanks.

That's all we need! Come down.

We'll give you the solution. Come down.

Listen,

the solution is simple.

Why did you have an issue with your wife?

We're low on money.

We'll help you and your wife make up, OK?

It'll be better to get your house and kids back

than to live in a van with an explosive gas tank.

We'll talk to her and she'll forgive you.

You'll be able to go home, peacefully, and sell your car.

Then give us the money back.

- Sell the car? - Sell the car.

- And make up with my wife? - Yes.

Please do it for me. I don't know how to talk to women.

What is her name?

Tamo.

Tamo, please come here.

We know you're here.

We aren't leaving. If we have to wait here for a month,

we will.

The same trick every time.

This is too much.

This is for you.

- What is it? - Your share.

- Is that a joke? - Travel with your wife.

Where can I take her with this?

Be thankful you have that after repaying the loan.

You took more than planned!

You forgot the interest, the bank fees, and our commission.

You should thank us. We helped with your wife.

Thieves!

Damn you! You'll pay for this!

Boss!

Congrats, Ssi Lekhder!

Are you hiding? Where are you going?

I've got things to do.

What things? I know your things.

Once you're off doing your things, who's going to watch the two lovebirds?

You.

And who told you that?

I have to give my condolences.

- You already did that last week. - Yes, but this is different.

Their sister came from France just for today.

They're going to visit their mother's grave tomorrow.

- Mother-in-law. - What do you want?

I'll keep an eye on her.

I didn't ask. Mind your own business!

It's OK. I'll go with them.

That's it! Wait for me, I'm coming. You can drop me off.

Come on down.

Lekhder, I won't be long. Don't make me wait.

I'll message Naïma as soon as I finish.

Take your time, mother-in-law.

Mother-in-law? Such insolence!

You're so rude.

You're not yet married, and you call me mother-in-law?

Do you like the juice?

- It's quite good. - I gave you two sugar pods.

- It's hot. - Lower the window.

The one on your side too.

- Don't be too long. - It's his call.

Thank you.

What are you doing?

Struggling with this belt. It's stuck.

The belt? Come on, come with me.

Move.

- Where are we going? - Come with me.

Come on.

Hi. How are you?

Come on.

Lemonade will ruin your stomach. Get him a beer instead.

No, thank you. No.

You're about to bang my daughter, and you're still prudish with me?

No, no, never.

Congrats, I admire you.

I tried all I could to tempt you. All in vain.

That's why I like you.

Alcohol only brings problems.

You're a saint. Really, you're a miracle!

That's why I gave you my daughter's hand.

Thanks. I hope I'm good enough.

Bars are the only places to always be full.

You'll never see them empty.

I was once a true alcoholic.

I only drink from time to time now.

A glass here and there. A beer here and there. That's it.

Here you go, Mr. Lekhder.

Back when I was getting drunk and partying,

I used to go to the slaughterhouse, and choose a smoked sheep's head

or a calf's tongue or foot.

I'd get home around 3:00 am.

I'd wake them all up!

"Wake up! Get up! Come eat and dance!"

They never wanted to, so I'd insist.

Naïma messaged me. We have to go.

Let's finish our drink first. You have to learn something.

Don't bow down to any woman. Any! Not even my daughter.

No, it's your wife, she's waiting. She called 6 times.

We have to go! We're late!

Pay the bill, go on.

120.

Aren't you ashamed?

Where were you? I've been waiting for an hour. Tell me!

Mind your own business! Mr. Lekhder, where have you been?

Well, that takes the cake! Open this door, you!

I can't believe it.

Go on. You'll see.

- What did she think of the suit? - She didn't even notice.

- All that for nothing? - She didn't have time to see it.

I'll lend it to you next time. She'll think you just bought it.

- Slowly. Let the kid eat. - It's good.

Give me the keys, I have to drive Mounia.

- Should I drop you off? - No, thanks.

Come on kid.

How's the cotton candy? Is it good?

Should I come with you?

I have to leave Mounia with my mother this week. Zahira is in Rabat.

She's found a new job there.

- What kind of job? - Call center.

She comes back to Casa every other week.

Keep the car and pick me up tomorrow at home.

Not going out?

- No, Lhave to stay with Mounia - or she'll cry,

Say you have something to do. As usual.

I was saying that to Zahira, her mother, not to her.

Don't mix everything up.

The issue is she's staying at my mother's house all week.

Zahira called. She may be back tonight. I have to be there.

You should've said that from the start. Of course, enjoy your wife.

Don't go to the pub without me.

I'm broke. I can't afford to.

What a disaster!

What can we do?

I work day and night. I go all over Morocco.

And I give you what little money I get.

Mehdi, I won't say it again.

I can't take it anymore.

I can't take care of your daughter.

What you pay me every month isn't enough.

You want me to quit my job, find something else?

How would we cope while I look for a new job?

While your daughter lives in a working-class area?

So? We grew up there.

It was a different time, much more glorious.

But today, everything has changed.

Your daughter has grown, as have her needs.

She needs clothes, a cell phone, a good school.

Do you understand?

I don't know what to tell you.

You know what?

Give her to her mom. It's easier.

Her mom left and abandoned her. Why are you talking about her?

I have a solution.

I met a woman at the market

who put me in touch with a wealthy woman.

We'll give her the girl to adopt and take care of.

You want to sell Mounia?

That's what you want?

To sell my daughter?

We're not selling her.

So, what is it? Why say that the woman is wealthy?

- It's in her interest, and ours. - Stop it, Mom.

What are you doing? Come on, we're about to begin.

This way, gentlemen.

My husband and I had a skiing accident.

He's in a coma and I've got a fracture.

- I'm sorry, madam. - It's fine, thank you, Redouane.

Anyway, the numbers.

They're low! What is happening?

Did you become soft?

This agency works, and your salaries get paid every month,

because you make the bad payers pay.

I'm going to make a clarification,

and give some warnings.

I have the names

Hamid Dergoune and Mehdi Attaf on my list. Where are they?

You have the worst numbers in months.

Especially in the last three months.

Zero repayments...

We work a lot, madam. But with all due respect,

we have the worst villages.

You can't say that, I'm sorry.

Here, in this agency, there is no plucking or favoritism.

That's over.

Plus, you two are lucky. You work in a region of Morocco

where the villages are close together.

They're close but extremely poor, madam.

How can you expect bad payers not to be?

You expect them to live in California?

Madam...

Madam, please.

The real bad payers

are the rich that are undertaking projects.

Vermin like us don't bother them.

They and the creditors know each other.

They never go to war with each other.

Listen to me carefully. I know you very well.

You pissed off my husband and I with the union and so on.

You know what? Eat dust. You're fired.

So.

I have two choices.

The first one,

a redundancy plan, and the wages get lowered.

But I'm a businesswoman with a big heart.

I don't want to harm anybody.

So, I'm going for the second choice.

Listen carefully.

We're all going to become self-employed.

Each loan repaid will bring you 5%.

Put pressure on the bad payers, and you'll see.

You'll earn a lot of money and your life will change.

Your salaries could be multiplied by four, or even five!

No more charges and social contributions!

Anyone who collects 100 million dirhams

will earn 5 million.

Times are tough. Make the right choice.

We have to stick together and take responsibility.

All of us. For the new world.

And you, Mehdi and Hamid.

Listen to me carefully. This is my final warning.

I'm going to be very clear. You have a month.

If your results don't improve, you're out.

What did you do to our car?

The village of Tiz... Tizouinig?

You mean Tizghaouine!

- That's right. - It's next door.

You're still sleeping at this time?

BARBER OF HAPPINESS

Why did you come down?

I couldn't sleep.

Are you all right?

This song always makes me cry.

I danced so much to this song the other day, at my cousin's wedding.

I had a great time.

Give me your hand.

Come on.

- Come on, come to sleep. - Go, I'll join you.

- You are waiting for the song to end? - Just go, please.

Come to sleep.

Mehdi, what's wrong?

Go away, I beg you.

- What's wrong? - I'll join you.

Stop now.

Go away, Hamid, please. I'll join you.

- It's fine, you can go. - Come to sleep.

- Go. - I won't leave without you.

- I'm not leaving. - Hamid!

No! I won't go if you don't come with me.

Come on, come.

Hello Madam.

Excuse us, we're coming right up. We're flying.

The taxi is on his way.

Okay, sorry.

Taxi! We're helping you out and you call us your cab?

Sorry, we're late and the boss is angry.

Taxi!

Will you pay?

You took your time!

Come on kids, come on.

One, two, three, four, five, six...

One, two, three, four, five, six.

There used to be eight per pack.

Now there are only six for the same price.

What the hell?

This one is October 21st. It'll expire in two days. Here.

January. It's OK.

Shit, October 19th. We have to drink it today.

February 2nd...

Hey, that's my birthday.

I'll drink it on the day and think of you.

I'll even say a prayer for you.

OK, catch.

Let's check the sardines.

Tell me the date.

Can I wipe my hands somewhere?

Take the newspaper, nobody buys it anymore.

Give it to me.

And what about the loan?

Is that why you stopped eating?

Even if you ask me to pay it back, you're still my guest.

Eat. You're just doing your job.

Those words!

The world has changed.

No, it's not the world that has changed, but us.

You're right.

- You want another soda? - Why not.

- Thank you. - You're welcome.

I prefer tuna with oil than with tomato.

You do?

Tastes and colors...

The one with lemon is good too.

There are olives with it. That's not bad.

It used to work well, once.

You don't add any pepper?

No.

A little bit of pepper is perfect with tuna.

I used to make sandwiches. There were a lot of people.

There was a school right next door. They tore it down.

- Everyone used to come here. - I bet the kids liked your sandwiches.

You have no idea! But it's over.

The school has been destroyed.

And nobody lives here anymore.

You know where you're going? Sure it's this way?

Yes, it's this way.

This way.

- Where are you going? It's a dead end. - How do you know?

- Hello. Is there a hotel around here? - Hello.

No hotels here. Did you think you were in Marrakech?

- Saïd! - Yes?

- Is it open? - It just opened. Come on.

Wait for me. I'll go with you if it's open.

Come in, quickly!

Come on, I'll close the door.

Get in, come on.

Go ahead.

Go ahead.

- What's up, friends? - Do you serve alcohol?

Come get drunk, buddy.

- Give me two beers. - You had enough, Hamid.

I told you, we don't want it.

Easy. Easy!

Easy! You smashed the box, it's ruined.

Watch your head, or you'll end up shattered on the floor.

Just get him a brand-new box.

Give me two.

No, that's enough. We don't want it.

Two more for them. That's for me.

Take it easy. I told you to take it easy.

I'm going to kill her.

Go on, then. Instead of driving us crazy.

You've been banging on all week. "I'll kill her..." Do it, then!

Mr. Zemmouri, my respects.

Here's 150 dirhams.

May God preserve you, Mr. Zemmouri.

- Where are you from? - From Casa.

I hate this city.

Yes, there's nothing to like in this city.

Too much debauchery, that's all there is.

Is it true what they say?

Yes, but it's not the locals' fault.

It's the thousands of farmers moving in

and the girls coming to be whores.

This city stole everything from me.

I came here at the age of 18.

I've worked hard every day.

She joined me, and soon after started to take the 56 and then the tram.

She was talking about the stores and the sea.

In my opinion, Casa isn't a coastal city.

In fact, I've never seen a seagull in the sky.

One day, she disappeared.

I looked for her everywhere.

How do you look for someone in such a big city?

I left alone... I came back alone...

Then you don't understand anything.

Neither the city, nor the women.

You don't know what you're talking about.

She hasn't been back to the village for three years.

Until yesterday. She came back to see her parents.

Is it the last one?

There's no vodka left. Not even in my bar.

You drank it all.

You have to stop drinking.

- Open the bottle of red wine. - Open it.

- It's too late to visit her, now. - Nonsense. We'll go.

- Where to? - The twins' house.

- Let's go. - All right.

Go on, Mehdi. We're almost there.

Go ahead.

It's none of our business. We shouldn't have gone with him.

I love her!

We propose to her tonight.

Watch out, watch out.

Be careful. He's going to bite us.

No! No!

Your dog is rabid. He was going to bite us.

He's dangerous.

This dog,

his mother's name was Laika and his father's name was Rex.

The dog's owner will be very upset.

When he's angry, it's better to hide.

I'll bring him a new one tomorrow.

She doesn't want you.

How many times do we have to tell you?

You are as stubborn as your sister, Yto.

You can see what happened to her.

She played hard to get, Zemmouri married her by force.

That's too far. I don't like people talking crap about my daughters.

Of course.

But he's right. You could have avoided all the drama of her sister.

He didn't say anything wrong. He just wants to marry her.

- He can even go to Casa with her. - He's a dog!

Very good. Now you're starting to get along.

What do you mean?

What the hell?

She calls him dog, and we know she loves him, her dog.

- You love your mother? - No.

- Oh, OK! - It's complicated...

But let's imagine. Do you love your mother?

Yes, I love her. And?

Could you insult someone by saying "you mother"?

Yes... I mean no. No, that doesn't make sense.

Well it's the same.

She loves her dog.

She can't insult someone by saying "you dog."

On the contrary, when she says "dog,"

it's affectionate.

So they're both her dogs that she loves and adores.

Just shut up.

You're driving me crazy.

Hadda, what do you think?

Do you understand what we say or will you never understand?

You and I, it's dead.

I can't stand the smell of hay and chickens anymore.

I'll never set foot in this place again, got it?

You also hit your head against boxes and pee in the street.

I pee in the street?

I swear, I went to the bathroom. They saw everything!

Yes, he went to the bathroom.

You'll see.

Get off me!

You made things worse, asshole!

Get out of here, you bastards. Get out of my way.

You only bring trouble. Come on, get up.

Sorry, excuse us...

We won't pay.

Hamid! Hamid!

Enough!

Stop!

- Go! Don't come back! - We're leaving.

- Go away! - With your suitcase, go away.

OK, we're leaving.

We can't give you any more time.

You mustn't play with the loan.

You took the money, you have to pay it back.

You can't just borrow then apologize when it's pay-time.

It's not serious.

- Hello. - Hello.

- Want a cup of tea, boys? - We don't want tea.

- We can at least share a meal. - Why would we?

Moroccans are the champions of hospitality!

Stop the kindness!

- Where's the borrower? - Omar will come.

You say that every time we come. Where is he?

Are you lying at your age? You should be ashamed.

How can I tell you this?

My son, Omar...

When he took out the loan, he falsified the papers.

And the bank accepted it

because he had a plan for a phone store.

But he used the money

to pay a smuggler and he left.

I don't know if he's still alive.

Whether he's alive or not is your business.

It's not my concern.

Do you have a solution to repay the loan?

Otherwise, we'll put him in jail.

- You're going to the police. - Mehdi!

Get off my back, Hamid.

- Leave him be. - It's my job!

We get the money back.

Let him go.

When you borrow money, give it back!

Give it back, damn it.

- Are we going out? - I don't know.

- I don't want to go to the room. - Here, sir.

- Thanks. - You're welcome.

Know of any nice places to hang out?

There's a restaurant nearby with delicious kebabs.

No, I mean... A place where things can happen.

He means a place where there are girls.

There are no places here, but there are people.

I know some. I can give you a number.

Trustworthy?

Of course. You are more than friends. You are customers.

Give me the number, please

Are you sure you want to?

I didn't think so.

Here you go, sir.

- I'm not following you. - It's OK.

Thank you.

Here.

Well, guys, you're having fun!

They're nice, but they're not our kind of people at all.

You called very late. The top of the basket goes fast.

Never mind, then.

I can find you some boys if you want?

At this time, they're the only ones left. It's no problem.

Thank you, you're kind.

You're crazy, here!

You're too free! You go too far!

They look like girls, you won't notice.

Mr. Mehdi.

Mr. Mehdi.

They used to be "masseuses" in the hammams, if you want a massage.

Or just some company.

The nights are long and cold here.

Only trouble...

Are you OK?

Everything all right?

Come.

Don't stay alone.

Nothing to worry about?

It's a disaster.

A real disaster.

I lost my son.

Oh God.

How old was he?

He wasn't very old.

My wife was pregnant.

I've been waiting for a child for five years.

I absolutely had to turn that thief over to the authorities.

He is a dangerous criminal.

He managed to escape from jail. He's wanted everywhere.

I've never been so happy.

The coming child, the captured criminal.

It's when you're surrounded by too much happiness

that you must fear for the worst.

On the road, I got a call from my brother.

The phone signal was weak.

The last thing I heard before it cut out...

"The baby died during delivery."

Hello? Hello?

- Naima? - It's only ads.

I misheard while on the road.

The baby's alive. It's my wife who died.

I don't understand.

Should I celebrate my child being alive,

or weep for my dead wife?

I don't know

who to love, who to hate, and who to weep for anymore.

Did I hope for the death of my wife instead of my child?

How could I think such a thing?

I should've chased away

the thought buried my head in the sand to forget it.

Did God answer my wish?

My brother doesn't get it either.

First, they announced the baby's death,

and he just told me that my wife is dead.

I just don't get it.

I don't feel anything anymore.

I can't breathe. I'm like a stone.

God is great.

It's a miracle.

May God help you endure this.

It's getting late. We must go. We have a long way to go.

Please, please

Don't leave me alone, please.

- Can I ask you a favor? - Of course.

What do you mean, "Of course"? Tell us first.

I'll give you 3,000 dirhams. Take this criminal to jail.

It's on your way.

- We'd love to help, but we have to go. - We have a lot of work.

Why are you talking about work?

Please, here's 3,000 dirhams.

And here's the wanted notice. The address is on it.

I have to go take care of my dead and my living.

My son needs me. I'm all he has left.

And I need to bury my wife

and ask her forgiveness. Please.

Please.

They're here. Let's go, let's go.

Sorry for the late payment.

Mr. Zemmouri requires his due.

Please accept this carpet.

Next month, pay on time, or you'll regret it.

What is that?

We've been in every house. It's all we have.

You incompetents want me to take care of it!

We'll do better next time.

Yto!

Pour me my coffee.

Mr. Zemmouri.

They say that your enemy has escaped from prison.

He's in the village.

Yto!

You didn't wait for me...

What can the dead man do before his gravedigger

The earth is kind to the free

Free I am

And my heart is made of blood

...I've been waiting for you

Resist, confront a thorny path?

I ran away, I still am

My body alone was present and the love of my children is my enemy

You planted flowers with no water

I was lost

You have abandoned me to tormented days

The heart predicts the worst

My life was going on without me

Where was your path, how to get to you.

Sorry.

Hamid!

Is that our car?

Do you think the fire will last?

I don't know. It's not very cold.

We can hardly see anything.

The stars have deserted the sky. So has the moon.

It's too dark.

Why didn't you help me collect the wood?

As a kid, I hated the Boy Scouts.

My father used to send me there by force.

My father's wife was manipulating him to get rid of me.

The other kids were happy, and I...

I was crying alone in the corner.

They guessed and laughed at me.

I was mistreated.

Mistreated by all.

By the other kids, on the street and at school.

And by my mother-in-law at home.

She put me through a lot.

A real ordeal.

- Mehdi! Are you sleeping? - No, I'm listening.

I envy you.

You have a heart of stone. Nothing gets to you.

- If you knew the recesses of my heart, - you wouldn't say that.

Tell me a story.

What story?

Any story. To pass the time, to forget...

A story can do all but make you forget. It'll remind you of something.

It's the listener who brings the story to life.

Alone, stories don't exist.

It's my fault. I dragged you into this.

It's mine too. I finally agreed.

I was moved by the story of his son's death, and I accepted,

just like I do everything else.

I'm afraid to say no...

and miss out on something.

I sinned out of greed. I eat too much. I drink too much.

It's time to stop.

About the escapee...

I felt he was a traitor right away.

I knew he wouldn't come back.

Want me to tell you a story now?

Go ahead.

Zahira hasn't found a job, not in Rabat or in a call center.

My daughter isn't with my mom until I get back.

She's there forever.

Zahira woke up one morning, took her luggage,

took all the money from our account, and left forever.

Is that true? You looked so good together.

I never would've imagined it.

We didn't imagine it either.

This isn't the story you were expecting.

I have another one. A tale my mom told me when I was a kid.

OK, tell me.

There was once a family in the mountains with twin girls.

One of them was loved by two men.

One was a thief, a rich robber. The other was poor.

She loved the poor one.

He was tough but fair.

He wasn't hurting anyone. He was wise and charismatic.

The thief kept giving her jewelry and gifts.

But she didn't care. She only saw the other one.

The thief had an idea.

He roped in his friends to send her innocent lover to jail.

He asked her family for her hand and married her by force.

Ah, I forgot to say...

She weaved the most beautiful carpets. Everyone would come buy them from her.

Every day she wove a carpet

with the face of her detained lover.

Enraged, the thief ordered his men to burn the carpet every night.

They laid threads out for her every day,

said to weave anything she wanted but his face.

She never did.

Every night, she finished a carpet with her lover's face.

She never forgot him.

How does the story end?

Come, come over here.

Sleep.

Come on, sleep.

Sleep.

Sleep, my son, sleep.

Sleep.

Sleep, my son.

Look. So, we...

we left from here, from Morocco, towards Italy.

To avoid the coast guard, instead of going to Sardinia here,

we headed towards Marseille, here.

The ship was going fast, fast, fast.

But at some point, we were lost.

When we saw the coast, we thought it was Italy.

When we arrived, we met people.

We said, "Roma! Roma!"

The replied, "You're in Izmir."

"Izmir? What do you mean, Izmir?"

"Where is Izmir?"

They answered, "You're in Turkey."

In Izmir, we met a Turkish guy who spoke Arabic.

He told us to go to Istanbul, showed us where to get the bus.

We took the bus, and we went from Izmir to Istanbul.

Once in Istanbul, we were told, "You must go to Askaray."

We went to Askaray, where we were sent to Yenikapi.

"You must find the Africans. They are at Yenikapi."

We went from Askaray to Yenikapi.

And over there, the Africans told us we looked like Arabs.

"You have to pretend to be Syrian refugees

to go to Athens."

"But you must go back to Izmir."

From Yenikapi, we came back to Izmir.

And from Izmir, we went to Greece, here, to Athens.

We arrived, and to pass us off as Syrians,

we had to talk the Syrian dialect.

I was already struggling with Moroccan Arabic, now this.

There are young people from Casa there.

They spoke Syrian like in a soap opera. It's crazy!

They got through, and I was sent back to Morocco.

And here I am, telling you this story.