Original subtitles

The struggle for control of the coltan mines

between the Congolese government and rebel groups

makes North Kivu one of the world's most dangerous zones.

The abduction of boys to be made into soldiers, rapes, murders

and mutilations are normal practices of these rebel groups.

SARA'S NOTEBOOK

Laura!

Elsa?

Thanks.

Welcome to Africa.

Can I see the photo?

Thanks.

Come, I want to show you something.

This box has everything I kept of hers.

She didn't take all her things?

She wanted to travel light. It was meant to be just three weeks.

I should've sent it to you some time ago,

but something told me she was still alive.

- May I? - Sure.

She's so little. Five years old.

I look like her mother.

Keep it all until you can return it to her yourself.

Thanks.

Are you going to talk to the Ambassador?

I had a very instructive chat in Madrid, in the Ministry.

They won't lift a finger to find my sister.

- They told you that? - Not exactly.

They said: "We'll send the details to the United Nations,

to the prefect of the zone,

but that's all". They made that very clear.

You always have another option.

The private sector?

Welcome to Africa, Laura.

- Nice to meet you. Sergio Rojas. - Nice to meet you.

- Take a seat. - Here?

Yes.

Look. Here, in this area,

journalist took the photo with your sister in it.

It's Virunga, one of the Congo's most dangerous areas

between Goma and Walikale. You've heard of coltan, I guess.

- Yes. - You know it's the new black gold

or, as they say, "the blood minerals".

The problem is that to make these gadgets you need

various materials, some of them scarce,

like cassiterite or coltan.

But in the Congo, barely 300 km. from here,

are 80% of the world's reserves.

And that's why

most of the Congo's biggest sons of bitches

are here, in the jungle, stuffing their pockets with money.

Here there are over 5,000 soldiers

ready to attack.

There are different groups, like the Mai-Mai

and the bloodiest of them all, the ASRDC,

under General N'gunda,

or, as his men call him, "The Hawk".

- This man has my sister? - It looks like it.

His modus operandi is to recruit his men

when they're still boys in the villages.

They younger they are, the more faithful to his command.

He turns them into killers. He makes think he talks to spirits

and these give him power.

Excuse me a second. I'll be right back.

Sorry, I've had to set up other meetings here because

- the traffic in Kampala is impossible. - One thing,

the main thing: What guarantees do I have that you can do

what neither the Army or the U.N. could do?

Guarantees?

Here there are no guarantees.

This is Africa,

but I buy some of the coltan

that falls into this bastard's hands.

Look.

Here are my conditions for helping you.

Read them calmly and, if you're interested, call me

and I'll help you, okay?

Good day.

Hello?

- Laura, how are you? - Hello, María.

How did it go with Sergio?

His conditions are more expensive than expected.

Make the transfer as soon as possible.

You need to sell and the share prices are low.

I know they're low,

but it's around 3,000 shares, right? However low they are...

- Okay. Any info on him? - Yes.

- I'm told he's a fortune hunter. - What?

He went to the Congo to exploit a gold mine concession and lost it all.

Are you taking care of yourself?

Yes, I am.

Yes, bottled water, food in the hotel...

I can look after myself.

Another thing: cancel my meetings in the firm next week.

- How long are you going to be there? - I don't know how long I'll be here.

But this time I'm not leaving without finding my sister.

Not like last time.

This is one of my favourite spots in Kampala, you know?

This place gives me some peace amid this chaos.

Let's go.

At any rate, I'm leaving for Goma tonight.

I'll finish prepping the team, the cars and everything we need.

I have the money.

Okay.

- I also have a condition. - A condition?

Yes. I want to go to Goma.

- Excuse me? - I want to go to Goma.

Do you know this complicates things?

In that part of the Congo there's a war going on.

Do you know what could happen to a pretty blond like you?

I'd also like to meet your team.

Right, I understand.

- That's it, sure. - What?

You're giving me money and you think I...

It's not that I don't trust you. It's just that...

I want to go with you to find my sister.

I need this.

Okay.

You want to go to the Congo? We'll go to the Congo.

Under your responsibility.

I'll buy your plane ticket. We leave tonight, at midnight.

Hello, we have a problem.

The Health Minister was to fly to Goma

and his plane broke down, so he's taking ours.

I spoke to a friend at the U.N. and I can get a plane, but only me.

You'll come later with the rest of the team. Okay?

Anything you need, call me. Bye.

Sven?

This is Laura, Sara's sister.

Laura!

I got lost.

- Are you alright? - Yes. Now I am, yes.

I recognized you from the photos. Sara showed me some.

- You two with your father. - Yes... You speak good Spanish.

Two years in Colombia. A long time ago.

- It's great that you called. - Yes.

Can we go somewhere quieter?

- Yes, that way. Come on. - That way?

Yes, come on.

When Sara disappeared, we were no longer together.

But you had a relationship?

We slept together for a while.

When I met her she was already a veteran.

She knew everything about this job.

The good part... and all the rest.

All the rest?

Aid moves a lot of money, do you understand?

For a lot of people, this has become

a way of life now,

but she never saw it like that.

Sara became a volunteer

to get away from all this.

She wanted to convince herself again.

Of what?

That what we're doing still makes sense.

Excuse me. This is live, isn't it?

The Health Minister, in Kampala.

Yes, that's him, in Kampala.

Why?

- Nothing. I'll just be a second. - Sure.

Sergio, can you hear me?

Laura! Good to hear from you. How are things there?

Fine, fine. Did your plane get there alright?

Yes, all okay.

I've contacted the local fixer.

Don't worry, it'll all be ready in a couple of days.

Sven, can I ask you a favour?

- Sven, can you wait here a moment? - Sure.

Who do you think you are?

- Don't make a scene here. - Don't make a scene?

Let's calm down, all this has an explanation.

What explanation?

It turns out there are people after the same thing as you.

I'm dealing with some Belgians, from the TV.

They want to do a documentary on the coltan mines where your sister is.

What's so bad about linking the two trips?

You never had the slightest intention

of taking any risk for my sister, true?

That's not true, I am helping you.

That's why you didn't want me to go to Goma.

You don't get what I'm saying at all, do you?

You're the one who doesn't get it.

I'll talk to the Belgians, the Embassy and anyone who'll listen.

One hour, in my hotel, with my money.

What'll you do? Go to the Congo

and ask from door to door about your sister? That's the plan?

- Everything alright? - Yes.

It's here.

It's a point on their route some months ago.

They take the merchandise, pick up N'gunda's coltan,

and go.

- Sit down here. - Yes.

Fuck!

NGO "SAVE THE CHILDREN", CYANGUGU, RWANDA

Elsa, it seems some rebels wanted to grab the shipment.

- If not for the pilot... - We'd be trying to rescue you now.

- How's Sven? - A bullet went through his leg,

but it's a clean wound and we were lucky.

Some people from his NGO are here

looking after him.

We're in their camp.

We got a plane ticket to move him to Kampala.

You should go with him.

No. I'm really scared, but my sister can't wait.

And I have to speak to someone.

A kid who worked in the mines near where they saw Sara.

Listen, this could be dangerous.

You're far away, in Rwanda, a long way from Walikale.

You'd have to cross Lake Kivu to get to Goma.

There are hundreds of mines there. It could've been any woman.

Elsa, he knows some Spanish

and a white woman showed it to him.

There's a woman who wants to talk to you.

So it's true, the kid recognized you.

Do you remember that photo Sara showed you

of us together with my father?

Well, she showed him too.

She told him my name was Laura and I was her sister.

Sometimes they make up stories

if they want something from you.

It's impossible that he made it up.

Impossible. Sven, he knows things about me and my father.

And what do you want to do?

Listen, lad,

we have a proposition for you.

If you go with this lady to search for her sister,

you'd find it much easier to get back home...

and we could give you a lot of money for your family.

No, I don't want to go back there.

What did he say?

Laura, he doesn't want to go with you.

The Congo is very dangerous, you can't go alone.

I have to find her, with or without him.

I need your help.

- What was the guide's name? - David. We can trust him.

He will be waiting for you at the border with a car

and he will go with you to Walikale.

Here is your boat.

Okay.

Don't worry. The lake is safer.

It's the best way to get to Goma.

I don't know how to thank you.

There's no reason to thank me.

And you still have time to change your mind,

we can find another way.

Take care, okay?

Okay.

Where did you last see my sister?

N'gunda.

He gives weapons... when night.

They go to village, to kill.

In the house is the father and mother.

But he says you have to kill.

"Shoot and kill".

- Did you do that? - No, another.

Not me.

He now has no family.

Only the general.

Banana.

"As the months go by, I feel we're not doing enough.

I'm more and more alone.

After many days without looking in a mirror,

I was surprised by how white I was.

Just seeing myself, I know I'm not one of them.

I need to feel that what I do has some value.

There are so many things to sort out here..."

I don't know where David is.

Let's go.

It's fine. Let's go?

Come on.

Come on.

Fuck. No suitcases,

David didn't come,

Sven doesn't answer...

- What do we do? - Let's go.

- David didn't come. - I know, Laura. He couldn't make it.

I'm sorry. He still doesn't know when he can get you..

Thanks, Sven, but we can't wait.

We need to get to Walikale as soon as possible.

If the night falls, it's very dangerous.

Laura, there's a lot of tension in the area.

Be careful.

Let's go! We have to go.

Want some?

Do you do this for your sister?

You are strong.

Well, she's my only sister.

My father and my sister are my only family.

Do you have children?

No.

And husband?

No, not now.

He dead?

No. My God, he's not dead.

No. We broke up. Do you have any brothers?

Also not now.

Jamir!

Jamir, please! Jamir!

Please!

Jamir! Get me out of here!

Come on!

Let's go.

Let's go.

Come, our door is always open to the needy.

Yes.

- Relax. - Yes.

Jamir, this is Jamir.

Jamir.

Relax, it's alright here.

When there's trouble, their families bring them here.

They sleep here, all together.

What else can we do?

You can set yourselves up here.

When the situation cools down, I'll tell you.

Thank you.

Jamir.

Thank you.

Two years ago...

the same.

The children came here to escape the abductions.

It was another rebel group then.

One day there was a knock on the door

it was a boy.

Around ten years old.

So we gave him food,

a blanket for the night,

and he went to sleep with the others.

In the morning, when I woke up,

the children had disappeared.

He'd opened the door. Do you understand?

Like the Horse, the Trojan Horse.

How many years have you been here, Father?

Twenty?

Thirty?

What good has it done these people,

these children?

We've save a lot of them from becoming soldiers.

Nothing changes here, does it?

Today too. In the pick-up.

They behaved like animals.

We're all animals, Laura.

You only need to scratch the surface.

But the problem is that in this land...

we've never stopped scratching.

Want some more?

What's wrong, Jamir?

What happened?

It's all fine.

I've finished, I'll take you to the nearest post.

Thank you.

Jamir, let's go.

Jamir.

Shall we go?

The sun hides and suddenly, the night comes.

That's this country.

Any situation can make...

an about-turn in a second.

Understand?

Yes, as if God turned out the light.

All of a sudden, right?

The night my mother died,

my father went to my little sister's bedroom.

And I heard him tell her:

"God has turned out the light".

Are you very close, you and your father?

He's very tough with me, very demanding.

This is like the Bible story, about the two brothers.

The Prodigal Son?

Only I'm the other one, the one that stays,

the one that...

doesn't understand why it's all so hard for him

and for the others it isn't.

I don't think things are going...

so easily for your sister.

No, I'm scared to think that...

I got involved in all this not just for my sister Sara...

but for me,

because I'd like my father to understand that I love him.

But if that can't be, at least I'll give him back what he loves most.

What's that?

- Are they rebels? - I'm afraid so.

- I have money, we could pay them. - They'd keep the lad.

And they kill those who are like him.

What do we do?

There's a village down in the valley.

You can hide there.

Don't worry, I'll be fine.

Let's go!

Shouldn't we have reached the village by now?

Do you know where you are, Jamir?

Do you know where we are?

Fuck!

Wait, wait, wait, Jamir.

What did Father Salvio say to you yesterday?

Last night, at dinner, in Swahili, remember?

- I don't know. - And today too, in the pick-up,

he said they kill people like you.

What did he mean?

Jamir.

Fuck.

I think I have a right to know.

Know what?

You need me...

and I...

Jamir.

Fuck.

Jamir!

Laura.

Laura.

Relax, it'll all be okay.

It'll all be okay, you'll see.

- Are you alright? - Fine.

It's a shame to see him confused like that.

He finds it hard to react to things.

Maybe in a few months he won't even know how to use the spoon.

Well, every case is different.

No one can say what'll happen in a few months.

On Monday we're going to see a woman.

I don't know. It'll be tough for him.

He'll have to get used to it, I've got a lot of work.

And you? When are you going back to Africa?

Monday.

You can't imagine how he gets when you go out there.

"Out there"?

- You understand me. - Yes, I do.

The thing is, you've never understood me,

that's the problem.

She wants to know if Nkondi says anything about her.

I don't understand. "Nkondi"?

She says you go far, that's why you tired.

But I haven't moved from here.

Your body no move, but your spirit go out.

My spirit?

Tell her she saved my life.

How do you say "thank you" in her language?

"Assante sana".

That's alright.

And?

Let's go.

Get up! Get up!

Here.

You... here.

Let's go!

Was that you?

The village boy.

That was you.

Now I am.

Relax.

I'll be right out, Jamir.

- There are terrible stories of such boys. - I know.

It's strange that he decided to come back.

He's different, isn't he?

It's very hard to reintegrate them.

Most go back to what they know, to weapons.

Not Jamir.

I'm sorry.

That's the way it is.

I just spoke to the Lieutenant.

She told me that in Goma

there are organizations that help boys in your situation.

Why didn't you say anything, Jamir?

Now you know who I am.

You don't look at me the same way.

You change.

They all change.

That's why I can't say it.

You saved my life,

several times.

The Lieutenant told me...

she's getting me a seat

on the plane tomorrow to Kampala.

You don't...

You're leaving.

I'm leaving.

I thought I could and I can't.

Masika gave me this.

We couldn't understand each other, but...

she found a way to show me her affection

and her love.

She said it would protect me. I want you to keep it.

This will help you. This money is for you.

Jamir,

I want you to start from scratch.

Is that clear? A new life.

And you mustn't go back to the jungle.

Do you understand what I mean? Do you?

I never say "I want to go back".

Right.

You never say...

Laura.

Are you alright?

Yes, you can imagine.

We just got here and all this mess with the soldiers began.

So the Belgians got no story.

We haven't been able to start so far,

and that's with us bringing

six security men, cars...

The team's ready, but we've been stuck here for a week.

We're back where we started,

even you.

A contact confirmed

that your sister's alive. In the Virunga area.

So, if you want, you can come with us.

The conditions would remain the same.

Think about it.

- What have you got there? - Coltan.

- Coltan. - Yes.

- How far is the mine? - Three days on foot.

What are you doing?

Stop filming!

Go away! Go, go!

How do you do? Can I ask some questions?

Sure.

- Are you taking food to sell? - Yes, food to sell.

Do you make a lot of money?

It depends. If I sell a lot, I can make up to double.

- Thanks a lot. - You're welcome.

Let's go.

They saw a boy

and killed him in front of his parents.

They raped the mother,

they killed the father

and cut him to pieces.

When the commander came,

he took a piece of the father's body

and shoved it in her mouth.

He's very powerful, like a wizard.

The spirits help him:

animals and men. He's powerful.

When the dog sniffs, he smells it too.

When the hawk flies, he sees.

Did you hear that?

Yes.

I don't see the guards anywhere.

Battiste!

You, give me one reason not to kill them.

We came to do a report on N'gunda.

For years the General has fought for the same cause. Why now?

Our audience is interested.

That's why they sent you here?

To save us

and incidentally to take the coltan, don't you think?

- Start executing them! - Alright.

Listen to me!

We're here to tell the world

what a great leader and strategist the General is.

If your enemies see the General's power on the screen,

our report...

will strengthen his leadership.

Choose one.

Please...

No, please, stop. Please, please...

Please!

Give me something more convincing.

A better price for your coltan!

A better price... for your coltan.

Take him to the command post.

Take the others.

Nobody move! No idiot is to move!

Laura.

Laura.

Laura.

Laura.

Laura.

Is that you, Sara?

Are you here...

or am I dreaming?

No, no, I'm here.

And now try to rest.

C'mon, get up! Let's go!

Sit here.

Are you alright there?

How are you?

Better now.

You've been missing for two years.

What happened, Sara?

We gave you up for dead.

You don't know how we suffered.

It was all so fast.

I was alone at the time.

Suddenly there was shouting, shooting,

but this they didn't come to rape or recruit anyone.

They were after a doctor.

What I didn't know until I arrived

was that the wounded officer

was their General N'gunda.

Here they know him as "The Hawk".

Battiste is waiting.

- You have to go with them. - Hurry, Battiste is waiting!

Let's go.

This is the coltan mine.

General N'gunda controls all this.

There's another mine on the other side, we'll go there later.

Yes. You and I will do good business.

Don't move! Get back!

Get back, go!

Get back!

Omar, take her away from here!

Everyone keep working!

Get to work!

Carry on!

Come on!

Let me talk to her for a moment.

Go ahead.

You shouldn't have come.

I came for you.

I can't leave.

- They can't make you stay here. - It's not about that.

Until I got here, there was no one who could...

treat malaria or... amputate a leg,

attend to a birth...

I feel that here my life makes sense.

In exchange for what?

Saving the life of a killer?

Yes.

In exchange for saving his life, yes.

A call.

A simple call, Sara.

A message saying you were alright.

I couldn't communicate with anyone,

that was the General's condition.

Dad hasn't recognized anyone for some time.

Yes, Sara, life goes on. Even there.

But if it's any consolation,

Dad's stopped worrying about you.

We have a plan to escape from here.

I spoke to Dabor and the crew and they agreed.

The General's going to be here tonight.

He'll hand over weapons to the new soldiers in a ceremony.

It's our only chance to escape,

- because they'll be distracted. - That's crazy.

Our only outside communication is the satellite telephone

- in Battiste's barracks. - It won't work, Sergio.

These are the coordinates.

Excuse me,

we have a problem with the camera.

We need to recharge the batteries in Battiste's barracks.

- Alright. - Thank you.

Go with them.

Look there.

Lieutenant?

- What are you? - A dog!

- Do you want to be a man? - Yes, sir!

- Do you want to fight for The Hawk? - Yes!

Go in!

Sara.

Omar is looking for you, I'll take care of her.

It's not what you think, Laura.

The Hawk is dead.

I killed him.

Do you want to be a soldier?

Do you want to fight for the ASRDC?

Yes, General.

You will be invincible.

Soldier, bullets do not kill you.

You are invincible!

His body was strong, despite his age,

but he was obsessed with security and never stopped moving around.

And the wound opened up again.

By this time, I'd seen a lot of things,

a lot of horror.

And I let the infection spread.

The last night,

when he could barely move,

I went up to his ear...

and said...

I hoped he'd rot in hell

for all the people he'd betrayed,

raped, murdered...

Battiste realized what was going on, but he said nothing.

He let it all go ahead

and threatened to kill me if anyone found out The Hawk was dead.

He's holding you captive.

Laura,

if Battiste finds out you know about this,

he'll never let you leave alive.

We're both leaving here tonight.

I managed to contact the U.N. troops and they're going to rescue us.

After everything I did, I can't go back.

I'm useful here. I can't leave, Laura.

Omar listens

and I know I can change things. I know it, Laura.

I just need time.

That's all.

How, Sara?

Tell me how, honey. Tell me.

Nothing changes here.

You know it. Those boys down there,

what will they learn? To hate and to kill.

And if one day the manage to get out of here,

they'll hate themselves.

And that rage will take them back to the jungle to keep killing,

to get revenge for what was done to them,

to die or to kill.

To kill.

Of course, that's why he came.

For revenge. He came here to kill The Hawk.

Laura, The Hawk is dead.

But he doesn't know that.

Soldier,

this is your father.

This is your mother.

Omar!

Battiste!

What happened? Battiste! What happened?

Get Sara.

Get Sara!

Battiste!

Battiste is wounded!

Let me, let me.

Don't let me die.

Don't let me die.

If you let me die like N'gunda, I'll kill you.

I'll kill you.

He's dead.

You have to get out of here!

Quickly!

Quickly!

It'll all explode when they find out that N'gunda is dead.

Quickly!

You help them.

You help the white men!

The Hawk is dead.

The white men killed him!

The white men killed him! The white men killed him!

Please, listen to me. Wait, wait, wait!

It wasn't us! Please!

The white men killed him!

Now. Let's go!

Let's go! Hurry!

Stop!

You're to blame!

Let us go. Let us go.

I killed The Hawk!

I killed The Hawk!

Let's go! Let's go!

Come on, let's go! Go! Go!

Help me with him.

Let's go.

Omar is worse. He needs help.

Help me!

Come on, let's go!

Run! Come on! They can't come!

- They can't! - We have to take him to a hospital.

They belong to an armed group!

The mission can't take part! I'm sorry.

Here you have some medicines. It's all we can do. I'm sorry,

those are the orders. Come on!

- Wait! - Come on! We are running out of time!

- It has been hard for us to get here! - Those are the rules!

- We can't do anything here! - We got here thanks to them!

We can't do anything else!

Sara, we have to leave this place. Let's go!

Come on!

Laura, I can't let him here. I can't.

- Get on. - No! There's still a lot to do here.

- Sara, please... - Tell dad I love him.

Even though he can't remember me.

We must leave now.

Here.

Here is everything. The good things and the bad things. I want you to have it.

I can't.

Daddy would be proud of you.

- Sara, please, get on. - I love you.

Sara, I need you.

Thank you.

Grab her!

You went away, getting smaller and smaller,

until you became a dot,

a drop in the middle of a green ocean.

What I couldn't have known then

was that the pages of that notebook would end up occupying

the next five years of my life.

There were other voices, other reports,

but this story,

your story,

helped to open people's eyes.

For the first time, people like you and me,

with the same skin,

were ready to hear from your mouth

what up to then no one wanted to hear.

We could never talk.

I don't even know if you were aware

of what you set in motion,

but I do know,

from what they told me,

is that in all those years

you never gave up.

You kept fighting until the end,

not resigning yourself to just

healing wounds,

being part yourself of this land.

This is the story...

I'll keep telling to anyone who'll listen.

Until one day...

Who knows what one day will bring us?

SARA'S NOTEBOOK

Translation: Lindsay Moxham

Subtitles: LASERFILM