Original subtitles

Are you okay, sweetheart? Do you have stage fright?

Remember what we said:

You're still little and in your room.

Grandpa is with you. Everything is fine.

Good evening, and thank you very much for being here.

In any case, we're here to help you.

No, Mom, that's embarrassing. Put it away!

Sorry. Sun, it's your turn.

Please welcome the young winner

this year's Special Jury Prize for "The Book of the Desert."

Sun Del Renaque.

Good evening.

Sun, it's a pleasure to meet you.

We're very happy to have you here.

I know there are journalists here.

Do you have any questions? Yes, sir.

Yes, Sun, you're only 15 years old

and you've won a truly prestigious award.

Your writing style is mature, vibrant, and full of poetry.

Where do you think your talent comes from?

I don't think it's talent.

My grandfather told me this story when I was little.

As he spoke, he moved his arms like butterfly wings.

The desert wind blew into my room.

He brought the characters to life, as if they were standing right next to me.

I didn't want to be the only one who benefited from it.

I just wrote down the story.

- As soon as I had the right to do so. - The right?

I had to promise not to do it before he died.

Thank you very much.

Now we have the pleasure of,

To hear Mademoiselle Del Renaque read from her book. Here you go.

Come on, my blue fairy, it's time for the story.

- Yes! - Which one should I tell you?

"Hadara, the Desert Child," Grandpa!

Every superhero has a superpower.

Except for one.

Hadara.

My little Hadara, my only son.

You are beautiful like the stars above the Sahara.

He was a perfectly ordinary little boy,

a child of the desert who lived the life of his nomadic family,

which was devoted to finding water and food for their animals.

No one suspected that a special destiny lay in store for him.

This story took place a long time ago in the Sahara.

A very long time ago.

Get down!

No!

No!

Stay here, okay?

In the desert, a lost dromedary is like a lost treasure.

It was her duty to capture it.

So Fatma left Hadara behind,

just as she had done a hundred times before.

Mom?

Mom.

Hello.

Just like Fatma's dromedary, the ostriches, too, had sensed danger

and wanted to protect their nest.

Her instincts hadn't failed her. Seconds later, a storm broke out.

Desert storms are merciless foes that sweep away everything in their path.

Hadara!

Hadara!

Hadara!

Hadara sensed that the ostriches were about to flee.

His instinct warned him not to stay alone.

So he did something that no other child would have dared to do.

Hadara!

Hadara!

Hadara!

Hadara!

Hadara!

He was two years old.

Hey there!

No!

My only son.

You are beautiful like the stars above the Sahara.

Mom.

My only son. You are as beautiful as...

Fatma!

Mom, I have ...

- Fatma! - Said!

My only son.

Fatma, where is Hadara?

- I've lost Hadara. - We'll find him.

- I lost our son. - Don't worry.

My baby.

Chérif, Hayeb, Hassan.

- I lost my son. - We're looking for Hadara.

We're heading south.

Hadara tried to eat like an ostrich. Without success.

But the next day, I was so hungry...

Come on!

After searching in vain for days, they accepted their fate.

Everyone was convinced that he was dead.

Everyone except her.

After the first ostriches had accepted him,

The whole herd accepted him.

He had never seen a desert fox,

But he immediately sensed that he had found a friend.

That's a friend.

He's a friend.

Just as they adopted him, the ostriches also adopted the orphaned desert fox.

Without remembering that he had heard the word from his mother,

He decided to name him Sahara.

Those moments of joy were precious, because Hadara's life was hard.

The ostriches traveled long, arduous distances to find food,

But above all, they didn't know,

that the little person needed water much more urgently to survive than she did.

There is no place for the weak in the desert.

Hogg, the black-and-white rooster,

Hadara was too slow.

He had become an unnecessary burden, one he wanted to get rid of.

Mako, the gray hen, was certain that

that she had to save the small, fragile creature.

He almost died that day.

Mako had saved him against Hogg's will

and would protect him as if he were one of her chicks.

Even though Hogg never accepted him,

Hadara embraced the desert, and the desert embraced him.

Little by little, he became her king.

And he lived to be 160 years old.

Thanks to him, nature continues to have faith in humanity.

- Congratulations! - Good job, sweetie!

So, here's what the rest of the program looks like:

You're giving an interview for the 1:00 p.m. newscast.

Right after that, you have to drive to a reading at the cultural center.

- Congratulations. - Thank you.

And I have one more surprise.

Which one?

- You're both invited to the Sahara. - Excuse me?

Could you sign my book?

- Yeah, for who? - Tom.

There is a cultural NGO in the Sahara that serves all the settlements.

She organizes an event every year.

And this year, you were unanimously selected.

Sun, if you agree,

You've been invited to the Sahara with your mother.

We're all for it.

And you're sure it's not a mistake?

Definitely not. They want you.

They said it was important that you come.

- Are you excited? - Yes, that's always been my dream.

That's what I wanted to hear.

- That's crazy! - Thanks.

- That's Sun! - Sun is here!

She's here!

- Hi, Sun. - Hi.

Hello!

- Hi, Sun. - I'm so happy. I love your book.

I invited you. My name is Kharouba. Welcome.

Thank you for the invitation. I'm glad to be here.

- I'm Sun, and this is my mom. - Mandy.

Should I read something to you?

No, I'm going to tell you something. You don't know the whole story.

I don't understand that.

You should write the sequel. Would you like to?

My grandfather made up that story after all.

No, the story of Hadara is our story.

- But... - It's okay. Have a seat.

I understand that you have a lot of questions.

You'll get all the answers, but here, we do things our way.

You either tell stories well or not at all, okay?

Okay.

At the end of your book, you're spouting a lot of nonsense.

The King of the Desert, who dies at 160?

- Okay, that was made up. - I suggest you take notes.

To reach the age of six, Hadara had to fight.

Hogg had often tried to get rid of him.

But he had persevered and thought of himself as an ostrich.

Hogg realized that it was thanks to Hadara,

that all the chicks survived.

From that moment on, Hadara, the child without wings,

the unwanted child, the one who didn't belong, became the favorite son.

Nothing stood in the way of his happiness.

It was the happiest and most carefree time of his life. He had everything.

He enjoyed life and learned from it, such as this lesson:

Ostriches never leave one of their own behind.

They adjust to the pace of the slowest among them. That is their rule.

There was only one thing that set him apart from his siblings:

He loved to draw.

The dunes told him their secrets,

that time had whispered to them.

They advised him to,

to tame the shadows of his past.

The little boy had grown up

and enjoyed every moment.

For he had understood,

That's just how life is.

He was out in the wind

found his truth.

He was the sole ruler

about his fate.

Because he had dared to,

just taking a small step forward,

a tiny giant step.

It was with Sahara that he had discovered the sunsets.

And since then, he hadn't missed a single one.

He took the time to do it.

He loved the way one loves,

when you're a child.

After that, they wandered through their secret paradise.

He was the sole ruler

about his fate.

They never missed a sunset

and they were never apart as they were growing up.

When he was twelve years old, Sahara was...

He was now an old desert fox.

Hadara could feel it and wanted to savor every moment.

To protect his clan,

Hogg made sure that the cheetah would chase only him.

Was the cheetah really dead?

Yes. Hogg's long claw, sharp as a knife blade, had defeated him.

Hadara had been a coward, and for the first time, she felt a terrible sensation:

Shame.

He was so ashamed that he didn't dare return to his clan.

The exile that followed was to lead him to shocking discoveries.

We believe that fairy tales aren't meant to,

Not to put children to sleep, but to wake up adults.

You tell stories almost as well as Grandpa. It sounds like a true story.

What's up?

Nothing. Come with me.

I have to show you something.

She's about to dance.

- That's fascinating—you guys look like... - Ostriches?

- Yeah, exactly, ostriches. - That goes without saying.

That's how they dance, too.

- You can all dance like ostriches. - How come?

- That's what we were taught. - By whom?

From my grandfather.

Hadara.

- Wait a minute, what did you say? - You heard me right.

Hadara was my grandfather.

The whole story is true:

The Lost Child, The Storm,

The ostriches, their survival in the desert— that's all true.

And Hadara was my grandfather.

That can't possibly be true.

Hadara doesn't exist. My grandfather made him up.

Omar? Come here.

Tell me, how do you know this dance?

From Hadara, of course. You ask some really weird questions.

- Saoussène? - Yes?

Tell me, who was my grandfather?

- Hadara or the other one? - Hadara was right.

- And was he related to you? - Yes.

He was married to my grandmother's sister.

- Where did he grow up? - In the desert, with the ostriches.

- You know that. What's wrong? - Nothing. Go have some fun.

That's unbelievable! But how is that possible?

I want to know everything.

Tell me everything.

Hadara had been traveling through the desert with his old friend for days.

He had drunk from cacti, eaten scorpions—the usual stuff, really.

Then he saw something he had completely forgotten about.

His heart began to race, but he didn't know why.

He felt magnetically drawn to the place.

My little Hadara, my only son.

You are beautiful like the stars over the Sahara.

After that, he felt as if he had crossed a line

and having to continue investigating.

"Don't leave me," he said to Sahara.

But it was time for the final dance, and Hadara understood that.

They had been through a lot together.

But he didn't know if he would make it through.

He felt the need to look for Mako,

the one who could never be replaced by anyone.

And only now did he dare to ask her:

"Why don't I have wings? Why am I not like the other chicks?"

Mako replied: "I raised you.

"You're my son, but you're not an ostrich."

Hadara was shocked.

"I'm not an ostrich.

"I'm not an ostrich."

She kept repeating the words: "Your mom."

And yet she was his mother.

Do you know what stars are?

The laughter of the sun's rays.

To us, they are ostriches searching for their watering hole in the sky.

My watering hole is my land.

I was born here and have never known anything else.

But I'll do whatever it takes to get out of here.

I'm going to work to pay for my college education.

I'm going to make it and help my family and my country.

And what's your watering hole?

I don't know.

Hadara didn't know either. He didn't even know exactly who he was.

Hogg wanted to keep Hadara away from these things that he distrusted.

But to him, they were treasures.

So he stood up to him for the first time, and they got into an argument.

Come on, let's go! Are we almost there? Let's go!

Are you finally going to obey? You stupid dromedary, get moving! You lousy beast!

I'm warning you—if you don't start running, I'll lock you up.

Come on, get moving!

Come on, what are you waiting for? You'd better obey now! Come on, you little brat!

He wasn't proud to resemble this creature.

Come on, hurry up!

And just then, he arrived.

Who?

The man who changed Hadara's fate.

- Where did you put the green box? - Thanks.

- Here, take this roll of film. - Okay.

- Here, catch! - Ernie?

- Yes? - That's the projector.

I need the accessories. Give them to me.

Okay, John, I'll bring it to you.

- Where's that going? - Give it here.

You can give that to the cook.

A vegetable soup!

Does anyone have a turban?

Do you know where I can find a scarf like that?

Be careful—don't put it here. Better to put it over there.

That's right, there's still room for a tent.

Over there.

Should we move the cars or leave them here?

- Christian? - Yes?

- Can you come over for a minute? - Yes.

Those aren't cameras, they're toys.

Let me see that.

That works.

Do you know where I can find a turban?

Take it easy.

Slow? Just look at me.

I'm sweating, but you're dry, under the same sun.

That's crazy.

- What are you doing? - Filming can start tomorrow.

Seven gazelles. Two males, five females.

One has a broken horn and darker fur.

You don't believe me, do you?

Well, because I've already seen so many crazy things here.

Besides, they call you the Desert Detective, don't they?

At your service.

- What is that? - Yeah, what is that?

A small ostrich has gotten caught.

Come on, let's get him out of there.

No, we’re not interfering with nature here.

Ibrahim, please. Take my water bottle.

We're just going to get him out of there.

- If he were alone, he would die. - Maybe, but that's just the way of nature.

All right, I'll save him. You can do whatever you want.

- So. Come on. - Christian. We don't do that here.

- So what? Come on. - Christian.

Check this out.

May I introduce... The Desert Detective.

- But we'll let him go. - Yeah, we'll just take him up there.

- We're not taking him with us. - No, we're not doing that.

- He has a family. - I know. I'll let him go.

- Leave him here. - I'll take him up the hill, and that'll be that.

It's okay.

What's going on?

Wait.

Wait a minute.

Wait!

Come back!

Why aren't you saying anything? I don't understand.

I'm not crazy. He was there.

He was like an animal.

It was clear that he was different.

- He didn't speak, he just whistled. - Like an ostrich?

So you did see him after all! I'm not crazy.

He wanted to go get his relatives.

He lives among the animals—that's for sure.

That's crazy, unique, and special, you know? A wild child.

If I report on this, it will be the story of the century.

I can't let an opportunity like that slip by.

Nothing happens by chance.

You're getting on my nerves with your clichés.

"Nothing happens by chance." "The truth lies at the end of the river."

He left behind a diary.

Here, read it with me.

- Take it. - Go ahead.

"I told them about it

"and she convinced her to help me look for him and bring him back."

But after several days of searching, there was still no sign of the child.

There are traces.

There are traces everywhere.

They're still here.

I have the proof. Ibrahim, take a look at this!

Look. Read the tracks over there.

Tell me where they went.

I can't see anything.

What, you don't see anything? You're not even looking.

Aren't you supposed to be the Desert Detective?

You're lost, Ibrahim.

No, you're going the wrong way.

Come on, let's go.

I was able to get a Hollywood producer on board for it.

Until then, he had been funding us from afar.

But he was determined to see more, so he came to visit us.

When we're in New York. Hey, Chris! It's great to see you.

- Thank you. - Cheers.

I have some good news.

We found tracks from the child and the ostrich.

That means we're sure to find him soon.

Great job, Chris. I did a good job, too.

I think we can make two movies out of it.

The first movie is about us and our search for the boy, okay?

And for the second movie, we're taking him to New York.

And there he discovers all the wonders of modern civilization.

Okay?

And in the third part, he becomes a normal person.

- We'll get him dressed. - Yes.

We teach him good manners and refined language.

- And how to give interviews. - An excellent idea.

- Chris? - Yeah, good idea.

Very good.

Cheers, gentlemen.

All right, I'm going to go for a walk. See you later.

See you later. Cheers.

The project turned out differently than I expected.

- A third movie... - And a fourth.

I felt uncomfortable.

We show him paying taxes, walking a dog ...

Or plays golf.

He might return to the desert and see his ostrich family again.

We could turn his whole story into a musical.

He could get married here.

But it's so simple.

Where are we going?

I had never seen anything so beautiful.

For the first time, I saw a free spirit, an untamed human being.

When he ran away, I was left standing there, confused.

What should I do?

For weeks, I wasn't sure whether it was possible to capture and study it

or should leave alone.

Wait.

At that moment, I realized it.

I had no right to destroy that harmony,

and to turn such an extraordinary creature into a circus monkey.

Christian?

- Hey, Christian! - Yeah?

- Yes? - How did the trip go?

Well...

We didn't find anything—not a single trace.

- We should give up the search. - Excuse me?

I'm sorry, that's out of the question.

Listen, Christian, we've been stuck in this desert for three weeks.

The film's budget has been exhausted. Where is that boy?

We absolutely have to take him with us, understand?

He never existed.

- Excuse me? - What?

The night I thought I had seen him, I was drunk.

Since then, Ibrahim and I have looked everywhere for him, to no avail.

And the footprints and all the stories you told?

Can you explain that to me?

- I lied. - Lied?

- What? - I lied.

Damn it, Christian! I trusted you.

You know what? I regret ever meeting you.

You're a liar, a pathetic guy! You'll pay for this!

You'll never have to work again!

You're dead! You're finished!

I had ruined my career.

But I knew that I wouldn't regret it.

- Thank you, my friend. - I'll never forget it.

I will never talk about that child.

Do some research on his family.

If he has another one, let his mother know that her son is alive.

And that he's special.

- Promise me that. - I promise, bro.

One last thing:

If you ever find the desert child one day, give this to him from me.

See you soon, Ibrahim.

Here's why you're familiar with this story, too.

This is a photo of Ibrahim and ...

Christian on the day of her departure.

That's Dad.

Was Christian my grandfather?

- Grandpa... - Do you understand now?

"I had a dream and wanted to achieve fame.

"As a journalist, I wanted to tell stories."

But I decided to remain silent to protect a child.

I sacrificed my career and my good reputation.

I lied to save an innocent person.

I would rather be considered a fraud than lose my honor.

Because a little boy without principles or standards

had shown me what it really means to be human.

Why are you quitting?

Because I don't know what to do

and whether I have the right to tell this story.

On the contrary, you have to tell them.

Grandpa kept them a secret. Why should I tell them?

You don't understand. The story was never kept secret.

It was passed down orally.

At least that way, you knew who was listening.

That's how we protected Hadara.

But now Hadara is dead.

For quite some time now.

One by one, the witnesses are dying, and with them, his legend as well.

So please keep my grandfather's legend alive as best you can.

Write them down.

Okay.

Go on.

So...

From that day on, Ibrahim kept his promise

and let the voices of the desert speak.

Over time, nomads, shepherds, and camel drivers spread the news.

Hey, come back! Stop right there!

I don't want them to catch Hadara.

- You should have been in bed a long time ago. - I can't sleep.

- Me neither. - Me neither.

Please finish telling the story.

- Me neither. - But you guys know it by heart.

- But you've never told them like this before. - You tell them so well. Please!

They followed him for two days.

Then they let him go.

Mohammed!

Come on, stay here.

There, just a few meters away from him,

There stood the woman who appeared in all his dreams.

Hadara? My son?

One word echoed louder and louder in his head.

- "Mom?" - It's him! That's Hadara.

- "Mom." - Hadara?

"Mom."

- It's him! - Hadara.

He was in an unfamiliar setting,

confused and frightened.

But he made no further attempts to escape.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

He had been a bouquet

and now had to become human.

- Did he make it? - It was difficult.

For a long time, he couldn't decide between his long-lost mother

and the loss of freedom.

But suddenly, everything changed.

When he felt his heart beating faster than ever before.

As soon as he saw my grandmother,

the girl, whose eyes sparkled like stars,

He knew he would stay.

They got married and had five children.

This is the only photo of Hadara.

Come on.

Look how beautiful it is here.

Is that how it's going to be? Are you going to write the sequel?

My grandfather always said that this story could change lives.

I thought he was talking about my life, but I was wrong.

You have to write it down, because it's your story.

No, I wouldn't know how.

Yes, you just did it, Kharouba.

Here's how to get to your watering hole.

After he had found his parents again,

Hadara often visited his ostrich family in the desert.

The ostriches never forgot him. He never stopped loving them.

It's a true story. His name was Hadara.

Subtitle: Dominika Berger and Nadja Wiederhold