All language subtitles for Panj e asr, At Five In The Afternoon (2003) EN

Wild Bunch and Bac Films present

AT FIVE IN THE AFTERNOON

Samira MAKHMALBAF

Ah! That terrible five
in the afternoon!

It was five by all the clocks!

It was five in the shade
of the afternoon!

Oh God, forgive my sins!

Instruct all pious men
to close their eyes

in front of women

And to control their lust

For it is more seemly

And God knows all that we co

And women should refrain
from dancing

That their charms remain hidden

Oh God, forgive my sins!

Pupils should wear a black uniform
with a white scarf.

Nogreh, why are you wearing
a coloured dress?

Miss. if I wore the uniform.

my father wouldn't allow me
to come.

Why wouldn't he?

He doesn't believe that girls
should study.

Why shouldn't girls study?

Sit down!

The Department of Education
has asked us

to answer a questionnaire

about your future careers.

For example,

those of you who hope
to become teachers,

raise your hands.

Thank you.

Lower your hands.

Now,

those who want to be engineers,

please stand up!

Those pupils who wish to serve

their country better

by becoming doctors,

stand up!

Sit down please!

Even more important,

who wants to be
President of the Republic?

The President of Afghanistan.

Very good!

How can an Afghan woman

become President,
in her burga and with her children?

Can you imagine an Afghan woman
without children?

A woman can never
be elected President!

An Afghan woman
deserves to be President.

We won't wear burgas forever

and children grow up!

Haven't you ever studied
women's history?

Do you understand?

You, whose parents forbid you
to come to school

wearing the right clothes,

how can you hope to be
President?

A brave and intelligent girl

can make her own decisions.

It's me who decides things
for myself,

not my family.

We are Muslim women.

A Muslim woman
can never be elected

President of the Republic.

Has Afghanistan ever had
a woman president?

What about Aicha,
the wife of the Prophet?

She was hardly just anybody!

Why can a man be elected President
and not a woman?

I lost my father,
I lost my brother

to a regime run by men,
not by women!

I used to live in Pakistan.

The president, Benazir Bhutto,
was a woman.

And Indira Gandhi in India.

It could continue
from generation to generation.

She spoke wisely,
she served her country well.

We're not talking about
other countries,

we're talking about Afghanistan.

Although she was a woman,
Benazir Bhutto

favoured the Taliban,

an anti-woman regime
that destroyed Afghanistan.

Benazir Bhutto supported
the Taliban.

When she was President,

the Taliban regime
was already repressing women.

That's your opinion.

If I was elected
President of the Republic,

I would act as a loving mother

to the people of Afghanistan.

I'laugh because if I cry
because of my sorrows,

my friends will cry too.

I am sad because of the death
of my parents.

I had no one beside me

to comfort me.

I lost my father,
I lost my brother.

Kabul has been beset by troubles.

Was it the fault
of the Afghan women?

They wanted to go to school
but were forbidden to study.

They were shut up in their houses.

Afghan women have suffered
the worst injustices!

Above all, the girls,
who were not allowed to study.

The Taliban forbade us
to go to school.

Man is the guardian of woman

because God has created some

superior to others...

Take the buckets
and look for water!

The well is dry.

Leylomah,

have you had news of your husband?

No one has heard anything.

What am I going to do?

My milk has dried up.

My baby is dying
of hunger and disease.

We must take him to the doctor.

- We have nowhere to live.
- Everything's been destroyed.

Here too. there are only ruins.

There is room to live in the ruins.
Follow me!

Is the president of Pakistan
a man or a woman?

I don't want to answer that.

Why not?

I don't like politics,
I prefer real life.

You've lived in Pakistan for years

and you don't know
if it's a man or a woman!

And it I did know,
what difference would it make?

Why does it matter to me?

I want to know
if it's a man or a woman.

Ask someone else.

I don't want to answer you.

And you, do you know?

No. I don't know
anything about it.

I was a beggar in Pakistan.
My son was killed.

I have a young daughter-in-law
with two fatherless children.

I can't read or write.

You see, my mother,

she had four sons.

One was killed by the Russians,

another in the civil war
and another by the Taliban.

I'm the only one left.

All of that because of politics!

Look over there.

It isn't there.

Look in the other room.

Give me the chicken.

It's ours.

You shelter us, then accuse us
of stealing your chickens.

It was a little egg
I raised myself.

I fed it myself

and you want to take it from me?

Why are you lying?

Lying. at my age?

I am not lying.

We house you and you steal from us.
My nephew is sick.

- Give me the chicken.
- What are you talking about?

You're accusing us of stealing?

You house us then you accuse us.

I raised it from a chick.

Do you swear you didn't steal
the chicken?

No. I won't swear.

- It's ours!
- No. it's ours!

What school do you go to?

The Galeh school.

Can I enrol there?

Why not?

Where is it?

Along way from here.

Don't worry. I know where it is,
I'll go with you.

Go back to the others.
This room is too small for us.

We don't know each other.

My baby is sick.
My husband is away.

I don't have enough to eat.

I can't share this room
with you.

You take one side,
I'll have the other.

Take this curtain down!

We're not moving from here.

There are the same problems
everywhere.

Make an effort.

Nogreh!

Two families have moved in
to our house!

What?

They're living in our bedroom!

What can I do?

Driver,

take us to Barchi.

Cover your faces and I'll take you.

OK, we will.

It's a sin for you
not to cover your faces.

Wear your veils.

Do not talk to strangers.

- Understand?
- Yes.

And if you have to,

put a finger in your mouth

to disguise your voice.

So that it doesn't sound feminine.

Otherwise it is a sin.

Don't trade your life
for a place in Hell.

Understand?

Don't uncover your faces.

OK.

Why have you lifted your veils?

Get out!
Why did you do that?

You have abandoned
the path to Heaven

for the road to Hell.

I'll leave you here.

I found your chickens.

We shouldn't have accused
the others.

Forgive me, my God.

Brother, you listen to music
all day long.

You are not a good neighbour.

Each man to his own faith!

You've had your say,
now it's my turn.

I've already said again and again
that I won't change my mind.

How many times
do I have to say it?

I won't change my mind.

What sort of believer are you?

The devil is kinder than you.

You sit in the warm
while I tremble with cold.

You pray five times a day
but it's all lies.

Sell your music
and buy warm clothes.

I play this music
so you'll move out.

What sort of life
are you leading?

I live only to listen
to this music.

I'll chase you out first.

I won't leave!

The music will force you out!

I'll play it even louder
to get rid of you.

I'll join forces with the Devil
to drive you out!

I won't leave!

We'll see.

No one knows where we're going.

My husband won't be able
to find us.

He'll have to search
the whole city.

What am I going to do?

Oh God. what am I going to do?

Halt!

Do you know the password?

No.

- He doesn't know the password.
- Get out!

Who is this man?

He's my father-in-law.

We're looking for a house...
for shelter.

At midnight?

We have nowhere to sleep.

- What's that under your burga?
- Don't be afraid.

It's my baby, he's sick.

We are hungry and thirsty
and without shelter.

Where are you going?

Anywhere.

- What are you hiding?
- My umbrella.

- No weapons?
- No.

Show me!

Show me!

Open it!

Hold it over your head!

Where were you going?

I'm looking for a house.

At midnight!?

These two women are with me.

What is your relation to them?

Halt! Don't move!

I've brought you water.

Nogreh,

the hen hasn't laid,
I have nothing for my baby.

- There are no eggs?
- No.

- Didn't Father bring anything?
- Nothing at all.

Give him milk.

I don't have any milk left.

He sucks but nothing comes.

Your milk has dried up,
the hen hasn't laid,

the baby will get sicker!

I have no more milk.

- Not even a drop?
- 1 haven't eaten anything.

Yesterday I asked
the truck drivers

for news of my husband.

I don't know what to do.

No one knows anything.

No one?

Father...

let me go and ask

for news of my husband
and see what's happened to him?

1 will go myself.

If you are afraid of women

who oppose you
and refuse to obey you

Lecture them

and do not go to their beds

Punish them!

What are you doing here?

I'm here to enrol my mother
in school.

Enrol your mother?

I'm joking.

I've come to enrol
my neighbour's daughter.

He helps the girls he likes.

You trouble your mother
on account of schoolgirls?

He's doing it so he can
choose one.

Why don't you let your mother
ride your bicycle?

It doesn't matter,

I'm happy to walk.

She tried to ride the bike
but she fell off.

Where did you disappear to
last night?

My father took us away,

because of the noise. He doesn't
want us to live with strangers.

He's a fanatic,
you can't argue with him.

You put us up and then go?

What's important is that
you're comfortable.

You left us alone,

it wasn't very polite.

- Anyway. did you hear the news?
- What news?

The radio said that Benazir Bhutto

is standing
in the presidential elections.

Really?
Is she really a candidate?

What sort of speech
did she make?

It was just a news bulletin,
she wasn't speaking.

They just said she was standing.

Please, find me her speech,
quickly.

Benazir Bhutto's
or any president's?

It doesn't matter,
but it should be by a woman.

Do you want to become President?

Not straight away.

I want to see what presidents say
in their speeches.

What makes people vote for them,

what they say
to make people love them.

I'll try to find you something.

- Mother. let's go!
- Yes. My feet hurt.

I'd like to know what you will do
for women,

if you are elected?

Tell me!

Under the Taliban,
we couldn't study.

What do you plan to do?

If I become President,

I will ask the Education Minister

to make up for the delay
in the education of women

so that they can become teachers.

A twenty-year-old girl
shouldn't be in the same class

as a twelve-year-old.

A question for Mina.

Your father was killed
by a rocket.

You were all alone.
When you looked for food,

the Taliban whipped you.

What will you do to the man
who beat you?

What will you say to him?

If I was President,

I'd bring him here.

I know who he is,

the man who killed my father.

He drives a horse and cart.

He whipped me

when I went to the bazaar.

I say anything
about what he did to me,

he will be killed.

But I won't denounce him.

What would you do
with the Taliban in general?

I was President of the Republic.

I would establish a regime
that would never give birth

to a new Taliban.

But I would not take vengeance,

I would not execute them.

Each of the three students
who have come forward

must explain her agenda to us.

We will choose one of them

and recommend her
to the Home Office.

This is an exercise in democracy.

You girls,
you should not only think

of housework,
of looking after children.

You must also concern yourselves
with the affairs of our country.

I've brought you Karzai's speech.
I couldn't find one by a woman.

Karzai's speech!
Thank you very much.

But don't come here again,
people will talk about us.

Heads of state
are always conservative.

People will gossip about us.

Thank you again. Goodbye!

Please don't follow me.

People will gossip.

Please, don't follow me!

A president shouldn't beg.

Order me, and I won't come again.

OK, I order you not to follow me!

Father!

Father, they're trying
to break in!

Father, ask the truck drivers

if they have any news of Akhtar,
my husband.

Do you know Akhtar?

Have you seen Akhtar?

- What does he do?
- He's a truck driver.

How tall is he?

Medium height, with brown eyes.

His name is Akhtar.

- Have you come from Pakistan?
- Yes.

Is the president there
a man or a woman?

I don't know.

We prayed and observed Ramadan.
We are illiterate.

We went when I was seven.
I had my children there.

When they bombed us,
we took shelter in caves.

We ate one day
and went hungry the next.

Then what happened?

His truck turned over.
But he was alright.

Don't worry.

- Was he injured?
- Yes.

But don't worry.

I've seen him.
He'll be here in a day or two.

We were worried.

He'll be out of hospital soon.

Thank you very much.

Don't worry!

Can I take it?

I'm making my ablutions.

Take it.

Did you go to school or not?

Yes. The principal wants me

to wear the school uniform.

But if Father finds out,
he will argue with me.

And I don't want him to.

He will never accept

that I should study or work.

What should I do?

Forgive my sins, my God!

Let me pray!

Children, what are you doing?

Gather up your things,

we are leaving.

Leylomah!

I'm looking for water,

but I haven't found any.

Father!

I can't find any water
for your horse.

Nogreh!

Yes, Father.

Have you found any water?

No. I can hear it
but I can't see any.

Keep searching,
but look out for mines.

Have you found any?

No, Father.

I heard it dripping.
but I couldn't find it.

Nogreh, I've washed the clothes.

Bring water so I can wash the baby.

Where did you get water
for your sheep?

From the spring.
behind the palace.

- There's a spring?
- Yes.

Look. the city is overrun
with blasphemy.

Let me bring you hay.

You're a horse, a beast.
You don't understand.

Blasphemy is everywhere.

But what do you know about it?

You're an animal,
you don't understand.

But I know it.

Many have been killed,

the country lies in ruins.

Are you cold?

Let me cover you.

If you catch cold,
I'll feel responsible.

Look at the women without veils!

Blasphemy is everywhere.

You are an animal,

you don't know the difference
between blasphemy and faith.

You care only about your stomach.

You want me to bring you hay.

I'm weary of you too.

What will become of us?

He mustn't catch cold.

That will warm you up,
little one.

Sorry?

Ask him about
his president's speech.

Ask him

what his president said

to make people vote for him.

He says he doesn't know.

He doesn't know.

Then ask him

why the people voted
for the president.

What's he saying?

He says he's a soldier
and that he cannot answer.

But I know the answer.

The people didn't like
Chirac's rival.

So they had to vote for him.

- What did he do?
- He gave a military salute.

You do the same.

You have to run a poster campaign

to get people to vote for you.

I don't have any money.

We'll go to my friend
for the photos,

I'll pay him later.

Come. we'll go and take the photos.

What post will you give me
when you become President?

You can be my driver.

How generous of you!

If that doesn't suit you,

I'll be the driver
and you be President.

No. I didn't mean that!
But give me a real job.

What do you want to be?

Chief of the Military,

that's a good job. isn't it?

Our problem is that no one
is ever in his right place.

I'm a poet,
what can I do in the army?

- You're a poet?
- Yes.

If you're a poet,

I'll put you in charge
of campaign propaganda.

When you become President,

you will be in
a much better position.

Do you want me to remain
where [am?

Then I'll be the driver
and you be President.

No thank you.

I think you want to be
Prime Minister

or my personal adviser.

When I become President,
choose whatever job you like.

Smile a little!

Fix your earrings.

Now take the photo.

The paper isn't cheap,
the photos won't be either.

Just take the photo,
I'll pay you.

Look at the camera!

Take the photo.

Look at the camera!

Done!

What's this photo for?

Was that a good pose?

Take another one.

Every negative will cost you.

I'll pay you later.

Look at the camera.

- Why so many photos?
- She's running for President.

Her! She wants to be President?

Don't make me laugh!

No. I don't want to be President.

These photos are for school.

I'm standing
in the school elections.

It's true

but she wants to become President
like Benazir Bhutto.

Her? President?

What are you talking about?

Just take the photo!

Look at the camera.

Don't move.
1.2. 3. done.

In Pakistan, I saw Bhutto
reviewing the army.

I'm saying this for you. sister.

She was followed by nannies

who were holding her kids.

Everyone laughed, said her husband
was the president, not her.

It's lucky women give birth to you,

otherwise you'd say we were
incapable of doing anything.

Now look serious.

Lower your burga a little.

Don't smile,

sometimes people would rather vote
for a serious candidate.

You're taking a lot of photos.

Benazir Bhutto
didn't take so many!

In Afghanistan. we don't know
what people will vote for,

serious or friendly?

Let's have one of you smiling.

Take another one.

Politics is a serious,
brutal business.

You must look serious,

so that people
will respect you.

Look straight ahead.

Now a neutral look.

Your veil.

Cover your head.

That one,

that's the best.

Done!

A woman should stay at home.

She should do the cooking,
look after the house...

If she becomes
President of the Republic

and gets pregnant,
everyone will laugh at her.

Just take your photos

and mind your own business!

Where are you going?

Nogreh!

Wait!

You'll never succeed
if you're not patient.

What did I say? Are you angry?

We're in Afghanistan.

Even in America or Europe,

how many women become President?

Don't be angry.

Give me an important post
and I'll take you seriously.

Wait a minute!

I know you're angry with me,

but at least look at the photos

to choose one for the poster.

Do not think that those who died

for the love of God

are really dead

What's happening?

- Mina's dead.
- Dead?

Rather

they are alive
and sit beside Him

Baba, are you going to the ruins?

Get in.

Get in. girls.

Where are you going?

The city is overrun with blasphemy.

Women no longer wear their veils.

We are going
to a real Islamic city.

I'd rather die there.

Your son was killed by a mine!

It happened on a dirt road.

Hello, how are you?

Why are you putting
my photos up here?

I'm getting everything ready
for the election.

Make a good speech.

You know that
if my father sees them,

he'll be very angry with me.

They look really good,
don't they?

I can speak when I'm alone,

but I'm afraid of talking
in front of others.

I can't breathe.

My heart trembles.

I lose control.

No. I can't speak
in front of a crowd.

Listen to me.
You have to rehearse,

to prepare yourself

to speak in front of a crowd.

Presidents who make great speeches

rehearse a lot.

They practise a lot to say things
that please the people.

I'll tell you a secret.

I have to know how they prepared
their very first speeches.

It's very simple.

I heard some of them practised
in front of cattle and sheep.

Then. when they're speaking
in front of people,

they think of them as livestock.

Here's another secret.

I too practise by reciting
my poems to animals.

But animals
don't understand poetry!

Poets are inspired by Nature.

And Nature understands herself.

I've brought you a poem.

It's by a Spanish poet,
about the death of a bull.

He loved animals and poetry.

"At five in the afternoon,

"It was exactly five
in the afternoon,

"The rest was death

"and death alone.

You had promised me.

You don't keep your promises.

I never want to hear

that damned poem again.

"I want to learn to cry
like a river

"With sweet mists,

"And deep shores,

"Which will carry away
the bull's body

"The bull does not know you,

"Nor the fig tree, nor the horses,

"Nor the ants in your house

"Because you have died forever.

"Ah! That terrible five
in the afternoon!

"It was five by all the clocks,

"It was five in the shade
of the afternoon.”

"It was five in the afternoon.”

My child. I brought you here

to speak with you.

You don't understand
what I have suffered.

I cannot even sigh

because I have to conceal
from my daughter-in-law

that her husband is dead.

Now her baby is fatherless.

You cannot understand these things.

You understand only hay.

When your mate died,

you sighed.

How did you do it?

Don't do it any more!

What pain it is

to be unable to sigh!

But to sigh is also painful.

How did you learn

of the death of your mate?

Wrap the baby up tightly
s0 he doesn't catch cold.

He's not even crying.

He no longer drinks.

What can I do?

It was the wrong time
to leave the city.

If my husband comes,
he won't be able to find us.

He won't find us.

What will we do?

We should have waited in the city,

then left together.

Do you hear me?

If my husband arrives
in the city,

he won't be able to find us.

We will be lost to each other.

Do you hear me?

The horse is hungry.

The load is too heavy.

The cart won't hold out any longer.

The horse is weighed down,

he's overburdened.

I'm going to get down
to save him.

Father, the baby isn't crying.

He is sleeping.

He's not even moving.

It's cold, he's sleeping.

What will I do if he dies?

Touch the baby, he's frozen.

Touch his hand.

He's never been this cold.

His whole body is frozen,
he's frozen.

Look. Feel him.

My child,

my grandson is frozen.

How can I make a fire?

You understand only hay.

Leylomah,

don't cry.

When someone sleeps soundly,
does it mean he is dead?

I tell you he isn't dead,
he will awaken.

Leylomah, don't cry.

The baby isn't dead.

He will wake up.

Look. over there!

God has sent us someone.

Maybe he will...

Maybe he will have mercy on us.

No need to cover yourselves,
he's an old man.

Greetings.

Greetings, my son.

Do you have water?

Over the hill. next to the tree.

There's a little water.

Nogreh, go and look for water.

Leylomah, go with her

to fetch water for the animals.

Where were you going?

Kandahar.

What's wrong with your donkey?

He's sick with hunger and thirst.

He is dying.

We journeyed together
for four months.

He is dying.
I am going to...

Where am I going?

To Kandahar.

There was no water...

No villages...

Where is the road to Kandahar?

Why were you going to Kandahar?

To see Mollah Omar.

They're holding a council
of wise men...

to decide...

whether or not...

to release Bin Laden
to the Americans.

I do not want to hand over

a Muslim to American infidels.

You are very late.

Bin Laden is our guest,
and he is a Muslim.

He should not be killed
by the infidels.

You are too late, my friend.

Go back the way you have come.

America has invaded Afghanistan!

Bin Laden and Mollah Omar

have fled.

Blasphemy reigns in Kabul.

As if God had died.

God forgive me.

God's wrath has descended.

It is as if Kabul
has opened its mouth

to swallow all God's creatures
in a single gulp.

God does not die.

God does not die.

Donkeys die.

Bulls die.

Seas can dry up.

Seas can die.

The entire city is overrun
with blasphemy,

as if God himself
had grown profane.

My God,
take back what you have loaned me.

Nothing!

No more villages!

No one to show me the way.

I am lost!

There are no more villages...

so I will sit here forever.

Ah! That terrible five
In the afternoon!

It is five by all the clocks!

It is five in the shade
of the afternoon.

With: Atefeh REZA

Abdolali YOSSEFLALI

Marzieh AMIRI

Screenplay: Samira MAKHMALBAF

from a novel
by Mohsen MAKHMALBAF

Assistant director:
Marzieh MESHKINI

D.P.: Ebrahim GHAFORI

Sound: Faroukh FADAI
and Behrouz SHAHAMAT

Music: Mohamad Reza DARVISHI

Editor: Mohsen MAKHMALBAF

Producer:
Syamak ALAGHEBAND

Lab: Studio FILMSAZ

Produced by: Makhmalbaf Film House
and Exception-Wild Bunch

Executive Producers:
Vincent MARAVAL and Jean LABADIE

Director: Samira MAKHMALBAF

Translation: Mamad HAGHIGHAT

Processed by L.V.T - Paris