Original subtitles

Hadi Dibaji

Kamran Tafti

Ladan Mostofi

Siamak Atlasi Ali Osivand

Hassan Mehmahi Morteza Masjed Jameii, Habib Mozafari

Mohsen Nabavi Saghi Zinati, Nobar Ghanbarian

LIFELINE

Asst. Production Manager: Mahmood Ebrahimzadeh Production Supervisor: Amir Noroozi

Special Visual Effects: Babak Mir Farahnak Technical Supervision: Adel Shahkhan

Lab Services: Filmzas Co.

Set and Costume Designer: Hooman Masoomi Make-up Artist: Hosein Salehian

Still: Behrooz Badrooj Continuity: Samira Shakoori

Asst. Director: Hamid Reza Ghotbi Production Coordinator: Ali Masoomi

Music Score: Masood Sakhavatdoost

Sound Recordist/Mix: Asghar Abgoon

Edited by: Hamid Najafi Rad Mohamad Ebrahim Moayeri

Director of Cinematography: Nader Masoomi

Produced by: Jahangir Kosari

Writer & Director Mohammad Ebrahim Moayyeri

Hello, brother!

Hello, how are you? - Fine.

Where's Mom? - Hello, son! How lovely to see you.

I was happy you finished school. Why did you pick this job?

Mom! This is for my internship. It is useful for people.

Wasn't it enough that we lost your dad in this job?

Eat your dinner, brother!

But Mom is upset.

I love you son, eat your food!

Hey, bring some tea over here. - At your service, Mr. Mojerloo.

Here's fresh tea.

Hello!

Bring some lemons!

I'll have you insured. Ok?

Hi! You'll get the stops tomorrow. Ok?

Ok.

I need three technicians for the Galugah power line.

I'll come.

Who's coming? The route is to heaven. Who's coming?

Mojerloo! If you raise the pay, more men will come.

No way. Everything is calculated. The power line is close to the city.

I have Saman.

I need two linemen, one for the overhead and one to work down.

Who needs a job?

Sir! I said I'll come.

Emran? Down or up? Ok, down.

No, I already worked on lower sections. I want up.

Be careful not to fall!

Sir! I can cook and I can carry iron beams to the base,

but I want Sistan power line's pay.

But Sistan...

But I'll be working two jobs, Sir!

Ok. Morteza too.

Mojerloo! Since the line isn't too far, I won't bargain over the pay, I'll come.

Early tomorrow morning all be ready to start work.

You go ahead! I'll catch up.

Ok.

Hello.

Hello.

The rug is turning out so beautifully.

Here's Saman. - Hello to all!

Hello!

Fereydoon! Sit here!

I study high-voltage electrical power.

What sizearm should be used on this plan?

The last corner piece had a different size.

Are we all set, Mr. Mojerloo? - Yes, we'll leave tomorrow morning.

Who's the second lineman? - Emran is your co-worker.

How are you?

Welcome to the group. Fereydoon is with us too.

Rostam! Ask him to stop. I want to visit my dad's gravesite.

Why not? Stop, Mojerloo!

Let's visit out senior linemen's graves.

Thank you.

Now let go.

Be careful!

Loosen up the wires!

That's enough.

Go up! Be careful.

Enough. Come up!

Go up, Feyredoon!

Next one.

I'll fasten this. You go up help them!

Be careful! Use your left hand!

Do I have it right?

You have it upside down. Don't let go!

Turn it the other way!

Good. Be careful.

Good job, Jabar.

Here are bolts.

Morteza! Couldn't you have cooked the peas last night to save time?

Oh what wonderful lunch we got.

Give it, Morteza!

Look how he eats.

He ate little meals in college but now indulges in beef stew.

I never had such good stew before. - Thanks for the compliment.

So, tell me what's your plan doing this job?

I have to work in different areas for my internship.

Bravo. So what?

He wants to write his experiences from this job. He has to fill his notebooks.

Push it!

Put a stone under it! Push! So it won't slide back.

Good job, guys.

Have some acorn you little squirrel!

Oh God! I was almost falling.

This tower is done.

This side is finished too.

(song) The black tailed crow caws and informs the city.

What nice water. Can we swim, Mojerloo?

We have no baths there. Let's just bathe here.

Ok. Go ahead.

Head under water!

Push his head into the water! Yes, down!

I told you many times, tie one on the left and one on the right.

Another threat to Earth these days involves droughts and uncontrollable floods.

Worry over these conditions brings new challenges for world community.

Are the plates ready? - Yes.

What are you listening to? - News.

What are they saying?

Social issues and disputes,

war, politics, economy...

That we'll have a billion hungry people by 2012.

That's some figure, Saman.

What are we then? Third world or fourth?

Something like that.

1/5, 2/5 or 2.75 billion or what?

Give it to me.

Go up, guys! Go up, Saman!

Should I go up too?

Yes, go up. Prepare the plates for cross-arms!

Mojerloo! Watch for the plan not to blow away.

World organizations have asked the youths and researchers to study

the condition of natural resources, plant species, water and soil.

Go on up and I'll give you the plates.

Floods, drought and damage to plant and animal species

are in most cases preventable.

Get a few wrenches, Rostam! The guys need tools up there.

By implementing cultural research,

there is hope that nature destruction can be controlled.

One corner piece is missing here.

Some kebab it will be. - What is it?

A pheasant. - It's tomorrow's lunch.

Guys! Look what Morteza got. - Don't kill nature. It's a sin.

I worked hard to set up a trap.

Wait till you eat the pheasant stew and you'll thank me.

It's a sin. Let it go.

No, Emran. Don't let it go! Wait, Emran!

What's going on? Get back to work!

Emran! Where are you taking it? Wait, Emran!

Firmly... Squeeze it!

I'll tell you a story but don't get scared.

Say it!

We were setting up pylons in Kashan. A power line with 93 pylons.

I was with my cousin.

We were hanging onto the cables with our soles.

A lightning struck.

My cousin got so scared that his hands slipped. He had no belt.

He fell down. God bless his soul.

He's got a 4 year old kid.

Since then I always fasten my belt.

Good thing.

Firmly... Yes, good.

Get up, guys! Get up! Morteza! Get the tea ready!

Hi!

Get up, Yadi! The earth is humid.

It makes you think you had little sleep.

Faster, Morteza... Get up, Emran!

Don't shout at them! They're not slaves.

Watch your steps! Walk slowly!

Slowly... It'll fall.

Did you tell him?

I will know.

It is good, needs a wrench now.

Say it, Rostam!

This town isn't far from the city. I miss my family.

Just give us a day off. Let's enjoy life.

Did you hear that?

Pick up these bolts!

Guys! Linemen's Land Cruiser is so cool.

I'll become a lineman when I grow up. - How nice. What are you here for?

To cut extra saplings and plant in our school garden.

We're metal men and they're tree guys.

Are you a sheep to chew grass?

Are you comfortable, Mojerloo? - Yes. What about you?

Hope you'll have a comfortable afterlife too!

Such magical hands. What a pretty pattern.

It is a 'Marigol' pattern.

I'll buy it. Of course I'll just keep it.

It shoudn't be stepped on. It is for my bride.

What's taking so long buying a rug? - Quiet! He'll hear you.

Don't miss it too much. You'll see it very soon.

Ok, let me go talk to her.

No, wait till her customers leave.

Mehran! Come. Take this rug. Thank you.

Hello! - No, no.

Listen to the lady!

Saman has excellent taste.

Thanks to this lady's fingers.

With your permisson.

Thanks a lot.

Take care.

Oh, how are you?

Hi, Saman! - What are you doing here?

So Saman - the lineman - bought a rug? - Don't be funny. How are you?

Fine. - What're you doing here?

That's my mother. She's talking to her.

Does she want a rug?

Maybe. Pretty rugs.

Yes, and I got the prettiest one. And I will get her too.

I'll see you on the tower tomorrow.

Bye, little one.

Working on power line towers is different every day.

There're no fixed rules. Sometimes unpredictabe things happen.

Start work! Check the cables first!

Up there keep your eyes wide open. Don't fall asleep.

We need iron at the base.

Why are you sitting here? I heard you're in love.

Girls won't wait until you set up 1000 pylons. They fall in love several times.

Get up and go there.

Take it to the tractor.

This is tight. Should I come up?

Hunting and cutting trees is prohibited. Tell the others too.

Ok, Sir.

We linemen have certain words...

...that you'd feel with all your heart upon hearing.

I mean, you'd understand what we mean.

So? - Make it tighter.

So, you're a spoled city guy.

You need to learn other stuff too while doing your homework.

Wait! That needs another bolt. - So, what are the words?

You'll get it. Pay close attention. We say words that we stick by a lifetime.

These things are rare in colege.

You have to be among people to get a good grasp like that wrench in your hand.

If you stay with us longer it'll sink in.

Fasten this.

Yes, make it tight.

Come forward! Be careful!

I have you. Don't be afraid. You won't fall.

Good. Turn it with your other hand! That's good.

What's going on there? Is it a flour factory or a mine?

That's pylon 68 and 69. We'll go blind there.

But is there a base around there?

My balanced eyes say yes.

Hey, how dare you stop work when I'm here?

Oh, back off! - Rostam!

They'll do their job without you too. - How do these pylons get erected then?

Do you do that? They're doing their job and chatting a little.

Fasten that! Watch your step!

Rostam! Ask Mojerloo if he's seen the whole power line route

or just the start and end? - He's seen it all.

Has he seen all the bases? - What do you mean?

It looks like volcanic dust over there.

A pylon base is probably there.

Not everywhere has bases.

That's his job, he knows. Go find out what's going on.

Ok, I'm hungry now and have to eat lunch.

Walk there, Mojerloo!

So I saw every other one. I don't need to see them all.

Then we'll fasten every other nut. Won't it collapse on you then?

Then I'll pay you for every other day. I can't walk 80 kilometers.

Linemen should erect pylons at every base.

Let's have lunch!

It's all dust here.

There's no way. Go back!

Let's not hit anyone.

I hope the bases aren't in the mine area.

Don't go! Turn back! He can't see us! Turn back! Go this way!

Oh God! They're right in the middle of our job.

Dust will prevent us from working. - That's what I was afraid of.

Close the mine for 8 hours and we'll set up the pylon.

What do you mean? They won't shut down.

They're complaining about the bases there.

We're lucky if they don't demolish our pylons.

We've set up many tough pylons. This is one of them.

There're three more left. Convince them!

They won't agree, Rostam! A lineman sets up pylons. That's it.

Don't snore here! Go to bed!

Give him some kebab!

Guys! This pylon is finished too.

To the left.

It's falling! Run!

Why don't you tighten the cables?

Everybody ok down there?

I set up 3000 pylons in 50 years, but I've never seen it like this.

I set up some tough pylons before.

Sometimes I had to warn the guys that I'd regret if I didn't.

This white hair and experience tell me not to leave room for regrets.

Fereydoon! Kiumars! You wait too long for each other.

Your muscles get tired. Try to be tuned with each other.

Tomorrow, you may have to rub your eyes.

Then the ropes or parts may become loose and put all of us in danger.

Emran! Saman! Keep an eye on each other more often.

Pay attention! Tomomow visibility is poor. Look after each other.

Once a bolt wasn't tight. The person wanted to grab the corner but he fell.

The next person wanted to save him, but fell too.

You remember Saber and Davood.

Morteza! Make some masks of white cloth!

Wash them well tonight and deliver tomorrow!

Give everyone hot milk at 10 and 4 o'clock!

Ok, Sir.

Yadi! Don't go under the structure. I won't either.

There's chance of iron parts falling.

But you!

We'll wake up while the stars still shine in the sky and leave with our tools to the bases.

We can work for 2 hours before the mine opens.

The bulldozers work on their own.

The compressors have other owners and the mine owner says no pylons there.

So, we won't be working there tomorrow?

What? No pylons?

You're not familiar with the law on pylons.

For full payments, the powerline route has to be completed.

A lineman leaves no pylon out.

In 2006 in Shalamcheh, we had 6 km of power line in a minefield.

Our men set them up. This is just one.

Isn't it so, Yadi? You remember the war.

But tomorrow, we're not working in a minefield.

Let's be alert and God will help us.

You heard what Rostam said. End of meeting.

Get off, guys! Hammer the nails, fasten the cables, take up the jin-pol.

Hurry, guys!

Open the ropes!

This is one of those pylons I told you about.

Today we have to fight.

If we make it, I'll have a word with you on that hill tomorrow.

These men are quite spiteful today. - What're they saying?

Don't come forward! Just keep working!

You can't work here. We already told you.

Listen! We have permits.

Besides, the base is already concreted.

You can't erect pylons in our work environment.

But people need electricity and industry over there. What's all the commotion for?

Get your stuff out and leave! Quit talking!

Let's talk calmly. Rostam! You're the eldest, so talk.

When plans were drawn, the mine was elsewhere.

Now it is here! Quit your work! We have to start work!

Stay back! Be humans! This mountain and forest belongs to everyone.

You guys scrape mountains and we set up pylons in the forest.

This is for the country's advancement.

Let's be wise. Won't we all die eventually?

This is our permit. We'll legally resolve any problems.

Bring a 91! Hurry up!

Here.

Yadi! Go bring a 91! - I brought a 91, Sir. Look well!

Your glasses are dusty. Clean them!

What's with you two? Don't you see our work condition?

It's his fault. He's not attentive.

Push the plan aside! Yadi! Mind your own job!

Iron is falling down.

Be careful!

It was almost hitting his head.

Here.

Thanks.

We were lucky.

Morteza! Who told you to stand under the pylon?

You said.

When did I tell you to stand there? Just handle your kitchen.

It'll get worse. They'll get mad at us.

If you were an overhead worker, you would have become a lineman by now,

not a cook down here.

Mojerloo! I can't.

Up there, Emran works with almost closed eyes and the parts are mishandled.

I brought glasses for you guys to wear.

Dust will settle on the glasses.

Either call it off or talk to them to close down the mine!

They won't accept.

Get up! Get done with this pylon!

Water faucet is here.

Sir! We shut down the mine. The dust will settle down.

Is it shut down? - Yes.

Go up!

You can't imagine the hell I was in yesterday. It was the worst pylon of my life.

Amidst the dust up there. It was terrible. How are you, Fery?

You're our honor. You're right whatever you say.

Hi, Saman! - Saman is going to propose.

Hush! Be quiet! Be polite. Gently, greet from behind the door.

Ok, we'll just smile.

It's ok. I'll wait.

My Mom takes this rug wherever she goes, even on trips.

It's hand-woven from 60 years ago. My mother made it when she was Molood's age.

I like to use it all the time.

This rug was woven with motherly love and patience.

Natural colors and Iranian design. Naturally, I like to have it all the time.

The pattern is a "Marigol".

What? "Marigol"?

"Marigol" was a woman who loved a man years ago, but he had to leave.

So, Marigol wove a rug in the years she waited for him.

Don't upset yourself! I'll ask the stores around.

I'll go this way to ask.

Don't you think it is a dangerous job?

Of course it is, especially for overhead linemen.

I've heard stories from linemen's families,

but now it is different.