Original subtitles

Listen, are you listening? Answer me then

Listen to the boy finding out about the plants of his roots

As he always wanted. Feel his ground and the weather of his country

Everyone needs an origin, a sense of mission

Listen, are you listening? Answer me then

Tell me the reason for all this noise

In Cape Verde the government eats and drinks

Leaves nothing for those who vote

Money is not where it’s needed

Getting up early to go Get with your life

Give yourself to work so the "help" can come

The "help" they take because what’s yours is not

Give yourself to work so you can have some more

Who’s running our country? Not serious, just bad

influences that they feed us and we keep eating

Our women need to care they're body and soul

Free from judgment, out of the limbo

Be Creole, women in arms True mother of children

Strong mind, firm body Focused on the objective

Listen, are you listening? Answer me then

Give our land the real value For that’s the real culture

With Orlando Pantera more tradition, no war

Unity, the only way to achieve satisfaction

- Jesus! - Jesus, what?

I asked you to come and this is how you show up?

How do you want me to dress?

- Like a regular person. - I look like a person of decent methods.

- Methods? Like you have them. - I sure do.

I'm like that Frank Sinatra song, "It's My Way."

You're always pulling some shit. You look like a clown.

I'm always waiting around for you.

Like I have to wait forever for you brother.

Yeah, right.

- So did you do that right? - Sure.

You think you know everything. I'm gonna teach you how to do it.

I'm gonna teach you.

Go in your store, kid. I'll wait for you here.

This is the life.

Sales.

This one has a lipstick like yours. Look.

- It's my great sense of style. - In India ink.

- Look at them spending all that money. - Did you see me flirting with the woman?

- Get some too. - No way. I don't want to ruin my nails.

Why does it ruin them?

They do it in the same way they do teeth, right? That's dentist's equipment.

Look, your cousin’s here. So beautiful.

Is this the store?

You stay outta here.

Stay there.

You really think you have it.

- Good morning madam. - Hi.

Hold on.

Let me see how many pieces you have. You can only take five.

Which ones do you want to take?

Thank you. Let me look.

- You can go in. - Thank you madam.

- Security! - Where?

Where’s security?

- Were you going to leave with the jacket? - No, I wanted to see where he was too.

- You need any help? - Yeah, I'm too hot.

It's hot, right?

- I don't remember where this was. - Just give it to me.

Good afternoon, young man. Do you mind coming with me?

- I haven't done anything. - What?

- I haven't done anything. - OK.

- Please respect my work. - I do.

Let's go.

- What is this, man? - Take off your coat, please.

- Why do you have this? - Take off your coat.

You think I didn't see? I saw you taking things from the clothes rack.

- Is this from the store? - No.

- Take off your shirt. - No way, I'm cold.

Jesus, how many layers do you have on?

Sorry, man. This guy has lots of clothes on.

- No, this is not ours. - You're making us waste our time.

- Get the hell out. - Put my clothes back on.

- Hurry up, Miguel. - Shut up.

Miguel, it can’t be. Are you Miguel?

Yes, madam. How do you know my name?

- Are you Miguel's son? - Yes, how did you know him?

I knew your father when we lived in Cape Verde.

Do you have a photo of him?

No, don't you know him?

No.

Your father was a bit of a player and a scoundrel. He liked the good life.

- Are you like that too? - No, I'm a good boy.

OK, then. Bye.

Come along, you really want to stay here longer?

- Who was that? - I don't know.

Some impressive shit! I owned that store.

- Who gave you the store? Tibars right here. - It wasn't you. It was my intelligence.

- What the fuck? - Great shirt.

- Joana. - I'll show you.

I've wanted this for a long time. What?

- What about me? What have you got me? - Nothing. I'll get you some next time.

Next time you'll ask Frank Sinatra to steal with you.

- You only stole shit. Nothing for me. - I brought only stuff I like.

- Here, you can have those panties. - You have shit taste.

Each to their own.

You weren't even three when your mother left you with me.

I was the one who took care of you.

She disappeared and never came back.

I didn't even know who your father was.

Until one day a man came

saying that your father was in prison, that he knew him

and that you looked a lot like him.

He asked you if you wanted to meet him. That made you really happy.

When the man said that on Sunday he'd take you, you barely slept.

I got up and got you ready.

You looked all smart to go see you father.

When you got there they told you that you couldn't see him.

He wasn't feeling well.

When we heard, he was already in Cape Verde. They had deported him.

You were very sad when you came back. You almost wouldn't talk.

Wait car.

This is pretty cool.

Yeah.

- Good afternoon, granny. - Good afternoon.

You take me for a fool but I'm no fool.

I bought a trip to Cape Verde.

How are you going to get there?

- Who's going with you? - I'm going alone.

- With what money? - What I make doing construction.

I'm going to try to find him. If I don't, I don't.

Now you know you have a father in Cape Verde.

Now that you're a grown man and could help me out

you want to go away?

Now you know you have a father in Cape Verde.

You never thought about that before.

Now you care.

Let's see if you do there what you do here.

You have money now, just go to Cape Verde.

Who knows if you'll even come back. You'll stay there with your father.

Granny?

And we'd even help carrying their cans on our heads.

I remember being a child and gathering wood.

We'd take cabbage and cachupa from the day before.

We'd take that and eat it. We were happy.

The kids today in Portugal, they get everything and they ask for more.

If we gave them cachupa in the morning, they'd never eat it.

They just want bread and they keep asking things.

They have everything, but they have nothing.

If we gave them cachupa in the morning, who would eat it?

Even bread with just butter they say no to.

They want bread with butter, ham, cheese.

No matter how much you give them, they always want more.

If they had grown up in my time,

when there was nothing, they'd have to make do.

But these kids today

they don't even know how easy they have it.

Only I know what I've been through.

My mother and I, just the two of us, what she gave me was enough.

Little or a lot, to me it was always a lot.

I knew she couldn't give more.

He's from the island of Santiago.

Don't know from where exactly, but he's not from the other islands.

He has a sister in Praia.

And she has a place in the Brazil neighborhood.

When you go there ask for the Vieira Ramos family.

But who is she? Tell me her name.

He's Miguel. And she's Tininha.

Tininha.

You go there and ask for the whole family.

They'll welcome you right.

Since they never met you as a child

you have to be the one to look for them.

I think they'll welcome you.

Since they never met you as a child and couldn't help you then,

I think they'll welcome you with open arms.

They don't know you but it's not their fault.

That's just how life goes.

You were speaking a different Creole.

Are you from Cape Verde?

No, I was born in Portugal. I came here looking for my roots.

- So you're not from here. - I'm from here.

No, you were born there. I can tell by your Creole.

- OK, but I'm from here. - No, you're not. You were born there.

- I was born there but that was all. - And that's a lot.

I bet you have portuguese documents.

Actually, no. I have a passport from Cape Verde.

Does that mean that besides being portuguese, you're also illegal?

No, I'm not portuguese. I'm Cape Verdean. And yes, I'm illegal.

In Portugal. That's normal there.

But you're still not from here.

Yes, I am.

- No, you're not. - Yes, I am.

- So prove it. - Want me to prove it?

Have you ever touched shark or dolphin skin? You know how their skin is so soft.

No, right? Then touch this.

Go easy on it. I don't want you ruining my skin.

Is that soft or what?

See? You're even glowing. Hey, don't take me with you.

See?

Enough.

Is it good or what?

- Is it good or what? - Yes, you were right.

- Am I cape verdean then? - Yes.

Would you like another grogue or a estomperado?

I can see you're feeling good. Can I get you anything else?

- No. Maybe just a beer. - A beer?

Some nice cool beer coming out.

- Do you want some cachupa? - You have cachupa? Yes, please.

If you want anything else, just call me. Now excuse me.

Check the team from Cape Verde.

Sorry.

- Can you give me a lift? - I don't know.

- Where are you heading? - Praia.

I'm going there too.

Come on up then so they can close the door.

- Where are you coming from? - I've just arrived from Portugal.

- Is this your first time in Cape Verde? - Yeah, I came to know my roots.

- Do you have a lot of family here? - I came to find out. I don't know.

- Are your parents from here? - My dad.

For how long were in Portugal?

I was born there. I'm 25 now. This is my first time here.

That's the Parliament.

I want nothing to do with politics.

- That has nothing to do with politics. - What is it then?

It's a place of stealing.

Not stealing exactly, more like embezzling.

Rich people embezzle, it's the poor who steal.

A grogue, please.

The third circuit, the rational, mediates reason.

The part of the brain that controls the first circuit is the oldest.

They call it the "reptilian brain".

These neurological structures have been used by us, by our brain, for millions of years.

The part of the brain that controls the second circuit

appeared with the first amphibians and mammals, around 1 billion years ago.

It is called the "mammalian brain".

The semantic circuit has only appeared some 100 000 years ago.

Carl Sagan called it the "human brain". It should come as no surprise to most people

to know that they're mainly controlled by their oldest circuits:

the reptilian and the mammalian.

The semantic or rational circuit is more easily duped.

Originating in the brain cortex,

it is often perverted or deceived in many ways.

That is the case of logical fallacies, intolerant ideologies,

or any type of fanaticism.

When our circuit of bio-survival feels that life is under threat

or our emotional circuit feels that the status is at risk

that's when it's easiest to deceive it.

Jesus, I haven't got the picture yet, but I can already tell it's all grey.

No need to take any more. Here it's all blue, green and orange.

Bright colors, you know?

You turn left here, turn right up there and it's a yellow door.

- Tininha who used to sell cachupa? - But there are a lot of lefts and rights.

Yeah, but it's a left here, then a right and you'll see a yellow door.

- You don't know where it is. - No.

- Want someone to go with you? - Please.

Go with him and show him where Tininha's place was.

So you know my aunt Tininha? No?

You don't know her? Really?

We have to go right.

OK. Sorry.

Come on kid.

Kid?

So where's Tininha's place? There?

Good evening.

Good evening.

I'm looking for Tininha.

- Tininha? - Yes.

Wait a bit.

Good evening. I'm Tininha's nephew.

I'm Tininha's nephew too.

Can I offer you a grogue?

Let's go sit outside where it's cooler.

This grogue is pretty good.

But we have to drink it slowly.

You have to take in its aroma.

You have to know how to use it in moderation.

Grogue is both friend and enemy.

If you drink pure grogue, like straight from the cane.

The real deal.

A glass first thing in the morning.

If you take that, it cures any diseases.

But if it's shit grogue, then it'll harm you.

It'll ruin your stomach.

And then you can't eat.

You just can't eat.

So you drink again.

It affects your psyche and messes with your head.

Turns you into an enemy of your own family.

Grogue is the enemy of people.

I'm sorry. My condolences. I didn't know Tininha had died.

That's good.

Tininha died a year ago. Yesterday it was the mass for her soul.

We didn't tell anyone because we didn't know she had family.

You don't know if she had any other family here?

In Praia?

We've never heard of any family in Praia.

We only knew about her family in Tarrafal.

-In Tarrafal? - Yes.

Wait, finish your coffee and we'll talk some more. Wait here.

Tarrafal.

Have a seat.

Thank you.

Going to Tarrafal? No? OK, thank you.

- Hi. Are you going to Tarrafal? - No, Assomada.

OK. Thank you.

- Tarrafal? - Tarrafal.

- And how much is it? - 500 escudos.

- OK. Can I come in? - Yes.

Tarrafal. The car's full.

Assomada. Tarrafal.

- Just seat on my lap then. - Sorry.

OK?

Good afternoon. Sorry.

Good afternoon.

Cíntia, 450. I sure played him.

- Not everyone has what it takes. - What are you looking at?

You've got some nerve. You come in here, make a racket and don't want me to look.

Do you have to look at us like that? It's like you're eating us with your eyes.

- Now, don't put me down, OK? - OK, don't put me down either.

- Don't touch me. - You can touch me but I can't touch you?

Careful. There are three of us.

Do you want to steal from me? Right here in the car?

What's your name, rastafarian?

Bob Marley?

Are all rastafarians called Bob Marley?

Of course. It's the first name that comes to my mind.

- My name is John. - John.

- Sun. - What?

Sun.

- Sissy. - Zizzy?

- Sissy. - Xixi (pee)?

Cíntia.

It's obvious you're not from here.

I arrived from Portugal the day before yesterday.

Portuguese! You've got the foreign scent on you.

No, I don't smell like a foreigner.

Relax, I'm visiting. I'm not portuguese.

Ok, so you're visiting then you're a foreigner.

I came to stay here.

You've been deported? It's written all over you.

You are the ones who have been deported to Tarrafal.

- There's a big party tonight. - I wanna see that.

- I wanna go to that party. - What party?

The one tonight.

- Stop. - It'll be good. There'll be food.

- So they'll have lots of food? - Yeah. Beans and xeren.

I'm getting hungry actually.

Touch your own hair. Or their fake hair.

You're wearing weaves just to make buns?

What brand is that fake hair?

You never had any strands falling out?

Maybe your hair falls out a lot. Not mine.

My hair only falls out when I cut it.

The same is true for ours.

No, if your hair falls out, it's because it fell out of place.

It's from another person who lent it or rented it to you.

No, we buy it.

When you rent, you have to give it back.

- So, you’ve done that before? - No, you're the one who's saying we did.

You buy hair from other people, wrapped in plastic.

- It's not made of plastic. - It's human.

- Not plastic, 100% human. - Mine comes from humanity.

You leave here.

Later, don't forget.

Go to the beach. Go.

Go left.

That's it.

“Doucement”.

I say "doucement" and they all run.

- Who? - Vieira Ramos.

- Vieira? - Ramos.

- Vieira? - Ramos.

Vieira Ramos.

What about an address?

They told me they lived here in Tarrafal, but they didn't really give me an address.

His name is Miguel.

I don't know them.

You really have no address?

Have they been here long?

The name is clear enough.

There's no doubt about the name but

that family doesn't live here.

- It's a shame. - Thank you.

Three plates.

- Don't burn me. - Just hold that bowl.

Relax. Just go for it.

Vieira Ramos. Vieira Ramos.

Are you planning to jump?

- If you jump with me, I might. - No, you're going alone.

What about Tarrafal? Are you liking it?

Tarrafal is beautiful. I didn't think it'd be like this.

- Yes, Santiago's Tarrafal is cool. - Santiago's?

- Are there others? - There are two more.

- Where? - In São Nicolau and in Santo Antão.

- So do you have Facebook? - Yeah, I do.

What it is it? So I can add you as a friend.

No, you give me yours.

I'll send the request and we'll be connected.

You just write: John Tibars Africa 90z.

Why such a long name?

- Because it has a long story too. - There's a story behind it?

- Several, actually. - Summarize then, if it's long.

Even a summary would be too long.

Even a summary? Let me sit straight.

Go ahead, come closer.

- A summary would be too long? - Yes, super long.

You have to know me first.

You'll get to know me little by little and then you'll understand.

So did you like the party?

- It was great but it isn't over yet. - The night is still young.

The girls are still high and the boys have lost control.

- Good morning, madam. - Good morning.

Do you know where the girls that were with me yesterday are?

They're gone.

And they left the bill for you to pay.

They took all my money.

I had hidden some money but it's in euros.

You can keep that.

Then let me help you to make up for it.

I can pick up the trash, do the dishes, clean the place.

There are some dirty dishes in the backyard.

- Can I go do that then? - Yes, go.

So, Vieira Ramos. And what's his first name?

It's Miguel. That's why I'm called Miguel too.

Miguel Vieira Ramos. What does he work on?

He might be a fisherman.

- What? Your father is a fisherman? - Maybe.

Maybe.

If I can't find him on land maybe I'll find him at sea.

- You don't know anything? - No.

- Who raised you? - My grandma.

And she didn't tell you what he did before?

She only told me bad things about him. That he was no good.

- No good? - She didn't say much.

She never really said anything specific.

If you find your father, as I'm sure you will

will you want to stay here or will you go back to Portugal?

- I don't know. - Come on, boy, this land is great.

I'm not in any hurry, but I don't know.

What about the broth? Good, no?

Yeah, it's good broth.

- Is the hunger gone? - Better now.

What did you do in Portugal?

Nothing.

- Did you leave school? - School wasn't for me.

Let's get a cane so we can drink

For us who are drinkers and know how to drink

If we drink we die If we don't drink we die

We might as well drink then So we can die drunk

If we drink we die If we don't drink we die

We might as well drink then So we can die drunk

Let's get a cane so we can drink

For us who are drinkers and know how to drink

Let's get a cane so we can drink

For us who are drinkers and know how to drink

If we drink we die If we don't drink we die

We might as well drink then So we can die drunk

Hey, kiddo!

You look like a boy I know.

- Really? - A boy I know.

Where from?

You look like a boy from Praia.

Come here.

- Are you ok? - Give me your blessing.

You look like a boy. From Praia.

Really?

What's his name?

Now, you know.

You know, there's something wrong with my leg.

Your leg isn't good?

I have a cow, goats, sheep. If you want to stay there.

- You want my help? - Yes.

- Ok. Are you going to São Nicolau? - Yes. So they don't go hungry!

You have to gather hay and give it to them every day.

And water. You have to take care of everything.

But I stay with you? And help you out?

Yes. You have to get hay and feed them.

- But I sleep there then? - Yes, that too.

OK, I'll help you. Do you live there all by yourself?

Yes. No. I have a cow.

But it limps like me too. It's got no strength left.

I'll help you. But I have to sleep there. I've got nowhere else to go.

By the grace of God, I have a bed, I have water.

I have no bathroom though.

No problem. I'll help you.

Yes, my son. We'll be all comfortable in our little house.

You'll see.

No.

No.

I'll slap you.

Does the cow eat now too?

- The cow? - After that you'll get more for the cow.

Put that in between them.

You don't even know how to pound.

Your woman will leave you. You don't know how to grind.

You won't even have her.

Grind, grind.

Grind that properly. You'll be eating that cachupa.

- Am I not grinding this right? - Do it like that.

So, now I'm doing it right.

Look.

Pestle, pestle.

You've thrown your half on the floor.

No, it was only a little. Only two grains fell.

- Just two? - Two, maybe three, little grains.

- Here's your plate. - I'm not hungry.

So don't eat now. But you'll eat after you've smoked.

No, I'm strong.

Then leave it and eat it after you've smoked.

- I'll put it here and have a smoke first. - After that, you have to eat it.

- One shouldn't eat cold food. - I like cold cachupa.

My breakfast is cachupa

and a cup of coffee.

Then I go work.

I eat my cachupa cold.

- I eat my cachupa cold. - No, cachupa should be eaten hot.

- No. Hot coffee. - Hot coffee and cold cachupa?

- It's good, you hear me? - I believe you.

Granny, I've looked all over and haven't found the boy

that you said looked like me.

- You have to wear yourself out trying. - I'm tired of looking.

- I've looked all over Tarrafal. - Well, you'll find him there.

I'll go and I'll come back. Don't wait up for me. It'll be a late night.

You just rest. Everything's done.

You know more than me, I don't have to teach you.

- Be careful. I'll be watching over you. - Good night. Sleep well.

When you come back you'll find good coffee waiting for you.

It's there, it's already done. You just have to heat it up. The beans too.

I'll wrap something for you too.

Ok, thank you. Good night.

- Have you had “bongolon”? - Yes, I eat it in Portugal.

Have you had “codjon”?

- I eat everything. - You eat everything?

- And leave nothing? - Nothing.

No rice, no beans, no meat.

- But have you eaten that other thing? - What other thing?

- Cooch. - What?

Cooch.

What's that, mom? I don't know what that is.

Pussy.

Oh, mom. Oh, Maria Antónia. you are crazy.

When I drink and the "wine" loosens my tongue,

that's when I tell the truth.

You're rude then?

Don't call me rude. Call me dangerous.

Why are you dangerous?

When they mess with me and I've had some grogue...

They push my buttons and I show them all.

- Just like that? - Yes.

You give it to them straight?

They drink too,

or do you think I'm the only one drinking grogue?

We are a people.

We are a people.

You shouldn't hide your vices.

You should not hide your vices.

We all drink it.

We all drink grogue.

Grogue, right?

Man is blind. That much is certain.

A man, alone, is blind.

That much is certain. That we know.

You know that, right?

In those ancient times, some went to the mountains.

When my dog died I didn't cry.

But I thought about that. I thought about the mountains.

The people that fled to the mountains hid their houses.

Dog, goat, cow.

They raised goats and cows. They lived off of corn, papaya and cassava.

We had a good life.

Me, you, your family.

My dog was white.

Your father ran away. He was black.

We are all fugitives.

Since that time we haven't stopped running.

Your father. The white dog.

It won't be easy to find him.

May God be with you, my youngest son.

Granny?

Granny?

Foreigner.

Foreigner. Foreigner.

Foreigner. Tourist.

Shut up.

- Do you know your father? - Do you know yours?

- Yes. - Do you know yours?

- Yes. - Do you know yours?

Well, I know mine too. I am my father.

Jack Ladi Dadi, where you at, man?

Shit, don't be a stranger.

How are you? And where?

I hope you're well.

I'm in my bedroom.

Do you already know when you're coming back?

If you're coming back.

Miguel.

I have to tell you something.

This is not easy.

I'm pregnant.

That's it.

Call me when you feel like it.

I'm here where I've always been.

Bye. Kisses. Miss you.

Each year, a new life

Happiness

Happiness

Happiness

Happiness

We will build an african future

African

African

African

African

Your future will be bright

Each year, a new life

Happiness

Happiness

Happiness

Happiness

We will build an african future

African

African

African

African

Your future will be bright