Original subtitles

Aram?

Aram?

Darling?

Don't worry.

I saw all your tests. Everything is normal.

You did a good thing to have your surgery here.

This doctor who's going to operate on you,

any idea how much he charges to do it in your America?

And don't worry about the nursing and the hospital.

Any idea how many thousands of surgeries are done here?

Me for one!

I had a nose job twice here, in this hospital.

There we are.

I'll come after you in a few hours and you'll be different.

You'll be the same person, only your body changes.

I wish it was possible to change people's brain too!

Good luck, darling! See you.

Excuse me.

When will the flight from Moscow land?

What is the flight number?

I think 1862.

A double espresso please.

Hello, again.

Will you give me another double espresso?

Sure.

Seems you like our coffee.

- How many days will you stay? - One day.

I came again.

Another double espresso.

No, a double Jack this time.

Jack?

Cut it shorter.

Thank you.

You look great.

Stand up.

Pick up your shirt.

Let's go.

I don't want us to be late.

Thank you.

We have a lot to do.

Thank you.

Good luck.

Your hair looks very good.

I always go to him.

Good hairdresser.

We'll get to the clothes shop now.

One of my good friends.

I've given him the sizes.

It'll take only a minute to go in and come out.

Will you open the boot?

I need the band.

Hurry! We are really late.

- Arman! - Hey!

Hello!

- How are you? - Thanks. You?

Good.

How's business here?

Very bad.

I'm joking?

Aram, you can go there.

My brother.

Excuse me.

Thank you for making our clothes quickly.

We are really late.

Sure. I'm ready.

I put everything over there.

Just a cold drink or a coffee--

Chilled beer.

The best choice.

OK.

How are the clothes?

Normal?

Your beer.

The sizes are perfect.

The same sizes your brother emailed me.

Very good.

Your brother.

The blue is yours.

And the black--

What was your brother's name?

Aram.

Aram!

May I, Aram?

Just a moment.

I'm not ready yet.

Not ready for what?

What is he doing?

Excuse me?

What is he doing in there now?

Wrapping something on his belly!

His belly!

Aram, a little tummy is good for a proposal ceremony.

Right?

You brother lives in the US?

Los Angeles.

Arrived in Armenia a few hours ago.

It is his first visit.

I've known you for a long time.

How many years is it?

Whenever I remember myself, I remember you too.

I didn't know you have a brother.

When my father passed away,

my mother and I came here and Aram went to my uncle.

My mother joined them there later and I stayed here.

May she rest in peace!

Thank you.

I didn't call on them often.

He is my only brother.

He has never come to see you?

He hasn't come to see me now either.

He's come to get married.

Do I look good?

Let me see.

You've tied it badly!

That's good now.

You are the stylist!

He's met the girl in the US?

Yes.

Armenian or Armenian-Iranian?

Won't you come out?

We are late, Aram!

What did you say?

The girl, she is Armenian or Armenian-Iranian?

Armenian.

Armenian?

Did you enjoy yourself that day?

Very much!

Pity you didn't come.

A real pity.

Sorry I couldn't make it.

I'll surely come the next time.

How is the business in the tourism office?

As usual.

I wonder how an economist like you works in another field.

That is how here is.

You know that.

Everybody is the same.

Among people around me, only you work in your own field.

Because I am a professional.

And you are always good.

I've always liked your choices.

That's why I want you to choose what I wear.

I think I've made a very good choice.

I like it too.

Looks good on you.

I'll pick up your clothes.

Oh, I am in love!

It is great!

Will you give me another beer?

Yes, but you are drinking too much.

I'd marry you now if I was a girl!

I was joking!

You look very good.

Let me see.

Very good.

I never thought I'd go to the proposal for you.

But all brothers go to proposal for their younger brother.

Your beer.

Thanks.

How do I look?

Will they like it? Will they?

- Thank you. - Welcome.

Thank you for everything.

Take care and drink a lot!

Sure.

Today is the best day in life.

Thank you for everything.

Drink a lot.

Sure.

Hello.

How are you?

Hello.

Congratulations! Go in peace!

Are you OK?

Yes.

If you buy a drink, buy one for me too.

Nope!

I need it. I must have a drink.

No, the groom mustn't be drunk.

And you mustn't drink two weeks before the surgery.

You think I look good?

Very much.

How many times have I told you you look good today?

Didn't you see? Arman wanted to be your wife!

Thank you.

Thanks. See you.

When they go to a proposal here,

someone from the groom's family brings the bouquet,

another a bottle of cognac, another the cake.

Everybody takes something in hand.

But as there are only the two of us, we must do everything ourselves.

And someone from the bride's family, her brother or uncle or someone else,

he stands at the door and sticks a knife into the doorframe,

and doesn't let the groom enter.

Then the groom must pay him to let him enter.

You are lucky we are not living in the old times.

There was no money at that time.

You had to beat the one who'd blocked the way to get in!

I've heard many different things about Armenian traditions.

They are all interesting, right?

Aram.

Will you keep this?

Aram. You look very good.

I know it is very hard and I don't want to add to your stress.

But this step is the stupidest step I am taking in my life.

But I want you to be sure whatever is meant to happen will.

And I'll be beside you.

No matter what happens, I'll be beside you.

OK?

Keep your head up.

Ready?

Come in.

That's her uncle.

Come.

Hello.

Hello.

How are you?

Hello.

This is Aram, my only brother.

I'm sure you have heard much about him from your daughter.

Aram.

Dinner is ready here.

Let's go to the table.

Listen.

He smiled in the end.

He's come to like you.

Everything is normal.

Let's go out.

Calm down.

I told you I'd come at any cost.

My mother.

I can count 1,000 reasons why I must be against your marriage.

No, there are 1,000 and yes, I don't know if one is enough or not!

When my son wanted to get married,

I had the same mental and emotional feeling I have now.

But I told him no.

Because of my religion, my beliefs,

and what I'd learnt from my fathers,

I told him no.

And you know

what happened next.

Most probably my daughter has told you

I lost him.

I found out later it isn't important which country,

which nation you are from and what you believe in.

People are all the same.

There are good and bad in them.

I found it out but it was too late.

I don't want that

to happen again.

And I see you love her and she loves you.

I see that and I don't want to lose the only person I have.

There is fear inside me.

And my fear is much stronger than my beliefs!

But I tell you!

I tell you!

Yes!

Yes!

My love is stronger than fear.

Believe me.

I am among the few people who prove their love before marriage.

That is why I am here.

Accept me like your son.

I have been telling Aram about the Armenian traditions since morning at the airport.

But none of them happened.

I'm serious!

We had a good time.

Really.

What traditions you talked about that didn't happen?

For example, you should've stuck a knife into the doorframe and didn't let us in.

And I thought we had to get your consent and then open the cognac bottle,

more like in the yard!

You got the traditions wrong.

I did?

They use the knife when they are taking the bride.

And when my brother invited you in, it means there was agreement.

Yes.

Besides, when you came in, both you and I had drunk already!

Very much!

We just continued drinking together.

It was very good!

So, there was no place for traditions.

Right.

Whatever I told you was wrong!

I remembered a joke. A child goes--

I can't believe what happened.

But I think I am the first one in today's world who proved his love before marriage.

Thank you. We had a good time.

It was a pleasure meeting you.

We'll meet again.

Everything was very good and auspicious.

Thank you.

Goodbye.

Thank you.

Will you do me a favour?

I'm in front of your house. Will you drop it for me?

No, thanks, must go on a trip. We're running late.

Thank you.

- Hello. - Hello.

- How are you? - Fine.

- Won't you come up? - No, thanks.

Must get to the road.

- You're going now? - Yes.

- OK, just a second. - Sure.

- Can you catch it? - Yes.

1, 2--

Thank you.

- Can he do it? - I'll teach him.

- Take care. - Thank you.

- Goodbye. - Goodbye.

What were you whispering to her?

You know where his monument is?

Yes.

We are almost there.

We'll go there.

It is a famous place.

You know? He was a very nice boy.

He had an Iranian Muslim girlfriend.

They loved each other madly.

The girl finished her studies and returned to Iran.

He insisted that they should get married.

The girl wanted him too, but his father was against it...

...because he knew if they were to get married,

he had to convert to Islam.

Because it wasn't easy for the girl to change her religion,

and changing religion is punished by death there.

He didn't want her to be in trouble.

He didn't care about changing religion.

He always said, "My religion is love!"

Then he decided to go after his love.

He came to this road that goes to Iran, but he had an accident at the beginning and died.

What happened to the girl?

I don't know.

People are so imaginative they say anything they have read in the books...

...and seen in the films about them.

I'm not sure.

Let's get changed because we have a long way ahead.

Aram. Let's get changed.

We have a long way to go.

Are you tired?

No.

Shall I drive?

You've been driving since morning and drinking!

No. I'll tell you if I get tired.

You can watch the sunset now and enjoy the road.

Her father talked about the difference between people.

Naturally he speaks about that.

I had no doubt he would talk about...

...the difference between Armenians and Iranian-Armenians.

But what he says is right.

We Armenian-Iranians are very different from the Armenians here.

I should say we are different from all nations!

In Iran, they consider us Armenian.

In Armenia, they consider us Armenian-Iranian.

We are neither Armenian nor Iranian and we are both!

We are Christian but we live in a Muslim country.

We can't drink alcohol and our wives cannot come out without a headscarf.

Good thing is at least we can drink secretly like Muslims!

You know?

The world has become very small and people make it smaller with their opinions,

borders, tribes, religions, whatever you can think of!

But God has created all people alike.

There is no such a thing as a bad person.

Bad people are the result of our mistakes.

I mean we don't understand them, we don't care about their problems.

We don't notice them and they become bad!

We trample their rights.

You learnt many things today.

You haven't been in Armenia for a day and you've heard a lot...

...about Armenian traditions and stories.

What did you know about Armenia?

About the apricot groves.

About the apricot groves!

What had you heard about them?

They are very beautiful and Armenia has the best apricot in the world.

That's all?

You are lucky because there are many apricot groves on this road.

They are near the border.

We'll get there in the morning and you'll see them.

I am bursting!

I must use the toilet too.

The possibility of peeing while standing is the only superiority men have to women!

You taught me many things today!

I can't drive any more.

Go down this road straight ahead.

But it has many turns and twists.

It leads to Iran.

Just follow the signs and whenever you get tired,

pull over and take some rest.

If you don't look after good things in time and watch them well, you will lose them.

Let's go. We are near the border.

Your coach ticket.

The driver's mobile number is on the back of it.

This is an Iranian Sim card.

Put it in your mobile and use it.

When you cross the border, you can see the coaches.

Show the ticket and they will show you the coach.

When you get to Tehran,

my friend Mohammad will meet you in the terminal.

He will take you to a hotel.

He will take you to the doctor every day.

He will come with you to the hospital for the surgery,

and will stay with you for a few days.

I'll call you every day.

If you need me, I'll come quickly.

Mohammad is a good boy, my best friend in Iran.

We met here in the university.

He speaks good Armenian.

Everything is fine there.

Don't worry about the surgery because Iran is one of the best at such surgeries.

There are very good doctors there and your hospital is well equipped.

Are you ready to go? No?

You have your ticket, your Sim card.

Thank you for everything.

I'll wait here till you get on the coach.

Welcome.

- Ms Aram Vartanian? - Yes.

- Issued in Washington. - Yes.

- You have an American passport too? - Yes.

The purpose of your trip to Iran?

Surgery.

Sex reassignment surgery.

Welcome.

Aram?

Aram?

Darling?

Don't worry.

I saw all your tests. Everything is normal.

You did a good thing to have your surgery here.

This doctor who's going to operate on you,

any idea how much he charges to do it in your America?

And don't worry about the nursing and the hospital.

Any idea how many thousands of surgeries are done here?

Me for one!

I had a nose job twice here, in this hospital.

There we are.

I'll come after you in a few hours and you'll be different.

You'll be the same person, only your body changes.

I wish it was possible to change people's brain too!

Good luck, darling! See you.