Original subtitles

[MUFFLED HEAVY METAL GUITAR RIFF]

[RIFF CONTINUES]

[RIFF ALTERS]

[GUITAR PLAYING STOPS]

[LILAS VOCALISES, MIMICS RIFF]

[SHERY EXCLAIMS]

[LILAS] Not like that.

- Shery! - [SHE VOCALISES RIFF]

[LILAS MIMICS RIFF]

[SHERY EXCLAIMS]

[LILAS CONTINUES MIMICKING RIFF]

[SHERY MIMICS RIFF, LILAS JOINS IN]

- Okay... - [SHERY MIMICS VIGOROUS STRUM]

[LILAS MIMICS RIFF]

Uh... Now you missed one.

[SHERY MIMICS RIFF, LILAS JOINS IN]

[SHERY CHUCKLES, LILAS MIMICS RIFF]

- [SHERY] Nooooo! - [VOICE REVERBERATES]

[REVERBERATION SUBSIDES; NO AUDIBLE DIALOGUE]

[PULSING ELECTRONIC MUSIC]

[MUSIC DEEPENS]

[MUSIC CONTINUES; FAINT CHANTING]

Revolution!

Revolution!

Revolution!

[CHANTING RECEDES, MUSIC CONTINUES]

[WOMAN] Sirens?

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[MAN, IN ENGLISH] You guys ready?

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[MUSIC, CHATTER CONTINUE]

[LILAS] Since the day my Grandparents were born,

this country is fucked up.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[LILAS] War, instability, unemployment.

[CROWD CHANTS] Sirens! Sirens!

- Sirens! Sirens! - [THEY KISS]

- Are you fucking ready?! - [CHEERING]

[RUMBLING THRASH METAL MUSIC; TATYANA PLAYS DRUM FILL]

[LILAS] All this pain, all this rage.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[LILAS] There's something we're... running away from.

[MUSIC BUILDS]

[LILAS] But I don't wanna live in fear.

[MUSIC BUILDS FURTHER]

[MUSIC INTENSIFIES, MAYA SCREAMS GUTTURALLY]

[LYRICS INDISTINCT]

[MUSIC STOPS, FEEDBACK WHINE REVERBERATES]

[SOFT, REVERBERANT MUSIC]

[MUSIC SUBSIDES; AMBIENT STREET NOISE]

Ah, behold!

- [SHERY, IN ARABIC] Can I see? - [LAUGHTER]

[SHERY] Can I see?

[LAUGHTER]

[IN ENGLISH] "In a small, soundproof rehearsal room

"in the mountains just outside Beirut,

"Lebanon's first all-female metal band, Slave to Sirens"...

[LAUGHTER]

..."is getting ready to make some noise!"

[ALL CHUCKLE]

- [LILAS, IN ARABIC] Keep going! - "Shery Bechara and Lilas Mayassi,

"the five-piece's lead and rhythm guitarists, respectively,

"unzip cases to reveal their V-shaped axes."

[ALL CHUCKLE]

Bravo, Shery. Your reading is good.

- Oh, thank you. - [IN ARABIC] 10 out of 10.

[ALL CHUCKLE]

[SHERY, IN ENGLISH] "Lebanon is a small but diverse country.

"Yet, metal fans have long struggled

"with the more conservative elements of Lebanese society."

- Make it fast. - [IN ARABIC] I'm not gonna finish.

Then stop, and let's get started.

[THUNDEROUS DRUM FILL]

[GUITAR CHORD RINGS]

[DEXTEROUS RIFF]

[BOOMING CHORD RINGS]

[THUNDEROUS DRUM FILL]

[BOOMING CHORD RINGS]

[THUNDEROUS DRUM FILL]

[MAYA SCREAMS]

[GALLOPING, PROPULSIVE METAL MUSIC]

- [GUITARS STOP, DRUMS PETER OUT] - [MAYA] What the fuck?!

What is going on with the lights?

[MAYA] The electricity is gone.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER, NERVOUS LAUGHTER]

[CLATTERING, RUMMAGING]

[LILAS SINGS SOFTLY]

[MUFFLED CHATTER]

[CHATTER CONTINUES]

[CRUNCHY GUITAR RIFF]

[CLAMOURING, YELLING; GUITAR RIFF CONTINUES]

[WOMAN, IN ENGLISH]Our interview subject tonight,

Lilas Mayassi.

Metal bands explore heavy themes,

but for you,

this is drawn really from your everyday world.

[LILAS] We're living in this cycle of fear,

and our band is the only outlet for us

to be who we want to be without any limits.

[GLOOMY STRUMMED GUITAR]

[DEXTEROUS DISTORTED RIFF; MAYA GROWLS INDISTINCTLY]

[SUSTAINED GROWL]

[MAYA] Shit, look!

It's like, "Hi, I work at Earache Records,

"and we have a few Earache stages at festivals.

"Can you let me know if you have an agent or..."

The label?

- Yeah. - Oh, shit.

"Boomtown Festival, Winchester, UK. 11th August.

"Glastonbury. We have a stage,

- "27th-30th June." - Nice!

"Both in the UK. Let me know if you're interested.

- "We are running on a low budget." - [LILAS GRUNTS ANXIOUSLY]

- Shit! - Okay, okay...

- [SOFTLY] Earache Records. - [MAYA CHUCKLES]

"Slave to Sirens signed by Earache Records."

Okay, we send them an email.

We tell the girls...

that we're going to Glastonbury!

[MAYA CHUCKLES]

[DRIVING POST-PUNK MUSIC]

[SHE GROWLS GUTTURALLY]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATION]

[MUSIC CONTINUES, BOTH LAUGH NERVOUSLY]

[SMOKE-BOMB HISSES]

[MUSIC CONTINUES; NO AUDIBLE DIALOGUE]

[DANCER, IN ARABIC] Give me your belt.

Cover your boxers.

Uh, should he be barefoot?

- Why not take off all my clothes? - [ALL LAUGH]

Man, he's topless! He can't be topless.

- Why? - I don't know, man! That's not the point.

- What is this, blood? - It's wine.

- But don't drink it, it's old. - No.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

- [MUSIC STOPS, RESONATES] - [LILAS, IN ENGLISH] The sun is setting.

The dark lord is rising!

Yes, praise the Lord of Darkness.

- [MAYA] Hail Satan. - [SHERY] Yeah!

♪ Happy birthday to Lilas

♪ Happy birthday to you. ♪

[MAYA] Make a wish, make a wish.

[CLAPPING]

[IN ARABIC] I have more than one wish.

[SHERY] Make them all.

Okay. All of them together is a mess in my mind, but okay.

[SHERY CHUCKLES]

[SHERY] Uh, Lilas...

[SHE CHUCKLES]

[IN ENGLISH] "A special flower grew next to me in the soil.

"I call her Lils."

[LILAS CHUCKLES HAPPILY]

- [LILAS] Did you write this? - [SHE CHUCKLES]

[LILAS] "We grew side by side, got our roots tangled,

"and it made me merrier." Aw.

"May you find serenity with every light, smoke and scent.

"Sincerely, Shery." Aw.

[BOTH CHUCKLE AFFECTIONATELY]

So, basically, all of these are incense. You burn it.

- It's like flowers and herbs and shit. - [STIRRING MUSIC]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[LILAS] This band started when I got introduced to Shery.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[LILAS] I used to go to Shery's place and sleep over.

We'd wake up in the early morning, we'd jam, we'd write songs.

Shery is more melodic.

And I always liked that about her.

We have this amazing chemistry.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[MUSIC CONCLUDES, RESONATES]

[MAN, IN ARABIC]Oh, my God, I don't believe it.

Sorry, I don't want to hold you up.

[IN ENGLISH] Meeting you and Lilas...

- You are Shery, then? - [SHERY] Yes.

- Okay, so awesome. - [SHERY] So, what's your name?

- Charbel. - [SHERY] Nice to meet you.

Guys, I hope you get somewhere.

Thank you so much, really.

- I really appreciate it. - Yeah.

And keep it up, you know, like, 'cause music is really, like,

[IN ARABIC] something that helps you express yourself.

- [IN ENGLISH] Your songs, inspirational. - [SHERY CHUCKLES]

Nice to meet you, Charbel.

- [IN ARABIC] Here you go. - [IN ENGLISH] Thank you!

- [IN ARABIC] No, thank you. Wow. - [IN ENGLISH] Thank you, thank you.

- Can we take a picture? - Yeah, definitely.

Awesome, I got a beer.

[SHE EXHALES SHARPLY]

[SHERY HICCUPS]

[IN ARABIC] What's wrong with me?

[IN ENGLISH] "One mention"?

- Shut up. - [BOTH LAUGH]

- Like, it was just one hiccup. - [LILAS LAUGHS]

You're welcome, Shery.

[MAN SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY ON TV]

[WOMAN, ON TV, IN ARABIC]Article 534 of the law is vague.

It says that any sexual relation contradictory to the laws of nature

is punishable up to one year in prison.

[TV CONTINUES FAINTLY]

- [MUFFLED BANG] - [LILAS] The fuse box just blew.

[MOTHER] It blew, but I have nothing connected.

- [BROTHER] I have the heater connected. - [MOTHER] Then unplug it.

[BROTHER] It's not supposed to blow because of the heater.

[MOTHER] Seriously? You've done that twice.

Go flip the switch.

- It's your turn, go. - [BROTHER] I'm not going now.

[MOTHER] Then stay in darkness, I don't mind.

Lilas will go.

[TAP RUNS]

- [SOFTLY] Oh, God. - [TAP SHUTS OFF, DOG BARKS IN DISTANCE]

[SOFT, UNEASY MUSIC]

[MOTHER] Today, we went to the bank and couldn't get more than $100.

So, we only got $100 and that's it.

- The banks don't even have cash. - [DOOR SHUTS]

So, what will you do for Nour's tuition fee?

I don't know.

Well, if he's leaving, then I'll look for somewhere to go, too.

[MOTHER, IN ENGLISH] Beside me. [IN ARABIC] You are here in my heart.

- [IN ENGLISH] Beside you? - [MOTHER, IN ARABIC] Next to me.

Be realistic. It won't be like this... forever.

[MOTHER] Of course it will. For a mother and her daughter.

[LILAS LAUGHS]

What era is this?

It will always be like this.

[LILAS] You're talking like it's the 1960s...

When your mother had so many kids, they didn't even know each other.

People would marry based on a photograph, or whatever.

That's over now.

Now, people are getting married over the internet.

So, you mean life has evolved?

But there is still a mother and her daughter.

[LILAS] But a daughter needs to breathe, you know?

I want to move out because this house is shrinking on us.

[MOTHER LAUGHS]

Let it happen.

[MOTHER] This is impossible. Mission impossible.

[LILAS] Are you and your mum still living together?

- Be realistic. - Yes, but...

[LILAS] When? I'm turning 25...

My mother let go of me because I got married and settled down with kids.

So, I have to get married and have kids?

[MOTHER] Well, there'd be someone beside you...

I don't want someone beside me, I am beside me.

I can learn. I don't need anyone.

- Slowly, slowly. - What do you mean "slowly, slowly"?

[MOTHER] Little by little, we'll get rid of that mentality.

With time.

[SHE INHALES]

[DOOR SHUTS]

[LIVELY MUSIC, CHATTER]

Do want a drink? I'm buying.

I thought you were broke?

[LILAS CHUCKLES]

[IN ENGLISH] You wanna get a piña colada?

[IN ARABIC] Something strong.

[IN ENGLISH] I want to die tonight.

[IN ARABIC] Here's a dollar.

[MAYA, IN ENGLISH] What are you laughing at?

[LILAS] I like.

- [MAYA] You like? - [LILAS] I like beautiful things.

- [LILAS SIGHS FRUSTRATEDLY] - But she's wearing a cross, sorry.

- Jesus was gay. - [BOTH LAUGH]

[SARAH] Let's bewitch Lilas.

[BOTH LAUGH]

- [SHERY] Make her our slave. - [SARAH] Yeah.

[SARAH] Greater forces that are outside of human control

- are at work here. - [SHERY] Mm!

- Interesting. - Maybe we're gonna get signed by a label!

Or maybe you'll abandon metal

- and become a pop artist. - [SHE LAUGHS]

- What?! - [SARAH] Pick another card.

Inevitable fate, my dear.

This card represents the changing of cycles.

What comes up must come down.

- Okay... Oh, wow. - [SHE CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY]

So, you're going to rise and you're going to fall, perhaps.

[STIRRING SYNTH MUSIC]

Maybe we are down and we're going to rise.

[MUSIC CONTINUES, FLAMES CRACKLE]

[BASSEM] Now, if you look at Shery, especially from the fire,

you'd see that she's half a metalhead,

half karma people.

[SHERY] I think this is kind of how I roll.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

How many days you get there before the concert?

- One day. - One day.

So, you have this whole day where you should eat well, sleep well,

relax.

[IN ARABIC] Don't get tired.

[IN ENGLISH] The diet is gonna be important.

- No alcohol. - [SHERY] Mm.

- [BASSEM] Zilch. - [SARAH, IN ARABIC] Are you listening?

- [IN ENGLISH] Nothing. - Mm.

Alcohol is... will dehydrate you,

- and will make your stamina go... - [DESCENDING WHISTLE]

- Mm. - ...you know?

The myth about drugs, sex and rock 'n' roll is a myth.

[SARAH] And no drugs.

- Definitely. Definitely. - Mm-hm.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[SARAH] Shery, did you practice moving on the stage?

- [BASSEM] She headbangs really minimally. - [SHERY] Mm.

[BASSEM] If you move...

to play with Lilas, and you're doing the thing together...

this place is empty. Something, someone has to fill it.

- Yeah. - And sometimes, when you go on stage,

and you give all the energy,

at the second song you're exhausted.

- Yeah. - Don't do that.

Yeah.

And of course, don't stand still.

- Yeah. - [SHE CHUCKLES]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[FEROCIOUS METAL MUSIC ON TV; MAYA CHUCKLES]

[IN ARABIC] Lord have mercy!

It's good when you make expressions.

[IN ENGLISH] Like, bigger than life, you know?

[IN ARABIC] Because on stage you want to entertain the people.

I like to do things with my face.

Yeah, with your hands, too.

[IN ENGLISH] That's what Maiden does.

That's why their performance is like, "wow".

One day...

[IN ARABIC] Like that, for example.

- [IN ENGLISH] It's like... you know? - It's cool.

[MUSIC CONCLUDES]

[BIRDSONG; CHILDREN PLAY IN DISTANCE]

[MOTHER, IN ARABIC] Does it need oil? Or water?

[DOG BARKS IN DISTANCE]

[HE MUTTERS, CAR BONNET CLOSES]

Look, if you're hungry take the chicken out of the freezer.

I'll be back. Bye.

[IN ENGLISH] No space?

Yeah, no space. [IN ARABIC] It doesn't fit.

[HEAVY METAL MUSIC ON CAR STEREO]

- What time do you land? - [LILAS] 10:30.

[MOTHER] God willing.

- Will you call me, or... - [LILAS] Call you?

- [SHE CHUCKLES] - "Hello, Mom, I miss you."

[LILAS] Once I get a chance I'll call you.

So, you can call me on WhatsApp?

[LILAS] We'll see. Don't call me, I'll call you.

I won't call. I won't annoy you. But let me hear your voice.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[MUSIC STOPS]

[MOTHER] Lilas, one second.

Call me once you make it, okay?

[PLANE ENGINE ROARS]

[ROARING SUBSIDES]

[BAND VOCALLY MIMICS HEAVY METAL MUSIC]

[MAYA GROWLS]

- [STIRRING MUSIC] - [LILAS] Stones! Stones!

[SHERY] Giant stones.

[LILAS] Over there are the tents and stages!

[MUFFLED DANCE MUSIC; STIRRING MUSIC CONTINUES]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[MUSIC SUBSIDES; BUSTLING CHATTER]

[MUSIC, CHATTER IN DISTANCE; SHE PLAYS METAL RIFF THROUGH CLEAN TONE]

[LILAS] Wow, man. I'm getting lost from all the noise.

[PLAYING CONTINUES]

[LILAS] It's like we're at the World Cup.

[SHERY] For real!

[IN ENGLISH] It's not metal, that's the thing.

[IN ARABIC] It's really annoying.

[PLAYING CONTINUES]

- [SHERY] Loosen it, then try... - It's not working, Shery.

[SHERY, IN ENGLISH] Check the tuning again.

[SHERY] Lilas...

[LILAS, IN ARABIC] Babe, I know my guitar.

- [SHERY, IN ENGLISH] Are you okay? - [LILAS] Mm.

- [IN ARABIC] I want to drink something. - There's water if you want.

[MUFFLED MUSIC IN DISTANCE]

[SHERY, IN ENGLISH] That's not a good idea.

[MUSIC, CHATTER IN DISTANCE]

[LILAS, IN ARABIC] Cut those shorter.

- [SHERY] I have a knife. - [TATYANA] Pass it to me.

How did you go through the airport with this?

[MC, ON PA] Okay, we've got an amazing band coming on soon.

Slave to the Sirens.

All-female band, all the way from Lebanon, right?

- [MAN] Lebanon, yeah... - [MC] Okay!

All right, everyone, give it up.

Come on, bring the energy for Slave to the Siren.

They've come a long way to be here with you today.

So, big it up for them.

[SCATTERED APPLAUSE, CHEERING]

[APPLAUSE PETERS OUT]

[AMPLIFIER BUZZES]

[MUSIC - "TERMINAL LEECHES" BY SLAVE TO SIRENS]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

♪ Possess not a human

♪ Obsess not over his flesh

♪ For you shall be a slave of time

♪ Spiralling down into a dark abyss

♪ They fill your head with lies

♪ Ignorance

♪ Your ultimate demise

♪ Illiteracy is a dangerous thing

♪ Drink deep or taste

♪ Sobers us

♪ Again... ♪

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

Come on! I wanna see your fuckin' heads banging!

♪ Mutant species

♪ Endless diseases

♪ We feed on war

♪ Terminal leeches. ♪

[MUSIC CONCLUDES]

[MAYA] Thank you, Glastonbury!

[DISTORTED CHORD RINGS OUT; SOFT FEEDBACK]

[MAYA] We are Slave to Sirens from Lebanon.

[UPBEAT DANCE-POP MUSIC IN DISTANCE]

Man, the sound was so fucking good.

For you maybe.

[SHERY, IN ARABIC] I wish there were more people.

At least those in the front were happy.

What matters is that we were happy on a stage like that.

- Mm. - And the sound was really good.

By the way, I didn't hear your voice well.

I couldn't hear myself either.

[SHERY] I also couldn't hear you,

but I thought at least you were hearing yourself.

[ROCK MUSIC IN DISTANCE]

[INSECTS CHIRR; INDISTINCT MUSIC IN DISTANCE]

- [SHERY] Why isn't Lilas with us? - [MAYA] I don't know.

[TATYANA] She gets upset and she leaves.

[MAYA] We need to wake her up.

[SHERY] Talk with her tomorrow, you don't need to wake her up now.

Maybe she needs some time alone.

[MAYA COUGHS; MUFFLED MUSIC IN DISTANCE]

- [MAYA] Lilas? - Are you awake?

[SHERY] Are you okay?

[LILAS, IN ARABIC] Are you smoking in the tent?

- [MAYA] She's right. - [IN ENGLISH] Let's go out.

[TENT UNZIPS]

[SUITCASE WHEELS RATTLE]

[CAR HORNS]

[MAN SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY ON TV]

[TRAFFIC HUMS; INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[SHE SIGHS, MAN SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY ON TV]

[LOUD CLATTERING]

[IN ARABIC] What, Lilas?

How was the gig?

Did it go as well as you wanted?

I mean, yeah.

Were there other bands?

- Mom, let me have breakfast. - Okay.

Tomorrow we'll talk about anything you want.

[MOTHER] It's not time for news!

[WOMAN, ON TV] The Lebanese band, Mashrou Leila,

takes on controversial topics

like homosexual and transexual rights.

The band is facing pressure from religious authorities and the public.

The death threats are seen by the band

as part of a campaign that accuses them of blasphemy.

[SOFT, UNEASY MUSIC; CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICK]

[WOMAN] Hello. Thank you for being with us today.

This campaign prevented a concert

with threats of violence and bloodshed.

We can no longer separate artistic repression

from the hatred and discrimination affecting many people in our society.

Today, a concert.

Before that, homosexuals.

Before and after that, the refugees.

If we don't protect our right to sing today,

we will surely lose our right to speak tomorrow.

[CONTEMPLATIVE MUSIC]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[WOMAN, IN ENGLISH, ON PHONE]Listen, I have some bad news.

[TATYANA] Oh, God. Fucking hell, man.

[IN ARABIC] What happened?

[WOMAN, IN ENGLISH, ON PHONE] When we were giving the schedule to the venue,

they didn't allow us to have metal music.

So, unfortunately, we can't use you guys

as the closing performance.

I'm really sorry,

but there's nothing we can do about it.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[LILAS, IN ENGLISH]I don't think there's actual

freedom of expression in Lebanon.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[LILAS] I would go online and check our videos,

and people would call us sluts or whores.

[IN ARABIC] "God save us."

[IN ENGLISH] "This is satanic and...

"such an abomination."

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[LILAS] Any time a woman wants to be anything

other than what society wants...

...it's always an issue.

[MUSIC SUBSIDES; INDISTINCT CHATTER]

- [TEACHER] Good morning. - [LILAS] Morning, how are you, Miss?

- [SCHOOL BELL RINGS] - Slowly, slowly.

Morning. Hurry up, sit down.

Miss, yesterday was my birthday. I'm eight now.

Hope you reach 100.

What's up, Mervat?

Okay, let's do the scales.

[STUDENTS] Do, re, mi, fa,

sol, la, ti, do.

Very good.

Rawan. Let's try Rawan.

[STUDENTS] Ra-wan...

[LILAS] How many rhythms in this sound? Two sounds. What else?

- Chicken? - [STUDENTS] Chi-cken.

How many rhythms in this sound? Two sounds. Bravo.

For next time,

I want you to research...

four famous rap artists.

- [GIRL] Justin Bieber! - [STUDENTS CHUCKLE]

- Justin Bieber doesn't sing rap. - [STUDENTS CHATTER]

This is a project. Go do your research.

- Do you have internet and a laptop? - [BOY, IN ENGLISH] I don't have one.

[IN ARABIC] Can you go to the coffee shop?

[EXPLOSION REVERBERATES, ALARM BLARES IN DISTANCE]

[INDISTINCT YELLING, CLAMOURING]

[YELLING, CLAMOURING CONTINUE; SIREN WAILS]

[SHERY, IN ENGLISH]My parents always tell me that...

...there is no future here.

[YELLING, CLAMOURING SUBSIDE]

[SHERY] It's a dog-eat-dog world.

[LAID-BACK, INTRICATE GUITAR MUSIC]

[NEIGHBOUR, IN ARABIC]Hail Mary full of grace...

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[SHERY, IN ENGLISH]I feel... misunderstood a lot.

Without music,

I don't know how to express how I feel.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[SHERY] I don't know what I'm feeling.

[CLEAN-TONED METAL GUITAR PATTERN PLAYS QUIETLY ON SPEAKERS]

♪ Is it fear?

♪ Or is it dreams?

♪ What is she looking for?

[MUSIC STOPS]

[SHE STRUMS MELANCHOLY PATTERN]

[SOMBRE GUITAR MUSIC ON PHONE SPEAKER]

- [MUSIC CONTINUES] - ♪ Mesmerised

♪ By the moon's light

♪ In the darkest of nights

♪ Deep brown eyes

♪ With a flash

♪ So cold, and yet white. ♪

I love it! [IN ARABIC] This must be on the album!

Give me the lyrics.

[IN ENGLISH] ♪ Oh, my heart is pounding. ♪

[IN ARABIC] Stop it.

Okay, let's try it.

[LILAS STRUMS COUNT-IN]

[THEY PLAY OMINOUS BLACK METAL PATTERN]

Slower, slower. It's too crowded.

I think it sounds professional.

- [LILAS] But it's really cliché. - [SHERY, IN ENGLISH] What?

[IN ARABIC] It's so cliché to do this black metal thing...

[SHE MIMICS ASCENDING GUITAR PATTERN]

[SHERY] The problem is we're not playing in sync.

- Don't make fun of me. - [LILAS EXCLAIMS]

[LILAS, IN ENGLISH] I don't like it. [IN ARABIC] At least not at the beginning.

[BASS GUITAR RUMBLES]

- [SHERY PLUCKS DISTORTED NOTE] - The next one.

Okay, we understand this idea.

[SHERY PLAYS OMINOUS PALM-MUTED PATTERN]

[LILAS PLAYS EERIE MELODY]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[MUSIC STOPS, RESONATES]

[CONTEMPLATIVE ELECTRONIC MUSIC]

[SHERY, IN ENGLISH]Me and Lilas, we had this...

tension.

Whenever we saw each other or were in the same room,

we felt this kind of electricity.

[MUSIC CONTINUES; FAINT BIRDSONG]

[SHERY] It was like adrenaline.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

How do you say something that...

that you love, but...

...but you want it for you, let's say, or...?

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[NO AUDIBLE DIALOGUE]

[SHERY] She didn't want the band members to know.

After that, she started liking girls...

- [MUSIC SUBSIDES] - ...and pushing me away.

[INSECTS CHIRR]

I...

[IN ARABIC]Who are you pointing to, exactly?

[LILAS] Chance.

[TOY SQUEAKS]

[TOY SQUEAKS]

[LILAS, IN ENGLISH] It's his new toy.

[SHE EXCLAIMS, TOY THUDS SOFTLY]

[IN ARABIC] What?

Do you want to play, too?

Do you want a toy?

- I got you something. - [SHE CHUCKLES]

I'll show you when you visit.

Come close.

[LILAS KISSES]

[ALAA] Babe?

Okay...

[SOFT, AIRY MUSIC]

[LILAS, IN ENGLISH]I made this poetry account on Instagram.

And... Alaa sent me a message out of nowhere.

And that's how we started the conversation, online.

So, first time I met Alaa,

it was at the cafe in Syria.

[STIRRING ELECTRONIC MUSIC]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[THEY CONVERSE INDISTINCTLY]

[ALAA, IN ARABIC] Do we need to pay him?

- Hello. - Hello, how are you?

Like we agreed on?

[LILAS] My mom is home.

Say hi to her quickly, and keep it short. Okay?

Because she'll start asking why and how,

and what about your parents? So, just keep it short.

- Will she ask me about Syria? - I don't know.

Do you want to eat? Drink? Sleep? Anything?

Babe, I like to talk about all these things.

Postpone, babe. Later.

Okay.

- [GEAR STICK CLICKS] - As for how we met each other...

When I first went to Syria, we met and became friends.

Okay? Keep it short.

Okay. We have mutual friends.

[LILAS] Be careful not to call me babe, okay?

Say "Lilas".

I'll open the other door.

Are you sleeping?

Pss, pss, pss! Psst!

Cuties!

[SHE SQUEALS]

[LILAS] You should say hi to her now, get it over with.

[IN ENGLISH] It's simple. [IN ARABIC] Why make it complicated?

[LILAS] It's not that simple. It stresses me out.

Right away, you take my necklace.

[IN ENGLISH] My necklace.

[BRIGHT ELECTRONIC MUSIC]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

Wait, wait!

Okay, I give up.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[CAR HORNS; MUSIC SUBSIDES]

[TRADITIONAL MUSIC IN DISTANCE]

[CAR HORNS]

[IN ARABIC] Fuck!

[SHERY GROANS]

[MELANCHOLY GUITAR MUSIC ON SPEAKERS]

But are we gonna skip the intro?

[MUSIC CONCLUDES, RESONATES]

Okay, but remove Lilas, because...

[MAN] Impossible.

[MELANCHOLY GUITAR MUSIC ON SPEAKERS; SHERY PLAYS DISTORTED MELODY]

[METRONOME CLICKS]

[SHERY LAUGHS]

Fuck, I don't know what to fucking do now.

[SHE WINCES, MUSIC STOPS]

I feel like time is flying.

I still have a lot I want to do,

- and I'm not getting any younger. - [IN ENGLISH] Yes.

[IN ARABIC] Did you used to feel that way?

Definitely. We all felt like that, my dear.

[IN ENGLISH] You are now 27.

27, and other girls have babies...

- Yeah. - ...for example.

- [IN ARABIC] I know how you think. - [HE INHALES]

That's not your purpose in life.

[IN ENGLISH] You want more in life, I don't know what.

[IN ARABIC] But if you were a pop band,

trust me, you would have been much more famous.

[IN ENGLISH] Yeah, but it's not my style at all.

I know it's not your style. This is the opportunity you didn't have.

- Yeah. - No, it's...

[IN ARABIC] Your style is not supported here.

Here in the Middle East...

you are the 1% that likes thrash metal.

These are your disadvantages.

You did not get the opportunity to shine more.

[BIRDSONG]

[LILAS, IN ENGLISH] Make a wish.

[IN ARABIC] I don't know why, but that's what they say.

[IN ENGLISH] Make a wish.

- Okay. - [IN ARABIC] I made 300,000 wishes.

When you tell me "make a wish", my mind races, you know?

Mm-hm.

[LILAS] Call me... Call me when you arrive, please?

Bye, my heart.

- Take care of the young lady. - [DRIVER] No need to ask.

[WISTFUL MUSIC]

[LILAS, IN ENGLISH] It's all fantasies.

She won't be able to get out of Syria anyways.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[MUSIC SUBSIDES]

[SHERY] Seriously, dude?

[LILAS, IN ARABIC] It's my back, man. I told you these things.

- Do you want me to give you a massage? - [LILAS, IN ENGLISH] No, no. I'm good.

- Thank you. - Okay, as you like.

[SHE EXHALES]

[GLOOMY GUITAR MUSIC]

[LILAS] Shery once said I love hardships.

I don't know if I'm ever gonna be satisfied.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

♪ Extinguish the sun. ♪

[LILAS VOCALISES, HOLDS LONG NOTE]

[IN ARABIC] I am giving you the key on a high note.

- Let's just change the key. - [IN ENGLISH] ♪ Extinguish the sun... ♪

[IN ARABIC] We can just change it!

- I won't change the key. - Why?

Because it will change the whole feeling.

I will not change the key, Shery.

- Babe, can we at least try? - It will change the sound.

You don't wanna try. Fine, don't try.

Try giving us a different key. It will end up changing everything.

It's not going to work.

[LILAS PLAYS RUMBLING STACCATO PATTERN]

We would need to start like this...

[LILAS REPEATS PATTERN IN HIGHER KEY]

- [TATYANA PLAYS SNARE ROLL] - Forget it.

- Sing for a bit. - [TATYANA BATTERS TOMS]

♪ ...fed upon its ashes.

♪ And down into its tomb. ♪

[GLOOMY GUITAR MUSIC]

[MUSIC - "EXTINGUISH THE SUN" BY SLAVE TO SIRENS]

[MUSIC STOPS]

- [LILAS] What's up, Shery? - [SHERY] I told you faster! Fucking hell!

[LILAS] Your tempo is too fast.

I'm playing the same tempo, babe.

- It's supposed to be slow, Shery. - [LILAS, IN ENGLISH] It's not the same.

[IN ARABIC] I'm playing the same fucking tempo.

- Go ahead, play without me. - [HAMMERING SNARE DRUM INTRO]

[MUSIC - "EXTINGUISH THE SUN" BY SLAVE TO SIRENS]

[MUSIC CONTINUES, SIREN WAILS IN DISTANCE]

[INDISTINCT YELLING]

[SIREN WAILS IN DISTANCE]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[SHE GROWLS COMICALLY, MUSIC SUBSIDES]

[SHE WINCES, GRUNTS RHYTHMICALLY]

[SHERY, IN ENGLISH] Hi, guys.

[IN ARABIC] With all honesty, I can't take it any more.

The way Lilas is berating me.

And the way she's picking fights with everyone.

Tension is always high.

No-one can say a word.

I don't know how to fix it alone. I'm sure I can't fix it.

That's why I'm sorry but...

[IN ENGLISH] I'm leaving the band.

I got very upset...

[IN ARABIC] ...because...

[IN ENGLISH] ...I just saw, like, how out of sync we were,

and how far from a unit we were.

And I think that...

...what's growing us apart musically

is our internal conflicts [IN ARABIC] with each other.

There are always things that are unspoken. Always.

[IN ENGLISH] But this is... We have to be honest with each other,

and I don't think we are being totally honest,

maybe with ourselves, I don't know.

- We used to go out and shit, right? - Mm-hm.

Right or wrong?

[IN ARABIC] What does that have to do with anything?

[IN ENGLISH] Is it true or not?

[IN ARABIC] What does that have to do with anything?

[IN ENGLISH] Is it right or wrong?

[IN ARABIC] What does that have to do with anything?

It's relevant because...

[IN ENGLISH] Whatever happened in the past, I moved forward.

- I moved forward with anyone... - [SHERY] I really hope so.

Okay.

But it was disrespectful...

[IN ARABIC] ...for you to make that decision over WhatsApp.

- Why? - [LILAS] We are not selling potatoes.

Come talk with us as a band and we make that decision together.

Because it's like [IN ENGLISH] you're selling us, like...

[SHERY] I'm not selling anything...

[IN ARABIC] "I don't care, I'm leaving the band."

No. We created something together.

[IN ARABIC] Keep personal things [IN ENGLISH] out of the band.

That's my mentality.

[IN ARABIC] Whatever is happening in the band is business.

- [IN ENGLISH] I really hope that, but... - [IN ARABIC] Don't tell me you hope...

[IN ENGLISH] Dude, the thing is, it wasn't showing for me.

I was like, [IN ARABIC] "Why is she acting like that towards me?

"Why is she throwing me away like that?"

- I wasn't throwing you away, Shery! - [SHERY] Yes, you were!

Why were you acting like this with me?

[IN ENGLISH] You were fucking kicking me around.

And that fucking hurts me.

[IN ARABIC] And this is why [IN ENGLISH] I'm fucking leaving.

All right.

We're not a fucking unit.

- [LILAS] I wonder why. - [IN ARABIC] I'm telling you why!

- [CHAIR SCRAPES FLOOR] - Fuck you and fuck this band!

That's it.

[INDISTINCT ARGUING; VOICES OVERLAP]

That's it. I don't want her in the band, and I don't want to be in the band!

[ARGUING CONTINUES]

[VOICES FADE GRADUALLY; EERIE, REVERBERANT HUM]

[HUM INTENSIFIES GRADUALLY]

[HUM CONTINUES]

[HEAVY METAL MUSIC ON CAR STEREO]

[MUSIC PLAYS - "MAKTUB" BY LUCIANO]

[LAUGHTER]

[IN ENGLISH] Go on, get up. Come on!

[MUSIC CONTINUES; INDISTINCT CONVERSATION]

[MUSIC CONTINUES, AMPLIFIER BUZZES SOFTLY]

[PLAINTIVE GUITAR MUSIC]

[BASSEM] Metal is about pure 100% sacrifice.

You know the problem when you're an all-female band?

- [MUSIC CONTINUES] - You don't have reserves.

Reserves? What do you mean?

Male bands, [IN ARABIC] if they fight with a guitarist, they just get another.

- Ah! - [BASSEM CHUCKLES]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[CAT MEWLS SOFTLY]

[MUSIC SUBSIDES; BOTTLE OPENS, HISSES]

I'm tired because we're circling the same story.

I don't know what her problem is!

We all argue, but then we make up and it's fine.

But with her, I don't know!

[ALMA] Man, she was really pissed off. Didn't you notice?

- No. - [ALMA] She was fuming.

My senses are not tuned in 24/7 to why each one of you is upset with me.

[MAYA] You only think about yourself.

[LILAS] Why? Have I ever mistreated her?

[INSECTS CHIRR]

[MELANCHOLY GUITAR MUSIC]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[LILAS, IN ENGLISH]Maybe I was... just in denial.

Because I was thinking, "Oh, society,

"Oh, my mother, she would know".

It's really bad. It's not okay.

My first experience with a girl changed everything.

But I was like, "No, no, no, no".

- [MUSIC CONTINUES] - [SARAH] Make a wish!

Wish, wish, come on.

Cut the cake.

- [DAD] Happy birthday, dear. - [SHERY] Happy birthday, dad.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[MUSIC CONCLUDES; INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[LIVELY MUSIC ON SPEAKER]

[MUSIC CONTINUES FAINTLY]

[MUSIC SUBSIDES]

[RUMBLING IN DISTANCE]

[MUFFLED BOOM REVERBERATES]

[MUSIC - "EXTINGUISH THE SUN" BY SLAVE TO SIRENS]

[BOOM REVERBERATES]

[MUSIC INTENSIFIES]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[LYRICS INDISTINCT]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[SIREN BLARES, MUSIC CONTINUES]

[SIREN RECEDES]

[MUSIC STOPS; LOW, REVERBERANT HUM]

[SIREN WAILS IN DISTANCE]

[MELANCHOLY MUSIC]

[LILAS] We inherited some kind of trauma from our parents.

I wasn't... aware of it.

[MUSIC CONTINUES; INDISTINCT YELLING, CLAMOURING]

[LILAS] Until this explosion happened, it's just...

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[LILAS] I just started imagining that

the water around Beirut...

is filled with dead bodies.

People are still missing.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[LILAS] Home doesn't feel safe.

Friendship doesn't feel safe.

Love doesn't feel safe.

[MUSIC SUBSIDES, INSECTS CHIRR SOFTLY]

[STEADY, TICKING PERCUSSION; LILAS PLAYS UPTEMPO METAL RIFF]

[DRUMS KICK IN, GUITAR GRADUALLY SLIPS OUT OF RHYTHM]

[MUSIC PETERS OUT]

[IN ARABIC] Fuck, I don't know. It's hard.

[LILAS STRUMS DISTORTED CHORDS]

[IN ENGLISH] I need Shery here.

[LILAS INHALES, SIGHS]

[LILAS, IN ARABIC] Okay, what other songs are there?

Honestly, if I can't find a guitarist,

I have no patience to go in the same cycle I was in [IN ENGLISH] years ago.

I know it's hard.

[IN ARABIC] There is a candidate but...

I doubt she's [IN ENGLISH] as good as...

- Shery. - Shery, yeah.

[IN ARABIC] There's a specific style we don't want to move away from.

Exactly.

[IN ENGLISH] Shery has that specific style.

I love it, [IN ARABIC] honestly.

I just wish she'd be reasonable.

[TATYANA] Just for the sake of the band.

[MUFFLED THUD]

[GLOOMY ELECTRONIC MUSIC]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[MUSIC CONTINUES; FAINT CHATTER]

[MUSIC CONTINUES; INDISTINCT CONVERSATION]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[MUSIC CONTINUES, SIREN WAILS IN DISTANCE]

[MUSIC CONTINUES; INDISTINCT CHANTING]

[MAN] As we continue on the August 4th explosion,

what changed today on a field level?

[MAN 2] People are homeless,

and responders are still assessing the damage.

[VOICE CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[LILAS, IN ENGLISH] When Shery and I met,

we were in the middle of the riot.

People were screaming and shouting at the government.

And I looked at her,

and she looked at me and was like, "Okay, what do you listen to?"

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[LILAS] At some point, I mistreated her.

I was fighting with myself.

But I never wanted it to affect the band.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[MUSIC SUBSIDES GRADUALLY]

[LILAS] I woke up...

feeling like, "Okay, I should cut my hair".

- [MAYA CHUCKLES] - It was just heavy,

it's like a burden.

I needed to get rid of that burden.

After what happened...

[IN ARABIC] ...with Shery and all this mess...

[MAYA] Mm.

[IN ENGLISH] ...it made me take a...

[IN ARABIC] I don't know, [IN ENGLISH] a step back.

[IN ARABIC] For sure.

I told Shery many times.

Shery...

[IN ENGLISH] Most of the time, she inspires me, actually.

To... do more.

Because whatever...

[IN ARABIC] She writes challenging music...

[IN ENGLISH] ...so I get more motivated to just...

to catch up on what she is writing, [IN ARABIC] for example.

- [IN ENGLISH] Or skills, or... - [MAYA] Eh...

[IN ARABIC] But now, [IN ENGLISH] I don't know.

[SHE INHALES]

[IN ARABIC] We need to come back together.

[IN ENGLISH] Do it again.

[MAYA, IN ARABIC] Did you talk to her?

Thank you.

- [MAYA] Looking fresh. - Thank you.

- [SOFT RATTLE] - [LILAS] Oh, great.

[SHE INHALES]

[TRAFFIC HUMS IN DISTANCE]

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATION; MUSIC PLAYS FAINTLY]

[IN ENGLISH] So, how are we gonna plug in?

[LILAS, IN ARABIC] There's a small amp here.

[IN ENGLISH] Okay.

[SOFT GUITAR NOTE RESONATES]

[IN ARABIC] Look what happened from tapping my finger.

It's peeling.

[SHERY, IN ENGLISH] That means progress.

- Trust me, I'm telling you. - Yeah.

- Mm-hm. - [SHERY, IN ARABIC] Power on.

[IN ENGLISH] Power on.

[METRONOME CLICKS, BOTH PLAY MELANCHOLY GUITAR PATTERN]

- [MUSIC GOES OFF-RHYTHM] - Try it, uh...

[METRONOME STOPS, GUITAR CONTINUES]

Try it on this note.

- Okay, okay... - Okay. Yeah.

[METRONOME RESUMES]

[SHERY] One, two, three, four...

[METRONOME CLICKS, BOTH PLAY MELANCHOLY GUITAR PATTERN]

[SHERY] I thought it's all about music.

But...

...it wasn't all about music.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[MAN] We have two pieces we are playing.

One is Zeppelin, Kashmir, okay?

What are you playing?

- C. - Yeah, yeah.

Do... the solo.

[LILAS PLAYS PALM-MUTED PATTERN]

Just the two.

- Stop. What are you playing? - [SHERY PLAYS PALM-MUTED PATTERN]

- I don't want conservative. - [HE PLAYS SOFTLY]

- I want... - [HE PLAYS AGGRESSIVELY]

Like you.

These days, it has to be.

[THEY VOCALISE PALM-MUTED GUITAR PATTERN, ORCHESTRA TUNES UP]

[MAN] Orchestra!

I need total silence for one minute, please.

Total silence.

Erm... Yeah, yeah.

[IN ARABIC] She's going to come on at 9:30.

[TRADITIONAL MUSIC ON TV]

[MAN, ON TV] The Lebanese are invited to join us here.

We ask you to turn your volume up.

Because music is the only form of expression we agree on these days.

[MUSIC SUBSIDES]

[ORCHESTRA PLAYS "KASHMIR" BY LED ZEPPELIN]

LEBANON

There's Lilas!

- My love. - [SHE CHUCKLES AFFECTIONATELY]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[MUSIC CONTINUES ON TV]

[MUSIC SUBSIDES]

[LILAS] What are you up to?

[IN ENGLISH] I'm good, I'm good, I'm good. [IN ARABIC] What's up?

I don't know what to wear.

[SHE LAUGHS]

Trying to find a top to wear.

[IN ENGLISH] For clubbing.

All I have is teacher's... clothes...

and pants.

Mm... Yeah...

[TAP RUNS]

[MOTHER, IN ARABIC] What time are you coming home tonight?

Late, because the party starts at 11pm.

Where did you say you are going?

Jaledib.

I'm coming back home!

[SOFT ELECTRONIC MUSIC]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[LILAS, IN ENGLISH] I used to think love is just poetry, "Ooh, la, la",

romantic dinners, and sex.

But no, it's different.

It's complicated.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[LILAS] You can't love someone if you don't have love for your own self.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

- [SHERY] Bon appetit. - [LILAS] Thank you.

So, how was the party yesterday?

[BOTH CHUCKLE]

Who did you meet?

- [IN ARABIC] A lot of people. - [IN ENGLISH] Mm-hm, yeah.

It was wild and hot and... Yeah.

- [SHE CHUCKLES] - I was drunk.

And did you get any numbers?

- Yeah. - Oh!

- How many? - [IN ARABIC] A lot.

You're on fire these days!

First, I went to Mar Mikhael for a bit.

[IN ENGLISH] I was expecting my date to come on time,

[IN ARABIC] but she arrived two hours late.

So, I started drinking alone.

Then [IN ENGLISH] random girls [IN ARABIC] walked in and got shots.

[IN ENGLISH] And they were like, "Give that beauty over there a shot!"

- I'm like, "Okay, let's go!" - Yeah!

[IN ARABIC] We took shots then...

two more girls walked in,

also drunk and, I don't know...

- [IN ENGLISH] ...we made out. - [IN ARABIC] With all of them?

- No, just those two. - Oh, just two of them?

[SHERY LAUGHS]

- Oh, shit. Shh, Shh... - [SHE LAUGHS NERVOUSLY]

And lots of things.

[IN ENGLISH] Then my date [IN ARABIC] arrived, and we went to Club Projekt.

[IN ENGLISH] We danced until 5:00. It was really hot.

You and your girlfriend?

- [IN ARABIC] Not girlfriend, my date. - [IN ENGLISH] Ah, your date.

- [IN ARABIC] Foreigners are crazy. - Mm.

- [IN ENGLISH] They're on fire. - Mm.

- "Spank me, daddy" style. - [SHERY LAUGHS]

[CHANTING NEARBY]

[IN ARABIC] What does she look like?

[IN ENGLISH] I have a video of her.

[CHANTING CONTINUES]

She's cute!

[CROWD, IN ARABIC] The people demand the fall of the regime!

Yeah, she's cute.

[CONVERSATION OBSCURED BY CHANTING]

[CHANTING LOUDENS]

[LILAS] Thief, thief.

[IN ENGLISH] Bravo, Shery, bravo, Shery.

[IN ARABIC] Thief, thief.

- You're not even worth a shoe. - [LILAS LAUGHS]

[CHANTING CONTINUES]

[ALMA, IN ENGLISH] Man, they should, like, reopen this place, seriously.

[LILAS] Underground for the drag shows,

the top for the straight people.

- [ALMA] For orgies. - [LILAS LAUGHS]

♪ A few times I've been 'round that track

♪ But it's not just gonna happen like that

♪ 'Cause I ain't no hollaback girl, woo!

♪ Ain't no hollaback girl. ♪

[BUSTLING STREET NOISE; SIREN IN DISTANCE]

[ALMA, IN ARABIC] If he falls, he'll break into pieces.

Can I come up there?

If you want to, you can.

Okay.

[LILAS] Shery, postpone this plan.

Slowly slowly, okay?

[SHERY CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY]

Wow.

[LILAS] Shery, forget about it. You have a photoshoot tomorrow, and...

a future ahead of you, and a long life to live.

[PALM-MUTED COUNT-IN]

♪ Hurricane crashes

♪ A smouldering attack of water to sea

♪ Monument in the making

♪ Collecting them all to see

♪ Beyond their control

♪ Beyond their control

♪ Other people's horrors

♪ Other people's fame. ♪

[SHERY] Yeah, yeah, yeah.

- [SHRILL BEEPING] - Okay...

What happened?

♪ Other people's sorrows Other people's freedom. ♪

[SHERY PLAYS AGGRESSIVE DISTORTED PATTERN]

- Ooooh! - [MAYA, IN ENGLISH] Oh, it's awesome!

- Congrats on the song, guys! - [ALL EXCLAIM EXCITEDLY]

[LILAS, IN ARABIC] The album's done, yay!

[CLAPPING]

[CLAPPING SUBSIDES]

Romeo, Romeo... Uh, I mean Juliet!

- [SHE LAUGHS] - [IN ENGLISH] Wait, I'm Romeo.

We have two Juliets.

[SHE CHUCKLES]

[SHERY, IN ARABIC] It's not coming off. Use some spit.

[ALMA TUTS, TATYANA LAUGHS]

- [LILAS] Please hug me! - [SHE SHIVERS]

You don't warm well, Shery.

I don't warm well? Come, Tatyana, you have big hair.

[CHUCKLING]

Why did this hotel shut down?

Was it because of the war? Never opened again?

- This was a hotel? - Yeah, all of this.

[IN ENGLISH] That's what I was saying. [IN ARABIC] We should invest here.

[IN ENGLISH] Underground nightclubs, hotel, casino, tennis court, pools...

- And church! - Church?

- Yeah, there's a church there. - Eh, church.

[IN ARABIC] With gay marriage, then.

- Yeah! - [LAUGHTER]

- [IN ENGLISH] Fuck, yeah! - [SHE CHUCKLES]

[TRAFFIC HUMS IN DISTANCE]

[CONTEMPLATIVE MUSIC]

[LILAS] I believe everyone is a slave in this life.

Slaves to money.

Slaves to war.

[CAMERA CLICKS]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

- [LILAS] Society. - [CAMERA CLICKS, BEEPS]

We're all trying to escape something within us.

[MUSIC SOFTENS]

[PHOTOGRAPHER, IN ARABIC] Can you all close your eyes?

[IN ENGLISH] Okay.

- [PHOTOGRAPHER] Yes... - [SHE CHUCKLES]

Let's go.

[IN ENGLISH] Just like in a moment of peace, and...

breath in.

- [IN ARABIC] I might fall asleep though. - [ALL LAUGH]

- [PHOTOGRAPHER, IN ENGLISH] Yeah. - Oh, I forgot to put my lip ring.

[PHOTOGRAPHER, IN ARABIC] Come on.

[CAMERA CLICKS]

[CONTEMPLATIVE MUSIC]

[SHERY, IN ENGLISH]Lilas said once that...

I inspire her.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

- Aw, thank you. - [LILAS GIGGLES]

I look so pretty now.

[SHERY] Sometimes you don't know yourself...

- ...like others do. - [BOTH CHUCKLE]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[LILAS] Even if there was a hundred other girls around here who play metal...

...I wouldn't have chosen...

anyone else.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[SHERY] Lilas!

You're going to go in the tunnel.

- [LILAS, IN ARABIC] Alone? - [SHERY] Yes, alone.

[IN ENGLISH] No light.

And then I'll meet you at the end.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

- I'm right behind you. - [VOICE REVERBERATES SOFTLY]

[MUSIC SUBSIDES GRADUALLY]

[MUSIC - "SLAVE TO SIRENS" BY SLAVE TO SIRENS]

[MUSIC CONTINUES; CHEERING]

[MAN] Ladies and gentlemen, Slave to Sirens!

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[LIVELY, INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[PULSING ELECTRONIC MUSIC]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[MUSIC SOFTENS]

[MUSIC CONCLUDES]

Descriptive subtitles by Matchbox Cinesub for Independent Cinema Office