All language subtitles for Hikayatul jawahiri thalath (Michel Khleifi, 1995).english

HIKAYATUL JAWAHIRI THALATH
The Tale of the Three Lost Jewels

You, my angel, you are the dove

who pines for his female.

Yusef,

Come on, sweetheart,
the curfew is nearly over.

Get up,

your brother will be starving!

You always wake me
in the middle of my dream.

If only you'd let me finish it once.

Well, come and tell me

what you saw.

You and my sister
were embroidering a shawl.

I came running from the palm trees.

The doves you were embroidering

suddenly flew away

and darkness fell.

A swarm of butterflies
then gathered around the lantern,

burning in its fire.

So to save them from the flames
I chased them away to the palm trees.

Run to the sea and get some water.

The food is nearly ready. Hurry!

I don't want any trouble.

Keep away from the army.

Did you tell him not to be late today?
- No, not yet.

Listen, Yusef,

you know we're going to visit your father,
don't you?

They may even release him.
Come to see him with us.

Give me the basket first.

Come back quickly.
If you miss the visit today

and they don't release him
you won't see him for another month.

All right, all right.
I'll take the food and return quickly.

Be careful, my love,
don't let anyone follow you.

Don't worry, mother,
your love will always save us.

Come back in one piece.

If only my love could stop
the army's brutality.

Your father rots in prison
and your brother is on the run.

Be careful, sweetheart, please.
- Come inside.

Good morning, uncle.
- Good morning.

Has the colour of the sky changed?
I feel it's going to rain.

There are no clouds in the East,

but in the West things look troubled.

As for the North.
- The colour of the sea has also changed.

As for the North,

there, the sky is far from the earth
as I am far from my children.

Where are you going, Yusef?
Are you leaving me too?

No, uncle,
I promise to pass by when I return.

From where?

Are you going hunting?

Yes. I knew you would guess.

The truth is, I have a male robin
and want to find him a female.

Ah, you like your birds,
and you're quite a hunter now,

you can even matchmake!

I remember, before 1967,
before I went blind that is.

You're a real little devil.

Don't leave me all alone with my memories.

"Do you know, father, what has beset me?

I have found none
to rock my country's cradle.

The convoy has moved away,

so sleep, my house,
under the tresses of our palm trees."

This is my share.
I'm going to hunt later.

Why aren't you at school today?

There's a strike.
They told us to go home.

Go easy on the food.
It has to last us two days.

These are great.

Who made them?
- It was my mother's turn today.

Your mother's a good cook too.

How the hell do you know?

The other day, I took some books for Samir
and she let me taste.

Nobody followed you?

No, no one, do you think I'm a child?

If someone tries to question
or follow you, be sure to tell us.

Oh, yes, there's Abou Iman.

Our blind neighbour who makes us read
letters from his children in Canada.

For the last thirty years, he's been waiting
for the money they promised to send him.

And he gets nothing, poor man.

That's the Israeli Special Forces.
Hurry Samir.

Tell mother we're grown men now.

Any news about father?

No, but she's going to visit him today.

Are you going with her?

It depends on the hunting.

I don't like seeing my father in prison.

See this snail?

It comes out with the first rain

and hides between the mallow
and the wild chicory with its nasty nettle.

You must not touch it

before it is washed by rainwater,
or else it damns you.

Keep away from the palm vines,
they are inhabited by homeless spirits

which follow the Jinn
to feed on their left-overs.

Why, what do the Jinn eat?

Same as humans,

apples, bananas, radishes, mint...

No they don't, they eat meat.

And how do you know?

Because if they didn't,
they would be poor and weak like us!

Plants also have a soul which strengthens
the spirit of the earth within us.

You should never kill
or throw away a plant.

You see how the plant's spirit
mingles with mine?

Let's go to the Jinn.

We'll see if they eat child-meat or not.

Leave her alone.

Listen to the sound of the wind,
the Jinn are running away.

You chased them out of their beds.

You're lying to them,

the Jinn don't eat humans.

They have their own food.

Get him!

He's a spy! A collaborator!

Spy! Collaborator!

Let's tie him to a tree and shoot him!

I won't harm you.

Why do you lie to them?
The Jinn don't eat humans.

Who taught you about the Jinn?
- The birds and my mother.

Is your mother a soothsayer or a witch?

No... our blind neighbour Abou Iman,
he knows all about the Jinn.

Move away, let me get on with my job.

Go on!

He's my friend, I'm inviting him.

I'm not hungry...

Then why do you stare at
the meat with greedy eyes?

Give me another shawarma.

Do you want another one?

Take your sandwich and off with you.
- Take it easy Abou Sakhr,

they're the youth of the future!

The Special Forces!
The Israelis!

I've just done it in my pants.

So have I, but only pee.

Come on, Um Samir,
we're running out of time.

Be patient, the boy's got to come back.

Suad!

I'm much prettier like this!

Come on, let's go without Yusef.

Come on, cover your head.

I think you forgot these in the oasis.

What happened to you today was my fault.

Did you catch the dove?

No, he was under the net with the robin.

I was supposed to visit
my father in prison,

but but I arrived late.

I must go home too.

Will you come with me tomorrow?

We'll go hunting.
I'll teach you how to catch the Jinn soap.

If you wash your face with it you'll
never be afraid again.

I am afraid of no one.
- I know.

This soap used to grow
in our country a long time ago.

It's the soap that gave courage to Samson,
strength to Goliath, greatness to David,

and wisdom to King Solomon.

Come tomorrow, I must see you.

I was only eating an orange, mummy.

Who was it? Do you know her name?
- No.

Does she know your name?
- I don't think so.

Come and tell me what happened to you.

How is Samir?

Is he well?

Not a word. Better sell them than
let them rot under my scarf.

Anyway we're not allowed to
show off our beauty.

May God grant all your wishes!
As your father would have wished.

My father wanted me to be

a revolutionary singer.
I would have died of hunger!

Take this and sell it too.

No stupid. Sell the Palestine
you wear on your heart?

That was a present from your father,
you must take care of it.

In the old days, we were born, we grew up,

the children would play their games,

they would run around screaming,
filling the earth with their laughter.

Now every family is split or squeezed
together in this small piece of land.

They want us to live like wild animals.

You know the girl who brought the birds?
I find her so beautiful.

And you?
- It's true she is beautiful,

but do you know whose daughter she is?

Abou Saadah, the Gypsy.

Good-looking family but bad reputation!

Mum, when you were young,
did you swim in the sea?

Of course. Your father often took me.

He loved watching the sea in the evening,

till the moon reached
the middle of the sky.

But after '67, the Israelis banned us
from going there at night,

and little by little
we forgot the sea existed at all.

I love the sea, mum.

Stop this chatter,

let her go shopping.

I think we have to sell the birds too.

Palestine lies to the east of
the Mediterranean sea,

in the south western part of Greater Syria.

Yusef, is the postman coming our way?

I don't know.

I hope he'll bring me a letter
and some money.

Listen, can you hear the sharks, the
whales and the ringing of the shellfish?

The sea learns by heart
all the sounds of the earth,

music and singing,
our sighs and our painful cries.

Even our laughter. A lot of laughter..

I will teach you to recognise where
the sea hides its secrets.

If the birds had a choice, they would live
in the sea, not on the earth.

But the sea is treacherous too.

You said once, "He who dies not
on the earth will die in the sea."

You came because you want
something from me.

Bring the chair to the cemetery
before the postman comes.

I like reading my letter
near my wife's grave.

I've decided to sell my birds.
We need the money.

Why so quickly?

Did you make a good catch?
- No,

it's because my father hasn't been
released. And you know how things are.

If I had anything I would give it to you.

Just recommend somebody who will
buy at a good price.

Bird merchants are thieves.

Go to the "rich" neighbourhood
and ask for Sheikh Attar.

He made a good few dollars in the Gulf.

And he loves birds.

They say he has a huge roof terrace,
like a palace

where he keeps every kind of
bird in the world.

Go and see if he can help you.

Sheikh Attar...

Why are you trying to run away?

Be a man.
Admit you haven't anything for me.

I haven't anything for you, that's true.

Not even the time to listen
to your stories, Abou Iman.

Get the hell out of my sight.

You're worse than an undertaker!

Damn this face of yours!

What do you want, boy?

I've got some birds to sell.
Sheikh Attar...

All right, all right, I understand.
Follow me.

This boy wants to sell some birds to
father. Send someone down, quickly!

Listen.

I'll keep your birds here for a few days.

If they survive, I'll pay you.

And if they don't, God will compensate you.

Those are my conditions.

Give me at least the price of three birds.
My mother really needs the money.

As for the rest, like you said.

Oh, the girl who brought the birds.

Here are your cages.

Keep them here.
I'll collect them when I come back.

Either with the birds inside them,
or without them.

That's business for you:
either you win or you lose.

Come, I think I rather like you.

What does he want from me?

What bad timing!

That's our house.

I've got to run home.

So this is Yusef.
You're Salah's favourite friend.

Come in and eat with us.

Thank you,
but I've got to go back to the camp.

You live in the camp?

My father wanted to move
but then he went to prison.

I'll bring a present for your mother
and I'll drive you there.

You have a beautiful house.
What does your father do?

He owns orange groves
and sells to the whole world,

even to Europe!

Tell your mother she can always come
if she needs meat or anything else.

Tell her she can rely on us.

I told my father that you haven't
eaten meat in a long time.

Come and play with Salah whenever you want.

Are these the Gypsies' houses?

Yes, there, on that wasteland.

Please let me get out here, please.

Or else I will lose her again!

Don't worry, I'm taking you home.

No, I want to get down here!

What's wrong with him?
- I don't know.

He forgot his oranges!
- I'll take them to him tomorrow!

You know where he lives?
- No, but I'll ask at school.

Get in.

Go on.

Get the doctor.

Tell him the old woman is dying.
Go on, push.

What if the car breaks down on the way?

You three, go with him, hurry up!

Have you caught a rabbit?

Didn't I tell you to come tomorrow
to the oasis?

Why are you carrying that rabbit
like an idiot?

It's a present for my mother.

Come, I'm afraid the errant souls
will bewitch you

and make you follow them to the desert.

I didn't say them you brought us bad luck.

Grandmother is dying.
Should she die, I won't see you tomorrow.

Let's sacrifice the rabbit for her soul?

No, tonight it's going to rain.
The clouds will not receive her soul.

Even if they do, the rain would
purify her and take her to heaven.

You read all that in the clouds?

Let's leave it here, it's better.

Come, she wants to see you before she dies.

I don't want to see her, I love her!

If you love her, then do as she asks.
- I'm scared.

You deal with your daughter.

Aida,

come and see your grandmother, darling.

Did you bring me the present?

Yes, I brought it.

Well, well, there are still
some brave people around.

As long as you're here on the land
claiming your rights, all remains possible.

Abou Rabi's son is dead.
A bullet hit him in the middle of the head.

Come, come on.

We sacrifice for you,

0 martyr, our body and soul.

Your blood was not spilled in vain.

Let's go, quickly.

You have to go before the curfew,

otherwise the army will eat you up.

When you reach the UN, take a left

and then you'll see a long road.

Take a right and you're there.

Are you being silly again?

Why did she give you the necklace?

She asked me two questions.

She said if I answer properly
she would give me the necklace.

Did you answer her when you nodded?

First she said:
"Do you want the necklace?"

And I nodded to say yes.

Then she said:
"He who wants to marry you

must first find the three missing jewels,

otherwise he cannot marry you.
So I said no.

When I grow up I want to marry you.

You, stupid?

You'll see.
- Go on then.

I'll see you tomorrow at the oasis.

I forgot to ask your name.

Aida.

I said Aida.

As for me, I'm Yusef.

Ask her where the three jewels were lost.

I think she said South America.

Come, let me take your measurements
for this sweater.

How much did you sell the birds for?

Sheikh Attar told me
to come back in two days.

He first wants to see if the birds
will survive in his house.

Go tomorrow and ask him for an advance.

There are so many borders in the world!

Tell me how far Gaza is from America.

We are in the Western Asian continent,
on the Mediterranean.

Then there is the Atlantic ocean.

And there's North America, you see.

And there's South America.

Where's South America, show me.

It's far away, about an inch away.

You see, mummy,
there's America, right there.

If only I could fly!

I would cross all these borders!

At least wait till your sweater
is finished, so you can take it with you.

I think your dear son is truly in love!

This way they'll be warmer!

I,

I.

America,

America.

If they tie a rope around my neck

Even a million ropes,

I shall seize them all

And untie them

And make a pen to write a few words

Yearning for freedom...

What's wrong, darling, what have you lost?

Here's some money for the house.
I told a lie yesterday.

Sheikh Attar did give me an advance.

Good morning, let me give you a hand.
- God bless you.

What, is there another strike today?

No, I've got my school bag here,

and really feel like learning today.

Good for you. "Learning when you're young
is like carving on a rock.

And when you grow up,
seek your knowledge as far as China!"

I prefer South America.

Well, wherever, it doesn't matter.

If you had to travel to see your sons,
where would you buy the plane ticket?

In Gaza of course, where else?

There used to be an agent
in Palestine street

but I don't know how it works now.

OK, I'll see you later.

I'll go to Palestine street and
if is still there, I'll buy two tickets,

one for you and one for me.

God be with you, son.

The human body is important.

You should know it well.

If the body is not healthy,
nor is the soul.

Now we know the body is made up of

the head, the neck, the...

the arms,

the chest,

the fingers,

and the hand.

Look at what your classmate has done.

Stand up.

What is this meant to be?

You haven't written a word from the lesson.

Secondly, you draw a man in the shape of
a woman and a woman in that of a man.

It's disgraceful.

Why have you written
the word BORDERS three times?

What does this word mean?

I don't know why I drew this.

But.

I don't know!

Leave me alone!

Go away, go back to school!

I'm going away, to work in Israel.

I'll save some money and move far away,
to America,

South America.

Do you have any money?

You're not the only one with money! Look.

This won't even get you to Jerusalem!

Wait for me after school. I can help you.

I want to go to Jerusalem.

I want to work in Israel.

Yusef, open the door.

It's me, Salah. I've brought your bag!

Go and check if the door is locked.

Yusef isn't there.

Well, come in.

What's your name?
- Salah Shoukry.

Here's his school bag,
and a present from my dad.

All right, here, thanks for the oranges.

When he comes back,
I'll tell him you brought his bag too.

I must stay here,

I've got to see Yusef

and stop him from going in.

He mustn't take his sister by surprise.

Poor Yusef. Shame on her!

Samir, that was Salah, Yusef's friend.

Please God, make my mother return quickly.

What is she doing!

Is she making the medicine, or buying it?!

Is that you, Yusef?

You must be Yusef's friend.

I must wait for him.

Has something happened to him?

What do you want?

I want to go to America.
- But where?

To South America.
- Yes, but to which country?

You don't know?

Go on, you're still young.

When you're grown up,
they'll send you to America.

Leave Gaza and go to America?

You'd better ask some foreigners.

They may take you in their luggage.

Go on, off with you.

Out you go!

Go on.

America. Without a passport.

I want to go to America.

Every day it's the same: Get out of here:

This is the UN, not a travel agency!

In those days, I was still a young man,

so I told my father: "They're going to
destroy the whole village."

And he replied: "Over my dead body."

I told him: "But you're paralysed,
you can't

defend yourself,
you can't even run away."

He looked at me and said:
"You're making a big mistake.

You shouldn't move from here."

I want to stay here, in my house,

on my land, under my sky, near my sea.

Why can't I live and die here?
Like my ancestors did.

Uncle, why do they kill bad girls?

What's that got to do with it?

Yusef's sister.

Oh, poor people.
Everyone's poor these days.

Father in prison, brother on the run,
they'll bring him back dead next.

How can your friend's brother
escape the army,

when their men are everywhere?

Has a devil got into you?

An ass! An ass!
- An ass has possessed you?

No, no, I'm the ass.
- Nice to meet you!

I'll be back in two seconds.
Look after my bike.

May God protect us.

Mother, if we go out now, they'll kill us.

No one can touch a hair
on your beautiful head.

Salah,

go and find Yusef
and don't come back without him.

Come on, Khalil, we have to go.

Oh, stay, please stay,

I haven't had enough of you yet.

Here are two oranges, for you two.

I'll keep the rest here.

I'm going around to invite our neighbours
to Samir's engagement party.

As soon as you hear my youyous,

answer them with your own.
Then open the door.

Souad, Souad.

Let me kiss you goodbye.
- Don't worry. To hell with them!

When you leave, go straight to Nidal's

and leave the rest to me.

To you.
- OK.

Where's Yusef?

Only Yusef can tell me what's going on.

Come here, lie down next to me.

Come and look at the bees.

Whenever I sit and watch them
I forget everything.

They are the creatures that
know most about nature.

Who do you think apologises
to the sun and moon

when a tree is felled? Who?

When the lumberjack
cuts the green branches,

the bees and birds cry with them.

I've decided...
- To leave.

I know.
I want you to go too.

You don't know where the necklace is.

If you give me the binoculars,
I'll tell you where.

First of all, you have to see the necklace;

then, you must know where to go in America;

finally, only my grandmother
knows the story.

If I give you the binoculars,
will you give me the necklace?

When my grandmother gives it to me,
it will be yours.

And if I can't buy a plane ticket,
what should I do?

Go to the soothsayers, or to those

who travelled and came back,

and those whose houses are built on
the horns of the deer, behind the clouds.

Wait for me.
- Go home now before the ghoul eats you up!

There is a curfew.
Move along.

But my house is right there.

Not even one step further.

Off with you!

We won't blow up the planet if we go home!

I'd rather break them myself
than see him take them.

And the necklace?
We were going to exchange them.

I broke them
so I could give you the necklace.

Let's go.

Go on, eat.

Give some to your grandmother.

Please, help yourself.

Eat, Yusef.

That's enough, pull yourself together.

I don't like people to have pity on me.

No martyrs today?
- No.

Which means that your brother is fine.

It's been a quiet day.

We'll steal the necklace later.

I know what would make Yusef happy.
I'll go with him to feed Grandmother.

Tell him how Grandfather went away.

I was very little at the time.

He told me the story later,
after he came back from America.

I had been promised to him.

At the time, Jaffa was a big city...

Have you still got photographs of Jaffa

or of Grandfather?
- Of course.

Take the key and bring them.

Go on, Grandmother.

In those days, people
still wore the old Arab clothes,

not European ones.

Grandfather was still a young man
with a faint little moustache.

He bought a European suit and a tarbouche.

He had his hair done
and donned some perfume

and went out for a walk on the beach.

She blushes as soon
as she reaches this point!

So what happened then, Grandmother?

He was walking on the beach

and by chance his father saw him:
"What! My son's become a poofter?"

So he boxed his ears.
Poor man, for wearing a bit of perfume:

He ran home,

took his things,

and went straight to the port

and took the first ship to America.

And that's where he bought me the necklace.

Where in America?

America, where they speak Spanish.

Go now, dear. I'm tired.

Good morning, uncle.

Hasn't the sun reached you yet?

Come, I have lots to tell you.

Later, later.

I have a strong feeling
the postman is bringing you a letter

with a hefty cheque.

Let me have a look at you.

Do people in love forget
about their family?

Shut up, will you. I am feeding the birds.

Come here, let me kiss you.

I was sure nothing would happen to Samir.

Me too. But where were you?

I was at Aida's house.
They wanted to bring me home but...

Did you dance with the Gypsies then?

They're not Gypsies, they're not.

Dear Salah,

let me kiss you.

I'll be with you in two seconds, Salah.

If you want the robin, just take it.

That's my cage, and the robin is mine.

Salah is like my son now

and what's yours is his too.

If only you knew what he did for us.

Without him, today would have
been Samir's funeral.

Salah, I'll give you
the most beautiful robins

but this one is mine!

I came to get my bike and to see Yusef.

There, like that.

Take the cage and the robin too.

No, no, this robin is Yusef's.

Tomorrow, you'll both go
to catch one for Salah.

Come on now, you'll be late for school.

You're right, Yusef has changed.

So much! I am so worried about him.

Are you sure the oranges go to Europe?

Yesterday, the European man came to dinner.

All my father's harvest is sold abroad,

in Europe.

That's why they wrap the oranges
in paper and pack them tidily.

Yes, like the beautiful box you brought us.

I don't want to go to school.

We have to go.

I've got an idea.

Let's go to the orange grove.

To see the containers.
We'll take Aida with us.

Aida?

But my father will be angry.

We'll hide behind the trees

and I'll see if it's possible to leave.

You take the bike, and I'll go to school.

Wow! Birds love oranges
but I can't see a single one!

The lorries scare them away.

That's the man who bought all the harvest!

If we work with them, we'll know how
to hide in one of those boxes.

Then they go to the port of Ashdod

and from there the Mr takes them to Europe.

An envelope and two stamps.
- For which country?

For abroad, wherever.

Here are two stamps for America.
And here's the envelope.

8 shekels.

Give me some sweets with the rest.

All right then, off with you.

Great customers for an afternoon!

Wait a bit more. He'll be back soon.

What's wrong with you?
Tell me.

Tell Yusef that I have a present for him:

half a photo, some herbs and a snake-skin.

What are you talking about?

I lied to Yusef.

No. No.

Sit down, tell me what happened.

How are things in the camp?

Don't worry, things are bound to improve.

Regards to the family

and the neighbours.

On behalf of all your children,

Atef.

He's blind, worse than illiterate.

But this is so cruel!

Well, I want to give him a present,

that way he'll wait a few
more years until I come back.

By then, much will have changed.

But if he's blind,

why do you need to put stamps on it?

Because he feels everything
a hundred times.

Come on, let's take him the letter.

Dear Father,

don't think that we have forgotten you,

my brothers and I.

We think of you all the time,

but how hard exile is!

We saved some money and
God willing it will reach you soon.

How are things with you?

They say things are hard in the camp.

Don't worry, things are bound to improve.

Regards to the family
and the neighbours...

Yusef, come here,

come quickly.

Let him read the letter again, woman.

Carry on,
I'll be back in a second.

Read.

"They say things

are hard in the camp."

Aida was here, she just left.

She had a present for you.

A present?
Did she give it to you?

No, she took it away with her.

Didn't you see her on the way?

She's just left, this very moment.
- Just now?

Come home for dinner.

I have something for you.

"on behalf of your children

who miss you, Ahmed."

"Don't worry, things will get better."
Is that it? - Yes.

"Regards to the family and the neighbours."

Here, here's the letter.

As if I had any family or neighbours left!

Have you decided?

Have you?

Give me back the necklace.
I don't want you to go.

Give me my present.

Mum told me you brought me one.

This is a present for you.

Open it.

Keep them with you throughout your trip.

You're not going to go, you're not.

I'm sure of it.

Salah, come over here.

I have to marry you,

I have to grow up.

How is he going to travel?

In an orange container!

Come, tell me how.

Shall I go and call a doctor?
- In the curfew?

God curse the Israelis,
ten whole years of curfews!

Father is being released tomorrow.
The officer said so.

Aren't you happy?

I don't know my father
but I'm not scared of him.

He knows you and loves you.
That's enough, isn't it?

Even if the army will use
him to trap Samir.

Try this on for me.

Aren't you taking it with you?
Or aren't you going anymore?

You should take him to a psychiatrist.

Leave us alone.

Is this what love does?

Burns the heart out and stings so bitterly?

Aren't we allowed to love?

Did you love my father, mum?

In our days, there was love in films only.

But then there were no refugees.

They had homes and land
and they were comfortable.

My mother told me
how they went out and picnicked

and went to the sea to swim.

Even the women swam?
- Of course, why not?

One woman is worth a thousand men.

When I think of the mess we're in,
I say to myself,

"Can't the oppressed have
one day of happiness?"

My mother, what did she not do!

When they fled, she was her age...

That day, she was on the beach
with her friends...

Who is going away?

Is it the moon,

the clouds,

the window,

or is it me,

me and my head?

Do you want to say goodbye to me?

My heart is telling me worrying things,

it's saying you're going to go away

to escape.

No, mum,

it's just a dream,

a bad dream.

Before, my dreams were so nice,

but now...

Goodnight.

If you stay with us, I'd be happy.

And if you go, take care of yourself.

Goodnight.

This is to share with Salah.

"The National Leadership...

Good morning, Abou Iman.
- Good morning.

Um Samir. Yusef at school today?

No, there's a strike today.

Let him pass by to read me
the letter again.

...has called a three-day strike..."

Between the houses

Rides my love

Like a shining knight

With a jewelled saddle, my love...

Is this the first time you've worked here?

It's easier to eat them than pick them!

And drinking the juice is easier still.

I'm going to hide in this container.

You follow me as soon as I'm covered.

Hurry up!

Get a move on.

But I want to go too.

Go and get me my cigarettes.

What's wrong with you?
Are you sick?

They've just announced a curfew for
the next two or three days.

Let the trucks take a last load.

Tell the workmen to stop picking.

There's a curfew.

Go and get Yusef, there's a curfew.
We have to go home.

He's gone home.

He's gone? But I just saw him.

He had a sudden stomach ache
and went home.

All right, come with me.

We wanted him to celebrate
his father's return with us.

Do you know where Salah's house is?

In the rich neighbourhood.

It's impossible to get there
in the curfew.

Or at any other time, for that matter.

Let's at least find the necklace.

Nothing!

What are you going to say to your parents?

I'm going to lie to them.

Lie, lie, that's all you know, isn't it?

She's not the only one who lies,
everyone lies around here.

Don't worry, I'll stand by you.

What can happen to him?

Either he's in the orange grove,
or at Salah's or at your house.

No, my heart tells me he's gone away,

to America.

Aida, take care,

You're mad.

They'll shoot you.

Oranges.

God almighty,

speak, girl!

It's been an hour.
What did you do with the necklace?

She's been lying to the boy!
- No, I haven't.

Well, where is the necklace then?

I told him that Grandfather

brought it for you from America...

I told him that the person who finds
the three jewels will marry me...

God protect us!

We're in deep shit
and she talks of marriage!

The boy is lost,
and the army is everywhere.

It's my fault!

You should have explained to her that the
jewels were lost in Jaffa, not in America.

In 1948, when they fled their
burnt-out house in Jaffa...

Isn't that right?

She went back to retrieve whatever
was left, including the necklace.

But when they fled to Gaza,
she noticed that three jewels were missing.

God forgive you, Aida, for sending the
boy to America like that!

What are we going to do now?

Didn't you promise me the necklace?

I'm sure the necklace
is still in Gaza. I'm certain!

Yusef isn't a thief, I know he isn't.

Salah? Is that Salah?

Aida? You scared me.

Good thing you're all right!

Where are you going?

To look for Yusef.

You know where he is?

In an orange container.

We must find him.

Leave the bike here,
we'll pick it up later.

Here?

Here?

Yusef. It's Aida.

This is no time for crying.
Can't you remember where he hid?

The lorries took away
many of the containers.

Maybe he's gone to the port or... further.

OK,

let's sleep under the trees.

This is not a good idea,
we'll freeze to death.

We must go to Yusef's house.

And tell them what happened.
Tell them the truth.

Yusef', my boy.

Get up.

Dig under your feet

and you will find a manuscript.

Dig.

Go to the well,

read it, then throw it in.

I shall give you three drops of blood

which represent the three borders
that you drew.

For, when God created the soul,

He was stunned by
its beauty and its freedom,

and saw that it was as perfect as He,

He who is perfection itself.

He created three borders to contain it,

three prisons in which to confine it:

Time,

Space,

and the Flesh.

Let me drink first.

Thus fell the curse!

Whoever tried to break loose from
these confines was damned.

For the Creator sanctified them
and made them Man's Destiny.

For the soul that would break free

from Space, would also shed the Flesh

and the Soul that would shed the Flesh,

would break with Time.

And the Soul that breaks with Time,

claims eternal life

...and the Soul that claims eternal life
questions His Judgement

and challenges Him

as if to compete with His Godliness.

These three confines are your jewels,
Yusef.

He eats oranges and goes on eating oranges

and crosses rivers and seas,

and under the rivers,

he finds more oranges.

Oranges!

Then they cut the water
and they shout "there's no water"

and I wash myself in orange juice,

orange juice,

and I run

looking for myself inside my cell...

then I come out

and look for work

to feed my children...

Mummy, the children are awake.

But they hit you

and humiliate you.

And you go on eating oranges...

If you love him, go on,
fly away and bring him to me.

Shall I shoot?
- No, we'd better arrest him.

Bring him over.

Come here.

That's my robin!

What's he saying?

Ask him where the terrorists are.

Did you see any terrorists?

I told you to arrest him!

Why did you shoot?

You're mad, you've killed him!

He's got a right to run after his birds,
hasn't he?

Let's go!

Go!

Back to the car!

He's not injured.

You're not dead!

The necklace is in my bundle.

Open it.

Put it round your neck.

If I'd found the three jewels,

they would have cost me my life.

The dream told me so.

But the jewels are there,

you found them.

No, it wasn't me.
They were there all the time.

But we couldn't see them with our eyes
So the dream told me.

My robin!