A Lion Returns (2020) Movie Script
1
[instrumental music]
[female vocals]
What do you want?
I wanna see Mum.
Hey, Ahmed.
Omar. How's your Mum?
She's coping.
Can you guys leave us alone
for a minute?
Sure.
You want to see Mum?
Yeah.
I don't want to cause
any trouble.
I just want to see her.
You know Dad's here?
When did you get back?
How'd you get back
in the country?
I got your text two days ago
and then nothing.
Now you're outside the house.
He'd kill me if he knew
I was here.
Don't tell him.
He's lost all respect
in the community, Jamal.
At the Mosque they talk
about you.
He pretends he doesn't hear 'em,
but when he does, he says he has
nothing to do with you.
You know, people think the apple
doesn't fall far from the tree.
Well they should be ashamed
of themselves for doing nothing
while our brothers and sisters
are getting slaughtered
in our lands!
And you've stopped
the slaughter have you?
Is that why you're back?
Crusade's done?
-[Jamal] You don't know nothing.
I know you fucked
this family up.
I'm repulsed by what
you've done,
but you're my brother and...
As far as Dad's concerned,
you don't exist.
And where are my shoes?
What shoes?
My shoes you took with you.
I ditched 'em overseas.
Why?
I saw the video.
What are you talking about?
You in Syria.
Did you get blood on them?
You proud of yourself,
what you did?
OK, you're not saying anything
so I'm gonna go.
Wait! Just tell me how
she's doing.
It's a little late now, isn't it?
Stop being a fuckwit.
Just tell me how she is.
She's going into palliative care
on Monday.
What does that mean?
It means a week, ten days.
You've put us through hell.
I'm not here to fight with you.
I just want to see her and go.
You picked the worst time
for it.
-She's my Mum, Omar!
-Our Mum, our Mum, Jamal.
You know what I mean.
Just do this one favour for me,
please.
What makes you think I owe you
anything?
I'm your brother.
Oh, is that it?
No, the brother I had was smart
enough to know right from wrong.
I know what's right from wrong,
that's why I went over there.
It's right to butcher the
innocent, is it?
It's right to uphold the
word of the Prophet.
Oh, I'm so sick of all
you fundamentalists
manipulating the words
of our Prophet
as justification for killing
innocent people.
Well I'm sick of you
hypocrites
doing nothing for our cause!
Jihad is a duty.
Clearly you're not going to see
any reason here.
And I'm glad,
'cause anger is necessary
to win this.
Win what?
Do you even know what you're
talking about?
More than you'll ever know.
What was it that did it, huh?
What was it?
What did they say to you
that made you leave
your family, friends, life?
You've been brainwashed.
You want to talk about
brainwashing?
Let's start with brainwashing
that happens every day
in the Western world
via the news media,
corporate sponsored news media
that you've been fucking
fooled by!
Jamal, everybody's inside,
and pretty soon they're
going to wonder where I am.
So if there's nothing else...
I'm not leaving until I see her.
I told you, it's impossible.
You'll just make things worse.
It's Eid al-Adha.
You don't come back on a day
like this
just because it suits you.
Another time maybe.
It has to be now. You said
she's only got about a week.
Just one last time and I'll go.
That's your solution?
Come back here
after what you put us through,
make us look you in the eye,
and then take off?
I told you I did what was right.
I did this was for you,
for Mum, for Dad,
and all the Muslims
in the world!
All the Muslims in the world,
really?
You're speaking for all
the Muslims in the world now?
You're delusional.
And then you put Mum
through hell.
You put all of us through hell.
I had the Feds come to my work
Jamal, to my fucking uni!
I'm a lecturer in Middle Eastern
political science.
Do you know how bad that looked?
I've strived for fifteen years
to educate myself,
to elevate myself,
to achieve something worthy
and significant.
And the moment I get there,
you do this shit.
How do you think it looks
to the...
How do you think it appears
to the Dean,
when an Arab professor
gets questioned
about his brothers radical
extremism?
How does it look to my peers,
to my students?
All you care about is your
reputation, Omar.
They're killing Muslims
over there!
Look what happened in Myanmar,
thousands of Muslims slaughtered
We've been persecuted
for too long.
And the time has come when
we stand up and show the world
that we're not gonna sit back
and take it!
Do you hear yourself right now?
You sound like an IS
propaganda video.
You're the one killing
other Arabs.
You're the one killing your
brothers and sisters.
They're not true believers.
They're all Kafir.
Say's who? Why do you keep
believing all these people?
All this mindless ideology
and rhetoric,
it doesn't make you right.
And just because you
use big words,
and have a degree
or ten degrees,
it doesn't make you right!
You have now clue what's
going on over there, Omar.
All you have are certificates.
And you know what?
Bottom line is, you're ashamed.
Ashamed?
What am I ashamed of?
Being Muslim.
Be careful what you say.
-[Jamal] No, it's worse
than shame.
Deep down inside
you denounce Islam,
and you're a fucking Kafir!
What the fuck are you doing,
huh?
You'd shoot your own brother?
For what?
For who?
What's happened to you?
Look after yourself.
Omar.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
Please, I wanna go in.
OK, then go.
Go inside.
I'm sure everyone would
love to see you.
Like you haven't done enough
damage already?
And why are you
carrying that around?
Just... Can you get me in?
Not after you snap like that.
You gotta be fucking kidding me.
I said I'm sorry.
And besides, why do you want to
see us now anyhow?
Eighteen months ago
you called us infidels.
You have a wife and son.
What about them?
Heidi's stopped covering up.
Khalil goes to kindergarten
and tells his friends
his dad's in the Lebanese army.
Other kids parents won't invite
him to birthdays or anything.
They get... we get looks
everywhere we go.
So people look! So what?
That's our family.
You're that boy's father.
I don't wanna get into this
right now.
It's my family, OK?
I'm here for one thing,
and that's to see Mum and...
What? Dad?
You think Dad wants you here?
And if Mum was so important
to you,
you should've thought about that
before you took off.
You're the one that's probably
killed her.
What? That's not true.
All the stress,
sleepless nights,
she can't eat, she can't move.
If I can see her,
I'll make it better.
It's too late.
Just ten minutes max,
and I'll go.
Hm.
Omar, please!
Not while Dad's here.
Talk to him.
He listens to you,
he always has.
In his eyes,
you're the good son,
the smart one,
never did anything wrong.
He respects you.
Respect is something you earn,
Jamal.
And you earned it.
Always playing by the rules,
being part of the system.
No Jamal, by treating people
with some decency.
-You know what that is?
-Oh, here we go.
Stop trying to tell me
how to live my life.
You're always trying to prove
that you're better than me.
You've always escalated
everything
into some personal attack
or agenda against you.
Because it is.
Dad never thought
I would amount to anything.
Well now look at me now.
I'm doing something worthwhile,
righteous, with a purpose,
and he should be proud.
-[Omar] That you've become
a terrorist?
No!
I'm not a fucking terrorist, OK?
Stop believing that bullshit.
This is more than just Dad.
This goes way back.
You remember what happened
after September 11,
what they used to call us
at school, at soccer?
"Terrorists, Muslim pigs,
sand nigger, towel heads..."
Kids call each other names
all the time.
Yeah, but we just sat back
and copped it.
It's no reason to hate
the world.
You tolerate it.
And that's your problem, Omar.
You tolerate too much.
That's the difference between
you and me.
I won't tolerate it anymore.
Let me get this straight.
You're holding on to some
pent up rage
from being called names
in the playground?
You're still not getting it.
It's not about me!
It's about something
bigger than that.
It's about the demonising,
the racism,
and the oppression
behind the name calling.
Violence is not the way
to defend your beliefs, Jamal.
There are peaceful ways!
Really?
You're up against
corporate fucking espionage,
years of global media strategy
aimed at demonising Arabs!
That's not the point.
You're choosing to fight
violence with violence.
There's no other way to win.
If you come with me
to the meetings
you'd know first hand what's
really going on over there.
It's not something you can
read about.
We need our own land,
our own Islamic territory.
They weren't meetings.
They were brainwashing sessions.
You don't know anything
about it.
The same people that got
in your ear
and had you get on a plane,
are the same people
having Sunday barbecues
and enjoying the free
Australian sun
while you pull the trigger.
At least that's something
I could do.
What?
Fight, I could fight.
You're unbelievable.
And my shoes, where are they?
I already told you.
I got rid of them.
I wore 'em out.
Who's side were you on?
The right side.
You know, one night I was
checking out clips from Syria,
and what all you puppets
were doing over there,
and I see footage of a
group of radicals
proclaiming the work of Allah,
whilst simultaneously shooting
a line of young Arab men
in the back of the head.
And that's when I see them.
The shoes.
The ones I bought you
for your birthday.
In the background,
standing there,
holding a black flag, proud...
Suddenly it's all real.
I've seen first hand
what you've turned into.
I knew it was you.
Your face was covered,
but I can tell by the way
you move and hold yourself,
your body and the shoes.
You still don't get it,
do you?
-[Omar] Get what?
Everything you live for,
everything you teach
is for the privileged.
Your people are suffering
across the world,
being attacked and squashed.
Afghanistan has been bombed
to the shithouse.
Six million Syrian refugees,
a million dead Iraqis.
Libya and Yemen are a mess!
And you, and your students,
and all those big mouth Arabs,
sit around and talk about it
as if you have the solution.
But what the fuck
are you actually doing?
Nothing!
You're all white washed Arabs!
So yeah, I took those shoes,
and I put them to good use.
The world doesn't see it now,
but in time they will see that
our actions
are the true will of Allah.
Look around you!
The world's going to hell.
There's a war coming,
and it's us versus them.
-[Omar] Who's them?
You're the one that's made them
into refugees.
You're the one destabilising
the Middle East
so America and it's allies
are the strongest
-in the region.
-Bullshit!
Come on Jamal, wake up!
You're being lured by a
mythical fantasy of a Caliphate.
Can't you see that?
You're doing the dirty work
for the West.
Can't you see that?
You're the one killing
your brothers and sisters,
Arabs, Muslims,
children, farmers, for them!
They're not believers.
They don't want to follow
Sharia law
and the way of the Prophet.
Can't you see your actions are
contradicting your very words?
Can't you see that?
Amazing.
You've always been a follower.
Always getting into trouble,
mixing with the wrong crowd.
Teachers used to tell me,
"your brother's a troublemaker
your brother's a menace."
But I know the real Jamal,
the kid I used to walk home
from school, you remember?
My friends and I always
used to walk ahead of you
because we were older
and cooler,
and I didn't want them to think
I had to look after you.
But there was this one time
you got into a fight with a bunch
of boys, you remember?
Yeah I remember,
I was outnumbered.
I saw them knock you down
and kick the shit out of you.
And I know you saw me
just stand back and watch.
Then when we got home,
Mum belted you
because your uniform was dirty.
And you lied and told her you
fell in a ditch or something.
Why didn't you tell her
the truth?
I can't remember.
You sure?
Kids only lie if they're
to blame,
and it wasn't your fault.
Why did you lie?
Maybe if I told her the truth,
you'd cop it for not
sticking up for me.
That's right.
How times have changed.
She's afraid of you.
-[Jamal] What?
Mum is afraid of you.
[phone vibrates]
Why don't you answer it?
What do you mean
she's afraid of me?
I'd never hurt her.
She's afraid of who
you've become.
If I can talk to her,
I'll explain,
she'll understand.
Understand that you've beheaded
innocent people?
-[Jamal] No!
I didn't behead anyone, OK?
I can tell you that much.
You don't know what happened
over there, Omar.
-[Omar] Then tell me.
Not until I see her first.
She's spent her whole life
protecting you.
No matter what you did,
she still loved you.
Yeah, but Dad never did.
Uncle Yahya cared more about me
more than he did.
What did you expect?
You were always
getting into trouble.
Mum had to call Uncle Yahya
to protect you from Dad.
If Dad knew half the shit
you got up to, you'd be dead.
Maybe you'd be better off
if I was.
-[Omar] What's that
supposed to mean?
Huh?
Uncle Yahya was the only one
that cared about me.
-[Omar] Because you kept getting
in trouble.
No, Omar. It's 'cause I
fucking tried to end it.
-[Omar] What?
I didn't want to be here
anymore.
-[Omar] What are you talking
about?
I was sixteen.
I wasn't in a good place.
I was fucked, unhappy.
I called Uncle Yahya
and he called me...
he talked me out of it.
Uncle Yahya...
That's when you started
going to the Mosque.
Why didn't you call me?
'Cause you were at uni man,
and we weren't even talking.
I'm still your brother.
Or you could've gone to Mum.
Nah, that would've killed her.
And you don't think what
you're doing now is?
She'll understand.
What could you possibly say
to her to make her understand?
[loud thump]
Woah, woah, relax!
Jamal, you're not
telling me something.
What's going on?
How did you get back in?
You either said you were there
for humanitarian aid
or you're a fighter.
And if you're a fighter,
you must have used
someone else's passport.
Was it someone that you killed?
Was it someone that you killed,
Jamal?
Omar, stop!
Look, will he freak
or will just ignore me?
Dad?
He'll freak.
Why can't he just give
me a moment?
I just wanna see Mum.
Omar, please!
Do this for me.
Please, just this one last time,
I'm your brother,
this is important.
[phone rings]
Yeah?
I'm just dealing with some
work stuff.
Start eating.
I'll be there soon.
Not long.
OK.
Jamal, if you want me to help,
I need to know what happened.
Jamal?
Did you find what you were
looking for?
Did you achieve what you wanted?
What about your life here?
What life?
Work for some rich white cunt,
get married, have a kid.
Well, I did that.
Nothing changed.
It came back.
I wanted it to finish, to end.
But this time God gave me
a purpose, a mission.
So what? You're going
to go back?
It's complicated.
Jamal, you're my brother,
and I still care for you.
But I can't listen to
anymore of this.
I... I have to go.
-[Jamal] Don't go.
Omar please, I'm begging you.
I'm desperate.
I've done some things.
I've seen some shit.
I need to see Mum
one last time, please!
First tell me what happened.
Why? Why do you wanna know?
Because I'm your
fucking brother.
Oh man...
At first it was unreal.
It was exciting,
the guns, the training,
the mountains.
We marched from
village to village
taking over each one
like Crusaders,
like Muhammad's army.
No one stopping us,
no one bombing us from above.
Alhamdullah.
Spare me the triumphs Jamal,
please.
I've heard and read
the conquests.
Well, you asked me.
We were in Northern Syria.
We took over a little village called
Abu Qilqil, near Manbij.
We'd separate the men and women.
We'd make the men convert.
And if they didn't,
they'd be tortured.
Or they'd be shot and thrown
into ditches.
And the women,
especially the young ones...
How young?
Fifteen, sixteen.
See you gotta understand, Omar,
a lot of these guys were just
out of prison,
from Saudi Arabia, you know?
The Saudi's released thousands
of the worst of the worst
criminals into Syria.
Thieves, murderers, rapists,
killers,
and these guys haven't been
around women in years.
And there was Bosnians,
and Chechens,
Moroccans, Algerians,
from Yemen,
all mixed in.
We're all just young guys
out to create our own state,
our own promised land
and our own Caliphate,
and cleanse it from all
the disbelievers
and the corrupt dictators
that don't believe in the
true prophet Muhammad.
What did you do with
the women and girls?
Most were converted,
kept for duties.
Some were sold to warlords,
and the others were kept
for pleasure.
Pleasure?
Yes, slaves.
That's when I saw
this young girl.
She wouldn't be more than
fifteen.
Fifteen?
Yeah.
They shot her father
and her brothers,
and they sold her Mum
to another crew.
And why'd they sell her mother?
So she wouldn't see what
her daughter would go through.
She was kept in a room
24/7.
Guys would go in every hour
and do whatever it is
they wanted.
-[Omar] And you?
No.
I didn't.
I said I didn't.
What stopped you?
Why not just be one of the boys?
'Cause she was fifteen man,
just crying, just fucking crying,
bro.
I didn't wanna...
I went there to fight,
not to...
I entered the room.
She was lying on the bed
face down,
feet barely touching the ground,
crying.
I walked up to her,
and she looked up at me,
and she just begged me,
"Please, please, no more."
She looks up at me
with these big brown eyes...
This young girl...
She pleaded with me,
and I didn't even consider
doing anything.
That's when I saw the blood,
between the sheets,
on the sheets,
between her legs.
I thought to myself,
what kind of human being could
do this to such a young child,
just a young girl born in
the wrong place, the wrong time,
the wrong war?
I gave her my water,
and I told her to put
her clothes on
and I was going to get her
out of there.
-[Omar] Did you?
Yeah, that night.
And that's when it all got
too much for me.
The bombs started,
and we had to move
further up north towards Turkey.
-[Omar] Is that when you got
out?
Yeah, that,
and when I found out about Mum.
-[Omar] How'd you find out?
Don't worry, I found out.
-[Omar] What now?
[whispers] What do you mean?
You're gonna have to
turn yourself in, Jamal.
For everybody's sake.
Can you get me in?
Let me go inside and see
what's going on.
They've probably all started
eating.
Are you going to talk to Dad?
I can't promise anything.
I'll try.
I'll try, cause I know Mum
would probably want to see you.
Thanks, Omar.
Stay in the car.
I'll come back
and let you know.
-[Ahmed] Jamal, you OK?
[soft instrumental music]
[Islamic call to prayer plays]
Jamal's here.
He's outside.
Down the road in a car.
I don't understand. How?
He wouldn't tell me.
Look, I don't have all
the details,
and I don't have much time.
But I need you to do something
for me.
I need you to get everyone
out of Mum's room
and help me keep Dad
in the backyard.
-Omar...
-Listen, we can't...
We have to make sure Dad
doesn't see him.
Can you do that?
Omar, maybe we should call
the police.
Leave that to me.
Look, he just wants to see
Mum first, OK?
How can you trust anything
that he says?
And all the kids are here.
He's my brother.
And your brother's a terrorist.
If he spent one day fighting
over there,
that makes him a killer.
Tell him to go, please.
He's already done enough damage.
I know you're worried.
Look at me,
I know you're worried.
But he's not going to cause
any trouble, OK?
Now please, will you help me
get them outside?
Should I tell Heidi?
No one needs to know.
I don't want him near the kids.
[call to prayer continues]
[indistinct conversation]
OK, Dad's in the back
with all the other men.
OK.
Maya's gonna get all the women
out of Mum's room.
So we don't have much time.
Once they're all gone
you can go in and see her.
Is Heidi here?
-[Omar] Yes.
And Khalil.
OK.
OK.
Just wait over there.
Make sure no one sees you.
[speaks Arabic]
Now what?
I want to have a word with Mum.
Just make sure no one
comes in to the room,
especially Dad.
Why are you helping him?
If you don't call the police,
you're risking yourself
by aiding him.
It's my fault.
I saw the signs,
I should've done something.
Now you can.
Call the police.
Let him see Mum first,
and then I'll talk to him
about that after, OK?
-Where's Heidi?
-She's in the room.
We should tell her.
She has a right to know.
Not yet.
I hope you know what
you're doing.
-[Woman] Kids! Come inside
the house!
What's going on, Omar?
Nothing, I just want a
private moment with her.
Let me know if you need
anything, OK?
I will. Thank you.
Just give me a sec, sorry mate.
Why are the women coming out?
Did something happen to Mum?
She's fine. She's fine.
Uncle Yahya, I need you
to do me a favour.
I need you to go down,
hold Dad and keep him out here.
Don't want him in the house.
Just want you to keep him
out here.
-Can you do that?
-Why?
Just keep him out here.
Jamal's here.
Where?
-[Omar] Out the front.
It's OK, he's not going to cause
any trouble.
-I'll go to him.
-No, no, no, listen.
I just need you to stay here
with Dad.
He just wants to see Mum.
Then what's he going to do?
Not sure, he's gonna have to
turn himself in.
Not here?
At the moment, first thing,
I just need to get him
in and out of the house,
alright?
OK.
Let me know if you need me
to talk to him?
-[Omar] OK I will.
Thanks, Uncle.
Scared the shit out of me, man.
She wants to see you.
Jamal, she's very sick.
Please be careful with
what you say and be gentle.
Of course.
Most of the women
are in the backyard.
Auntie Fadia and a couple of
the others are in the living room.
And Dad?
He's in the back also.
Uncle Yahya's keeping
an eye on him.
Uncle Yahya?
-[Omar] Yeah, I told him.
What's wrong?
What did he say?
He said he wanted to see you,
but I told him to keep an eye
on Dad.
Why did you tell him?
-[Omar] I told you, I needed
someone to keep an eye on Dad.
Fuck.
It's OK. He won't say anything.
-Where's Heidi?
-Inside.
You want me to tell her?
Khalil saw me.
Did he recognise you?
OK look, just let me do
a final check,
just give me another
five minutes, alright?
What are you doing here?
Just take it easy.
Khalil mentioned you were here.
I thought he was joking.
I can't be seen,
so please come here.
Let me talk to you, please.
You don't have to be scared.
How did you even get here?
You're on a watch list.
-Let me explain.
-What did you...
Please.
Come here.
No, please don't.
What are you doing here?
I'm here to see my mother.
And you don't even tell me
you're here?
How long have you been back?
You look beautiful.
I don't know what's happening,
Jamal.
I don't know what to say.
What have you done?
It's not important.
Don't tell me
it's not important.
I'm your wife,
and you just left us.
No word, nothing.
What have you done?
I'll tell you everything,
but now's not the time.
It is the time!
You can't just do and say
whatever you please
and expect me
to passively agree.
Tell me that you didn't kill
anyone!
Jamal?
Look, I don't want
to talk about it right now.
And you're still my wife.
Heidi, stop...
-Answer my question.
-It's not the time.
Did you?
Habibi, it's really complicated.
I thought about you and Khalil
every day.
Did you?
And what about all the sons
of the mothers
that were being killed?
It's not that simple,
everyone dies in conflict.
Do you know...
-No! No!
-Shh. Shh.
No! Get off me!
Do you know how hard
this has been on me?
Do you realise how hard
this has been on me?
Do you realise that?
Do you realise how hard this
has been on me?
And on Khalil?
Raising a child on one's own,
do you know how hard that is?
Do you know?
Or did you just,
did you just not care?
Did you just not think
what I would go through?
I'm sorry, Heidi.
Oh, you're sorry?
Now?
What did you think
was going to happen, huh?
What did you think
was going to happen,
how did you see this ending?
I mean Jamal, what answers
were you looking for?
Can't you see?
Don't you see what you've done?
Don't you know your dad
will kill you if he sees you?
-He won't!
-And my parents,
they want nothing
to do with your family!
Jamal, tell me how
this is going to work.
Do you know that they're
watching me as well?
They come over,
and they ask me questions.
Me!
They say, "Where is he?"
"Have you made contact?"
"Are you sending him money?"
They'll find you.
I mean, what am I supposed
to say or do?
I can't hate you.
Because I've tried that.
And I can't love you,
because that's wrong.
I never did any of this
to hurt you.
I don't know
if you believe this,
but I still love you.
No, if you loved me,
you wouldn't have left.
But you were gone before then,
weren't you?
It wasn't about you,
it was about me.
-I was going through something.
-I know, I know.
You shut down,
you withdrew, Jamal.
I found the tablets.
We should've talked about it.
I would've understood.
Well, in time you'll understand
that I was following God's will.
Do you really believe that?
It's his will,
don't question it.
But don't you question it?
Didn't you question
leaving me behind?
No matter what,
I'm still your husband.
Abandoning me does not
make you a husband.
I converted for you.
But I cannot pray to the same
God that you do, Jamal, I can't.
I can't do that.
Don't say that! It's wrong.
How dare you.
Can't you see
what you're doing is wrong?
You don't understand.
Well then explain it to me!
Explain it to me,
explain it to your father.
Explain it to your son!
I will, but not right now.
Why did you stop
wearing your scarf?
Why?
Why do you think?
I cannot keep defending
this religion Jamal, I can't.
After what happened in London,
I can't keep defending it.
I have to see my Mum.
What about us?
You say we
don't understand, Jamal,
but you've damaged this family,
and your actions,
they have consequences.
I just need to see her.
And then?
No matter what,
I'm still your husband.
I could hate you easier
if you weren't.
But that's thing, you see.
I keep remembering
all the good in you, Jamal.
I remember why we fell in love.
And I remember how loving
you were with Khalil.
But I don't know now,
I don't know.
I'm sorry, Heidi.
OK, look.
I did what I had to do.
What does that mean?
It means I took a stand.
And I fought for something
right, for a cause.
Your cause has done
more harm than good.
Only God can judge me on that.
Why don't I believe you?
If I ask you to forgive me...
Habibi, come here.
I thought I told you
to wait inside.
I'm your father, Khalil.
Say hello to your father.
Hello.
I love you, my son,
I missed you, my little lion.
Did you miss your father?
Yeah.
Come here.
He's just confused, Jamal,
we all are.
I know.
In time, you'll forgive me.
For leaving us,
or for what you've done?
For everything.
You should go inside.
Why don't you go inside.
Before people start looking.
I'll talk to you later.
It's OK. Go.
It's alright. Come with me.
No. Just Heidi,
my boy, and Omar.
I heard you were coming back.
Allah is proud of you.
Thanks, khalo.
But what are you doing
back here?
I got a message
from Abu Al Hamid,
the day you left Syria.
I was told that you were
to be kept isolated
until we were ready.
You shouldn't be here.
It's going to be alright.
You can't abandon this, Jamal.
A lot of people
are relying on you.
I have to see my mother.
The longer you stay here,
the more risky it becomes.
Jamal. Do you get that?
-Yes, I do.
-Really?
Jamal, there's a lot at stake.
I know, I just need some time
to see her, please?
Does she know you're here?
Omar told her.
She wants to see me.
This is crazy, it's too risky.
Listen, you need to have
strength and a strong resolve.
You remember the darkness
that surrounded you?
You almost succumbed to it.
You reached out to me and Allah
showed you what your purpose is.
And now you're a warrior.
Doubt is weakness, and weakness
will destroy you. Us.
-I'm not weak. I just...
-What?
I want to make sure I'm doing
this for the right reasons.
You are doing it
for the right reasons.
This is why you are here,
this is what your purpose is,
for that great honour.
Yes, I know.
I just want to make
sure it's the right thing.
Do you realise what
the implications of this are?
Abu Al Hamid
is a very powerful man.
He finds out
that you're here,
and that you're having doubts,
you put your whole family
at risk. A...
A betrayal like this
is punishable.
So Jamal, you need
to get out of here.
You need get back
to where they're keeping you.
Seeing my Mum is important,
she doesn't have much time.
We know that,
but you're on a path.
Something's not right about it.
I thought we were
a religion of peace?
That's the Shetan
inside you talking.
No, it's me. This is me talking!
Your fear is human.
Your will is of God.
And that's brave.
You saw firsthand what
was happening over there.
It takes people like us
to make sure that
the message continues.
There's still time
to fix this, Jamal.
Just, just go now.
I know you'll make this right.
-Come on. Let's go.
-[Omar] Yahya.
He's alright.
Um, look, he needs to get away
from here. I can take him.
He wants to see Mum.
If you don't want your father
to find out that he's here,
he must leave now.
It's OK, just make sure
he stays in the back.
I don't think that's
a great idea.
I think it's best
he comes with me now,
and I'll bring him back
when everyone's left.
Not a bad idea, Jamal.
I'm not leaving
until I see my Mother.
Uncle Yahya look,
he'll go in and see her,
he'll be about ten minutes.
So just go keep an eye
on Dad for me.
Alright.
I'll find you later, yeah?
Just don't be long.
OK, we don't have much time.
What?
What?
Uncle Yahya.
What about him?
He won't tell Dad.
OK? Let's go, come on.
[chatter and children playing]
[female vocals]
-Just wait over here.
-OK.
[speaking Arabic]
Come on, let's go.
Jamal.
Jamal!
Come on, let's go.
Let me go in by myself, please.
OK.
[female vocals swell]
Just go inside.
Just go inside,
I'll talk to him.
[traditional music]
[crying]
[pensive music]
People are
getting suspicious, Omar.
Heidi wants to see him.
She did. Dad did too.
What?
How?
Jamal was waiting outside
Mum's door about to go in.
Dad came in and saw him.
I have to talk to him.
It's not a good idea.
There are way too many people
out here, babe.
Omar, I know he's
your brother, OK? I get that.
But you can't
protect him anymore.
Maya please,
out of everyone right now,
I need you on my side, OK?
Please.
I am on your side! I am!
You're just
not thinking logically.
I know you better than that.
Hey, I'll talk to Heidi, I'll tell
her to give him a minute...
Thanks, thanks.
And you, you and her
just stay near the door,
-make sure no one comes.
-Yeah. Leave it to me.
Hey Omar, what's going on?
What are all the women
doing out here?
My Dad and the others
are asking?
It's alright.
Mum's not feeling too well, bro.
It's OK. Just let them know
it's all good.
-OK, I'll let them know.
-Alright
[coughing]
[sorrowful music]
Hey.
Can I get you anything?
I just need to talk to him.
I need to find out what he
wants to do.
What about what you want to do?
Everyone's labelled him
a terrorist.
I just see the father
of my child.
Of course he is. And that's OK.
But he's here
and we can't change it.
I know.
We just have to let him
talk to Mum,
and we'll figure out
what we do next. OK?
I know, I just, I need to do
the right thing by Khalil,
he's confused.
Heidi, it's a difficult
situation to be in,
no one expected him
to come back, or be here.
Well then even if
he has changed,
how could I forgive him,
or even trust him?
You don't have to
figure it out now.
We'll let him see Mum,
you two work it out later.
He's not well.
I mean, I found
his antidepressants.
He needs help but he's
not going to ask for it,
because he's,
he's got too much pride.
They're both stubborn.
You know that.
One thing I know about Omar,
is his family is the most
important thing in the world.
We just have to let Jamal...
Hey, is everything OK?
I'm worried about Dad.
How long is he here for?
Not long.
Can I go in?
You will. Just let him
have his moment.
Sure.
Hang on a sec.
You OK?
How long you gonna be?
Not long.
Heidi's outside.
Alright, tell her not to leave
and I'll see her.
OK.
He'll see you again
before he goes.
Where?
I don't know, but he will.
Hey. Thanks, habibi.
How is she?
Yeah, she's OK.
She wants to see Dad.
Not now, surely?
-It's for Jamal.
-I think so.
Here. I've gotta go.
What's Jamal doing?
What's he thinking?
You must talk
some sense into him
to get him to get out of here.
Uncle he's not,
he's not thinking rationally.
Something happened to him
over there
and he's not
dealing with it well.
It's best he leaves immediately,
right after he finishes speaking
with your mother.
I know, I know.
But he's not well.
I'm concerned now.
I don't, I don't understand what
he's thinking.
Look, you know I need your help.
He, he trusts you, you've always
been there for him.
Of course. You're my family.
I will always be there
for you both.
Should we call a lawyer,
hand him in?
Let me organise it.
You just take care
of your mother.
Heidi's gonna probably
want to go with him.
That's fine.
OK, and what about Dad?
Has he said anything to you?
No. Nothing.
Mum wants to speak to him.
You want me to tell him?
No, let me first.
No. I'll go.
No, no. I know my Dad.
He won't be swayed.
I just want to get a sense
of what he's thinking.
Alright. Alright.
Listen, I think you
should go inside
and get your brother
ready to come out with me.
And I'll see what I can do
with your father.
Alright, please,
just reason with him.
Make him understand!
Even if we get them together
for a few minutes.
This situation is not looking
good for any of us, Omar.
The longer he stays,
the more furious and
unpredictable your father is.
OK.
Good boy.
You're a good boy.
How you doing?
Yeah, alright.
Did you talk to him?
Yeah.
[phone vibrates]
[traditional music]
Ready?
Yeah. Let me quickly check
what's happening.
Omar!
Talk to him again, please?
I'll try.
[mournful music]
Do you want me to do it?
Can I talk to you for a minute?
Come on.
Where's Omar?
He's out back,
talking to your father.
Jamal, you're best
not to be seen.
So you know nothing
about his return?
I told you, no.
Why are you asking?
Because he confides in you.
You have no idea
why Jamal went over?
Omar, why are you asking me
all this?
Clear your head
of this nonsense, OK?
We're wasting time.
Listen.
Go, speak to your brother
and get him out of here.
Do you understand?
-You did it.
-Do you understand? Omar!
Your brother loves you,
we all love you.
But the longer you stay here,
the more you put us all at risk.
[traditional music]
-Let me talk to him.
-No, no!
Please Jamal, stay here.
OK? We don't want
this situation escalating,
we've been through enough.
Just wait inside
until Omar comes back.
He wanted to come out.
He thinks you're going to
turn him in.
What's he doing?
No good, man.
He wants you out of here now.
Such a fucking stubborn cunt.
-Fuck it. I'll go!
-No, Jamal! Listen!
-No, no, Jamal, please!
-No Jamal, baby, please!
Please, come on, let's just
leave, now, let's go.
It's not worth it, OK, bro?
Habibi, come on. Come on!
No! No one's coming with me.
Stay with Mum, stay with Mum.
Stay with Heidi.
Jamal, come on. Let's go.
Jamal.
Jamal! Come on!
Jamal, let's go, let's go!
-I love him, Omar.
-I know you do, man.
Just give him some time,
we'll sort it out. Let's go.
I just wanna tell him I'm sorry
and to forgive me.
I know man, but now is not
the time, let's go.
Please man, we gotta go.
We have to go. Let's go.
Listen, your father's going
to call the police any minute!
-You need to leave here now.
-Let's go. Jamal, come on.
Come on. Let's go.
There's people waiting
for you, Jamal.
-I'm not going nowhere!
-Fucking come on, Jamal!
-I'm not going nowhere!
-Listen to me!
-You need to leave now!
-Not until I see him.
Jamal!
Look I'll go through with it.
I'll do it!
I'll stick to my word!
But not until I see him.
He doesn't want to...
What do you mean "stick to your
word"? What's he talking about?
-I don't know!
-What's going on?
-Go through with what?
-Jamal? Something...
-Jamal? Hey.
-What's going on? Tell me?
Are you doing something?
Is he on a mission?
-Go through with what?
-Is he on a mission?
Don't be stupid!
Jamal, tell him!
Hello?
Hello?
Police?
[Yosef] Yes.
My son, Jamal Alamein.
He's here, yes.
Please come and get him.
It is the same address.
Thank you.
Jamal.
Jamal, what are you doing?
Gimme the gun. Look at me.
[Omar] Jamal? Jamal. Give me...
Jamal...
-[Yahya] Jamal. Please.
-[Omar] Jamal. Gimme the gun.
-Don't do it. Don't do it.
-Jamal look at me.
-[Omar] Jamal give me the gun.
-[Heidi] Jamal, no.
-[Omar] Give me the gun!
-[Yahya] Jamal, give me the gun.
[Omar] Jamal, please.
Don't do this. Jamal.
Give me the gun! Jamal.
[All] Jamal!
[sorrowful music]
[instrumental music]
[female vocals]
What do you want?
I wanna see Mum.
Hey, Ahmed.
Omar. How's your Mum?
She's coping.
Can you guys leave us alone
for a minute?
Sure.
You want to see Mum?
Yeah.
I don't want to cause
any trouble.
I just want to see her.
You know Dad's here?
When did you get back?
How'd you get back
in the country?
I got your text two days ago
and then nothing.
Now you're outside the house.
He'd kill me if he knew
I was here.
Don't tell him.
He's lost all respect
in the community, Jamal.
At the Mosque they talk
about you.
He pretends he doesn't hear 'em,
but when he does, he says he has
nothing to do with you.
You know, people think the apple
doesn't fall far from the tree.
Well they should be ashamed
of themselves for doing nothing
while our brothers and sisters
are getting slaughtered
in our lands!
And you've stopped
the slaughter have you?
Is that why you're back?
Crusade's done?
-[Jamal] You don't know nothing.
I know you fucked
this family up.
I'm repulsed by what
you've done,
but you're my brother and...
As far as Dad's concerned,
you don't exist.
And where are my shoes?
What shoes?
My shoes you took with you.
I ditched 'em overseas.
Why?
I saw the video.
What are you talking about?
You in Syria.
Did you get blood on them?
You proud of yourself,
what you did?
OK, you're not saying anything
so I'm gonna go.
Wait! Just tell me how
she's doing.
It's a little late now, isn't it?
Stop being a fuckwit.
Just tell me how she is.
She's going into palliative care
on Monday.
What does that mean?
It means a week, ten days.
You've put us through hell.
I'm not here to fight with you.
I just want to see her and go.
You picked the worst time
for it.
-She's my Mum, Omar!
-Our Mum, our Mum, Jamal.
You know what I mean.
Just do this one favour for me,
please.
What makes you think I owe you
anything?
I'm your brother.
Oh, is that it?
No, the brother I had was smart
enough to know right from wrong.
I know what's right from wrong,
that's why I went over there.
It's right to butcher the
innocent, is it?
It's right to uphold the
word of the Prophet.
Oh, I'm so sick of all
you fundamentalists
manipulating the words
of our Prophet
as justification for killing
innocent people.
Well I'm sick of you
hypocrites
doing nothing for our cause!
Jihad is a duty.
Clearly you're not going to see
any reason here.
And I'm glad,
'cause anger is necessary
to win this.
Win what?
Do you even know what you're
talking about?
More than you'll ever know.
What was it that did it, huh?
What was it?
What did they say to you
that made you leave
your family, friends, life?
You've been brainwashed.
You want to talk about
brainwashing?
Let's start with brainwashing
that happens every day
in the Western world
via the news media,
corporate sponsored news media
that you've been fucking
fooled by!
Jamal, everybody's inside,
and pretty soon they're
going to wonder where I am.
So if there's nothing else...
I'm not leaving until I see her.
I told you, it's impossible.
You'll just make things worse.
It's Eid al-Adha.
You don't come back on a day
like this
just because it suits you.
Another time maybe.
It has to be now. You said
she's only got about a week.
Just one last time and I'll go.
That's your solution?
Come back here
after what you put us through,
make us look you in the eye,
and then take off?
I told you I did what was right.
I did this was for you,
for Mum, for Dad,
and all the Muslims
in the world!
All the Muslims in the world,
really?
You're speaking for all
the Muslims in the world now?
You're delusional.
And then you put Mum
through hell.
You put all of us through hell.
I had the Feds come to my work
Jamal, to my fucking uni!
I'm a lecturer in Middle Eastern
political science.
Do you know how bad that looked?
I've strived for fifteen years
to educate myself,
to elevate myself,
to achieve something worthy
and significant.
And the moment I get there,
you do this shit.
How do you think it looks
to the...
How do you think it appears
to the Dean,
when an Arab professor
gets questioned
about his brothers radical
extremism?
How does it look to my peers,
to my students?
All you care about is your
reputation, Omar.
They're killing Muslims
over there!
Look what happened in Myanmar,
thousands of Muslims slaughtered
We've been persecuted
for too long.
And the time has come when
we stand up and show the world
that we're not gonna sit back
and take it!
Do you hear yourself right now?
You sound like an IS
propaganda video.
You're the one killing
other Arabs.
You're the one killing your
brothers and sisters.
They're not true believers.
They're all Kafir.
Say's who? Why do you keep
believing all these people?
All this mindless ideology
and rhetoric,
it doesn't make you right.
And just because you
use big words,
and have a degree
or ten degrees,
it doesn't make you right!
You have now clue what's
going on over there, Omar.
All you have are certificates.
And you know what?
Bottom line is, you're ashamed.
Ashamed?
What am I ashamed of?
Being Muslim.
Be careful what you say.
-[Jamal] No, it's worse
than shame.
Deep down inside
you denounce Islam,
and you're a fucking Kafir!
What the fuck are you doing,
huh?
You'd shoot your own brother?
For what?
For who?
What's happened to you?
Look after yourself.
Omar.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
Please, I wanna go in.
OK, then go.
Go inside.
I'm sure everyone would
love to see you.
Like you haven't done enough
damage already?
And why are you
carrying that around?
Just... Can you get me in?
Not after you snap like that.
You gotta be fucking kidding me.
I said I'm sorry.
And besides, why do you want to
see us now anyhow?
Eighteen months ago
you called us infidels.
You have a wife and son.
What about them?
Heidi's stopped covering up.
Khalil goes to kindergarten
and tells his friends
his dad's in the Lebanese army.
Other kids parents won't invite
him to birthdays or anything.
They get... we get looks
everywhere we go.
So people look! So what?
That's our family.
You're that boy's father.
I don't wanna get into this
right now.
It's my family, OK?
I'm here for one thing,
and that's to see Mum and...
What? Dad?
You think Dad wants you here?
And if Mum was so important
to you,
you should've thought about that
before you took off.
You're the one that's probably
killed her.
What? That's not true.
All the stress,
sleepless nights,
she can't eat, she can't move.
If I can see her,
I'll make it better.
It's too late.
Just ten minutes max,
and I'll go.
Hm.
Omar, please!
Not while Dad's here.
Talk to him.
He listens to you,
he always has.
In his eyes,
you're the good son,
the smart one,
never did anything wrong.
He respects you.
Respect is something you earn,
Jamal.
And you earned it.
Always playing by the rules,
being part of the system.
No Jamal, by treating people
with some decency.
-You know what that is?
-Oh, here we go.
Stop trying to tell me
how to live my life.
You're always trying to prove
that you're better than me.
You've always escalated
everything
into some personal attack
or agenda against you.
Because it is.
Dad never thought
I would amount to anything.
Well now look at me now.
I'm doing something worthwhile,
righteous, with a purpose,
and he should be proud.
-[Omar] That you've become
a terrorist?
No!
I'm not a fucking terrorist, OK?
Stop believing that bullshit.
This is more than just Dad.
This goes way back.
You remember what happened
after September 11,
what they used to call us
at school, at soccer?
"Terrorists, Muslim pigs,
sand nigger, towel heads..."
Kids call each other names
all the time.
Yeah, but we just sat back
and copped it.
It's no reason to hate
the world.
You tolerate it.
And that's your problem, Omar.
You tolerate too much.
That's the difference between
you and me.
I won't tolerate it anymore.
Let me get this straight.
You're holding on to some
pent up rage
from being called names
in the playground?
You're still not getting it.
It's not about me!
It's about something
bigger than that.
It's about the demonising,
the racism,
and the oppression
behind the name calling.
Violence is not the way
to defend your beliefs, Jamal.
There are peaceful ways!
Really?
You're up against
corporate fucking espionage,
years of global media strategy
aimed at demonising Arabs!
That's not the point.
You're choosing to fight
violence with violence.
There's no other way to win.
If you come with me
to the meetings
you'd know first hand what's
really going on over there.
It's not something you can
read about.
We need our own land,
our own Islamic territory.
They weren't meetings.
They were brainwashing sessions.
You don't know anything
about it.
The same people that got
in your ear
and had you get on a plane,
are the same people
having Sunday barbecues
and enjoying the free
Australian sun
while you pull the trigger.
At least that's something
I could do.
What?
Fight, I could fight.
You're unbelievable.
And my shoes, where are they?
I already told you.
I got rid of them.
I wore 'em out.
Who's side were you on?
The right side.
You know, one night I was
checking out clips from Syria,
and what all you puppets
were doing over there,
and I see footage of a
group of radicals
proclaiming the work of Allah,
whilst simultaneously shooting
a line of young Arab men
in the back of the head.
And that's when I see them.
The shoes.
The ones I bought you
for your birthday.
In the background,
standing there,
holding a black flag, proud...
Suddenly it's all real.
I've seen first hand
what you've turned into.
I knew it was you.
Your face was covered,
but I can tell by the way
you move and hold yourself,
your body and the shoes.
You still don't get it,
do you?
-[Omar] Get what?
Everything you live for,
everything you teach
is for the privileged.
Your people are suffering
across the world,
being attacked and squashed.
Afghanistan has been bombed
to the shithouse.
Six million Syrian refugees,
a million dead Iraqis.
Libya and Yemen are a mess!
And you, and your students,
and all those big mouth Arabs,
sit around and talk about it
as if you have the solution.
But what the fuck
are you actually doing?
Nothing!
You're all white washed Arabs!
So yeah, I took those shoes,
and I put them to good use.
The world doesn't see it now,
but in time they will see that
our actions
are the true will of Allah.
Look around you!
The world's going to hell.
There's a war coming,
and it's us versus them.
-[Omar] Who's them?
You're the one that's made them
into refugees.
You're the one destabilising
the Middle East
so America and it's allies
are the strongest
-in the region.
-Bullshit!
Come on Jamal, wake up!
You're being lured by a
mythical fantasy of a Caliphate.
Can't you see that?
You're doing the dirty work
for the West.
Can't you see that?
You're the one killing
your brothers and sisters,
Arabs, Muslims,
children, farmers, for them!
They're not believers.
They don't want to follow
Sharia law
and the way of the Prophet.
Can't you see your actions are
contradicting your very words?
Can't you see that?
Amazing.
You've always been a follower.
Always getting into trouble,
mixing with the wrong crowd.
Teachers used to tell me,
"your brother's a troublemaker
your brother's a menace."
But I know the real Jamal,
the kid I used to walk home
from school, you remember?
My friends and I always
used to walk ahead of you
because we were older
and cooler,
and I didn't want them to think
I had to look after you.
But there was this one time
you got into a fight with a bunch
of boys, you remember?
Yeah I remember,
I was outnumbered.
I saw them knock you down
and kick the shit out of you.
And I know you saw me
just stand back and watch.
Then when we got home,
Mum belted you
because your uniform was dirty.
And you lied and told her you
fell in a ditch or something.
Why didn't you tell her
the truth?
I can't remember.
You sure?
Kids only lie if they're
to blame,
and it wasn't your fault.
Why did you lie?
Maybe if I told her the truth,
you'd cop it for not
sticking up for me.
That's right.
How times have changed.
She's afraid of you.
-[Jamal] What?
Mum is afraid of you.
[phone vibrates]
Why don't you answer it?
What do you mean
she's afraid of me?
I'd never hurt her.
She's afraid of who
you've become.
If I can talk to her,
I'll explain,
she'll understand.
Understand that you've beheaded
innocent people?
-[Jamal] No!
I didn't behead anyone, OK?
I can tell you that much.
You don't know what happened
over there, Omar.
-[Omar] Then tell me.
Not until I see her first.
She's spent her whole life
protecting you.
No matter what you did,
she still loved you.
Yeah, but Dad never did.
Uncle Yahya cared more about me
more than he did.
What did you expect?
You were always
getting into trouble.
Mum had to call Uncle Yahya
to protect you from Dad.
If Dad knew half the shit
you got up to, you'd be dead.
Maybe you'd be better off
if I was.
-[Omar] What's that
supposed to mean?
Huh?
Uncle Yahya was the only one
that cared about me.
-[Omar] Because you kept getting
in trouble.
No, Omar. It's 'cause I
fucking tried to end it.
-[Omar] What?
I didn't want to be here
anymore.
-[Omar] What are you talking
about?
I was sixteen.
I wasn't in a good place.
I was fucked, unhappy.
I called Uncle Yahya
and he called me...
he talked me out of it.
Uncle Yahya...
That's when you started
going to the Mosque.
Why didn't you call me?
'Cause you were at uni man,
and we weren't even talking.
I'm still your brother.
Or you could've gone to Mum.
Nah, that would've killed her.
And you don't think what
you're doing now is?
She'll understand.
What could you possibly say
to her to make her understand?
[loud thump]
Woah, woah, relax!
Jamal, you're not
telling me something.
What's going on?
How did you get back in?
You either said you were there
for humanitarian aid
or you're a fighter.
And if you're a fighter,
you must have used
someone else's passport.
Was it someone that you killed?
Was it someone that you killed,
Jamal?
Omar, stop!
Look, will he freak
or will just ignore me?
Dad?
He'll freak.
Why can't he just give
me a moment?
I just wanna see Mum.
Omar, please!
Do this for me.
Please, just this one last time,
I'm your brother,
this is important.
[phone rings]
Yeah?
I'm just dealing with some
work stuff.
Start eating.
I'll be there soon.
Not long.
OK.
Jamal, if you want me to help,
I need to know what happened.
Jamal?
Did you find what you were
looking for?
Did you achieve what you wanted?
What about your life here?
What life?
Work for some rich white cunt,
get married, have a kid.
Well, I did that.
Nothing changed.
It came back.
I wanted it to finish, to end.
But this time God gave me
a purpose, a mission.
So what? You're going
to go back?
It's complicated.
Jamal, you're my brother,
and I still care for you.
But I can't listen to
anymore of this.
I... I have to go.
-[Jamal] Don't go.
Omar please, I'm begging you.
I'm desperate.
I've done some things.
I've seen some shit.
I need to see Mum
one last time, please!
First tell me what happened.
Why? Why do you wanna know?
Because I'm your
fucking brother.
Oh man...
At first it was unreal.
It was exciting,
the guns, the training,
the mountains.
We marched from
village to village
taking over each one
like Crusaders,
like Muhammad's army.
No one stopping us,
no one bombing us from above.
Alhamdullah.
Spare me the triumphs Jamal,
please.
I've heard and read
the conquests.
Well, you asked me.
We were in Northern Syria.
We took over a little village called
Abu Qilqil, near Manbij.
We'd separate the men and women.
We'd make the men convert.
And if they didn't,
they'd be tortured.
Or they'd be shot and thrown
into ditches.
And the women,
especially the young ones...
How young?
Fifteen, sixteen.
See you gotta understand, Omar,
a lot of these guys were just
out of prison,
from Saudi Arabia, you know?
The Saudi's released thousands
of the worst of the worst
criminals into Syria.
Thieves, murderers, rapists,
killers,
and these guys haven't been
around women in years.
And there was Bosnians,
and Chechens,
Moroccans, Algerians,
from Yemen,
all mixed in.
We're all just young guys
out to create our own state,
our own promised land
and our own Caliphate,
and cleanse it from all
the disbelievers
and the corrupt dictators
that don't believe in the
true prophet Muhammad.
What did you do with
the women and girls?
Most were converted,
kept for duties.
Some were sold to warlords,
and the others were kept
for pleasure.
Pleasure?
Yes, slaves.
That's when I saw
this young girl.
She wouldn't be more than
fifteen.
Fifteen?
Yeah.
They shot her father
and her brothers,
and they sold her Mum
to another crew.
And why'd they sell her mother?
So she wouldn't see what
her daughter would go through.
She was kept in a room
24/7.
Guys would go in every hour
and do whatever it is
they wanted.
-[Omar] And you?
No.
I didn't.
I said I didn't.
What stopped you?
Why not just be one of the boys?
'Cause she was fifteen man,
just crying, just fucking crying,
bro.
I didn't wanna...
I went there to fight,
not to...
I entered the room.
She was lying on the bed
face down,
feet barely touching the ground,
crying.
I walked up to her,
and she looked up at me,
and she just begged me,
"Please, please, no more."
She looks up at me
with these big brown eyes...
This young girl...
She pleaded with me,
and I didn't even consider
doing anything.
That's when I saw the blood,
between the sheets,
on the sheets,
between her legs.
I thought to myself,
what kind of human being could
do this to such a young child,
just a young girl born in
the wrong place, the wrong time,
the wrong war?
I gave her my water,
and I told her to put
her clothes on
and I was going to get her
out of there.
-[Omar] Did you?
Yeah, that night.
And that's when it all got
too much for me.
The bombs started,
and we had to move
further up north towards Turkey.
-[Omar] Is that when you got
out?
Yeah, that,
and when I found out about Mum.
-[Omar] How'd you find out?
Don't worry, I found out.
-[Omar] What now?
[whispers] What do you mean?
You're gonna have to
turn yourself in, Jamal.
For everybody's sake.
Can you get me in?
Let me go inside and see
what's going on.
They've probably all started
eating.
Are you going to talk to Dad?
I can't promise anything.
I'll try.
I'll try, cause I know Mum
would probably want to see you.
Thanks, Omar.
Stay in the car.
I'll come back
and let you know.
-[Ahmed] Jamal, you OK?
[soft instrumental music]
[Islamic call to prayer plays]
Jamal's here.
He's outside.
Down the road in a car.
I don't understand. How?
He wouldn't tell me.
Look, I don't have all
the details,
and I don't have much time.
But I need you to do something
for me.
I need you to get everyone
out of Mum's room
and help me keep Dad
in the backyard.
-Omar...
-Listen, we can't...
We have to make sure Dad
doesn't see him.
Can you do that?
Omar, maybe we should call
the police.
Leave that to me.
Look, he just wants to see
Mum first, OK?
How can you trust anything
that he says?
And all the kids are here.
He's my brother.
And your brother's a terrorist.
If he spent one day fighting
over there,
that makes him a killer.
Tell him to go, please.
He's already done enough damage.
I know you're worried.
Look at me,
I know you're worried.
But he's not going to cause
any trouble, OK?
Now please, will you help me
get them outside?
Should I tell Heidi?
No one needs to know.
I don't want him near the kids.
[call to prayer continues]
[indistinct conversation]
OK, Dad's in the back
with all the other men.
OK.
Maya's gonna get all the women
out of Mum's room.
So we don't have much time.
Once they're all gone
you can go in and see her.
Is Heidi here?
-[Omar] Yes.
And Khalil.
OK.
OK.
Just wait over there.
Make sure no one sees you.
[speaks Arabic]
Now what?
I want to have a word with Mum.
Just make sure no one
comes in to the room,
especially Dad.
Why are you helping him?
If you don't call the police,
you're risking yourself
by aiding him.
It's my fault.
I saw the signs,
I should've done something.
Now you can.
Call the police.
Let him see Mum first,
and then I'll talk to him
about that after, OK?
-Where's Heidi?
-She's in the room.
We should tell her.
She has a right to know.
Not yet.
I hope you know what
you're doing.
-[Woman] Kids! Come inside
the house!
What's going on, Omar?
Nothing, I just want a
private moment with her.
Let me know if you need
anything, OK?
I will. Thank you.
Just give me a sec, sorry mate.
Why are the women coming out?
Did something happen to Mum?
She's fine. She's fine.
Uncle Yahya, I need you
to do me a favour.
I need you to go down,
hold Dad and keep him out here.
Don't want him in the house.
Just want you to keep him
out here.
-Can you do that?
-Why?
Just keep him out here.
Jamal's here.
Where?
-[Omar] Out the front.
It's OK, he's not going to cause
any trouble.
-I'll go to him.
-No, no, no, listen.
I just need you to stay here
with Dad.
He just wants to see Mum.
Then what's he going to do?
Not sure, he's gonna have to
turn himself in.
Not here?
At the moment, first thing,
I just need to get him
in and out of the house,
alright?
OK.
Let me know if you need me
to talk to him?
-[Omar] OK I will.
Thanks, Uncle.
Scared the shit out of me, man.
She wants to see you.
Jamal, she's very sick.
Please be careful with
what you say and be gentle.
Of course.
Most of the women
are in the backyard.
Auntie Fadia and a couple of
the others are in the living room.
And Dad?
He's in the back also.
Uncle Yahya's keeping
an eye on him.
Uncle Yahya?
-[Omar] Yeah, I told him.
What's wrong?
What did he say?
He said he wanted to see you,
but I told him to keep an eye
on Dad.
Why did you tell him?
-[Omar] I told you, I needed
someone to keep an eye on Dad.
Fuck.
It's OK. He won't say anything.
-Where's Heidi?
-Inside.
You want me to tell her?
Khalil saw me.
Did he recognise you?
OK look, just let me do
a final check,
just give me another
five minutes, alright?
What are you doing here?
Just take it easy.
Khalil mentioned you were here.
I thought he was joking.
I can't be seen,
so please come here.
Let me talk to you, please.
You don't have to be scared.
How did you even get here?
You're on a watch list.
-Let me explain.
-What did you...
Please.
Come here.
No, please don't.
What are you doing here?
I'm here to see my mother.
And you don't even tell me
you're here?
How long have you been back?
You look beautiful.
I don't know what's happening,
Jamal.
I don't know what to say.
What have you done?
It's not important.
Don't tell me
it's not important.
I'm your wife,
and you just left us.
No word, nothing.
What have you done?
I'll tell you everything,
but now's not the time.
It is the time!
You can't just do and say
whatever you please
and expect me
to passively agree.
Tell me that you didn't kill
anyone!
Jamal?
Look, I don't want
to talk about it right now.
And you're still my wife.
Heidi, stop...
-Answer my question.
-It's not the time.
Did you?
Habibi, it's really complicated.
I thought about you and Khalil
every day.
Did you?
And what about all the sons
of the mothers
that were being killed?
It's not that simple,
everyone dies in conflict.
Do you know...
-No! No!
-Shh. Shh.
No! Get off me!
Do you know how hard
this has been on me?
Do you realise how hard
this has been on me?
Do you realise that?
Do you realise how hard this
has been on me?
And on Khalil?
Raising a child on one's own,
do you know how hard that is?
Do you know?
Or did you just,
did you just not care?
Did you just not think
what I would go through?
I'm sorry, Heidi.
Oh, you're sorry?
Now?
What did you think
was going to happen, huh?
What did you think
was going to happen,
how did you see this ending?
I mean Jamal, what answers
were you looking for?
Can't you see?
Don't you see what you've done?
Don't you know your dad
will kill you if he sees you?
-He won't!
-And my parents,
they want nothing
to do with your family!
Jamal, tell me how
this is going to work.
Do you know that they're
watching me as well?
They come over,
and they ask me questions.
Me!
They say, "Where is he?"
"Have you made contact?"
"Are you sending him money?"
They'll find you.
I mean, what am I supposed
to say or do?
I can't hate you.
Because I've tried that.
And I can't love you,
because that's wrong.
I never did any of this
to hurt you.
I don't know
if you believe this,
but I still love you.
No, if you loved me,
you wouldn't have left.
But you were gone before then,
weren't you?
It wasn't about you,
it was about me.
-I was going through something.
-I know, I know.
You shut down,
you withdrew, Jamal.
I found the tablets.
We should've talked about it.
I would've understood.
Well, in time you'll understand
that I was following God's will.
Do you really believe that?
It's his will,
don't question it.
But don't you question it?
Didn't you question
leaving me behind?
No matter what,
I'm still your husband.
Abandoning me does not
make you a husband.
I converted for you.
But I cannot pray to the same
God that you do, Jamal, I can't.
I can't do that.
Don't say that! It's wrong.
How dare you.
Can't you see
what you're doing is wrong?
You don't understand.
Well then explain it to me!
Explain it to me,
explain it to your father.
Explain it to your son!
I will, but not right now.
Why did you stop
wearing your scarf?
Why?
Why do you think?
I cannot keep defending
this religion Jamal, I can't.
After what happened in London,
I can't keep defending it.
I have to see my Mum.
What about us?
You say we
don't understand, Jamal,
but you've damaged this family,
and your actions,
they have consequences.
I just need to see her.
And then?
No matter what,
I'm still your husband.
I could hate you easier
if you weren't.
But that's thing, you see.
I keep remembering
all the good in you, Jamal.
I remember why we fell in love.
And I remember how loving
you were with Khalil.
But I don't know now,
I don't know.
I'm sorry, Heidi.
OK, look.
I did what I had to do.
What does that mean?
It means I took a stand.
And I fought for something
right, for a cause.
Your cause has done
more harm than good.
Only God can judge me on that.
Why don't I believe you?
If I ask you to forgive me...
Habibi, come here.
I thought I told you
to wait inside.
I'm your father, Khalil.
Say hello to your father.
Hello.
I love you, my son,
I missed you, my little lion.
Did you miss your father?
Yeah.
Come here.
He's just confused, Jamal,
we all are.
I know.
In time, you'll forgive me.
For leaving us,
or for what you've done?
For everything.
You should go inside.
Why don't you go inside.
Before people start looking.
I'll talk to you later.
It's OK. Go.
It's alright. Come with me.
No. Just Heidi,
my boy, and Omar.
I heard you were coming back.
Allah is proud of you.
Thanks, khalo.
But what are you doing
back here?
I got a message
from Abu Al Hamid,
the day you left Syria.
I was told that you were
to be kept isolated
until we were ready.
You shouldn't be here.
It's going to be alright.
You can't abandon this, Jamal.
A lot of people
are relying on you.
I have to see my mother.
The longer you stay here,
the more risky it becomes.
Jamal. Do you get that?
-Yes, I do.
-Really?
Jamal, there's a lot at stake.
I know, I just need some time
to see her, please?
Does she know you're here?
Omar told her.
She wants to see me.
This is crazy, it's too risky.
Listen, you need to have
strength and a strong resolve.
You remember the darkness
that surrounded you?
You almost succumbed to it.
You reached out to me and Allah
showed you what your purpose is.
And now you're a warrior.
Doubt is weakness, and weakness
will destroy you. Us.
-I'm not weak. I just...
-What?
I want to make sure I'm doing
this for the right reasons.
You are doing it
for the right reasons.
This is why you are here,
this is what your purpose is,
for that great honour.
Yes, I know.
I just want to make
sure it's the right thing.
Do you realise what
the implications of this are?
Abu Al Hamid
is a very powerful man.
He finds out
that you're here,
and that you're having doubts,
you put your whole family
at risk. A...
A betrayal like this
is punishable.
So Jamal, you need
to get out of here.
You need get back
to where they're keeping you.
Seeing my Mum is important,
she doesn't have much time.
We know that,
but you're on a path.
Something's not right about it.
I thought we were
a religion of peace?
That's the Shetan
inside you talking.
No, it's me. This is me talking!
Your fear is human.
Your will is of God.
And that's brave.
You saw firsthand what
was happening over there.
It takes people like us
to make sure that
the message continues.
There's still time
to fix this, Jamal.
Just, just go now.
I know you'll make this right.
-Come on. Let's go.
-[Omar] Yahya.
He's alright.
Um, look, he needs to get away
from here. I can take him.
He wants to see Mum.
If you don't want your father
to find out that he's here,
he must leave now.
It's OK, just make sure
he stays in the back.
I don't think that's
a great idea.
I think it's best
he comes with me now,
and I'll bring him back
when everyone's left.
Not a bad idea, Jamal.
I'm not leaving
until I see my Mother.
Uncle Yahya look,
he'll go in and see her,
he'll be about ten minutes.
So just go keep an eye
on Dad for me.
Alright.
I'll find you later, yeah?
Just don't be long.
OK, we don't have much time.
What?
What?
Uncle Yahya.
What about him?
He won't tell Dad.
OK? Let's go, come on.
[chatter and children playing]
[female vocals]
-Just wait over here.
-OK.
[speaking Arabic]
Come on, let's go.
Jamal.
Jamal!
Come on, let's go.
Let me go in by myself, please.
OK.
[female vocals swell]
Just go inside.
Just go inside,
I'll talk to him.
[traditional music]
[crying]
[pensive music]
People are
getting suspicious, Omar.
Heidi wants to see him.
She did. Dad did too.
What?
How?
Jamal was waiting outside
Mum's door about to go in.
Dad came in and saw him.
I have to talk to him.
It's not a good idea.
There are way too many people
out here, babe.
Omar, I know he's
your brother, OK? I get that.
But you can't
protect him anymore.
Maya please,
out of everyone right now,
I need you on my side, OK?
Please.
I am on your side! I am!
You're just
not thinking logically.
I know you better than that.
Hey, I'll talk to Heidi, I'll tell
her to give him a minute...
Thanks, thanks.
And you, you and her
just stay near the door,
-make sure no one comes.
-Yeah. Leave it to me.
Hey Omar, what's going on?
What are all the women
doing out here?
My Dad and the others
are asking?
It's alright.
Mum's not feeling too well, bro.
It's OK. Just let them know
it's all good.
-OK, I'll let them know.
-Alright
[coughing]
[sorrowful music]
Hey.
Can I get you anything?
I just need to talk to him.
I need to find out what he
wants to do.
What about what you want to do?
Everyone's labelled him
a terrorist.
I just see the father
of my child.
Of course he is. And that's OK.
But he's here
and we can't change it.
I know.
We just have to let him
talk to Mum,
and we'll figure out
what we do next. OK?
I know, I just, I need to do
the right thing by Khalil,
he's confused.
Heidi, it's a difficult
situation to be in,
no one expected him
to come back, or be here.
Well then even if
he has changed,
how could I forgive him,
or even trust him?
You don't have to
figure it out now.
We'll let him see Mum,
you two work it out later.
He's not well.
I mean, I found
his antidepressants.
He needs help but he's
not going to ask for it,
because he's,
he's got too much pride.
They're both stubborn.
You know that.
One thing I know about Omar,
is his family is the most
important thing in the world.
We just have to let Jamal...
Hey, is everything OK?
I'm worried about Dad.
How long is he here for?
Not long.
Can I go in?
You will. Just let him
have his moment.
Sure.
Hang on a sec.
You OK?
How long you gonna be?
Not long.
Heidi's outside.
Alright, tell her not to leave
and I'll see her.
OK.
He'll see you again
before he goes.
Where?
I don't know, but he will.
Hey. Thanks, habibi.
How is she?
Yeah, she's OK.
She wants to see Dad.
Not now, surely?
-It's for Jamal.
-I think so.
Here. I've gotta go.
What's Jamal doing?
What's he thinking?
You must talk
some sense into him
to get him to get out of here.
Uncle he's not,
he's not thinking rationally.
Something happened to him
over there
and he's not
dealing with it well.
It's best he leaves immediately,
right after he finishes speaking
with your mother.
I know, I know.
But he's not well.
I'm concerned now.
I don't, I don't understand what
he's thinking.
Look, you know I need your help.
He, he trusts you, you've always
been there for him.
Of course. You're my family.
I will always be there
for you both.
Should we call a lawyer,
hand him in?
Let me organise it.
You just take care
of your mother.
Heidi's gonna probably
want to go with him.
That's fine.
OK, and what about Dad?
Has he said anything to you?
No. Nothing.
Mum wants to speak to him.
You want me to tell him?
No, let me first.
No. I'll go.
No, no. I know my Dad.
He won't be swayed.
I just want to get a sense
of what he's thinking.
Alright. Alright.
Listen, I think you
should go inside
and get your brother
ready to come out with me.
And I'll see what I can do
with your father.
Alright, please,
just reason with him.
Make him understand!
Even if we get them together
for a few minutes.
This situation is not looking
good for any of us, Omar.
The longer he stays,
the more furious and
unpredictable your father is.
OK.
Good boy.
You're a good boy.
How you doing?
Yeah, alright.
Did you talk to him?
Yeah.
[phone vibrates]
[traditional music]
Ready?
Yeah. Let me quickly check
what's happening.
Omar!
Talk to him again, please?
I'll try.
[mournful music]
Do you want me to do it?
Can I talk to you for a minute?
Come on.
Where's Omar?
He's out back,
talking to your father.
Jamal, you're best
not to be seen.
So you know nothing
about his return?
I told you, no.
Why are you asking?
Because he confides in you.
You have no idea
why Jamal went over?
Omar, why are you asking me
all this?
Clear your head
of this nonsense, OK?
We're wasting time.
Listen.
Go, speak to your brother
and get him out of here.
Do you understand?
-You did it.
-Do you understand? Omar!
Your brother loves you,
we all love you.
But the longer you stay here,
the more you put us all at risk.
[traditional music]
-Let me talk to him.
-No, no!
Please Jamal, stay here.
OK? We don't want
this situation escalating,
we've been through enough.
Just wait inside
until Omar comes back.
He wanted to come out.
He thinks you're going to
turn him in.
What's he doing?
No good, man.
He wants you out of here now.
Such a fucking stubborn cunt.
-Fuck it. I'll go!
-No, Jamal! Listen!
-No, no, Jamal, please!
-No Jamal, baby, please!
Please, come on, let's just
leave, now, let's go.
It's not worth it, OK, bro?
Habibi, come on. Come on!
No! No one's coming with me.
Stay with Mum, stay with Mum.
Stay with Heidi.
Jamal, come on. Let's go.
Jamal.
Jamal! Come on!
Jamal, let's go, let's go!
-I love him, Omar.
-I know you do, man.
Just give him some time,
we'll sort it out. Let's go.
I just wanna tell him I'm sorry
and to forgive me.
I know man, but now is not
the time, let's go.
Please man, we gotta go.
We have to go. Let's go.
Listen, your father's going
to call the police any minute!
-You need to leave here now.
-Let's go. Jamal, come on.
Come on. Let's go.
There's people waiting
for you, Jamal.
-I'm not going nowhere!
-Fucking come on, Jamal!
-I'm not going nowhere!
-Listen to me!
-You need to leave now!
-Not until I see him.
Jamal!
Look I'll go through with it.
I'll do it!
I'll stick to my word!
But not until I see him.
He doesn't want to...
What do you mean "stick to your
word"? What's he talking about?
-I don't know!
-What's going on?
-Go through with what?
-Jamal? Something...
-Jamal? Hey.
-What's going on? Tell me?
Are you doing something?
Is he on a mission?
-Go through with what?
-Is he on a mission?
Don't be stupid!
Jamal, tell him!
Hello?
Hello?
Police?
[Yosef] Yes.
My son, Jamal Alamein.
He's here, yes.
Please come and get him.
It is the same address.
Thank you.
Jamal.
Jamal, what are you doing?
Gimme the gun. Look at me.
[Omar] Jamal? Jamal. Give me...
Jamal...
-[Yahya] Jamal. Please.
-[Omar] Jamal. Gimme the gun.
-Don't do it. Don't do it.
-Jamal look at me.
-[Omar] Jamal give me the gun.
-[Heidi] Jamal, no.
-[Omar] Give me the gun!
-[Yahya] Jamal, give me the gun.
[Omar] Jamal, please.
Don't do this. Jamal.
Give me the gun! Jamal.
[All] Jamal!
[sorrowful music]