Hobal (2024) Movie Script
1
My sweet girl, my darling Ghazil
My dear daughter
Pray she be your intercessor
on the Day of Judgment, Sita
I didn't stand by her in this world, how can I
hope she will intercede for me in the Hereafter?
I let her die, Sarra
Sarra
Please, don't let your daughter follow
her cousin's path
My precious Ghazil
"Hobal"
My sweet girl
Hurry
-Come on, quickly
-I hope I get one soon
-It won't stop
-Grab my hand
Show yourself, Rifa
Let's move out of here
Time to go
Hajla
Come here
Come
She's not the only one we've lost to death
I wish you a dog's death
"Wednesday, August 4, 1990"
"Nida 1"
"Nida 1, report your location"
"Respond, Nida 1"
"Roger, I'm at the north side, copy"
"To Nida 3, send"
"Well done, hero
Move straight ahead"
"You're brave"
"Go ahead"
Assaf
If the stick burns out in my hand, you lose
Assaf bin Majed bin Layam
Badi bin Nahar bin Layam
Mnawer bin Nahar bin Layam
-Hurry
-Munira bint Nahar bin Layam
-Give it to Nafla
-Nafla
-Say your father's name
-Shanar
-Faster
-Come on
Give it to Munira now
Come on, Mnawer
See, uncle?
He's stalling on purpose so I lose
Munira bint Nahar bin Layam
Nafla, daughter of Shanar
Nafla's too little, she doesn't count
No, I'm not
I swear I'll tell my mom
Go cry to her then
Go on
That's better
Assaf, if it burns out in my hand
you're done for
-Sita
-Please leave me alone, Sarra
Nafla
Nafla, you're gonna get lost
Damn you
Why are you following me?
You wanna get infected too?
Live next to her?
Go back where you came from, go
You're the last person who should be saying
he doesn't want to marry
Do you want to end your father
Majed's lineage, may he rest in peace?
Look at yourself, you haven't even married yet
Why didn't you ever marry, Uncle?
Get up, help your father Nahar
Come on, move
Feels like it happened just yesterday
Time really flies, Battal
Remember when the incense stick burned out
in your hand?
You said you wanted to marry Marzouq's daughter
So what are you waiting for?
There are plenty of women out there
Matouqa
-I'm coming
-What do you want with him, you fool?
I just want him to think for himself
How long is he going to wait
for Marzouq's daughter?
There are so many women
And all I do is wash his clothes
and take care of him
Let him marry someone to look after him
Shanar is back from the city
Poor guy, if he didn't sell the kohl
or lowered the price, he's doomed
The teacher is here
Rifa, stay out of the sun
Measles patients must avoid sunlight
Mom
What is it?
These are Ghazil's clothes
I hid them when Grandma went to burn her things
Give them to Aunt Sita
That's my dress, Mom
In case Grandma burns my clothes after I die
Hold on to it
Sit down, all of you
"Saturday, August 7, 1990"
Where's Assaf?
Yeah, you've gotten much better
Look
Assaf
I'm scared the measles will kill me
And they'll bury me in the desert
like they did with Ghazil
If I knew where the city was, I'd take you there
Aren't you afraid Grandpa Layam
will curse us if we go to the city
And we'll die like your mom
and dad when he cursed them?
He doesn't need to know
I know his schedule
He'll be away from the tents
the day after tomorrow
Assaf
What's in the city?
Why does Grandpa forbid us from going there?
"The Germans against Italy"
"Saudi Arabia"
"Enough already
I've become the talk of the town"
"Enough already
I've become the talk of the town"
"I said it even though I didn't want to"
"My fate made me cry, and I cried for it"
"I said it even though I didn't want to"
"My fate made me cry, and I cried for it"
"Tell me, when will you carve pain
into my heart?"
"Tell me, when will you carve pain
into my heart?"
"Dear listeners"
"We apologize for the interruption
in our broadcast"
"We've received breaking news: War has
broken out against our sister country Kuwait"
"Further details will follow
in the upcoming news bulletin"
What if Battal memorizes the Qur'an, Father?
If he memorizes more than you did
I'll let him go to the city
in the water truck instead of you
You haven't been selling well lately
I think Battal could outsell you
You know Battal well, Father
If he ever goes to the city, he won't come back
You told me yourself not to talk to him about it
so he wouldn't get attached
Or have you forgotten what he dreams of?
Marzouq's daughter
he's still unmarried because of her
May God bless whoever memorizes His book
Marzouq's daughter is living with her family
While your wife is right here by your side
And in the end, she'll mess with his head
Just like Duaija and her daughter did
with your brother Sattam
He went off to the city
And so did Majed, may he rest in peace
Your mother told me about your wife
She's pushing you to take her daughter
to the city
Sarra? No way
I swear she didn't say a word, Father
And don't compare me to Sattam or Majed
may he rest in peace
I swear if she even speaks of it
I'll bury her alive
Then bury me, bury me before you bury
your daughter, Shanar
I'm my father's son, his true heir
Don't you have any shame?
What are you doing here?
Uncle, please, I'm begging you
I don't want my daughter to end up like Ghazil
Please let her father take her
to the health center, uncle
-I swear to God
-Enough
Don't turn me away from my wife, Father
Sarra was your wife before she came to me
And since she came to me, I'm her guardian now
Please, Uncle, I don't want to lose my daughter
Let her father take her to the city
for treatment
Nothing happens unless God wills it
The city is forbidden to me and my family
And anyone from my household who enters it
I disown them until Judgment Day
-Uncle
-Get up, my niece
And don't come to me again with a question
you already know the answer to
Matouqa, sprinkle some on Sita
And give her some to drink
Maybe it'll calm her grief over her daughter
And what will calm mine?
Don't worry, I prepared one for you too
Sarra
Shanar
Shanar
Are you just going to wait
until your daughter dies?
You'll pay for what you've done
What did I do? Is it a crime to be afraid
for my daughter?
Because of you, Father's letting Battal
go to the city with the water truck
Let him go, every time you come back
from the city, you beg for forgiveness
As if you committed some sin
Where's my Qur'an?
Why do you even want it?
What good is it if you're abandoning
your own daughter?
Will you read it and ignore what God
commanded of you?
Obey your Lord when it comes
to your daughter, if you hope for paradise
So that she doesn't die
leaving you to carry the burden of guilt
If you really understand paradise
You'd know a child can plead for their parents
when they die
If your daughter dies, she'll lead us to heaven
I don't want a heaven that lets you
and your father in
I want my daughter
The only thing stopping me
from beating you is Father
Where's my Qur'an?
It's not here
I gave it to Battal
"Are they only waiting for the Hour"
"To take them by surprise?"
"Yet its signs have already come"
"Once it actually befalls them
will it not be too late to be mindful?"
"Are they only waiting for the Hour
to take them by surprise?"
"Yet its signs have already come"
"Once it actually befalls them
will it not be too late to be mindful?"
"Nida 5, where are you, Nida 5?"
Seems like you've got something to say
Is it true, Grandpa Layam
that you'll leave the tents after tomorrow?
When I leave you, son
I seclude myself with the Lord of the worlds
I turn to Him, and seek His forgiveness
I cut myself off from everyone
Otherwise, I would've taken you with me
Do you still feel hurt when he ignores you?
I told you before, your uncle Nahar remembers
your late father every time he sees you
No one misses your father as much as he does
He cried until he lost his voice
But his son Badi says
That he heard Uncle Nahar talking in his sleep
How can he talk in his sleep
but stay silent when he's awake?
Do you really want me to give up on my daughter?
I swear I'll never abandon her, even if
this is the last thing between us, Shanar
Damn you both
What's wrong with you?
Mom, keep her away from me
or I'll beat her senseless
He wants my daughter to die, Aunt
He wants her to die so he can go to heaven
May you never see it
Shut up, you've gone mad
I swear, Shanar, I'll never give up
on my daughter, I'm Ayyad's daughter
How are you, Father?
My condolences for Nahar's daughter
Didn't know the dead now
offer condolences to the living
Go back to where you came from
and don't let me see you again
I'm not the dead one, Father
The dead is the one you buried
where you once camped
The one you locked in a tent
then buried in the end
Leave
What do you want?
Haven't you suffered enough?
Why did you come back here?
Did you do what Battal did to you?
Maybe he needs another lesson
Father
Do you hear how they attack me in your presence?
They'll race each other to leave for the city
the moment you're gone
Don't think either of them plans
to stay with you
Didn't you chase after Duaija
and her daughter?
You disobeyed your father and ran to the city
after them
So why are you here now?
Why did you return?
I came to tell you
if you leave your daughter as she is
She'll meet the same fate as her cousin
Hopefully, she meets that fate today
Are you even listening?
"Let her face that fate today
I won't disobey my father"
"And let a woman lead me like you did"
God is the Greatest
Glory be to my Lord, the Almighty
God hears whoever praises Him
God is the Greatest
When he told you Marzouq's daughter
had turned you down
He wasn't telling the truth
"And the sky, how it was raised"
"And the mountains, how they were firmly set up"
"And the earth, how it was leveled out?"
"So, remind, for your duty is only to remind"
"You are not to compel them"
Peace and God's mercy be upon you
I seek God's forgiveness
Peace and God's mercy be upon you
I seek God's forgiveness
I seek God's forgiveness
Separate the camels
before taking them to the herder
Peace and God's mercy be upon you
When Rifa gave me Ghazil's dress
she gave me hers too
In case I told Shanar
What did Sattam say?
Didn't you tell me that Marzouq
refused to marry me off to his daughter?
Marzouq didn't reject you
But he made a condition
He insisted that his daughter
not live in the desert
That you live together in the city
That's as good as a rejection
Unless you're willing to disobey Father
and move to the city for Marzouq's daughter
That's not right before God
And it's beneath you to chase a woman
who doesn't even want you, brother
Forget about Marzouq's daughter
May God forgive me
Where's my Qur'an?
Sarra said you took it
-Son of who?
-Layam
-Son of who?
-Nahar
-Son of who?
-Badi
Do you know who you were named after?
Grandfather Layam
Have you ever been to the sky?
How could I have gone?
-Then how do you know Judgment Day is near?
-Kid
Let him be
God gave us signs, son
Their appearance means Judgment Day is close
And many signs have already come
First, the barefoot, naked shepherds of sheep
Competing in building tall structures
Competing in building tall structures
Just look at the city
Not to mention the widespread corruption
Or are you saying there's no corruption
in the city, Shanar?
May God spare us
It's terrifying, Father
Look, Grandpa Layam, a star just fell
That's a shooting star, son
Doesn't your teacher teach you?
Yes, he taught us
That there are devils in the sky
They try to eavesdrop
so God hurls meteors at them
Good job
Did you get that, Badi?
Who can tell me where those shooting stars land
when they fall from the sky?
Father's here
Rifa
Rifa
Rifa is gone, Sita
Rifa is gone
Be careful
Rifa, Rifa
Rifa
Her father is coming in
What should we do, Father?
It's a scorpion sting
-Calm down
-She's fine
Step back
She's fine
Rifa
I seek refuge in God's perfect words
from every devil and every harmful creature
If you were real men
You wouldn't have let your father walk
into that tent and risk infection
While you just stood there
-It's her father's fault, Mom
-Watch your mouth
I only act with Father's guidance
I swear I was about to go in
but he beat me to it, may God protect him
If I knew he wasn't going to isolate himself
Like he does every month
I would've let him sit
and kept everyone else away
Your father cut you off from people
To protect you from harm
So now you think he shouldn't protect you
from himself?
Shanar
He said not to hurt Sarra
It was Father who emboldened her
This isn't the way, Mom
He's making the women rebel
and expects us to put up with them
Nahar, if he wanted someone to go with him
he would've taken you
He warned me
No one is to follow him for seven days
Seven days?
This time is different, Mom
Father left right after leaving
Shanar's daughter's tent
-You shouldn't have let him go
-Nothing bad will happen, God willing
I asked him not to go far
Nahar, he said to stay with the camels
until he returns
He said, "Let a sacrifice be made
in gratitude for Rifa's well-being"
Why are you looking at me like that, Mom?
There, her father's there
Damn you, why are you here?
You want to catch the measles?
Go away, damn you
-God forgive me
-I just want to see Rifa, I want her to come out
Rifa can't be in the sun
Come back when she's recovered
Why are you drawing a line, Mom?
To keep scorpions and beetles out
So they don't get near your sister's tent
And if I see your footprints, I'll cut them off
You think I'm a beetle, Mom?
How long will you stay silent, Nahar?
Say something
Comfort me
You haven't said a word since your brother
Majed died
You didn't even offer condolences
when your daughter passed
As if Majed is the only one you ever lost
You know why I wanted you to stay here
instead of going to the camels?
I want to hear you call Ghazil's name
in your sleep
Just like I wake up every night
to you calling Majed in your dreams
I want to wake up to you calling her
A, Aunt
U, Uncle
U, Uncle
-What starts with "G"?
-Grandfather
-Grandfather
-Grandfather
Teacher, is the city far from here?
If your question isn't related to the lesson
ask your uncles, Assaf
But I really have a question, teacher
Where do the stars go
when they fall from the sky?
You see, Assaf?
That's a question worth asking
Put your bedding where mine is
I'll sleep outside
I can't sleep, brother, the noise keeps me up
Shanar
The Ministry of Education isn't stingy
I've told you over and over, bring chairs
for the kids instead of the feeding trough
Let's hope for the best
What difference does it make, teacher?
Let the kids eat from the trough too
Here you go, teacher
-Thank you, Battal
-It's our duty, sir
How many spans?
Two spans
One more to go, close the lid
And tell the women to pack what they want
to send to the city
Why are you so eager to go to the city?
He said two spans, you said one
Do you think a child's span is like mine?
No, of course not
And that camel's foot that opened the tap
isn't like your foot either
Assaf
Let's see if you're as good at tracking
as your father
Tell me, whose footprint is this?
Whose?
My uncle Shanar's
Take the key from my robe
and move my car near the water truck
Since you're going to the city
and your dad isn't here
Take Rifa with you
We're not talking until my father gets back
If you don't want your father to know
you took your daughter to the city, he won't
Take her
No one but me goes near Rifa's tent
I swear no one will know, Shanar
What you don't know
Is that I'm not like Sattam
who's led by his wife and her mother
-Or Majed, who
-May he rest in peace
I doubt Majed would've left Rifa
if she were his daughter
Majed?
He wouldn't have left her?
Majed left you, he abandoned you
I'm the one who married you
Or did you forget?
And in case you forgot, Majed is dead
Dead, and you still bring him up
You stretch your steps
but still can't catch up to him
Shanar
Don't hurt me with words that will lead me
to say words that will hurt you
If painful words roll easily off your tongue
Your ears won't handle some of the things
I could say
What are you trying to say?
All I'll say is, may he rest in peace
And may God watch over my daughter
since she doesn't have a father to protect her
Watch your tongue
My daughter is not an orphan
She is, as long as you're her father
Assaf, where are you going with that key?
Bring it back
-She's deaf
-She won't come, she doesn't know your voice
Come on, show me what you've got
Grandpa said whoever the camels
respond to, gets what they want
That's a lizard's tracks
No, that's a desert monitor, I've seen it before
A lizard
How can I go with my father in the water truck?
He won't let me
You're not riding in the water truck
We'll follow it until we reach the city
Didn't you wonder how we'd know the way?
By tracking it?
How?
Don't worry, I'll get the car key
But what if Grandpa curses us?
Or our father sees us following him?
He won't see us
I'll trail him from a distance
until we get to the city
You plan to follow the water truck
all the way to the city?
You'd rather we walk there?
Why do you ask? Are you going to do
like your father and run off to the city?
No, just curious
I want to know what it looks like
Blind leading the blind isn't much of a guide
Hand me the papers and sugar
Give them here
I've never been there
But I asked your father
may he rest in peace, about it
When he used to go in the water truck
What did my father say?
He said it's pointless for the seeing
to describe the world to the blind
Uncle Battal
Is it true my parents died
because Grandpa cursed them?
Yes, it's true
Just look what happened
when your uncle Shanar cursed his daughter
Curses are dangerous
especially from parents, they never miss
Then why didn't Uncle Shanar's
or Grandpa Layam's prayers save Rifa?
What are you saying?
God forgive you, don't bring down wrath on us
God forgive me
Good thing you came, Sarra
Pass me the oud over there
"Step by step, my baby goes
Tiny feet and wiggly toes"
"Step by step, my baby goes
Tiny feet and wiggly toes"
"Clap your hands and smile so wide
Mama's watching, full of pride"
"Step by step, my baby goes
Tiny feet and wiggly toes"
"Clap your hands and smile so wide
Mama's watching, full of pride"
"Step by step, my baby goes
Tiny feet and wiggly toes"
"Step by step, my baby goes
Tiny feet and wiggly toes"
"Clap your hands and smile so wide
Mama's watching, full of pride"
You're all gloomy, come on, let's enjoy
ourselves a bit, don't we deserve some joy?
Sing for Salem, come on kids
"Tippy toes and happy cheer"
"Tippy toes and happy cheer"
"Tippy toes and happy cheer"
"You're growing fast, my little dear"
"And when he came, he amazed her"
"Tippy toes and happy cheer"
"Tippy toes and happy cheer"
"Tippy toes and happy cheer"
"Her baby made her strong"
"And when he came, he amazed her"
"His headband made from her wool"
"Tippy toes and happy cheer"
"Tippy toes and happy cheer"
"Tippy toes and happy cheer"
"Her baby made her strong"
Go along with him, and he will obey you
That won't work with Shanar
Trust me, just go along with him
Men are tough in arguments
But like children when you play along
I know I upset you
What upsets me is that you hide behind my father
Otherwise, I would've buried you alive
You wouldn't allow that
Just like I couldn't let you leave with
the water truck while you were still angry at me
You're the one who made me say it
When there's no one more important to me
than you
I'm worried about my daughter
and you just make it worse
May God never take you from us
Rifa
Rifa
What are you doing here, Rifa?
He's my father, not you
He's the one who should take me
Get out, Rifa
I'm scared I might die, Assaf
I'm scared I might die
Please, get out before someone sees you, Rifa
What are you doing?
Packing Rifa's clothes
So you can take her to the city tomorrow morning
And go to the health center
What the hell?
Who said I'm taking her?
Oh, you'll take her
You'll take her when you realize what she has
you have too
I drank yesterday from the water Rifa had
And now the measles is brewing in you
Now let's see, will you obey your father
or take care of yourself?
If this turns out to be true
I swear I'll destroy you
Why did you pull me out, Assaf?
If we reach the city and my father sees me
with him in the water truck
He'd take me straight to the clinic
Uncle Shanar
Uncle Shanar never goes against Grandpa
Even if it costs him his life
Rifa, wake up at dawn
I'll take you myself
You don't even know the way to the city, Assaf
You don't know where it is
You're lying
How will you manage to take me?
No, I do know the way
Rifa doesn't know
Don't ask her
-Carry me, Mom
-What's wrong? Didn't I leave you with Matouqa?
Why are you back?
If you really had the disease
you wouldn't carry your daughter
Until my father returns
and figures things out between us
I'll sleep in the men's tent
Get lost
Why did you stop, Assaf?
Rifa
-The main road
-Uncle Nahar
Rifa
Rifa
Where did you go?
Rifa
Battal, have you seen Rifa?
Assaf
Assaf
Didn't Shanar give you the car key?
If the old man gets back before they do
we'll all be in serious trouble
Set up a tent for Assaf
Your brother Nahar is right behind us, Majed
Hold tight
Calm down, Nahar
There is no god but Allah
I didn't think you'd hide Shanar's car key
I did it for your daughter
And for Assaf
He's Majed's son
None of his brothers are like him
When his wife had a fever
he took her to the city immediately
What are you saying?
Why bring up Majed now?
I just hope they return
before the old man gets back and curses them
They're still just kids
Who knows what they're getting into alone?
If they had told me, I would've gone with them
Oh, really?
-And you think Shanar would let you?
-Shanar doesn't tie my hands
No, he doesn't tie them
but a camel's hobble is made from its own hair
If my daughters are the ones holding me back
If my daughters are the ones holding me back
Then what's stopping you, Matouqa?
Neither Layam is your father
nor Noura your mother
Why stay here when no one's holding you?
Why don't you go to the city?
What's in the city for me?
Who do I have there?
Layam's not my father
But Noura is my mother
She raised me as an orphan
and nursed me with her own kids
God didn't bless her with daughters
She never abandoned me
How could I leave her?
Even the free have their bonds
And even the enslaved answer to a master
beneath their Master, but until when?
You're asking me?
You're asking me until when?
Look at yourself
Look at our people
How long will you keep asking them?
That's true
Until when?
Until when will we run to the shepherd
just to escape the wolf?
When both are after our flesh
When Majed was alive, he was our only hope
Good people don't live long
When I see Assaf and Rifa
I remember when we were kids
You and Majed
Do you think Assaf will marry Rifa?
Or will Rifa do what her mother did
to his father and walk away from him?
You really enjoy stirring the pot, don't you?
You
Nahar
Nahar
You
Listen, don't get down
the boy took my car and left with Rifa
We should follow them
Nahar, I'm talking to you, man
You stubborn fool
Ku
Ku
Kuw
Kuw
Kuwait?
We've reached Kuwait, Assaf
"People of God"
"The Hour draws near"
"And the moon has split"
"Every nation faces trials and hardships
in every age"
"And falls into major sins"
"People of God, the Hour draws near
and the moon has split"
"And the outbreak of the war you are witnessing"
"Is but a sign of the Hour"
"And a sign that the Day of Judgment is near"
"Minor signs have already appeared"
"And major ones"
How can I sleep while my country is occupied?
No, Marzouq
I won't sit still, not for a minute
I won't stop you from doing
what you believe in, Hamed
In fact, I'll help you
But stay here tonight
and let's decide in the morning
I didn't come to sit around, Marzouq
I came to drop off my family
and head straight back to the city
Don't waste your energy, man
These are the signs of the Hour
The Hour is a certainty
And only its Creator knows when it will come
If you're going, I'm coming with you
I won't let you go alone
May God never separate us, brother
Lunch is ready, uncle
Come on, get up, time to eat
Come, Hamed, get up
Everyone, come join us
"Primary Health Care-Western Region"
Rifa
"At exactly 4:30 PM"
"The third siren will sound"
"It's a continuous siren
that lasts for 15 seconds"
"It means the danger has passed"
It's measles
Did this case come in with you?
Were you the one who brought her?
It's very possible you've caught it too
The boy might also be infected
We'll examine and isolate him, okay?
Whose house is this?
My grandfather Marzouq's house
-Where's the water tank owner?
-You mean my father Shanar?
Yes, tell him to come out
My dad Shanar
You can't take them without signing
a liability acknowledgment
-Give me what you've got
-The boy is highly likely to be infected
He has to stay in isolation
until we get the results
Head over there
Get out
The girl received her injection
She needs to complete the treatment to recover
-And what's this?
-The acknowledgment, for the boy
Hey kid, get in the back
-Listen, Battal
-You and I have nothing to discuss
Talk to my father
Here, take this with you
Talk to my father, let it be your witness
Some words are like holes in a garment
Stay seated or they'll be exposed
"Monday, August 16, 1990"
You haven't said a word
since you came back from the city with the kids
Every time I ask one of you
You tell me to ask the other
It'll all be clear when Father returns
Shanar, what are you two hiding?
We're not hiding anything
I just don't know what my father will do
when he finds out about the kids
Tomorrow makes it seven days since he left
He'll come back, and we'll see
See what?
What's going on between you two?
We'll see what he does about the kids
Once he returns, if you're hiding anything
it'll come to light
You're looking better, Rifa
You're getting stronger every day
Here
Mom, did you check on Assaf?
How could I not?
Eat something
Regain your strength
He'll be okay, God willing
Dear Assaf
How are you feeling now?
A bit better
Has Grandpa found out?
He hasn't returned yet
Everything will be fine
Do you think I didn't tell Sarra
for your sake, Shanar?
If I thought telling her would upset you
I would've done it
But only she would've been upset
Try to understand, boy
If Marzouq's daughter had wanted you
She wouldn't have married me
Understand that, if you're a man
So, it's not manly to think of a woman
who doesn't want me?
Then what is manhood?
Thinking of a woman your brother desires?
You're spineless, Shanar
Don't talk to me about manhood again
Speaking of manhood, listen to this
Marzouq himself told me
if you want her, I'll let you marry her
But I won't give her to Battal
Don't walk away, listen
Let me explain
I don't want to hear it
Tell my father when he's back
And tell him you caught me with tobacco
And tell him you caught me with tobacco
But I won't leave
until I expose your secret to him
Let them know who's been leading their prayers
So, you got married to have kids?
What kind of kid would you have?
Another failure like yourself?
See Majed's boy?
He's already better than you'll ever be
I'm taking him to the city for treatment
It's a shame he might die
while you're still alive
It's not up to you
No one moves a vehicle unless I say so
I'll take him whether you like it or not
You'll see
Hey, I swear you won't take him
as long as I'm alive
What don't you get?
The boy's not leaving this tent
Assaf, come out, Assaf
Get to the car
I swear if you don't stop
I'll beat you to a pulp
Swearing by who?
Come out, Assaf
Come out
Let's see who'll dare stop me
Swearing by who?
You can't even control Sarra
Unless Father gives you permission
You have no say over your own wife
What's going on?
What's the matter?
Battal, where are you taking the boy?
Your father
That's his camel
"Ladies and gentlemen
peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings"
"It is exactly one o'clock GMT in London"
"There were suspicions surrounding the incident"
"And no contact has been made between
Foreign Minister and his American counterpart"
"Iraq has rejected all UN resolutions"
"The official spokesperson announced
that 27 American soldiers"
"Were killed yesterday
when an Iraqi missile exploded"
"In eastern Saudi Arabia"
"A military spokesperson in Riyadh
added that 98 others were wounded"
"It's been reported that Soviet Union
is putting heavy pressure on the allies"
"To agree to a ceasefire"
I asked everyone
Not one person gave me an answer
Shanar's still not back?
There he is
Did you find him?
Did you go looking for him
Or just come to us to ask?
I swear, if any of you truly
cared about your father
You wouldn't have come back without him
What else can we do, Mom?
The sun has set
We'll continue the search tomorrow morning
Morning brings hope
I hope Grandpa doesn't return
Ask for God's forgiveness
Say it, Rifa, ask for forgiveness
I seek forgiveness from God
But I'm scared of him
What will he do to us if he comes back?
Assaf
Why are children afraid
of the elders cursing them?
Don't the elders ever fear
being cursed by children?
I still can't believe Grandpa cursed my father
Why didn't he curse Uncle Sattam instead?
Assaf, did you know my mom's letting me out
of the tent soon?
But I don't want to go
while you're still stuck here
Come on
Since when have you been locked in?
When I get out, I'll ask Matouqa
to teach me how to drive
And I'll take you to the clinic
just like you did for me
Don't worry, Mom
We won't come back without Father, God willing
Assaf
No one but you can bring your grandfather back
Uncle Nahar
Why did you walk away when you saw me with Rifa?
"That he addressed to his brothers today"
"They gave all they had
and tried every possible way"
"Both Iraqi Republic and State of Kuwait"
"To contain the rising tension between them"
"And in this regard"
"I have conducted numerous phone calls
and fraternal discussions with my counterparts"
"I have conducted numerous phone calls
and fraternal discussions with my counterparts"
"That led to a meeting between
the Iraqi and Kuwaiti delegations"
"Hosted on Saudi Arabian soil"
"In a continued effort to bridge differences"
"Narrow gaps in perspective"
"And avert escalation"
"Some kings and presidents also took part
in the effort"
Munira, Nafla
Come eat lunch
May it bring good, dear God
Matouqa, bring the car
Mom, why are you treating me like a threat?
I'm fine
If it were up to me
I would've hugged you from the first day
But I need to protect your sister
It's almost over
You're getting out tomorrow
I am, Mom?
Pray, Rifa
Prayers from the sick are answered
Pray for your grandfather
Pray for Grandpa?
I'll pray for Assaf
How long are we staying here?
If Father were inside
we'd have found him by now
Dad's not reckless enough to fall in a pit
Speak up
Why won't you answer?
Say something
Do you know something we don't?
That's Sattam
And Muzna is with him
Stop right there
-Where's my father?
-He's not here
I came to apologize to him
And return to live among you again
You don't belong here anymore
Your father is angry with you
If you care about your father, go and find him
And if you do, I'll speak on your behalf
How are you doing?
I don't even know if they'll let you into Kuwait
But I'm not leaving you
I'm not going anywhere
I'm going to look for Grandpa
And I'm not leaving either
Not until I expose Shanar
But I don't have any strength left
Why did Grandpa go down that pit?
Do you really think
my dad would fall into a pit?
How do pits even form?
How can they get that deep?
At your age and you still don't know?
Demons rise to the sky to eavesdrop
on the unknown
And God pelts them with meteors
When those meteors fall, they make pits
Bottomless pits
Which means once someone falls in
they don't come out
But some say
If someone falls in, they might exit
from another pit, far away
So you're saying Grandpa might show up
somewhere else?
Like in the city, maybe?
There are no pits in the city
Maybe there are
I've never heard of any though
When I asked the teacher
He said they don't fall in deserts or cities
-They fall into the sky
-Into the sky?
Yes, may God forgive me
Why ask for forgiveness?
He could be right
Do you think Grandpa will come back?
Or will he appear somewhere far away?
Throw the rope, Saleh
Right there
Over here, come on
Be careful not to fall in
You've given up?
Is that all you can do?
Are you really abandoning your father?
If you don't want your father alive
Then at least bring him back dead
Or are you not planning to bury him either?
His own sons don't want him
It's like they were waiting for him to disappear
May God bring him back
Drink this, Mom, it might calm you down
I left it for Sarra
But here I am drinking it
I hope this isn't some kind of punishment
for what happened to Sarra and her daughter
Mom
Assaf is exhausted
and I'm scared the boy won't make it
I'm really worried about him
Tell everyone to take down their tents
in the morning
And set them up by the pit
until their father shows up
If he's not in the pit
Then why are his things inside?
What do you think, Shanar?
We're not speaking
Not until my father comes back
and allows you near us
Not until my father comes back
and allows you near us
Why did you return?
Why leave the city?
There's nothing here but lies and misery
He hopes Dad never returns
and never finds out what he did
Will you watch your tongue
or should I rip it out?
The day Dad warned us about has come
The mosque loudspeakers talk of nothing but
The coming of the Hour
They say war is a sign
Even the sheikhs say so, not just Dad
I have to find him and ask for his forgiveness
Assaf
Assaf
I couldn't save my daughter
and now I have to save Assaf
Assaf never gave up on your daughter
We have to act before the boy dies
What do you want me to do?
The old man's not here
Assaf won't abandon him
Or will you abandon him too
like you abandoned his father?
Damn you, I'm my own worst punishment
You remind me of what I try to forget
You blame me for leaving Majed
And Shanar blames me for Majed leaving me
How can Shanar blame anyone?
He married you before his own brother
If you know all this, you spiteful woman
Why do you keep tormenting me?
Why are you doing that
when you know he beat Majed to it?
Majed was too noble to fight his own brother
If you still have a conscience
then save his son before it's too late
I can't even help myself
So how do you expect me to help anyone else?
I hope they find the old man
So I can go and beg him to help Assaf
This is what happened
Losing my daughter was my punishment
for what I did to your father
My daughter Ghazil
Was the most precious soul on earth to me
I wanted to tell you when you turned eighteen
And hand over my soul to you
Then you could decide
whether to forgive me or take revenge
It's a heavy burden
I swear I never wanted this
I swear I didn't want any of this, Assaf
It was God's will
Ever since your father died
I've been imprisoning myself
I shall not speak to another soul
until the day you come of age
And free me
Uncle Battal
Uncle Battal
Uncle
I'll go with you to Kuwait
You'll find me by the tent in the morning
Assaf
Assaf
I'll ask Assaf
Assaf
Assaf
Assaf
Assaf
Kid
Assaf
Sarra
Sarra
Oh Sarra
Can you hear me, Assaf?
What's wrong?
Assaf's not responding
Assaf
Assaf
Assaf
Assaf
Please, Assaf
Please, son of Majed
Please, Assaf
Please, Assaf
We're almost at the city, Assaf, almost there
We'll make it to the clinic, Assaf, please
Don't leave us, Assaf
Please don't go, Assaf
Stay with us, Assaf
Please stay with us, Assaf
Assaf, please, Assaf
Assaf
Don't go, Assaf
Please don't go, Assaf
Assaf
"Wednesday, August 25, 1990"
My sweet girl, my darling Ghazil
My dear daughter
Pray she be your intercessor
on the Day of Judgment, Sita
I didn't stand by her in this world, how can I
hope she will intercede for me in the Hereafter?
I let her die, Sarra
Sarra
Please, don't let your daughter follow
her cousin's path
My precious Ghazil
"Hobal"
My sweet girl
Hurry
-Come on, quickly
-I hope I get one soon
-It won't stop
-Grab my hand
Show yourself, Rifa
Let's move out of here
Time to go
Hajla
Come here
Come
She's not the only one we've lost to death
I wish you a dog's death
"Wednesday, August 4, 1990"
"Nida 1"
"Nida 1, report your location"
"Respond, Nida 1"
"Roger, I'm at the north side, copy"
"To Nida 3, send"
"Well done, hero
Move straight ahead"
"You're brave"
"Go ahead"
Assaf
If the stick burns out in my hand, you lose
Assaf bin Majed bin Layam
Badi bin Nahar bin Layam
Mnawer bin Nahar bin Layam
-Hurry
-Munira bint Nahar bin Layam
-Give it to Nafla
-Nafla
-Say your father's name
-Shanar
-Faster
-Come on
Give it to Munira now
Come on, Mnawer
See, uncle?
He's stalling on purpose so I lose
Munira bint Nahar bin Layam
Nafla, daughter of Shanar
Nafla's too little, she doesn't count
No, I'm not
I swear I'll tell my mom
Go cry to her then
Go on
That's better
Assaf, if it burns out in my hand
you're done for
-Sita
-Please leave me alone, Sarra
Nafla
Nafla, you're gonna get lost
Damn you
Why are you following me?
You wanna get infected too?
Live next to her?
Go back where you came from, go
You're the last person who should be saying
he doesn't want to marry
Do you want to end your father
Majed's lineage, may he rest in peace?
Look at yourself, you haven't even married yet
Why didn't you ever marry, Uncle?
Get up, help your father Nahar
Come on, move
Feels like it happened just yesterday
Time really flies, Battal
Remember when the incense stick burned out
in your hand?
You said you wanted to marry Marzouq's daughter
So what are you waiting for?
There are plenty of women out there
Matouqa
-I'm coming
-What do you want with him, you fool?
I just want him to think for himself
How long is he going to wait
for Marzouq's daughter?
There are so many women
And all I do is wash his clothes
and take care of him
Let him marry someone to look after him
Shanar is back from the city
Poor guy, if he didn't sell the kohl
or lowered the price, he's doomed
The teacher is here
Rifa, stay out of the sun
Measles patients must avoid sunlight
Mom
What is it?
These are Ghazil's clothes
I hid them when Grandma went to burn her things
Give them to Aunt Sita
That's my dress, Mom
In case Grandma burns my clothes after I die
Hold on to it
Sit down, all of you
"Saturday, August 7, 1990"
Where's Assaf?
Yeah, you've gotten much better
Look
Assaf
I'm scared the measles will kill me
And they'll bury me in the desert
like they did with Ghazil
If I knew where the city was, I'd take you there
Aren't you afraid Grandpa Layam
will curse us if we go to the city
And we'll die like your mom
and dad when he cursed them?
He doesn't need to know
I know his schedule
He'll be away from the tents
the day after tomorrow
Assaf
What's in the city?
Why does Grandpa forbid us from going there?
"The Germans against Italy"
"Saudi Arabia"
"Enough already
I've become the talk of the town"
"Enough already
I've become the talk of the town"
"I said it even though I didn't want to"
"My fate made me cry, and I cried for it"
"I said it even though I didn't want to"
"My fate made me cry, and I cried for it"
"Tell me, when will you carve pain
into my heart?"
"Tell me, when will you carve pain
into my heart?"
"Dear listeners"
"We apologize for the interruption
in our broadcast"
"We've received breaking news: War has
broken out against our sister country Kuwait"
"Further details will follow
in the upcoming news bulletin"
What if Battal memorizes the Qur'an, Father?
If he memorizes more than you did
I'll let him go to the city
in the water truck instead of you
You haven't been selling well lately
I think Battal could outsell you
You know Battal well, Father
If he ever goes to the city, he won't come back
You told me yourself not to talk to him about it
so he wouldn't get attached
Or have you forgotten what he dreams of?
Marzouq's daughter
he's still unmarried because of her
May God bless whoever memorizes His book
Marzouq's daughter is living with her family
While your wife is right here by your side
And in the end, she'll mess with his head
Just like Duaija and her daughter did
with your brother Sattam
He went off to the city
And so did Majed, may he rest in peace
Your mother told me about your wife
She's pushing you to take her daughter
to the city
Sarra? No way
I swear she didn't say a word, Father
And don't compare me to Sattam or Majed
may he rest in peace
I swear if she even speaks of it
I'll bury her alive
Then bury me, bury me before you bury
your daughter, Shanar
I'm my father's son, his true heir
Don't you have any shame?
What are you doing here?
Uncle, please, I'm begging you
I don't want my daughter to end up like Ghazil
Please let her father take her
to the health center, uncle
-I swear to God
-Enough
Don't turn me away from my wife, Father
Sarra was your wife before she came to me
And since she came to me, I'm her guardian now
Please, Uncle, I don't want to lose my daughter
Let her father take her to the city
for treatment
Nothing happens unless God wills it
The city is forbidden to me and my family
And anyone from my household who enters it
I disown them until Judgment Day
-Uncle
-Get up, my niece
And don't come to me again with a question
you already know the answer to
Matouqa, sprinkle some on Sita
And give her some to drink
Maybe it'll calm her grief over her daughter
And what will calm mine?
Don't worry, I prepared one for you too
Sarra
Shanar
Shanar
Are you just going to wait
until your daughter dies?
You'll pay for what you've done
What did I do? Is it a crime to be afraid
for my daughter?
Because of you, Father's letting Battal
go to the city with the water truck
Let him go, every time you come back
from the city, you beg for forgiveness
As if you committed some sin
Where's my Qur'an?
Why do you even want it?
What good is it if you're abandoning
your own daughter?
Will you read it and ignore what God
commanded of you?
Obey your Lord when it comes
to your daughter, if you hope for paradise
So that she doesn't die
leaving you to carry the burden of guilt
If you really understand paradise
You'd know a child can plead for their parents
when they die
If your daughter dies, she'll lead us to heaven
I don't want a heaven that lets you
and your father in
I want my daughter
The only thing stopping me
from beating you is Father
Where's my Qur'an?
It's not here
I gave it to Battal
"Are they only waiting for the Hour"
"To take them by surprise?"
"Yet its signs have already come"
"Once it actually befalls them
will it not be too late to be mindful?"
"Are they only waiting for the Hour
to take them by surprise?"
"Yet its signs have already come"
"Once it actually befalls them
will it not be too late to be mindful?"
"Nida 5, where are you, Nida 5?"
Seems like you've got something to say
Is it true, Grandpa Layam
that you'll leave the tents after tomorrow?
When I leave you, son
I seclude myself with the Lord of the worlds
I turn to Him, and seek His forgiveness
I cut myself off from everyone
Otherwise, I would've taken you with me
Do you still feel hurt when he ignores you?
I told you before, your uncle Nahar remembers
your late father every time he sees you
No one misses your father as much as he does
He cried until he lost his voice
But his son Badi says
That he heard Uncle Nahar talking in his sleep
How can he talk in his sleep
but stay silent when he's awake?
Do you really want me to give up on my daughter?
I swear I'll never abandon her, even if
this is the last thing between us, Shanar
Damn you both
What's wrong with you?
Mom, keep her away from me
or I'll beat her senseless
He wants my daughter to die, Aunt
He wants her to die so he can go to heaven
May you never see it
Shut up, you've gone mad
I swear, Shanar, I'll never give up
on my daughter, I'm Ayyad's daughter
How are you, Father?
My condolences for Nahar's daughter
Didn't know the dead now
offer condolences to the living
Go back to where you came from
and don't let me see you again
I'm not the dead one, Father
The dead is the one you buried
where you once camped
The one you locked in a tent
then buried in the end
Leave
What do you want?
Haven't you suffered enough?
Why did you come back here?
Did you do what Battal did to you?
Maybe he needs another lesson
Father
Do you hear how they attack me in your presence?
They'll race each other to leave for the city
the moment you're gone
Don't think either of them plans
to stay with you
Didn't you chase after Duaija
and her daughter?
You disobeyed your father and ran to the city
after them
So why are you here now?
Why did you return?
I came to tell you
if you leave your daughter as she is
She'll meet the same fate as her cousin
Hopefully, she meets that fate today
Are you even listening?
"Let her face that fate today
I won't disobey my father"
"And let a woman lead me like you did"
God is the Greatest
Glory be to my Lord, the Almighty
God hears whoever praises Him
God is the Greatest
When he told you Marzouq's daughter
had turned you down
He wasn't telling the truth
"And the sky, how it was raised"
"And the mountains, how they were firmly set up"
"And the earth, how it was leveled out?"
"So, remind, for your duty is only to remind"
"You are not to compel them"
Peace and God's mercy be upon you
I seek God's forgiveness
Peace and God's mercy be upon you
I seek God's forgiveness
I seek God's forgiveness
Separate the camels
before taking them to the herder
Peace and God's mercy be upon you
When Rifa gave me Ghazil's dress
she gave me hers too
In case I told Shanar
What did Sattam say?
Didn't you tell me that Marzouq
refused to marry me off to his daughter?
Marzouq didn't reject you
But he made a condition
He insisted that his daughter
not live in the desert
That you live together in the city
That's as good as a rejection
Unless you're willing to disobey Father
and move to the city for Marzouq's daughter
That's not right before God
And it's beneath you to chase a woman
who doesn't even want you, brother
Forget about Marzouq's daughter
May God forgive me
Where's my Qur'an?
Sarra said you took it
-Son of who?
-Layam
-Son of who?
-Nahar
-Son of who?
-Badi
Do you know who you were named after?
Grandfather Layam
Have you ever been to the sky?
How could I have gone?
-Then how do you know Judgment Day is near?
-Kid
Let him be
God gave us signs, son
Their appearance means Judgment Day is close
And many signs have already come
First, the barefoot, naked shepherds of sheep
Competing in building tall structures
Competing in building tall structures
Just look at the city
Not to mention the widespread corruption
Or are you saying there's no corruption
in the city, Shanar?
May God spare us
It's terrifying, Father
Look, Grandpa Layam, a star just fell
That's a shooting star, son
Doesn't your teacher teach you?
Yes, he taught us
That there are devils in the sky
They try to eavesdrop
so God hurls meteors at them
Good job
Did you get that, Badi?
Who can tell me where those shooting stars land
when they fall from the sky?
Father's here
Rifa
Rifa
Rifa is gone, Sita
Rifa is gone
Be careful
Rifa, Rifa
Rifa
Her father is coming in
What should we do, Father?
It's a scorpion sting
-Calm down
-She's fine
Step back
She's fine
Rifa
I seek refuge in God's perfect words
from every devil and every harmful creature
If you were real men
You wouldn't have let your father walk
into that tent and risk infection
While you just stood there
-It's her father's fault, Mom
-Watch your mouth
I only act with Father's guidance
I swear I was about to go in
but he beat me to it, may God protect him
If I knew he wasn't going to isolate himself
Like he does every month
I would've let him sit
and kept everyone else away
Your father cut you off from people
To protect you from harm
So now you think he shouldn't protect you
from himself?
Shanar
He said not to hurt Sarra
It was Father who emboldened her
This isn't the way, Mom
He's making the women rebel
and expects us to put up with them
Nahar, if he wanted someone to go with him
he would've taken you
He warned me
No one is to follow him for seven days
Seven days?
This time is different, Mom
Father left right after leaving
Shanar's daughter's tent
-You shouldn't have let him go
-Nothing bad will happen, God willing
I asked him not to go far
Nahar, he said to stay with the camels
until he returns
He said, "Let a sacrifice be made
in gratitude for Rifa's well-being"
Why are you looking at me like that, Mom?
There, her father's there
Damn you, why are you here?
You want to catch the measles?
Go away, damn you
-God forgive me
-I just want to see Rifa, I want her to come out
Rifa can't be in the sun
Come back when she's recovered
Why are you drawing a line, Mom?
To keep scorpions and beetles out
So they don't get near your sister's tent
And if I see your footprints, I'll cut them off
You think I'm a beetle, Mom?
How long will you stay silent, Nahar?
Say something
Comfort me
You haven't said a word since your brother
Majed died
You didn't even offer condolences
when your daughter passed
As if Majed is the only one you ever lost
You know why I wanted you to stay here
instead of going to the camels?
I want to hear you call Ghazil's name
in your sleep
Just like I wake up every night
to you calling Majed in your dreams
I want to wake up to you calling her
A, Aunt
U, Uncle
U, Uncle
-What starts with "G"?
-Grandfather
-Grandfather
-Grandfather
Teacher, is the city far from here?
If your question isn't related to the lesson
ask your uncles, Assaf
But I really have a question, teacher
Where do the stars go
when they fall from the sky?
You see, Assaf?
That's a question worth asking
Put your bedding where mine is
I'll sleep outside
I can't sleep, brother, the noise keeps me up
Shanar
The Ministry of Education isn't stingy
I've told you over and over, bring chairs
for the kids instead of the feeding trough
Let's hope for the best
What difference does it make, teacher?
Let the kids eat from the trough too
Here you go, teacher
-Thank you, Battal
-It's our duty, sir
How many spans?
Two spans
One more to go, close the lid
And tell the women to pack what they want
to send to the city
Why are you so eager to go to the city?
He said two spans, you said one
Do you think a child's span is like mine?
No, of course not
And that camel's foot that opened the tap
isn't like your foot either
Assaf
Let's see if you're as good at tracking
as your father
Tell me, whose footprint is this?
Whose?
My uncle Shanar's
Take the key from my robe
and move my car near the water truck
Since you're going to the city
and your dad isn't here
Take Rifa with you
We're not talking until my father gets back
If you don't want your father to know
you took your daughter to the city, he won't
Take her
No one but me goes near Rifa's tent
I swear no one will know, Shanar
What you don't know
Is that I'm not like Sattam
who's led by his wife and her mother
-Or Majed, who
-May he rest in peace
I doubt Majed would've left Rifa
if she were his daughter
Majed?
He wouldn't have left her?
Majed left you, he abandoned you
I'm the one who married you
Or did you forget?
And in case you forgot, Majed is dead
Dead, and you still bring him up
You stretch your steps
but still can't catch up to him
Shanar
Don't hurt me with words that will lead me
to say words that will hurt you
If painful words roll easily off your tongue
Your ears won't handle some of the things
I could say
What are you trying to say?
All I'll say is, may he rest in peace
And may God watch over my daughter
since she doesn't have a father to protect her
Watch your tongue
My daughter is not an orphan
She is, as long as you're her father
Assaf, where are you going with that key?
Bring it back
-She's deaf
-She won't come, she doesn't know your voice
Come on, show me what you've got
Grandpa said whoever the camels
respond to, gets what they want
That's a lizard's tracks
No, that's a desert monitor, I've seen it before
A lizard
How can I go with my father in the water truck?
He won't let me
You're not riding in the water truck
We'll follow it until we reach the city
Didn't you wonder how we'd know the way?
By tracking it?
How?
Don't worry, I'll get the car key
But what if Grandpa curses us?
Or our father sees us following him?
He won't see us
I'll trail him from a distance
until we get to the city
You plan to follow the water truck
all the way to the city?
You'd rather we walk there?
Why do you ask? Are you going to do
like your father and run off to the city?
No, just curious
I want to know what it looks like
Blind leading the blind isn't much of a guide
Hand me the papers and sugar
Give them here
I've never been there
But I asked your father
may he rest in peace, about it
When he used to go in the water truck
What did my father say?
He said it's pointless for the seeing
to describe the world to the blind
Uncle Battal
Is it true my parents died
because Grandpa cursed them?
Yes, it's true
Just look what happened
when your uncle Shanar cursed his daughter
Curses are dangerous
especially from parents, they never miss
Then why didn't Uncle Shanar's
or Grandpa Layam's prayers save Rifa?
What are you saying?
God forgive you, don't bring down wrath on us
God forgive me
Good thing you came, Sarra
Pass me the oud over there
"Step by step, my baby goes
Tiny feet and wiggly toes"
"Step by step, my baby goes
Tiny feet and wiggly toes"
"Clap your hands and smile so wide
Mama's watching, full of pride"
"Step by step, my baby goes
Tiny feet and wiggly toes"
"Clap your hands and smile so wide
Mama's watching, full of pride"
"Step by step, my baby goes
Tiny feet and wiggly toes"
"Step by step, my baby goes
Tiny feet and wiggly toes"
"Clap your hands and smile so wide
Mama's watching, full of pride"
You're all gloomy, come on, let's enjoy
ourselves a bit, don't we deserve some joy?
Sing for Salem, come on kids
"Tippy toes and happy cheer"
"Tippy toes and happy cheer"
"Tippy toes and happy cheer"
"You're growing fast, my little dear"
"And when he came, he amazed her"
"Tippy toes and happy cheer"
"Tippy toes and happy cheer"
"Tippy toes and happy cheer"
"Her baby made her strong"
"And when he came, he amazed her"
"His headband made from her wool"
"Tippy toes and happy cheer"
"Tippy toes and happy cheer"
"Tippy toes and happy cheer"
"Her baby made her strong"
Go along with him, and he will obey you
That won't work with Shanar
Trust me, just go along with him
Men are tough in arguments
But like children when you play along
I know I upset you
What upsets me is that you hide behind my father
Otherwise, I would've buried you alive
You wouldn't allow that
Just like I couldn't let you leave with
the water truck while you were still angry at me
You're the one who made me say it
When there's no one more important to me
than you
I'm worried about my daughter
and you just make it worse
May God never take you from us
Rifa
Rifa
What are you doing here, Rifa?
He's my father, not you
He's the one who should take me
Get out, Rifa
I'm scared I might die, Assaf
I'm scared I might die
Please, get out before someone sees you, Rifa
What are you doing?
Packing Rifa's clothes
So you can take her to the city tomorrow morning
And go to the health center
What the hell?
Who said I'm taking her?
Oh, you'll take her
You'll take her when you realize what she has
you have too
I drank yesterday from the water Rifa had
And now the measles is brewing in you
Now let's see, will you obey your father
or take care of yourself?
If this turns out to be true
I swear I'll destroy you
Why did you pull me out, Assaf?
If we reach the city and my father sees me
with him in the water truck
He'd take me straight to the clinic
Uncle Shanar
Uncle Shanar never goes against Grandpa
Even if it costs him his life
Rifa, wake up at dawn
I'll take you myself
You don't even know the way to the city, Assaf
You don't know where it is
You're lying
How will you manage to take me?
No, I do know the way
Rifa doesn't know
Don't ask her
-Carry me, Mom
-What's wrong? Didn't I leave you with Matouqa?
Why are you back?
If you really had the disease
you wouldn't carry your daughter
Until my father returns
and figures things out between us
I'll sleep in the men's tent
Get lost
Why did you stop, Assaf?
Rifa
-The main road
-Uncle Nahar
Rifa
Rifa
Where did you go?
Rifa
Battal, have you seen Rifa?
Assaf
Assaf
Didn't Shanar give you the car key?
If the old man gets back before they do
we'll all be in serious trouble
Set up a tent for Assaf
Your brother Nahar is right behind us, Majed
Hold tight
Calm down, Nahar
There is no god but Allah
I didn't think you'd hide Shanar's car key
I did it for your daughter
And for Assaf
He's Majed's son
None of his brothers are like him
When his wife had a fever
he took her to the city immediately
What are you saying?
Why bring up Majed now?
I just hope they return
before the old man gets back and curses them
They're still just kids
Who knows what they're getting into alone?
If they had told me, I would've gone with them
Oh, really?
-And you think Shanar would let you?
-Shanar doesn't tie my hands
No, he doesn't tie them
but a camel's hobble is made from its own hair
If my daughters are the ones holding me back
If my daughters are the ones holding me back
Then what's stopping you, Matouqa?
Neither Layam is your father
nor Noura your mother
Why stay here when no one's holding you?
Why don't you go to the city?
What's in the city for me?
Who do I have there?
Layam's not my father
But Noura is my mother
She raised me as an orphan
and nursed me with her own kids
God didn't bless her with daughters
She never abandoned me
How could I leave her?
Even the free have their bonds
And even the enslaved answer to a master
beneath their Master, but until when?
You're asking me?
You're asking me until when?
Look at yourself
Look at our people
How long will you keep asking them?
That's true
Until when?
Until when will we run to the shepherd
just to escape the wolf?
When both are after our flesh
When Majed was alive, he was our only hope
Good people don't live long
When I see Assaf and Rifa
I remember when we were kids
You and Majed
Do you think Assaf will marry Rifa?
Or will Rifa do what her mother did
to his father and walk away from him?
You really enjoy stirring the pot, don't you?
You
Nahar
Nahar
You
Listen, don't get down
the boy took my car and left with Rifa
We should follow them
Nahar, I'm talking to you, man
You stubborn fool
Ku
Ku
Kuw
Kuw
Kuwait?
We've reached Kuwait, Assaf
"People of God"
"The Hour draws near"
"And the moon has split"
"Every nation faces trials and hardships
in every age"
"And falls into major sins"
"People of God, the Hour draws near
and the moon has split"
"And the outbreak of the war you are witnessing"
"Is but a sign of the Hour"
"And a sign that the Day of Judgment is near"
"Minor signs have already appeared"
"And major ones"
How can I sleep while my country is occupied?
No, Marzouq
I won't sit still, not for a minute
I won't stop you from doing
what you believe in, Hamed
In fact, I'll help you
But stay here tonight
and let's decide in the morning
I didn't come to sit around, Marzouq
I came to drop off my family
and head straight back to the city
Don't waste your energy, man
These are the signs of the Hour
The Hour is a certainty
And only its Creator knows when it will come
If you're going, I'm coming with you
I won't let you go alone
May God never separate us, brother
Lunch is ready, uncle
Come on, get up, time to eat
Come, Hamed, get up
Everyone, come join us
"Primary Health Care-Western Region"
Rifa
"At exactly 4:30 PM"
"The third siren will sound"
"It's a continuous siren
that lasts for 15 seconds"
"It means the danger has passed"
It's measles
Did this case come in with you?
Were you the one who brought her?
It's very possible you've caught it too
The boy might also be infected
We'll examine and isolate him, okay?
Whose house is this?
My grandfather Marzouq's house
-Where's the water tank owner?
-You mean my father Shanar?
Yes, tell him to come out
My dad Shanar
You can't take them without signing
a liability acknowledgment
-Give me what you've got
-The boy is highly likely to be infected
He has to stay in isolation
until we get the results
Head over there
Get out
The girl received her injection
She needs to complete the treatment to recover
-And what's this?
-The acknowledgment, for the boy
Hey kid, get in the back
-Listen, Battal
-You and I have nothing to discuss
Talk to my father
Here, take this with you
Talk to my father, let it be your witness
Some words are like holes in a garment
Stay seated or they'll be exposed
"Monday, August 16, 1990"
You haven't said a word
since you came back from the city with the kids
Every time I ask one of you
You tell me to ask the other
It'll all be clear when Father returns
Shanar, what are you two hiding?
We're not hiding anything
I just don't know what my father will do
when he finds out about the kids
Tomorrow makes it seven days since he left
He'll come back, and we'll see
See what?
What's going on between you two?
We'll see what he does about the kids
Once he returns, if you're hiding anything
it'll come to light
You're looking better, Rifa
You're getting stronger every day
Here
Mom, did you check on Assaf?
How could I not?
Eat something
Regain your strength
He'll be okay, God willing
Dear Assaf
How are you feeling now?
A bit better
Has Grandpa found out?
He hasn't returned yet
Everything will be fine
Do you think I didn't tell Sarra
for your sake, Shanar?
If I thought telling her would upset you
I would've done it
But only she would've been upset
Try to understand, boy
If Marzouq's daughter had wanted you
She wouldn't have married me
Understand that, if you're a man
So, it's not manly to think of a woman
who doesn't want me?
Then what is manhood?
Thinking of a woman your brother desires?
You're spineless, Shanar
Don't talk to me about manhood again
Speaking of manhood, listen to this
Marzouq himself told me
if you want her, I'll let you marry her
But I won't give her to Battal
Don't walk away, listen
Let me explain
I don't want to hear it
Tell my father when he's back
And tell him you caught me with tobacco
And tell him you caught me with tobacco
But I won't leave
until I expose your secret to him
Let them know who's been leading their prayers
So, you got married to have kids?
What kind of kid would you have?
Another failure like yourself?
See Majed's boy?
He's already better than you'll ever be
I'm taking him to the city for treatment
It's a shame he might die
while you're still alive
It's not up to you
No one moves a vehicle unless I say so
I'll take him whether you like it or not
You'll see
Hey, I swear you won't take him
as long as I'm alive
What don't you get?
The boy's not leaving this tent
Assaf, come out, Assaf
Get to the car
I swear if you don't stop
I'll beat you to a pulp
Swearing by who?
Come out, Assaf
Come out
Let's see who'll dare stop me
Swearing by who?
You can't even control Sarra
Unless Father gives you permission
You have no say over your own wife
What's going on?
What's the matter?
Battal, where are you taking the boy?
Your father
That's his camel
"Ladies and gentlemen
peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings"
"It is exactly one o'clock GMT in London"
"There were suspicions surrounding the incident"
"And no contact has been made between
Foreign Minister and his American counterpart"
"Iraq has rejected all UN resolutions"
"The official spokesperson announced
that 27 American soldiers"
"Were killed yesterday
when an Iraqi missile exploded"
"In eastern Saudi Arabia"
"A military spokesperson in Riyadh
added that 98 others were wounded"
"It's been reported that Soviet Union
is putting heavy pressure on the allies"
"To agree to a ceasefire"
I asked everyone
Not one person gave me an answer
Shanar's still not back?
There he is
Did you find him?
Did you go looking for him
Or just come to us to ask?
I swear, if any of you truly
cared about your father
You wouldn't have come back without him
What else can we do, Mom?
The sun has set
We'll continue the search tomorrow morning
Morning brings hope
I hope Grandpa doesn't return
Ask for God's forgiveness
Say it, Rifa, ask for forgiveness
I seek forgiveness from God
But I'm scared of him
What will he do to us if he comes back?
Assaf
Why are children afraid
of the elders cursing them?
Don't the elders ever fear
being cursed by children?
I still can't believe Grandpa cursed my father
Why didn't he curse Uncle Sattam instead?
Assaf, did you know my mom's letting me out
of the tent soon?
But I don't want to go
while you're still stuck here
Come on
Since when have you been locked in?
When I get out, I'll ask Matouqa
to teach me how to drive
And I'll take you to the clinic
just like you did for me
Don't worry, Mom
We won't come back without Father, God willing
Assaf
No one but you can bring your grandfather back
Uncle Nahar
Why did you walk away when you saw me with Rifa?
"That he addressed to his brothers today"
"They gave all they had
and tried every possible way"
"Both Iraqi Republic and State of Kuwait"
"To contain the rising tension between them"
"And in this regard"
"I have conducted numerous phone calls
and fraternal discussions with my counterparts"
"I have conducted numerous phone calls
and fraternal discussions with my counterparts"
"That led to a meeting between
the Iraqi and Kuwaiti delegations"
"Hosted on Saudi Arabian soil"
"In a continued effort to bridge differences"
"Narrow gaps in perspective"
"And avert escalation"
"Some kings and presidents also took part
in the effort"
Munira, Nafla
Come eat lunch
May it bring good, dear God
Matouqa, bring the car
Mom, why are you treating me like a threat?
I'm fine
If it were up to me
I would've hugged you from the first day
But I need to protect your sister
It's almost over
You're getting out tomorrow
I am, Mom?
Pray, Rifa
Prayers from the sick are answered
Pray for your grandfather
Pray for Grandpa?
I'll pray for Assaf
How long are we staying here?
If Father were inside
we'd have found him by now
Dad's not reckless enough to fall in a pit
Speak up
Why won't you answer?
Say something
Do you know something we don't?
That's Sattam
And Muzna is with him
Stop right there
-Where's my father?
-He's not here
I came to apologize to him
And return to live among you again
You don't belong here anymore
Your father is angry with you
If you care about your father, go and find him
And if you do, I'll speak on your behalf
How are you doing?
I don't even know if they'll let you into Kuwait
But I'm not leaving you
I'm not going anywhere
I'm going to look for Grandpa
And I'm not leaving either
Not until I expose Shanar
But I don't have any strength left
Why did Grandpa go down that pit?
Do you really think
my dad would fall into a pit?
How do pits even form?
How can they get that deep?
At your age and you still don't know?
Demons rise to the sky to eavesdrop
on the unknown
And God pelts them with meteors
When those meteors fall, they make pits
Bottomless pits
Which means once someone falls in
they don't come out
But some say
If someone falls in, they might exit
from another pit, far away
So you're saying Grandpa might show up
somewhere else?
Like in the city, maybe?
There are no pits in the city
Maybe there are
I've never heard of any though
When I asked the teacher
He said they don't fall in deserts or cities
-They fall into the sky
-Into the sky?
Yes, may God forgive me
Why ask for forgiveness?
He could be right
Do you think Grandpa will come back?
Or will he appear somewhere far away?
Throw the rope, Saleh
Right there
Over here, come on
Be careful not to fall in
You've given up?
Is that all you can do?
Are you really abandoning your father?
If you don't want your father alive
Then at least bring him back dead
Or are you not planning to bury him either?
His own sons don't want him
It's like they were waiting for him to disappear
May God bring him back
Drink this, Mom, it might calm you down
I left it for Sarra
But here I am drinking it
I hope this isn't some kind of punishment
for what happened to Sarra and her daughter
Mom
Assaf is exhausted
and I'm scared the boy won't make it
I'm really worried about him
Tell everyone to take down their tents
in the morning
And set them up by the pit
until their father shows up
If he's not in the pit
Then why are his things inside?
What do you think, Shanar?
We're not speaking
Not until my father comes back
and allows you near us
Not until my father comes back
and allows you near us
Why did you return?
Why leave the city?
There's nothing here but lies and misery
He hopes Dad never returns
and never finds out what he did
Will you watch your tongue
or should I rip it out?
The day Dad warned us about has come
The mosque loudspeakers talk of nothing but
The coming of the Hour
They say war is a sign
Even the sheikhs say so, not just Dad
I have to find him and ask for his forgiveness
Assaf
Assaf
I couldn't save my daughter
and now I have to save Assaf
Assaf never gave up on your daughter
We have to act before the boy dies
What do you want me to do?
The old man's not here
Assaf won't abandon him
Or will you abandon him too
like you abandoned his father?
Damn you, I'm my own worst punishment
You remind me of what I try to forget
You blame me for leaving Majed
And Shanar blames me for Majed leaving me
How can Shanar blame anyone?
He married you before his own brother
If you know all this, you spiteful woman
Why do you keep tormenting me?
Why are you doing that
when you know he beat Majed to it?
Majed was too noble to fight his own brother
If you still have a conscience
then save his son before it's too late
I can't even help myself
So how do you expect me to help anyone else?
I hope they find the old man
So I can go and beg him to help Assaf
This is what happened
Losing my daughter was my punishment
for what I did to your father
My daughter Ghazil
Was the most precious soul on earth to me
I wanted to tell you when you turned eighteen
And hand over my soul to you
Then you could decide
whether to forgive me or take revenge
It's a heavy burden
I swear I never wanted this
I swear I didn't want any of this, Assaf
It was God's will
Ever since your father died
I've been imprisoning myself
I shall not speak to another soul
until the day you come of age
And free me
Uncle Battal
Uncle Battal
Uncle
I'll go with you to Kuwait
You'll find me by the tent in the morning
Assaf
Assaf
I'll ask Assaf
Assaf
Assaf
Assaf
Assaf
Kid
Assaf
Sarra
Sarra
Oh Sarra
Can you hear me, Assaf?
What's wrong?
Assaf's not responding
Assaf
Assaf
Assaf
Assaf
Please, Assaf
Please, son of Majed
Please, Assaf
Please, Assaf
We're almost at the city, Assaf, almost there
We'll make it to the clinic, Assaf, please
Don't leave us, Assaf
Please don't go, Assaf
Stay with us, Assaf
Please stay with us, Assaf
Assaf, please, Assaf
Assaf
Don't go, Assaf
Please don't go, Assaf
Assaf
"Wednesday, August 25, 1990"