Mother (2022) Movie Script
(film reel scrolling)
(African fading in music)
(Drums, people chattering,
singing in distance)
(footsteps)
(metal creaking)
Miss! Jesus! Tell us what you
want and we'll fix it. OK?
OK.
Andreas, go there.
Peter, come here.
Balance them and...
And now the rain will stop.
Stop the rain, please!
Yes.
Stay still.
Love!
What are you doing here?
How is my beautiful Elena?
Guys, go and get ready.
Don't you have somewhere to be?
- I ran away from the sound check.
- You ran away?
- Yes, I ran away.
- How could you?
I love you.
I love you too.
I am so sorry I'm missing
your German premiere,
but I'm sure
it will surpass what I saw.
- OK?
- I hope so.
- I'm happy.
- How much?
Very much.
Like very, very, very, very much.
- Break a leg!
- Break a leg too!
Go! Come on!
Elena...
Is that true?
Well, I don't know.
I haven't got my period for a while.
- Did you take a test?
- Not yet.
I was busy rehearsing and...
Do you want it?
Do you want it?
I want us to be happy.
I didn't know we weren't.
And happiness isn't something outside
of us. It doesn't come with objects.
A baby isn't an object, Leon.
I got an offer
for two semesters at Julliard.
- Julliard?
- Yes.
I still haven't replied.
But it could turn out I'll be spending
some time in the States,
and I didn't know we may be expecting.
And what if we aren't?
Then we might need...
...to postpone this for a while.
Or if we are expecting,
I'll come back anyway after the first
semester for the big moment.
What a schedule.
I'm happy for you.
I'll get there faster by walking.
(traffic, rain)
Elza.
How's your sister?
Really? Please, hug her.
No, listen, listen, listen...
How about I take you
to the Zoo next month?
Can't you hold on that long?
I love you, princess.
I love you more.
Bye.
- Are you alright?
- I was at the doctor's.
And what did the doctor say?
I'm afraid...
It would be difficult to get pregnant.
And to give birth.
You're an artist.
And you give birth
every time you direct.
They prescribed stimulation pills,
and injections, and some other stuff.
I've been thinking and...
Can we start trying?
Can you postpone Julliard?
My class will be named
"Leon Meier:"
"Conducting your ways into music."
So we are not trying.
I'm not leaving right now, love.
I'll come with you
to Shiroka Laka.
We have a whole month ahead.
- A whole month...
- A whole month.
- A whole month.
- A whole month.
One egg-cell time.
I'll do my best.
My best!
(giggling)
(flirting, talk, inaudible)
(giggling)
What are you doing?
Aren't we trying?
My girl.
Beautiful girl,
only because of you
I stayed here...
Bravo, aunt Elena. Thank you!
This for the ancestors project "Torna".
You know what this means, right?
Yes, Departure.
And where can we see this?
This is for the performance
we are doing with Elena,
in Leipzig and Sofia.
Wait, we need to feed the chicken first.
Come on, kids. Take some bread now.
Come on.
Where did these kids come from?
From the orphanage, it is over there.
- Why aren't you at school?
- I graduated.
- Me too.
- Did you now?
Really?
Does your mother know about this?
Victoria, didn't you hear
they don't have any parents.
Of course we do, sister.
I have a mother, Akif has one too.
My brother Hasan has a father too.
A father too? That is so interesting.
- Where are they now?
- At home. In Chepelare and Smolyan.
- When did you see them last?
- New Year's Eve.
- I don't remember.
- Neither do I.
I saw them at New Year's Eve.
Do they come to see you?
- I don't remember.
- You don't remember?
- How many of you are there?
- A hundred!
- No! Two hundred!
- A million!
A hundred and one million!
Two hundred million!
- A hundred and one million.
- No, two hundred million!
I bet there are.
Will you take me with you, sister?
Please!
- Will you take me with you?
- She can't do that.
Will you take me?
(kids playing, screaming)
(sinister music)
(birds singing)
(kids laughing in distance)
(phone buzzing)
The kids.
I'll be quick.
Hey! Princess!
Have you arrived safely?
Did you settle in?
When?
What?
Put her on the phone please.
When?
Put her on the phone right now.
Thank you, princess.
You did what?
I asked you, you did what?
How many times have we agreed
you won't leave them alone!
(rustling)
(chicken singing)
(keyboard typing)
I suspect that candies
are more seductive than me.
I came up with an idea for
the orphanage. "Artists for children".
Its going to be a summer camp.
I'll invite also
European artists and...
(door knocking)
- Don't you have a phone?
- No, just coffee. Are you ready?
- Wait for me at the shop.
- I come from the shop.
I have a project for the orphanage. We'll
run it in the Municipalities program.
The deadline is tomorrow, we'll make it.
Wait for me downstairs
and I'll tell you all about it.
- How much time do you need?
- 15... No, 30 minutes.
I'll need to work some more on the
budget. And I'll tell you everything.
Thanks for the coffee. Bye!
No. No, wait. Not like this.
Like this.
OK, what shall I do now?
Come on, we're making a baby!
The preparation is minimal,
we can start right away.
If we get the subsidy, of course.
No, when we get it.
Exactly!
- How's the family?
- Just great.
Boni left the kids with my mother
and went fishing with friends.
How about you two?
- Are you trying?
- Yeah, but this is not a priority.
(gasping)
(seat belt unfastens,
bleeping)
What's going on?
I'll miss my flight, Elena.
Can't you just stay?
- You can go with me if you want.
- I can't, I have my project,
- the theater contracts and...
- I know, but I can't stay here right now.
I know.
- We may have succeeded, love.
- And what if we didn't?
We can do anything together.
Would you stop the car please?
Elena!
Thank you.
(car door slams)
(hazard lights clicking)
(airplane noise)
Mrs. Meier, the ultrasound established
that you have no follicles.
The stimulation I prescribed
didn't work.
- This means a diminished egg reserve.
- What?
The menstrual cycle is regulated
by three factors.
One takes care of the hormones,
the second - of the follicles...
How is this possible?
I am 32 years old!
What do you mean it's not related!
(sinister sounds)
For the finale
I want to switch their places.
What do you think?
Can you see it?
Good morning, gorgeous! How's life?
- Good morning.
- I just woke up.
Great! Should I keep the men and
the women separated until the end,
or to switch their places
before the bows?
- Can you see properly?
- Yes.
My reference is the Tree of Life,
but turned upside down,
and the concept of the Carnival.
Changing roles in this very moment
when miracles can happen.
What do you think?
- Did we get pregnant?
- No.
- Are you sure?
- Yes.
But we'll keep trying.
I'll come to you.
Send me an invitation for the States
as soon as possible.
Are you sure? Who's going to take
care of your rehearsal?
I'm sure. Victoria will.
(singing noises)
I remember,
and my memory remembers me.
Stop! Colleagues, look,
you need the right frame of mind.
Read a poem,
don't be distracted by the city noise.
Look...
If you don't trust the process,
we'll fail.
Documentary theater needs us to...
...be invested in the process.
This is our sixth premiere in two years.
What do you expect, Elena?
- We are tired.
- I'm sorry.
Think forward
before you take a step forward.
(singing noise)
(rattling)
I remember,
- and my memory...
- Stop!
Elena, I'm so sorry.
I couldn't leave him, he's ill...
Victoria, you cant be late
for a rehearsal again.
- Yes.
- And you can't bring your child here.
This is the theater, not a kindergarten.
I apologize.
What's wrong with you? What are
you thinking? Get invested!
Get invested in what?
I don't understand a thing!
In everything! Which is everything else!
Words, matter, life...
Elena, what's wrong with you?
I'm sorry.
Let's start from the beginning
of the Second Act.
Victoria!
Get in. I'll drive you home.
- No need. The bus is coming soon.
- Come on, get in.
(hazard lights clicking)
Come on, sit down.
(sighs)
(coughing)
Vicki, I'm sorry. I was out of line.
What's wrong, Elena?
Your visa application
is not approved, Mrs. Meier.
You have the full right to apply again.
We'll review your application,
but to have a different outcome you'll
have to state another reason for your stay.
Like a regular contract.
But I'm an independent artist.
Or an invitation
from a public institution,
or an exchange program.
You only need to obtain
one of them.
We'll schedule an appointment
in a month.
In a month I have two premieres.
One in Germany, one in Bulgaria.
And after the approval
by the Consular Department...
(clapping)
That wasn't that bad.
Sofia will be better.
I promise, ma'am.
(clapping)
Elena, pick up!
We won.
You know what a dream is, right?
Think about the dream you have.
You have five fingers.
This means five dreams. Five wishes.
Let's start with the thumb.
What is the thing you want the most?
When you close your eyes,
and you dream of something
and you feel good,
what is it?
My first dream is "Strength",
because I want to beat up Itzo.
Metodi, you're in charge
of the pantomime workshop
together with... Allie.
Great. But please,
get it in your head that you're not
working with professionals.
- Don't pull any stunts.
- Don't get too ambitious.
- It's funny you say this.
- Shut up, Metodi.
Victoria, you're in charge
of painting, along with Christie.
(struggle)
- Stronger!
- Pull!
I want a dress. A brown one.
I want a motorcycle.
I'll give it to Dad.
So that he can come for me.
My name is Sultanka.
- How old are you?
- Seven.
- Which grade are you?
- First grade.
I want to see Mommy.
I don't know where she is.
I want to be a shop assistant.
- I want to dance.
- I want to learn to read.
I want a star to fall from the sky.
A ball.
A ball. My third wish is...
My third wish is...
... dog.
A dog. Fourth dream: a mother.
Fourth dream: a mother.
Something very important.
Don't let them hug you,
or call you Mom, or Dad.
If we are not adopting them,
let's not play parents with them.
I would adopt one.
Would you?
And which one exactly?
We are the artists.
This is a new model of communication.
It will help them a lot in the future.
- Most of them have parents anyway.
- It is not ethical to interfere.
I don't care! Do you know how many
children here got adopted recently?
Metodi, it may be hard to understand,
but some parents are just too poor.
Guys, what's going on?
Two kids out of two hundred.
Let's hear you out.
Why shouldn't they call you
Mommy and Daddy?
They shouldn't personalize
the feelings art provokes in them.
These are not a substitute
for intimacy, or family.
Art is to show new horizons, a future.
What art would give them,
unlike any parent,
- will stay with them forever.
- Is it clear now?
- Metodi!
- Yes, Sir!
What color is the music?
- Black!
Is it slow or fast?
- Fast!
And now another change.
Freeze!
- Is this light or heavy?
- Light!
- Happy or sad?
- Sad!
- What is this music? Is it happy?
- Yes!
- Is it fast or slow?
- Fast!
(kids laughing)
(atmospheric music takes over)
What is it to have a mother?
Well...
A mother teaches you to dream,
and to follow your dreams,
and never give up.
She comes to all your shows,
and is very happy when you succeed.
And when you fail,
she says something nice to you,
so that you have the strength
to carry on.
She wants you to be happy,
even if you want to be...
- ...a cook.
- Yes, a cook.
- Or a saleslady...
- Or a policewoman.
Or a firefighter.
Or a pickpocket.
Or an artist.
Whatever you want to be.
Go on! Get back to the rehearsal.
Go on! Quick!
Hello, Leon Meier is not here.
Please leave a message after beep.
(loud banging rhythms)
(cheering)
Please Leon,
could you come a little bit sooner?
See baby? It's happening!
You look so beautiful.
Look how many children!
(drums in distance, kids laughing,
screaming, playing)
- I miss your scent.
- I'll talk to you soon.
- Hey!
- I gotta go, babe!
I have to move a mountain in a month.
I love you. Bye.
Stop sabotaging me!
Akif! I've been looking for you
all over! Come here!
Enough! Let's rehearse!
Come here! Quick!
Get in line! Right now!
Stop goofing around!
Who cares if they're watching!
Cool it.
Come on, form a circle around me.
Everybody says their name,
- and makes a move or a gesture.
- Zyumbyul.
Come on! Does this move describe you?
And this one describes you?
Try something more descriptive.
Here's an example. I am Metodi!
(phone ringing)
Hello.
Hello?
They want me
to stay for the exams here, and...
I'm gonna miss your childrens festival.
I'm sorry.
- But you promised me...
- I'm sorry, I already said yes.
But my doctor told me I can't go on
with this medicine forever...
What medicine?
I wanted to name her Rada.
Ra-da.
If she was a girl.
And I was going to let you
decide on the name if he was a boy.
Rada would be...
would be tall and bright.
Shiny eyes and mind.
And she would love to dance.
The boy would be
a school champion.
And looking, exactly like you.
Promise me love.
Promise me that...
We'll meet in the next life.
To have children of our own.
Elena, look! Elena!
Bravo!
Come on! Can you lift me up?
(giggling)
(birds singing)
How about we stage a show
for the villagers?
- It's too early.
- The kids are terrified by the audience.
They have no confidence.
Confidence is nurtured by the parents
for years, if they are supportive at all.
Let's not risk everything
we have achieved.
Elena, they will close in their shells.
A failure will have an adverse effect.
Exactly.
They will not fail themselves,
someone or something else will.
I want you to produce
masks, costumes, and a set.
Masks can hide and heal identities.
Guys, the kids achieved something
with us,
and I need it to be witnessed
by as many as possible.
We are staging a play
for the whole village.
But this cannot be done in a week.
(African drums music)
Zyumbyul?
I don't want to take part.
Alright.
But it's not you that takes part,
the little dragon does.
(drumming intensifies)
(kids yelling in excitement)
See you soon, love!
We'll bake the Christmas
cookies together.
Staying with you the
whole month.
(African drums continue,
cheering, chattering)
Happy Birthday love,
and don't forget I love you.
I have news.
I'm free!
I'm coming for good!
Hello, Shiroka Laka!
Good afternoon!
I would like to invite on stage
all the artists and the main suspect,
Elena Meier.
Elena, what you do is like a spring.
(speaker announcing Elena)
(clapping)
It is so good, I'm actually jealous
it's not my idea.
(announcer continues)
(clapping)
(chanting music fades in)
(chanting style singing
in foreign language)
How could I miss this for so long?
I don't know.
This is the best performance
I saw this year.
- Come on...
- Honestly.
You are a wizard.
I thought that I'm the Spring.
(clicking under tongue)
Come on. What's going on?
- I want us to try again.
- Try what?
- To have a baby.
- Now?
We missed the last train.
We can try in vitro
with donated egg cells.
Seriously?
What's going on?
You inspire me.
(tapping)
Victoria, one day I'll kill you!
(birds singing)
Ah...
- Elena.
- Hey, Burt.
I'm so glad I took care
of your festivals, Elena.
After the municipalities quit,
you practically saved our ass.
What's going on?
- I need your help.
- Are you going to support us next year?
Sure. But I need your help.
I'm listening.
You know our NGO's are involved
with humanitarian aid in Africa.
Mainly the supply of food and medical
supplies for the orphans in Kenya.
Do you have any idea
how many they are?
How should I know?
- Pick a number.
- A million.
- A million and eight hundred thousand.
- Jesus!
Exactly.
I want to export
your method in Africa.
I want results that stand out.
- What do you say?
- Africa is so far away.
I want to send you and Victoria.
For a couple of days. Just for research.
If that's possible.
- When?
- Now.
In Africa?
It's only for a couple of days.
(chanting style music)
(tribal, chanting
music continues)
So girls, you see it? You like it?
So the Adumu dance,
the jumping dance actually,
is performed by the Moran in order
that they are being promoted
to warriors.
(chanting sounds)
(screaming)
(tribal noises continue)
(excited screams)
(chanting continues)
(market noise)
Hotel
Circumcision done here
Kibera is the biggest slum in Africa.
And as you can see most of it
is built with these aluminum sheets
that here are called "mabati".
Can you imagine
the music that you can hear
in this slum when it's raining...
- Is this Ushirika?
- Yes, it is.
- Vicki, we are here.
- Look!
Do you know what you're doing?
Yeah, it's the button on the bottom.
Come here. OK...
Good! Alright!
Yeah, you got us all in?
Cool! Nice!
Let's have a look.
Oh, no! That's awful!
Let me do it.
- Ready?
- Just wait a minute.
What are you doing?
Does my hair look OK?
OK, thanks.
Oh, that's much better.
Do you wanna go?
Alright. Can you get a bit closer?
Never mind.
OK. Good!
Do you have Wi-Fi here?
I want to post this on my Facebook.
- You got an account?
- Not yet!
What? You gotta get a Facebook
account. Everybody's got Facebook.
What did you say you do?
(loud airplane/helicopter)
Hey girls.
Please call the director.
Excuse me.
Hi kids.
- Ladies. You actually came.
- Yeah. Hello.
Sorry we couldn't make it yesterday,
but Patricia...
The Big Five are
obviously more interesting.
If you can stand or over
there please.
(giggling)
I'm Elena. Elena Meier.
- And I am Victoria. Nice to meet you.
- Mat.
So Burt says
you're going to stay with us.
You want authenticity, yeah?
- OK, will you show us around Mat?
- Of course.
With or without champagne?
We're here to help.
We're not some safari tourists.
We run a successful project for
socializing orphans through theater.
- I was told.
- OK.
I've got to run. Enjoy your stay.
- Give me a call if you need me.
- Thank you very much.
Just a second.
So, these are your beds,
these are water canisters.
Keep in mind,
the children bring them from very far.
By hand.
- I'll be expecting you at the office.
- Where can we buy bottled water?
I'll send someone. I don't
recommend going out alone.
- Even during the day.
- Why?
This is Kibera, ma'am.
Excuse me,
what does "Ushirika" mean?
"Together."
Mat!
I'll be happy to work
together with you, Sir.
(helicopter rattles)
It's really nice.
It's time for prayers!
- Reading what?
- The Bible.
Our Father in Heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy Kingdom come; Thy will be done
on Earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses;
as we forgive
those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
The power and the glory,
forever and ever...
This is Mili.
She will show you around.
Please take them
to Paradise Children's Home.
Yes, Mr. Mat.
Nice to meet you Mili.
(kids crying, people
making noise)
Hey. (random chatter)
(in-audible, distant chatter
to neighbours)
(kids screaming)
(kids singing)
Hey you! (random chatting
in foreign - inaudible)
Hey you! (random chatting
in foreign - inaudible)
Give me five!
Mili,
do you have children of your own?
Yes, three. Why?
I'm just curious.
All three are dead.
Joy!
- Are you good?
- I'm good.
I just bought a big wardrobe.
- I'm going.
- OK. I'm coming.
I'm fine.
Paradise children home
There are thirty street children
living here.
Ten are staying with the neighbours
as we finish the upper floor.
(calling in foreign)
Hi boys.
Hey, what do you dream about?
- Do you know what a dream is?
- Maam,
we have no word for "dream"
in Swahili.
Really? Then how
do you envision the future?
Actually, there is no specific word
for future either.
This is our medical center.
(faint chatting in
foreign)
(mumbling)
What is the case with this girl?
Mr. Mat brought her in
with excessive bleeding last night.
- A circumcision was not successful.
- Christ.
- She did it to herself.
- What?
- How old is she?
- She is eleven years old.
The prostitute she works for
assisted her.
She has to provide
for her nine brothers and sisters.
With the circumcision she won't care
who she has sex with.
Excuse me. And how about
the small child?
There are twisted beliefs
in some of these tribes.
- We are researching those kinds of...
- If a father has sex with his child,
they believe there is some kind
of blood circulation
that will lead to his cure from AIDS.
Sometime they have sex with
two to three year old children.
The children rarely survive.
(throwing up)
Are you alright?
I'm sorry.
I found him in a ditch
by the airport.
Run the tests and let me know
what its chances are.
- Any papers, ID, anything?
- Nothing.
Give him a name.
What?
Me? Why me?
- Because he have run out of names.
- What do you mean?
Like for instance this one,
she was named after the neighborhood
Mr. Mat found her.
So, say a name.
(child crying)
- It's a boy, right?
- Yes.
(baby crying continues)
(sinister sound)
- Christopher.
- Alright.
Welcome, Christopher.
Christopher see?
Yes.
I'm sorry, but
we cant fix this with art therapy.
And I even brought a bathing suit.
You can find...
...decent basil and parsley
only at The Women's Market.
Yeah.
I miss you too.
Yes, I take my pills.
OK...
Yeah, everything's fine.
I'll see you tomorrow.
Bye. I love you.
Thanks for coming.
- I knew this was not your cup of tea.
- Mat...
Have a safe flight.
OK. Goodbye.
(car horns)
(street noise)
(rattling engines)
Stop the car.
Please stop the car!
Would you stop the car please?
Elena, what happened?
Are you alright?
Are you sick?
I've got water. Do you want water?
Here...
Elena, speak to me!
What's happening?
Elena, let's get back in the car.
We'll miss the flight.
- I can't do that.
- What?
Elena, no one can. We are going
home and everything will be fine.
Fine?
- I can't just go home.
- What?
- Elena, have you gone mad?
- Would you open the trunk?
Elena, what are you doing?
Elena? Elena!
What are you doing?
I don't know.
I have no idea what I am doing.
- Have a safe flight, ma'am.
- Thanks.
(guitar music)
- Hi.
- Hello, love.
I rearranged our home and fit
all my clothes in the wardrobe.
You'll love it.
I can't wait to hug you.
Are you boarding?
No.
Is the flight delayed?
No.
Is everything OK?
Elena? Is everything OK?
No.
Elena...
I'm staying in Africa.
Thank you very much.
(African drumming, cheering,
chanting music)
(kids chattering, playing)
Hey Jomo.
Hello, how are you?
I was wondering if you are free
in the next three to four weeks?
Yes, I understand. It is short notice.
Good luck with the rehearsals!
Oh, you are shooting a movie.
That's a great success, Andreas!
No, don't worry about me. I'll manage.
Good luck to you too!
Stella, hi. I have an offer.
I want us to do the same thing
we did in Shiroka Laka,
just a bit further away.
In Africa.
Yes. The continent.
In Kenya. In Nairobi.
Well, not Nairobi exactly. In Kibera.
Yes, it's a ghetto. A real one.
Exactly the same as in Shiroka Laka.
Only with more kids.
Alright. Call me back
when you think it through.
Hi Peter.
Oh, great!
Thank you so much!
I knew you wouldn't be afraid.
Im booking you the ticket.
Im waiting for you here.
A dream, or a daydream, is something
pleasant that you want to have,
to become, or to happen.
You want it to be...
You want it to be as real as the...
...as the things
that happened to you yesterday.
You know, Elena, I came to
Bulgaria because of you.
When are you coming back?
(phone) To listen to the
message again-
- This is very good!
- Thank you.
Bravo, Uhuru!
Do you want me to help you?
Just put your hand...
Stella...
OK, let's continue.
And now lets try
to write your first dream.
How old are you?
What is your biggest dream?
I will grow up fast
and I will take Jomo with me.
- Does he speak?
- Sure.
Jomo stopped talking when
Mom died and Daddy left us here.
- So, you have a father...
- Yes!
(distant street noise,
dogs barking)
Hello kids.
- Peter.
- Hello.
- How are things?
- Good.
- Everything alright?
- Perfect.
May I tie one with you?
(drumming music)
I understand you.
You need to do something
if you know you can.
(Drumming continues)
(yelling)
Stop!
(silence)
It's time for prayers.
Come on.
Come on.
- Mili, what's going on?
- The children need milk,
- not this kind of nonsense.
- This is not nonsense. This is art!
The children can play on their own
just fine.
(helicopter rattles,
sinister noises)
I need my Elena back.
Who are you?
Put this one over there.
And one... here.
Hey Jomo.
What's going on?
- Ma'am.
- Yeah.
He wants you to help him
put on the shoes.
You're ready.
(Singing in foreign)
(chanting continues)
As they're walking and dancing,
they saw a strange thing.
(chanting, giggling)
And they started wondering,
- what is this?
- Crocodile!
(chanting)
- What is that?
- A dog!
(goosing noises, chanting)
What is that?
A lion!
(roaring noises)
(sinister noises)
(giggling)
I am sorry to do this
texting, but you give me no choice.
I'm leaving you Elena-
And this was the big golden duck.
The king of all the ducks.
(African drumming)
(joyful yelling)
(emotional ethnic music)
(kids cheering)
Listen kids. We are leaving now,
but well come back next year.
And tomorrow before we leave we'll
make a big photo with Stella and Peter,
all of us together.
Mat, where are all the children?
- They are in their rooms, studying.
- Isn't it Sunday?
So, you come to Africa for a while
and spend some dollars,
and want to imagine
that everything is OK.
Excuse me?
I called you a taxi.
I have some business to do in the city.
Mili, what's going on here?
What do we do with them now?
They were just starting to open up.
Then you just leave.
Elena, you are actually the worst.
Come on, Mili.
We will be coming back next year.
Next year, wow.
My contract with Bright Future NGO
finished four weeks ago.
We worked a whole month
without financing.
In Bulgaria we do this just for a month.
I have a family,
and other projects, and...
Now do this, take all the children
with you to Europe.
Hey, come here.
You know...
they're leaving...
you behave without them OK?
(car engine starts)
Hey, you be tough, some
day you will be tougher.
(tapping, musical noises)
No, stop, stop, stop.
Victoria, you need to be
more aggressive, more active.
You need to be assertive.
You are just a dancing girl.
What's happening?
- I can't do this.
- Why?
- What?
- I'm sorry.
We have a premiere in a month,
we run for six months.
- You are Bernarda!
- I know, I'm sorry.
Sorry doesn't help!
This is so unprofessional.
- You have two kids already.
- At least I can have kids.
I'm sorry.
- You know nothing, Elena.
- I'm sorry. I'm sorry!
Leon left me.
- I am a total failure.
- Stop it, Elena.
A total failure.
Kenya was a failure too.
I am just another person
who left those kids.
- Elena, this is such nonsense.
- No, it isn't.
I robbed them.
I taught them to dream, then took
their dreams and left the continent.
Elena, stop. You did nothing wrong.
- Why do I feel as if I have?
- Well, I don't know.
You did nothing wrong. You did
the same as in Shiroka Laka.
- Africa is so far away...
- Stop it. Elena, please.
Last week two boys returned
to their father
and he raped the younger one.
- What?
- Because of that horrible belief.
- Who told you that?
- I have to get back there!
Elena...
Elena, we have a premiere in a month.
Going there and watching this kid die
doesn't make you...
His mother?
Yes.
(distant chatter)
Hi Jomo.
I'm so glad to see you.
Where is Daddy? Is he OK?
- Where's the doctor, I want to...
- I'm dying.
Only that we don't die, sweetie.
We become angels
and go to the other angels.
Maybe your mother is waiting for you.
Excuse me, ma'am. You can't
come in here. Only staff is allowed.
I was head of "Artists for Children",
do you know it?
They shut down.
Go find yourself another job.
In the meantime, please ma'am,
I need you to leave immediately.
Elena!
Mili.
- What are you doing here?
- They won't let me stay with Jomo.
- They may need a sanitarian.
- No, we don't.
- Actually, we do.
- Here I am, you new sanitarian.
- When can you start?
- Now.
Alright. The tools and the detergents
are in the last room downstairs.
You can start with the floors, Elena.
- Anything else?
- No, that's OK. Thank you.
Thank you.
Draw me your dream.
My dream is...
...for you to get better.
And this in the middle...
...is me.
I think this is a very sad picture.
But why? I see only happy faces.
I see only one mother,
and a lot of children.
(chattering, street noise)
(chanting)
(echoy screams)
- Hello Lilian.
- Hello.
Time for a bath, sweetie.
Don't worry.
I saw the video. Please try
to shorten Scene One and Two.
When are you coming back?
I can't cover for you any longer.
You're doing just fine, ma'am.
Thank you so much.
The director came. He told me
he can't get in touch with you and...
I'll deal with him.
We'll speak again tomorrow.
- Take care of yourself.
- Bye.
(traffic noise)
Hello Mat.
Who is the foster mother for Arnaud?
Patricia Ink?
- I thought you had children.
- I do.
Two mine and eight adopted.
I can't leave Kenya outside my home.
(car horns)
(distant chatter)
Well, Your Highness, the time
has come for you to understand
what I once told you before.
The weak ones are sometimes
more powerful than the strong ones.
And the little mouse began to bite
the net with its sharp teeth.
Squeak, squeak, squeak.
It wasn't long before the mouse
bit through the strong and tough ropes,
freeing the lion.
(Groaning)
I'll stay.
(traffic, police siren)
Elena.
One day I'll kill Victoria, I swear.
I'm glad I found you.
How are you?
Fine.
You don't belong here.
Hey, don't do this to yourself.
What do you know?
You belong elsewhere.
Is it so, white brother?
You are an artist.
I promise you...
...we will meet in the next life
to have children of our own.
I'm not here to win you back.
I just want you to be happy.
I don't want to be happy.
(traffic noise)
I hate what this world does to her.
Perhaps you should see
what she has done to this world.
I don't know my mother.
She's dead.
I was little.
I sometimes ask Uhuru about...
...her. He tells me stories.
I pretend that I don't know
he invents these stories.
I know Elena. Elena is from Europe.
Elena loves the theater,
and Elena loves Leon. I don't.
Elena says when you come to Africa,
Africa must come to you,
and it takes time.
And when it happens,
Africa stays in you like an infection.
I know how it feels to have a mother.
I know that.
My mother is half my life.
She comes when
I only need her the most.
My mother is my hero.
- My name is Pretty Akeany.
- How old are you?
I'm twelve years old.
What is your biggest dream?
My biggest dream is to be a singer.
Dancer.
- An artist.
- A doctor.
- Why?
- So that I can help sick people.
- Children or grown ups?
- All of them.
I would like to be a doctor.
A doctor.
My name is Uhuru.
- How old are you?
- I am eleven years old.
And I want to be a pilot.
- Pilot of what?
- Airplanes.
- Airplanes?
- Yes.
- A judge.
- A judge? Why?
Because I see news that...
...make me cry.
I didn't understand you.
I'm so sorry...
I couldn't help you become a mother.
(giggling, whispering)
(mysterious music)
(loud echo of train)
(distant street noise)
(chanting, singing)
(tapping)
It's Mat.
(tapping)
Go away!
(door knocking)
Fuck off, Mat!
What are you doing here?
I had a calling.
All three of my children died
before they were two.
One after the other.
Two from malaria,
and one from typhus.
Then I had a dream.
And God spoke to me and said,
"Take care of my children."
And as I was wondering
what God meant,
my sister died of AIDS,
and I had to adopt her youngest two.
Then the three older ones
had problems in school,
and I had to adopt them too.
And just when I was in the process,
I lost my job.
Then post-election violence happened.
Everyone stocked up food
and locked themselves in.
And we had to do the same.
We locked ourselves in.
With nothing to eat,
but to starve to death.
And I was angry at God.
I was mad at Him.
Have you ever been angry at God?
Give me food, give me a job.
What do you want me to do?
How do you want me
to take care of your children?
Haven't I done enough?
What more do you want me to do?
Then...
I remembered some orphans who used
to come to the video store I worked in,
and I decided to look
for that orphanage.
And I looked, street after street,
door after door,
and I found it.
I knocked at the door,
and Mr. Mat opened.
And this is what he said to me,
"Woman, you are Godsend."
And he told me that he had
to leave for a few days.
And I was to take care
of the children.
And I stayed.
Me and my five children,
and a hundred and fifty others.
And this is where I live.
And I take care of God's children.
What is this?
So many children
and only one mother.
It's not fair.
It's just not fair.
Children shouldn't belong to anyone.
They are...
They are the heart of the world.
I need to find more mothers.
What do you mean
find more mothers?
I dont know...
What if I...
What if I start
to train local artists?
Do you understand?
They will work with the orphans
on a regular basis, right?
They won't leave!
- Wow. That's a good idea.
- Yeah?
- How about funding?
- European subsidies.
No...
- No, because there won't be no more...
- European elements involved.
But we have Burt! Yeah! Wait!
- Hey Burt, I'm so glad to hear you.
- How are you Elena?
I figured out how to reshape
our Kenya project.
I've been trying to figure out
how to tell you this. It's not easy.
You know how much I care. I'm sorry.
What are you saying exactly?
The board of the NGO is no longer
interested in your work.
- What?
- Your project attracted institutions,
our company lost brand visibility.
- I figured out a better way. It's cheaper.
- They've already redirected the resources
to Alaska's native fishing communities.
You'll manage without them.
- Did you know about that?
- They do this often.
(street noise, distant yelling)
Elena.
Leon, please don't start again.
You don't understand a thing.
I know about giving birth
to mothers.
I can help you with this.
Thank you.
(ethnic music, chanting)
(ethnic music, chanting)
(ethnic music, chanting
continues)
(spiritual style music continues)
(spiritual style music continues)
Hello there.
How are you?
- Hey my brother, good to see you.
- Good to see you too.
Congratulations on your
theater awards.
Thank you very much.
- I didn't know you were coming.
- I didn't know either.
How are you?
I'm happy, Mat.
(spiritual style music continues)
And I see that these are the children
of the children we worked with.
They were six when they started
and now come saying "I remember..."
"I've attended
the last theater academy!"
It is interesting to see
how the years have passed.
The other interesting thing was
yesterday, when I saw the children,
and I remembered,
not that it was ever absent,
this infinite, unconditional love
for children, a genuine guiding light.
This feels very emotional,
I can't tell you why exactly.
The children have always been
the most important thing.
They...
Before we grow up
and become teenagers,
there is this purity
and this acceptance of the spiritual,
and it's very important
to preserve this.
I'm sorry, I'll get to grips.
I'm too emotional right now
So...
There are people that remember.
When everyone
who doesn't remember is gone,
it will be just like
in "The Little Mermaid",
you simply dissolve into nothingness.
But what you've experienced
with pure joy, the moment,
where your spirit has led you,
it stays. It stays
after you are physically gone.
(spiritual chanting music)
(African music continues,
chanting, in-audible)
(African music continues,
chanting, in-audible)
(African music continues,
chanting, in-audible)
(African music continues,
chanting, in-audible)
(African music continues,
chanting, in-audible)
(music fades)
(African fading in music)
(Drums, people chattering,
singing in distance)
(footsteps)
(metal creaking)
Miss! Jesus! Tell us what you
want and we'll fix it. OK?
OK.
Andreas, go there.
Peter, come here.
Balance them and...
And now the rain will stop.
Stop the rain, please!
Yes.
Stay still.
Love!
What are you doing here?
How is my beautiful Elena?
Guys, go and get ready.
Don't you have somewhere to be?
- I ran away from the sound check.
- You ran away?
- Yes, I ran away.
- How could you?
I love you.
I love you too.
I am so sorry I'm missing
your German premiere,
but I'm sure
it will surpass what I saw.
- OK?
- I hope so.
- I'm happy.
- How much?
Very much.
Like very, very, very, very much.
- Break a leg!
- Break a leg too!
Go! Come on!
Elena...
Is that true?
Well, I don't know.
I haven't got my period for a while.
- Did you take a test?
- Not yet.
I was busy rehearsing and...
Do you want it?
Do you want it?
I want us to be happy.
I didn't know we weren't.
And happiness isn't something outside
of us. It doesn't come with objects.
A baby isn't an object, Leon.
I got an offer
for two semesters at Julliard.
- Julliard?
- Yes.
I still haven't replied.
But it could turn out I'll be spending
some time in the States,
and I didn't know we may be expecting.
And what if we aren't?
Then we might need...
...to postpone this for a while.
Or if we are expecting,
I'll come back anyway after the first
semester for the big moment.
What a schedule.
I'm happy for you.
I'll get there faster by walking.
(traffic, rain)
Elza.
How's your sister?
Really? Please, hug her.
No, listen, listen, listen...
How about I take you
to the Zoo next month?
Can't you hold on that long?
I love you, princess.
I love you more.
Bye.
- Are you alright?
- I was at the doctor's.
And what did the doctor say?
I'm afraid...
It would be difficult to get pregnant.
And to give birth.
You're an artist.
And you give birth
every time you direct.
They prescribed stimulation pills,
and injections, and some other stuff.
I've been thinking and...
Can we start trying?
Can you postpone Julliard?
My class will be named
"Leon Meier:"
"Conducting your ways into music."
So we are not trying.
I'm not leaving right now, love.
I'll come with you
to Shiroka Laka.
We have a whole month ahead.
- A whole month...
- A whole month.
- A whole month.
- A whole month.
One egg-cell time.
I'll do my best.
My best!
(giggling)
(flirting, talk, inaudible)
(giggling)
What are you doing?
Aren't we trying?
My girl.
Beautiful girl,
only because of you
I stayed here...
Bravo, aunt Elena. Thank you!
This for the ancestors project "Torna".
You know what this means, right?
Yes, Departure.
And where can we see this?
This is for the performance
we are doing with Elena,
in Leipzig and Sofia.
Wait, we need to feed the chicken first.
Come on, kids. Take some bread now.
Come on.
Where did these kids come from?
From the orphanage, it is over there.
- Why aren't you at school?
- I graduated.
- Me too.
- Did you now?
Really?
Does your mother know about this?
Victoria, didn't you hear
they don't have any parents.
Of course we do, sister.
I have a mother, Akif has one too.
My brother Hasan has a father too.
A father too? That is so interesting.
- Where are they now?
- At home. In Chepelare and Smolyan.
- When did you see them last?
- New Year's Eve.
- I don't remember.
- Neither do I.
I saw them at New Year's Eve.
Do they come to see you?
- I don't remember.
- You don't remember?
- How many of you are there?
- A hundred!
- No! Two hundred!
- A million!
A hundred and one million!
Two hundred million!
- A hundred and one million.
- No, two hundred million!
I bet there are.
Will you take me with you, sister?
Please!
- Will you take me with you?
- She can't do that.
Will you take me?
(kids playing, screaming)
(sinister music)
(birds singing)
(kids laughing in distance)
(phone buzzing)
The kids.
I'll be quick.
Hey! Princess!
Have you arrived safely?
Did you settle in?
When?
What?
Put her on the phone please.
When?
Put her on the phone right now.
Thank you, princess.
You did what?
I asked you, you did what?
How many times have we agreed
you won't leave them alone!
(rustling)
(chicken singing)
(keyboard typing)
I suspect that candies
are more seductive than me.
I came up with an idea for
the orphanage. "Artists for children".
Its going to be a summer camp.
I'll invite also
European artists and...
(door knocking)
- Don't you have a phone?
- No, just coffee. Are you ready?
- Wait for me at the shop.
- I come from the shop.
I have a project for the orphanage. We'll
run it in the Municipalities program.
The deadline is tomorrow, we'll make it.
Wait for me downstairs
and I'll tell you all about it.
- How much time do you need?
- 15... No, 30 minutes.
I'll need to work some more on the
budget. And I'll tell you everything.
Thanks for the coffee. Bye!
No. No, wait. Not like this.
Like this.
OK, what shall I do now?
Come on, we're making a baby!
The preparation is minimal,
we can start right away.
If we get the subsidy, of course.
No, when we get it.
Exactly!
- How's the family?
- Just great.
Boni left the kids with my mother
and went fishing with friends.
How about you two?
- Are you trying?
- Yeah, but this is not a priority.
(gasping)
(seat belt unfastens,
bleeping)
What's going on?
I'll miss my flight, Elena.
Can't you just stay?
- You can go with me if you want.
- I can't, I have my project,
- the theater contracts and...
- I know, but I can't stay here right now.
I know.
- We may have succeeded, love.
- And what if we didn't?
We can do anything together.
Would you stop the car please?
Elena!
Thank you.
(car door slams)
(hazard lights clicking)
(airplane noise)
Mrs. Meier, the ultrasound established
that you have no follicles.
The stimulation I prescribed
didn't work.
- This means a diminished egg reserve.
- What?
The menstrual cycle is regulated
by three factors.
One takes care of the hormones,
the second - of the follicles...
How is this possible?
I am 32 years old!
What do you mean it's not related!
(sinister sounds)
For the finale
I want to switch their places.
What do you think?
Can you see it?
Good morning, gorgeous! How's life?
- Good morning.
- I just woke up.
Great! Should I keep the men and
the women separated until the end,
or to switch their places
before the bows?
- Can you see properly?
- Yes.
My reference is the Tree of Life,
but turned upside down,
and the concept of the Carnival.
Changing roles in this very moment
when miracles can happen.
What do you think?
- Did we get pregnant?
- No.
- Are you sure?
- Yes.
But we'll keep trying.
I'll come to you.
Send me an invitation for the States
as soon as possible.
Are you sure? Who's going to take
care of your rehearsal?
I'm sure. Victoria will.
(singing noises)
I remember,
and my memory remembers me.
Stop! Colleagues, look,
you need the right frame of mind.
Read a poem,
don't be distracted by the city noise.
Look...
If you don't trust the process,
we'll fail.
Documentary theater needs us to...
...be invested in the process.
This is our sixth premiere in two years.
What do you expect, Elena?
- We are tired.
- I'm sorry.
Think forward
before you take a step forward.
(singing noise)
(rattling)
I remember,
- and my memory...
- Stop!
Elena, I'm so sorry.
I couldn't leave him, he's ill...
Victoria, you cant be late
for a rehearsal again.
- Yes.
- And you can't bring your child here.
This is the theater, not a kindergarten.
I apologize.
What's wrong with you? What are
you thinking? Get invested!
Get invested in what?
I don't understand a thing!
In everything! Which is everything else!
Words, matter, life...
Elena, what's wrong with you?
I'm sorry.
Let's start from the beginning
of the Second Act.
Victoria!
Get in. I'll drive you home.
- No need. The bus is coming soon.
- Come on, get in.
(hazard lights clicking)
Come on, sit down.
(sighs)
(coughing)
Vicki, I'm sorry. I was out of line.
What's wrong, Elena?
Your visa application
is not approved, Mrs. Meier.
You have the full right to apply again.
We'll review your application,
but to have a different outcome you'll
have to state another reason for your stay.
Like a regular contract.
But I'm an independent artist.
Or an invitation
from a public institution,
or an exchange program.
You only need to obtain
one of them.
We'll schedule an appointment
in a month.
In a month I have two premieres.
One in Germany, one in Bulgaria.
And after the approval
by the Consular Department...
(clapping)
That wasn't that bad.
Sofia will be better.
I promise, ma'am.
(clapping)
Elena, pick up!
We won.
You know what a dream is, right?
Think about the dream you have.
You have five fingers.
This means five dreams. Five wishes.
Let's start with the thumb.
What is the thing you want the most?
When you close your eyes,
and you dream of something
and you feel good,
what is it?
My first dream is "Strength",
because I want to beat up Itzo.
Metodi, you're in charge
of the pantomime workshop
together with... Allie.
Great. But please,
get it in your head that you're not
working with professionals.
- Don't pull any stunts.
- Don't get too ambitious.
- It's funny you say this.
- Shut up, Metodi.
Victoria, you're in charge
of painting, along with Christie.
(struggle)
- Stronger!
- Pull!
I want a dress. A brown one.
I want a motorcycle.
I'll give it to Dad.
So that he can come for me.
My name is Sultanka.
- How old are you?
- Seven.
- Which grade are you?
- First grade.
I want to see Mommy.
I don't know where she is.
I want to be a shop assistant.
- I want to dance.
- I want to learn to read.
I want a star to fall from the sky.
A ball.
A ball. My third wish is...
My third wish is...
... dog.
A dog. Fourth dream: a mother.
Fourth dream: a mother.
Something very important.
Don't let them hug you,
or call you Mom, or Dad.
If we are not adopting them,
let's not play parents with them.
I would adopt one.
Would you?
And which one exactly?
We are the artists.
This is a new model of communication.
It will help them a lot in the future.
- Most of them have parents anyway.
- It is not ethical to interfere.
I don't care! Do you know how many
children here got adopted recently?
Metodi, it may be hard to understand,
but some parents are just too poor.
Guys, what's going on?
Two kids out of two hundred.
Let's hear you out.
Why shouldn't they call you
Mommy and Daddy?
They shouldn't personalize
the feelings art provokes in them.
These are not a substitute
for intimacy, or family.
Art is to show new horizons, a future.
What art would give them,
unlike any parent,
- will stay with them forever.
- Is it clear now?
- Metodi!
- Yes, Sir!
What color is the music?
- Black!
Is it slow or fast?
- Fast!
And now another change.
Freeze!
- Is this light or heavy?
- Light!
- Happy or sad?
- Sad!
- What is this music? Is it happy?
- Yes!
- Is it fast or slow?
- Fast!
(kids laughing)
(atmospheric music takes over)
What is it to have a mother?
Well...
A mother teaches you to dream,
and to follow your dreams,
and never give up.
She comes to all your shows,
and is very happy when you succeed.
And when you fail,
she says something nice to you,
so that you have the strength
to carry on.
She wants you to be happy,
even if you want to be...
- ...a cook.
- Yes, a cook.
- Or a saleslady...
- Or a policewoman.
Or a firefighter.
Or a pickpocket.
Or an artist.
Whatever you want to be.
Go on! Get back to the rehearsal.
Go on! Quick!
Hello, Leon Meier is not here.
Please leave a message after beep.
(loud banging rhythms)
(cheering)
Please Leon,
could you come a little bit sooner?
See baby? It's happening!
You look so beautiful.
Look how many children!
(drums in distance, kids laughing,
screaming, playing)
- I miss your scent.
- I'll talk to you soon.
- Hey!
- I gotta go, babe!
I have to move a mountain in a month.
I love you. Bye.
Stop sabotaging me!
Akif! I've been looking for you
all over! Come here!
Enough! Let's rehearse!
Come here! Quick!
Get in line! Right now!
Stop goofing around!
Who cares if they're watching!
Cool it.
Come on, form a circle around me.
Everybody says their name,
- and makes a move or a gesture.
- Zyumbyul.
Come on! Does this move describe you?
And this one describes you?
Try something more descriptive.
Here's an example. I am Metodi!
(phone ringing)
Hello.
Hello?
They want me
to stay for the exams here, and...
I'm gonna miss your childrens festival.
I'm sorry.
- But you promised me...
- I'm sorry, I already said yes.
But my doctor told me I can't go on
with this medicine forever...
What medicine?
I wanted to name her Rada.
Ra-da.
If she was a girl.
And I was going to let you
decide on the name if he was a boy.
Rada would be...
would be tall and bright.
Shiny eyes and mind.
And she would love to dance.
The boy would be
a school champion.
And looking, exactly like you.
Promise me love.
Promise me that...
We'll meet in the next life.
To have children of our own.
Elena, look! Elena!
Bravo!
Come on! Can you lift me up?
(giggling)
(birds singing)
How about we stage a show
for the villagers?
- It's too early.
- The kids are terrified by the audience.
They have no confidence.
Confidence is nurtured by the parents
for years, if they are supportive at all.
Let's not risk everything
we have achieved.
Elena, they will close in their shells.
A failure will have an adverse effect.
Exactly.
They will not fail themselves,
someone or something else will.
I want you to produce
masks, costumes, and a set.
Masks can hide and heal identities.
Guys, the kids achieved something
with us,
and I need it to be witnessed
by as many as possible.
We are staging a play
for the whole village.
But this cannot be done in a week.
(African drums music)
Zyumbyul?
I don't want to take part.
Alright.
But it's not you that takes part,
the little dragon does.
(drumming intensifies)
(kids yelling in excitement)
See you soon, love!
We'll bake the Christmas
cookies together.
Staying with you the
whole month.
(African drums continue,
cheering, chattering)
Happy Birthday love,
and don't forget I love you.
I have news.
I'm free!
I'm coming for good!
Hello, Shiroka Laka!
Good afternoon!
I would like to invite on stage
all the artists and the main suspect,
Elena Meier.
Elena, what you do is like a spring.
(speaker announcing Elena)
(clapping)
It is so good, I'm actually jealous
it's not my idea.
(announcer continues)
(clapping)
(chanting music fades in)
(chanting style singing
in foreign language)
How could I miss this for so long?
I don't know.
This is the best performance
I saw this year.
- Come on...
- Honestly.
You are a wizard.
I thought that I'm the Spring.
(clicking under tongue)
Come on. What's going on?
- I want us to try again.
- Try what?
- To have a baby.
- Now?
We missed the last train.
We can try in vitro
with donated egg cells.
Seriously?
What's going on?
You inspire me.
(tapping)
Victoria, one day I'll kill you!
(birds singing)
Ah...
- Elena.
- Hey, Burt.
I'm so glad I took care
of your festivals, Elena.
After the municipalities quit,
you practically saved our ass.
What's going on?
- I need your help.
- Are you going to support us next year?
Sure. But I need your help.
I'm listening.
You know our NGO's are involved
with humanitarian aid in Africa.
Mainly the supply of food and medical
supplies for the orphans in Kenya.
Do you have any idea
how many they are?
How should I know?
- Pick a number.
- A million.
- A million and eight hundred thousand.
- Jesus!
Exactly.
I want to export
your method in Africa.
I want results that stand out.
- What do you say?
- Africa is so far away.
I want to send you and Victoria.
For a couple of days. Just for research.
If that's possible.
- When?
- Now.
In Africa?
It's only for a couple of days.
(chanting style music)
(tribal, chanting
music continues)
So girls, you see it? You like it?
So the Adumu dance,
the jumping dance actually,
is performed by the Moran in order
that they are being promoted
to warriors.
(chanting sounds)
(screaming)
(tribal noises continue)
(excited screams)
(chanting continues)
(market noise)
Hotel
Circumcision done here
Kibera is the biggest slum in Africa.
And as you can see most of it
is built with these aluminum sheets
that here are called "mabati".
Can you imagine
the music that you can hear
in this slum when it's raining...
- Is this Ushirika?
- Yes, it is.
- Vicki, we are here.
- Look!
Do you know what you're doing?
Yeah, it's the button on the bottom.
Come here. OK...
Good! Alright!
Yeah, you got us all in?
Cool! Nice!
Let's have a look.
Oh, no! That's awful!
Let me do it.
- Ready?
- Just wait a minute.
What are you doing?
Does my hair look OK?
OK, thanks.
Oh, that's much better.
Do you wanna go?
Alright. Can you get a bit closer?
Never mind.
OK. Good!
Do you have Wi-Fi here?
I want to post this on my Facebook.
- You got an account?
- Not yet!
What? You gotta get a Facebook
account. Everybody's got Facebook.
What did you say you do?
(loud airplane/helicopter)
Hey girls.
Please call the director.
Excuse me.
Hi kids.
- Ladies. You actually came.
- Yeah. Hello.
Sorry we couldn't make it yesterday,
but Patricia...
The Big Five are
obviously more interesting.
If you can stand or over
there please.
(giggling)
I'm Elena. Elena Meier.
- And I am Victoria. Nice to meet you.
- Mat.
So Burt says
you're going to stay with us.
You want authenticity, yeah?
- OK, will you show us around Mat?
- Of course.
With or without champagne?
We're here to help.
We're not some safari tourists.
We run a successful project for
socializing orphans through theater.
- I was told.
- OK.
I've got to run. Enjoy your stay.
- Give me a call if you need me.
- Thank you very much.
Just a second.
So, these are your beds,
these are water canisters.
Keep in mind,
the children bring them from very far.
By hand.
- I'll be expecting you at the office.
- Where can we buy bottled water?
I'll send someone. I don't
recommend going out alone.
- Even during the day.
- Why?
This is Kibera, ma'am.
Excuse me,
what does "Ushirika" mean?
"Together."
Mat!
I'll be happy to work
together with you, Sir.
(helicopter rattles)
It's really nice.
It's time for prayers!
- Reading what?
- The Bible.
Our Father in Heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy Kingdom come; Thy will be done
on Earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses;
as we forgive
those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
The power and the glory,
forever and ever...
This is Mili.
She will show you around.
Please take them
to Paradise Children's Home.
Yes, Mr. Mat.
Nice to meet you Mili.
(kids crying, people
making noise)
Hey. (random chatter)
(in-audible, distant chatter
to neighbours)
(kids screaming)
(kids singing)
Hey you! (random chatting
in foreign - inaudible)
Hey you! (random chatting
in foreign - inaudible)
Give me five!
Mili,
do you have children of your own?
Yes, three. Why?
I'm just curious.
All three are dead.
Joy!
- Are you good?
- I'm good.
I just bought a big wardrobe.
- I'm going.
- OK. I'm coming.
I'm fine.
Paradise children home
There are thirty street children
living here.
Ten are staying with the neighbours
as we finish the upper floor.
(calling in foreign)
Hi boys.
Hey, what do you dream about?
- Do you know what a dream is?
- Maam,
we have no word for "dream"
in Swahili.
Really? Then how
do you envision the future?
Actually, there is no specific word
for future either.
This is our medical center.
(faint chatting in
foreign)
(mumbling)
What is the case with this girl?
Mr. Mat brought her in
with excessive bleeding last night.
- A circumcision was not successful.
- Christ.
- She did it to herself.
- What?
- How old is she?
- She is eleven years old.
The prostitute she works for
assisted her.
She has to provide
for her nine brothers and sisters.
With the circumcision she won't care
who she has sex with.
Excuse me. And how about
the small child?
There are twisted beliefs
in some of these tribes.
- We are researching those kinds of...
- If a father has sex with his child,
they believe there is some kind
of blood circulation
that will lead to his cure from AIDS.
Sometime they have sex with
two to three year old children.
The children rarely survive.
(throwing up)
Are you alright?
I'm sorry.
I found him in a ditch
by the airport.
Run the tests and let me know
what its chances are.
- Any papers, ID, anything?
- Nothing.
Give him a name.
What?
Me? Why me?
- Because he have run out of names.
- What do you mean?
Like for instance this one,
she was named after the neighborhood
Mr. Mat found her.
So, say a name.
(child crying)
- It's a boy, right?
- Yes.
(baby crying continues)
(sinister sound)
- Christopher.
- Alright.
Welcome, Christopher.
Christopher see?
Yes.
I'm sorry, but
we cant fix this with art therapy.
And I even brought a bathing suit.
You can find...
...decent basil and parsley
only at The Women's Market.
Yeah.
I miss you too.
Yes, I take my pills.
OK...
Yeah, everything's fine.
I'll see you tomorrow.
Bye. I love you.
Thanks for coming.
- I knew this was not your cup of tea.
- Mat...
Have a safe flight.
OK. Goodbye.
(car horns)
(street noise)
(rattling engines)
Stop the car.
Please stop the car!
Would you stop the car please?
Elena, what happened?
Are you alright?
Are you sick?
I've got water. Do you want water?
Here...
Elena, speak to me!
What's happening?
Elena, let's get back in the car.
We'll miss the flight.
- I can't do that.
- What?
Elena, no one can. We are going
home and everything will be fine.
Fine?
- I can't just go home.
- What?
- Elena, have you gone mad?
- Would you open the trunk?
Elena, what are you doing?
Elena? Elena!
What are you doing?
I don't know.
I have no idea what I am doing.
- Have a safe flight, ma'am.
- Thanks.
(guitar music)
- Hi.
- Hello, love.
I rearranged our home and fit
all my clothes in the wardrobe.
You'll love it.
I can't wait to hug you.
Are you boarding?
No.
Is the flight delayed?
No.
Is everything OK?
Elena? Is everything OK?
No.
Elena...
I'm staying in Africa.
Thank you very much.
(African drumming, cheering,
chanting music)
(kids chattering, playing)
Hey Jomo.
Hello, how are you?
I was wondering if you are free
in the next three to four weeks?
Yes, I understand. It is short notice.
Good luck with the rehearsals!
Oh, you are shooting a movie.
That's a great success, Andreas!
No, don't worry about me. I'll manage.
Good luck to you too!
Stella, hi. I have an offer.
I want us to do the same thing
we did in Shiroka Laka,
just a bit further away.
In Africa.
Yes. The continent.
In Kenya. In Nairobi.
Well, not Nairobi exactly. In Kibera.
Yes, it's a ghetto. A real one.
Exactly the same as in Shiroka Laka.
Only with more kids.
Alright. Call me back
when you think it through.
Hi Peter.
Oh, great!
Thank you so much!
I knew you wouldn't be afraid.
Im booking you the ticket.
Im waiting for you here.
A dream, or a daydream, is something
pleasant that you want to have,
to become, or to happen.
You want it to be...
You want it to be as real as the...
...as the things
that happened to you yesterday.
You know, Elena, I came to
Bulgaria because of you.
When are you coming back?
(phone) To listen to the
message again-
- This is very good!
- Thank you.
Bravo, Uhuru!
Do you want me to help you?
Just put your hand...
Stella...
OK, let's continue.
And now lets try
to write your first dream.
How old are you?
What is your biggest dream?
I will grow up fast
and I will take Jomo with me.
- Does he speak?
- Sure.
Jomo stopped talking when
Mom died and Daddy left us here.
- So, you have a father...
- Yes!
(distant street noise,
dogs barking)
Hello kids.
- Peter.
- Hello.
- How are things?
- Good.
- Everything alright?
- Perfect.
May I tie one with you?
(drumming music)
I understand you.
You need to do something
if you know you can.
(Drumming continues)
(yelling)
Stop!
(silence)
It's time for prayers.
Come on.
Come on.
- Mili, what's going on?
- The children need milk,
- not this kind of nonsense.
- This is not nonsense. This is art!
The children can play on their own
just fine.
(helicopter rattles,
sinister noises)
I need my Elena back.
Who are you?
Put this one over there.
And one... here.
Hey Jomo.
What's going on?
- Ma'am.
- Yeah.
He wants you to help him
put on the shoes.
You're ready.
(Singing in foreign)
(chanting continues)
As they're walking and dancing,
they saw a strange thing.
(chanting, giggling)
And they started wondering,
- what is this?
- Crocodile!
(chanting)
- What is that?
- A dog!
(goosing noises, chanting)
What is that?
A lion!
(roaring noises)
(sinister noises)
(giggling)
I am sorry to do this
texting, but you give me no choice.
I'm leaving you Elena-
And this was the big golden duck.
The king of all the ducks.
(African drumming)
(joyful yelling)
(emotional ethnic music)
(kids cheering)
Listen kids. We are leaving now,
but well come back next year.
And tomorrow before we leave we'll
make a big photo with Stella and Peter,
all of us together.
Mat, where are all the children?
- They are in their rooms, studying.
- Isn't it Sunday?
So, you come to Africa for a while
and spend some dollars,
and want to imagine
that everything is OK.
Excuse me?
I called you a taxi.
I have some business to do in the city.
Mili, what's going on here?
What do we do with them now?
They were just starting to open up.
Then you just leave.
Elena, you are actually the worst.
Come on, Mili.
We will be coming back next year.
Next year, wow.
My contract with Bright Future NGO
finished four weeks ago.
We worked a whole month
without financing.
In Bulgaria we do this just for a month.
I have a family,
and other projects, and...
Now do this, take all the children
with you to Europe.
Hey, come here.
You know...
they're leaving...
you behave without them OK?
(car engine starts)
Hey, you be tough, some
day you will be tougher.
(tapping, musical noises)
No, stop, stop, stop.
Victoria, you need to be
more aggressive, more active.
You need to be assertive.
You are just a dancing girl.
What's happening?
- I can't do this.
- Why?
- What?
- I'm sorry.
We have a premiere in a month,
we run for six months.
- You are Bernarda!
- I know, I'm sorry.
Sorry doesn't help!
This is so unprofessional.
- You have two kids already.
- At least I can have kids.
I'm sorry.
- You know nothing, Elena.
- I'm sorry. I'm sorry!
Leon left me.
- I am a total failure.
- Stop it, Elena.
A total failure.
Kenya was a failure too.
I am just another person
who left those kids.
- Elena, this is such nonsense.
- No, it isn't.
I robbed them.
I taught them to dream, then took
their dreams and left the continent.
Elena, stop. You did nothing wrong.
- Why do I feel as if I have?
- Well, I don't know.
You did nothing wrong. You did
the same as in Shiroka Laka.
- Africa is so far away...
- Stop it. Elena, please.
Last week two boys returned
to their father
and he raped the younger one.
- What?
- Because of that horrible belief.
- Who told you that?
- I have to get back there!
Elena...
Elena, we have a premiere in a month.
Going there and watching this kid die
doesn't make you...
His mother?
Yes.
(distant chatter)
Hi Jomo.
I'm so glad to see you.
Where is Daddy? Is he OK?
- Where's the doctor, I want to...
- I'm dying.
Only that we don't die, sweetie.
We become angels
and go to the other angels.
Maybe your mother is waiting for you.
Excuse me, ma'am. You can't
come in here. Only staff is allowed.
I was head of "Artists for Children",
do you know it?
They shut down.
Go find yourself another job.
In the meantime, please ma'am,
I need you to leave immediately.
Elena!
Mili.
- What are you doing here?
- They won't let me stay with Jomo.
- They may need a sanitarian.
- No, we don't.
- Actually, we do.
- Here I am, you new sanitarian.
- When can you start?
- Now.
Alright. The tools and the detergents
are in the last room downstairs.
You can start with the floors, Elena.
- Anything else?
- No, that's OK. Thank you.
Thank you.
Draw me your dream.
My dream is...
...for you to get better.
And this in the middle...
...is me.
I think this is a very sad picture.
But why? I see only happy faces.
I see only one mother,
and a lot of children.
(chattering, street noise)
(chanting)
(echoy screams)
- Hello Lilian.
- Hello.
Time for a bath, sweetie.
Don't worry.
I saw the video. Please try
to shorten Scene One and Two.
When are you coming back?
I can't cover for you any longer.
You're doing just fine, ma'am.
Thank you so much.
The director came. He told me
he can't get in touch with you and...
I'll deal with him.
We'll speak again tomorrow.
- Take care of yourself.
- Bye.
(traffic noise)
Hello Mat.
Who is the foster mother for Arnaud?
Patricia Ink?
- I thought you had children.
- I do.
Two mine and eight adopted.
I can't leave Kenya outside my home.
(car horns)
(distant chatter)
Well, Your Highness, the time
has come for you to understand
what I once told you before.
The weak ones are sometimes
more powerful than the strong ones.
And the little mouse began to bite
the net with its sharp teeth.
Squeak, squeak, squeak.
It wasn't long before the mouse
bit through the strong and tough ropes,
freeing the lion.
(Groaning)
I'll stay.
(traffic, police siren)
Elena.
One day I'll kill Victoria, I swear.
I'm glad I found you.
How are you?
Fine.
You don't belong here.
Hey, don't do this to yourself.
What do you know?
You belong elsewhere.
Is it so, white brother?
You are an artist.
I promise you...
...we will meet in the next life
to have children of our own.
I'm not here to win you back.
I just want you to be happy.
I don't want to be happy.
(traffic noise)
I hate what this world does to her.
Perhaps you should see
what she has done to this world.
I don't know my mother.
She's dead.
I was little.
I sometimes ask Uhuru about...
...her. He tells me stories.
I pretend that I don't know
he invents these stories.
I know Elena. Elena is from Europe.
Elena loves the theater,
and Elena loves Leon. I don't.
Elena says when you come to Africa,
Africa must come to you,
and it takes time.
And when it happens,
Africa stays in you like an infection.
I know how it feels to have a mother.
I know that.
My mother is half my life.
She comes when
I only need her the most.
My mother is my hero.
- My name is Pretty Akeany.
- How old are you?
I'm twelve years old.
What is your biggest dream?
My biggest dream is to be a singer.
Dancer.
- An artist.
- A doctor.
- Why?
- So that I can help sick people.
- Children or grown ups?
- All of them.
I would like to be a doctor.
A doctor.
My name is Uhuru.
- How old are you?
- I am eleven years old.
And I want to be a pilot.
- Pilot of what?
- Airplanes.
- Airplanes?
- Yes.
- A judge.
- A judge? Why?
Because I see news that...
...make me cry.
I didn't understand you.
I'm so sorry...
I couldn't help you become a mother.
(giggling, whispering)
(mysterious music)
(loud echo of train)
(distant street noise)
(chanting, singing)
(tapping)
It's Mat.
(tapping)
Go away!
(door knocking)
Fuck off, Mat!
What are you doing here?
I had a calling.
All three of my children died
before they were two.
One after the other.
Two from malaria,
and one from typhus.
Then I had a dream.
And God spoke to me and said,
"Take care of my children."
And as I was wondering
what God meant,
my sister died of AIDS,
and I had to adopt her youngest two.
Then the three older ones
had problems in school,
and I had to adopt them too.
And just when I was in the process,
I lost my job.
Then post-election violence happened.
Everyone stocked up food
and locked themselves in.
And we had to do the same.
We locked ourselves in.
With nothing to eat,
but to starve to death.
And I was angry at God.
I was mad at Him.
Have you ever been angry at God?
Give me food, give me a job.
What do you want me to do?
How do you want me
to take care of your children?
Haven't I done enough?
What more do you want me to do?
Then...
I remembered some orphans who used
to come to the video store I worked in,
and I decided to look
for that orphanage.
And I looked, street after street,
door after door,
and I found it.
I knocked at the door,
and Mr. Mat opened.
And this is what he said to me,
"Woman, you are Godsend."
And he told me that he had
to leave for a few days.
And I was to take care
of the children.
And I stayed.
Me and my five children,
and a hundred and fifty others.
And this is where I live.
And I take care of God's children.
What is this?
So many children
and only one mother.
It's not fair.
It's just not fair.
Children shouldn't belong to anyone.
They are...
They are the heart of the world.
I need to find more mothers.
What do you mean
find more mothers?
I dont know...
What if I...
What if I start
to train local artists?
Do you understand?
They will work with the orphans
on a regular basis, right?
They won't leave!
- Wow. That's a good idea.
- Yeah?
- How about funding?
- European subsidies.
No...
- No, because there won't be no more...
- European elements involved.
But we have Burt! Yeah! Wait!
- Hey Burt, I'm so glad to hear you.
- How are you Elena?
I figured out how to reshape
our Kenya project.
I've been trying to figure out
how to tell you this. It's not easy.
You know how much I care. I'm sorry.
What are you saying exactly?
The board of the NGO is no longer
interested in your work.
- What?
- Your project attracted institutions,
our company lost brand visibility.
- I figured out a better way. It's cheaper.
- They've already redirected the resources
to Alaska's native fishing communities.
You'll manage without them.
- Did you know about that?
- They do this often.
(street noise, distant yelling)
Elena.
Leon, please don't start again.
You don't understand a thing.
I know about giving birth
to mothers.
I can help you with this.
Thank you.
(ethnic music, chanting)
(ethnic music, chanting)
(ethnic music, chanting
continues)
(spiritual style music continues)
(spiritual style music continues)
Hello there.
How are you?
- Hey my brother, good to see you.
- Good to see you too.
Congratulations on your
theater awards.
Thank you very much.
- I didn't know you were coming.
- I didn't know either.
How are you?
I'm happy, Mat.
(spiritual style music continues)
And I see that these are the children
of the children we worked with.
They were six when they started
and now come saying "I remember..."
"I've attended
the last theater academy!"
It is interesting to see
how the years have passed.
The other interesting thing was
yesterday, when I saw the children,
and I remembered,
not that it was ever absent,
this infinite, unconditional love
for children, a genuine guiding light.
This feels very emotional,
I can't tell you why exactly.
The children have always been
the most important thing.
They...
Before we grow up
and become teenagers,
there is this purity
and this acceptance of the spiritual,
and it's very important
to preserve this.
I'm sorry, I'll get to grips.
I'm too emotional right now
So...
There are people that remember.
When everyone
who doesn't remember is gone,
it will be just like
in "The Little Mermaid",
you simply dissolve into nothingness.
But what you've experienced
with pure joy, the moment,
where your spirit has led you,
it stays. It stays
after you are physically gone.
(spiritual chanting music)
(African music continues,
chanting, in-audible)
(African music continues,
chanting, in-audible)
(African music continues,
chanting, in-audible)
(African music continues,
chanting, in-audible)
(African music continues,
chanting, in-audible)
(music fades)