American Wrestler: The Wizard

Freedom. It comes at a price.

It has to be fought for.

1979, a revolution through my country.

My Iran into chaos.

Revolutionaries stormed the us embassy

and took Americans hostage.

The world was watching as our magnificent nation

was changed, forever.

The United States of America will not yield

'to international terrorism or to blackmail.'

Seeing an opportunity, Iraq invaded Iran

starting a brutal war.

Thousands were being slaughtered.

My parents wanted to save me from this nightmare.

This is my story.

'Watch it, loser!'

- Excuse me, do you know where... - Eww. No.

Hey, where are you going?

Totally lame.

Everyone, everyone, attention!

We have a new student.

Alidad, will you please stand up?

Everyone, this is Alidad Garahasnaloo Jahani.

He is joining us from Iran.

He's Iranian.

Alidad, would you like to say something about yourself?

- Ali. - Pardon?

You can call me Ali.

And you don't have to speak slowly.

I speak English just as well as Farsi.

Farsi, the most widely spoken language in Iran.

Okay, everyone, attention, we're now going to learn

'to conjugate verbs ending in "-er."'

Ali, why don't you help the other students?

This is rad. Where'd you get this?

Oh, I got it when I was visiting UCLA with my mom.

She's all "go bruins."

It's really annoying.

- I better get in. - Yeah, well.

Do you want to see what else I got?

Huh..

'Cause you're such a delicate little flower.

My mom would totally kill me if she found out.

Yeah, Kristi n. Larsen

only sluts and sailors get tattoos.

- Toad. - Hmm?

If you keep eating that shit

you're never gonna make weight.

Yeah, whatever.

I just think you're afraid to wrestle Knox.

Bullshit, man, I've taken on

tougher sons of bitches than Knox.

Not with your pants on.

Yeah, right.

Wrestlers wear singlets not pants.

What? Why are you laughing?

Forget it, don't hurt yourself, buddy.

'Bite me.'

Oh, look who it is.

Hey! Hmm.

I haven't seen you since Brian's party.

- 'Yeah, it's been a while.' - You're looking good.

Hm.

Jesus! Would you look at that sad sack of shit?

'What the hell is he wearing?'

What are you doing?

Aren't they all like goat herders and farmers

where he comes from?

Oh! Oh, yeah

you mean like 90% of the people in this town.

Stupid.

Jesus, just look what he's eating.

Oh, gag me with a spoon.

Nothings says small town like picking on the new kid.

'Oh, don't cry.'

'If you don't think that this course that we've been on'

'for the last four years is what you would like to see us follow'

for the next four, then I could suggest

another choice that you have.

'This country doesn't have to be'

'in the shape that it is in.'

English. Speak English.

We're in America.

'How was your first day at school?'

not so bad.

You're lying. It's written all over your face.

'Come here.'

you have to be tough, Ali.

'What did you think?'

coming to America

would be like a Hollywood movie

with a happy ending?

- May I go upstairs. - Sit down!

When I first came here, I was treated like a prince.

You think the Italians and the French guys have it good?

When I used to walk into a disco

or a restaurant, the American girls

they would throw themselves at me.

And now? This is what they think of us.

This is all they will ever think of us. Terrorists.

You're bad luck, Ali!

You've brought more bad luck with you from Iran.

Ali.

Don't forget your lunch.

I made you Chelo Khoresh.

Thank you.

- 'So, you wanna play football?' - Yes, sir. I do.

Have you ever played before?

No, but, I-I'm a really good learner and I'll work very hard

and-and follow all the rules.

Uh, I'm actually surprisingly strong for my size.

What position are you interested in playing?

Um, red 42.

- The red 42? - Yes.

Well, son, I'm sure with enough time

and good coaching, you'd make one hell of a red 42.

But, um..

You really wanna smash heads with those fellas?

Maybe I try a different sport.

Maybe a club.

Do you like dragons?

You're not making this any easier on yourself.

People are just gonna hate you more.

Whoa!

What the hell!

God. You pushed me, you dick.

Oh, don't cry, Alibaba. It was an accident.

Hold this. Come on, man.

Is there a problem here?

- No problem. - No problem, sir.

Michael, are those your books on the floor?

The books are mine.

These are for coloring.

Well, we have a comedian.

Both of you.

To my office, right now.

Towel has a trouble.

The next kid I hear saying anything like that

'is suspended for a week.'

Michael, you know the way.

Thank you, Carla.

Son, take a seat.

'Do you want me to call your father in'

'to have another meeting?'

'No, sir.'

'You give me any more trouble'

'I'll have no choice but to make that call.'

- 'do you understand me?' - 'Yes, sir.'

'Now, get back to class'

'and see if you can find a way to behave yourself.'

'Yes, principal, sir.'

'Alidad, you're up.'

you think you're special?

Excuse me?

Do you think you're special?

No, sir.

You're not.

Everyone's family came here from somewhere else and they all

had to endure some trouble from the people already here.

That's, that's the way it works. That's the deal.

'And it's worked that way for over 200 years.'

now, uh, if you can accept that challenge

there's nothing you can't achieve.

I believe that.

'I hear you're a smart kid.'

good.

Act like it.

'Stick your nose in the books, keep a low profile'

'and you're gonna get along just fine.'

that's it.

You get one free pass.

Thank you, sir.

Good luck to you, son.

Mom, please don't do this right now. Please.

Kristi, you know what our deal was.

You keep your grades up, you keep the car.

'Mom.'

I, I'll study harder, I know I can do better.

- 'Please.' - 'Never.'

'you're into UCLA with a "c" in French.'

this will pay for a tutor for the rest of the year.

- Hi. - Hi.

Mm, these are our specials for today.

I'm not hungry.

Okay. Um, can I get you something to drink then?

How 'bout I just let you think about it?

You don't have to sell your car.

What?

I-I heard you outside with your mother.

You were eavesdropping?

What is eavesdropping?

Listening to other people's conversations.

Oh, yes, I was eavesdropping.

That's really creepy.

Wait, I-i could get you an "a" in French.

I-I could be your tutor.

- For what? - For what?

So you can go to college.

No, I mean, like, for what, like, how much would it cost me?

No comprende, senor.