Ajami

I know I can feel what is about to happen.

I felt it two weeks ago.

Thanks.

Bring me some toilet paper.

I'm not your servant. Get it yourself.

Don't I always help you? Get it!

Get it yourself!

You dare talk to me like that?

Your car is a wreck.

I bought it from your brother.

Put the tire on.

I can't. Go to your mother.

- Nur. - Yes.

I need your help. Give this towel to Grandpa.

Give it to Nasri.

Nasri.

Yes.

Slowly. Be careful.

Yes.

Close your eyes, Grandpa.

Studies come before marriage.

First a diploma, then the wedding. Okay?

Yes.

Yihyah!

Yihyah! Yihyah!

Yihyah, wake up!

Hold your sister!

I felt something bad would happen.

But I didn't know what.

I didn't know that it would happen to my neighbor, Yihyah.

Hurry up!

He was a good boy who didn't harm anyone.

He was killed for nothing.

He was killed because of us.

The whole thing started in my uncle's cafe

when a bedouin came demanding "protection" money.

My uncle shot him without thinking.

He didn't know that he belonged to the Abul-Zen clan,

one of the strongest families in the south.

They burned his house and cafe and tried to kill him.

After a while my uncle got tired of hiding.

They hurt him badly, but failed to kill him.

That's why they came to us.

They meant to kill my big brother, but shot Yihyah by mistake.

He didn't do anything.

I soon realized we were also in danger.

And the worst time in my life began.

My mother wanted us to leave Jaffa and hide.

That same day, my sister left to Jerusalem.

I left the next morning.

I didn't know what would happen to us, or when I would return.

But I was more worried about my brother,

who refused to leave home.

My brother says that fear is the biggest disgrace

and that only cowards run away.

AJAMI

Wow!

Stop here.

- Hello. - Hi.

- Where's Khamis' place? - There.

Thanks.

CHAPTER ONE

Khamis.

- Yes, guys. - Hi.

Hello.

I came about "the matter".

- Who is it? - "Pepper".

- You got the money? - Yes.

Where are you? Take it.

Come on, bro.

It's counted, don't worry.

Get up.

A taxi driver like you drives by...

a kid yells: "Stop! Stop!"

"Okay. Get in."

The kid opens the door and boom! Slams it.

"You fucker! Easy on the door!"

The kid says: "If my parents were a lion and a lioness"

I would have been a lion cub."

"And if they were two bitches?"

"Then I'd be a taxi driver."

Ajami Neighborhood, Jaffa.

- Hi, Anan. - What's up?

- Hi, Anan. - Let's go.

- I can't. - Let's go!

- I can't. - We're not going far.

I can't. I'm carrying a "thing".

Carrying a "thing"? Are you stupid?

Leave it inside and come!

Don't be afraid. Abu Elias will help you.

He resolves conflicts. He's powerful.

Everybody respects him.

- Why are you tense? - He's afraid to leave the house.

You're safe with me.

No one can touch you.

- I'll wait here. - Okay.

- Come, Omar. - I'm smoking a cigarette.

Wait here. I'll call you.

Bon appétit.

- Hello. - Hello.

- You want a table? - No, I'm waiting for a friend.

Something to drink?

Something hot or cold?

Nothing?

Omar, come on.

You can go now.

- Hello. - Hello. Please, sit.

Samih was your father? The carpenter?

May he rest in peace.

How can I help you?

There was a big mess in Ramleh.

I heard about it.

My uncle shot a kid from the Zen family.

Abul-Zen, yes.

- And later he was shot. - Yes.

Now they tried to kill me and shot my neighbor.

A 15 year old kid. They thought it was me.

- How is your uncle? - He's badly injured.

Really?

And the bedouin?

He's paralyzed.

Who's the "Elder" of your family?

My Grandfather. But he's half paralyzed.

- Besides him? - Me.

- How old are you? - 19.

19 and an "Elder"?

That's why I'm here. Maybe you can help me.

Listen, you should be careful,

until I find a solution.

- What's going to happen? - Don't leave the house.

Give me 2 days, I'll see what I can do.

Okay?

Omar? Omar?

Hi, Grandpa.

Where have you been?

You killed your mother with worry.

What were you thinking?

Come here.

Where were you?

- I went... - Where were you?

Where were you? You're a big man now?

Tell me, where?

- Calm down. - Where were you?

I almost died. I almost died.

You want to die?

- Stop it, Mom. - You want to die?

I almost died.

Please, Mom. Calm down.

Everything is okay, Mom.

That's his house. The green door.

Who is it?

Hello.

- Hi. - Hello.

- Is Abu Elias here? - He'll be here. Come in.

He told us to come.

He'll be here soon.

If he... then...

He went out for 5 minutes.

Something to drink? Hot? Cold?

Actually, I need the restroom.

- Right here. - Thank you.

- We came to ask for your hand. - No!

- I spoke with my mother. - You can't.

I can't take it anymore.

I can't...

You can't do that!

He'll be here soon.

Respect me and don't do this.

- We're here already. - You didn't tell me you're coming.

This is not right.

I'm kidding.

- Come, sit by me. - No.

Come on.

- Something to drink? - No, thanks.

Nothing? Cola, something cold?

- Hello. - Hello.

- How are you, Omar? - Hello.

- Nice house. - Yes?

So, Omar, how are you?

- Praise God... - Anan spoke to you?

He said it's okay, and that I should come see you.

Yes, I'll tell you. Make us coffee.

I talked to some friends of mine,

and they agreed to cover you.

Your trustee is Haj Krayem, one of the "heaviest"...

He's covering you, so now you're safe.

- Your children can return home. - For sure?

Absolutely.

You hear, Mom?

We paid for a "peace request",

2,000 Dinars ($3,300), as a down payment.

Why?

For a three day cease-fire.

We have three days to reach an agreement.

Bear in mind that it will cost a lot of money.

It will be expensive.

How will we pay?

God the almighty will help.

- Praise God, but you know we're... - God will help.

Let's hope they agree to reconcile.