Marooned in Iraq (بەجێهێڵدراو لە عێراق)

MIJFILM presents

Marooned in Iraq

A film by Bahman Ghobadi

Sit down and be quiet. Don't pretend to be crazy...

because you're not. You've been stealing for ages now.

He's a poor man. He's crazy. He's not a thief. What people say is not true.

Who says he's crazy?

Listen, the sergeant has been tracking this man for a long time now.

Well, I say that he's crazy and that you're making a mistake.

He's not crazy.

Quiet! I'm going crazy.

Madam! Do you know where the refugees are?

- You don't know? - No.

- Hello. - Hello.

- Is this car going to Tousheh? - Yes.

- Can you take me with you? - All right, get in!

- Hello! - Get in the car, man!

Why did you put your bike in here?

I was scared. The situation is critical. There are bandits around.

But why did you put your bike in the car?

I'm afraid of the road.

But there are no thieves.

You're not scared?

Who, me? Afraid? I could fight off ten of them by myself.

I would kill them like dogs.

Here they come again.

Where are you going?

I'm going to the border. There are more refugees.

Saddam has bombed Iraqi Kurdistan. There are a lot of homeless.

You know, with a little money, I've made a good profit.

I managed to buy a lot of stuff cheap. I got a black-and-white TV.

So business has been good for you!

I saw it on TV yesterday. They have bombed the other side of the border.

That's why the refugees keep coming to our side.

God bless Saddam! Thanks to him, I make good money.

Damn Saddam!

Why do you insult him like that? Saddam has done a lot for me.

This year we had many refugees, and many have gotten sick.

On the other hand, they had lots of money. Much money.

I took a lot of money from them, and I cured them.

So you are a great doctor?

By the way, any news from your father, Mirza?

He lives with my brother. But he doesn't sing anymore. That's all I know.

- How come you don't know? - I'm on my way to see them now.

And the dinar? What's the rate of the dinar?

You want news about my father or about the dinar?

- You must have heard the rumor! - Which one?

- The one that everyone has heard. - No, what are you talking about?

It's about Hanareh. Things are going badly for her.

What she did to Mirza was bad.

That horrible woman. I could spit on her.

She came and went like the wind.

I spit on all faithless women. She was so selfish!

You're completely right.

Driver, stop, I want to get off!

Can't you see I'm taking a shower? Don't kick up the dust.

Weren't you supposed to come this morning?

Bring some water, girl! Hurry up! Pour the water!

That's enough, Audeh. Come out.

Clean up the bath and hurry up.

Where do you think you are? On the highway?

- So, how are you? - Fine, how about yourself?

Give me a cigarette. Why didn't you come this morning?

I had things to do.

This furnace seems higher.

My poor brother, you're losing it. You should change your glasses!

Where is our father, Mirza?

In fact, a few days ago some Iraqi refugees came, and they talked a lot with Mirza.

After they left, Father was really upset. He asked me to send for you.

Why is that?

I don't know, but I have a feeling a trip is ahead.

Where is he now?

I don't know anything about it, but, in any case, refuse to go with him.

He's teaching his class. Go ahead. I'll join you soon.

Hey, kid! Come here!

Tell your master somebody's here to see him.

Who are you?

I am called Barat. Barat, the son of your master, Mirza.

- Son of Mirza? - Yes.

- How are you? Are you okay? - I'm fine. Go and call him now.

Okay.

Master Mirza, Barat is here to see you.

Tell him to wait for me.

- Can you wait for him, please? - Yes. Come here.

- What's that in your hand? - It's a musical instrument.

- What is it called? - A baghlameh.

- Do you know how to play it? - Yes. Do you want me to play?

No, it's all right. Do you know how to sing too?

Yes, I sing very well.

- You know the Dastgahs? - Yes, I know them all.

Which melody can you sing?

- "Shoor." - Great, let's hear it.

Well done, my boy!

- You liked it? - Yes, I really did.

Go now! If not you're going to miss your class... Go!

Mister Barat, have you made a new song?

- Yes. - What's it called?

- "Henar, Henareh." - "Henar, Henarah"? I love your voice.

Thank you. Next time I'll bring you some of my tapes.

Go now!

Hello, dear Father.

You're late.

Why did you want to send for me in the middle of the night?

A few days ago, some Iraqi refugees came to visit me.

They told me something that made me mad.

What did they tell you?

That Hanareh had accompanied the refugees to the border.

Where's the problem? She's not your wife anymore.

- What do you mean? - You're not divorced yet?

No, she's still my wife!

You told us you got divorced 23 years ago!

We didn't get divorced.

I just made up that story to save the honor of the family.

Now you see how you blew the honor of our family.

All because of that woman!

And she chose to leave you for your friend Seyed.

That's enough now. Stop it!

She needs me, and you have to help me find her.

What do we do now?

- Did you bring your bike? - It's parked over there.

- We have to leave for Iraq today. - Today? Is Audeh coming too?

- He doesn't have any choice! - If he comes, then I'll come too.

- So get your bike ready and let's go! - All right.

Hurry up!

So you've really decided to go? Please let me stay with my family.

What's going to happen to my seven wives and eleven daughters?

Shut up!

I beg you. Go with Barat.

He has no wife, no children. He doesn't have to take care of a family.

Be a man!

What do you mean by that?

I'm only asking you how I can leave my seven wives and eleven daughters alone.

Shut up!

Look at Barat, he has no wife, no children. Go with him!

Father, what are all these instruments for?

We're going to take them with us, just in case they arrest us.

We can always say we're on tour.

I'm going to get ready. Let's meet in front of the furnace.

Woman! Get the wedding room ready.

I'm going on a trip and hopefully coming back with a new wife.

Do as you like, but don't come back with a non-Kurdish wife.

I swear I will not leave women alone until I have a son.

But I will not come back with a foreigner.

You'll be in trouble if you do!

Look at that guy! My wives are in danger. Don't force me to come with you.

Do your homework! Come on, let's go!

- Please let me stay. - But why?

There are a lot of strangers around. I'm worried.

Who is Khajeh?

She's in the Iraqi camp. She has news of Hanareh.

- What does she know about Hanareh? - She knows a lot. She was with her.

Oh, my God! Look at all these people.

- Hello. - Hello, Mirza. Welcome.

Do you know someone named Dadeh Khajeh?

- No, who is she? - She's Mostafa's wife.

I don't know her.

- What do you mean? Everybody knows her. - I don't remember.

- Is she the one who lost three sons? - Yes.

- You can find her over there. - Thank you.

Lady, this injection comes from Germany. It costs 8 dinars. Shall I inject it?

Hello, madam, can you come out, please? Which is Dadeh Khajeh's house?

It's over there, in that tent.

- Dadeh Khajeh. - Yes.

Let's welcome them.

Thank you so much. May you always be happy!

What have you told your sons?

I lied to them. I told them Hanareh ran away.

That she had an affair, and that we were not divorced yet.

You told them you were still married?

Yes. I had to lie. If I hadn't lied, they would have never accompanied me.

I had to make it a point of honor.

But that's a big lie, Mirza.

I had no choice.

If people hear about this lie, they are going to believe it.

Because you are their famous Mirza. All the Kurds know you.

Where is the letter? What did Hanareh want from me?

Dadeh Amin, Seyed's mother, has the letter.

Hanareh wants you to have this letter.

You have to go to the Iraqi side to find Hanareh and Seyed. Hanareh needs you.

Where is the letter?

Dadeh Amin has it.

- Hello, how are you, Dadeh Amin? - Hello.

- Do you feel fine? - No.

Any news from your son Seyed and Hanareh?

Mirza, why did you break up the band? Why did you disappoint everyone?

That's not the way it was.

Why did you take joy away from all these people?

It wasn't all my fault. Hanareh and Seyed were to blame too.

Since you have disbanded, there is no one to sing for the people.

Of course there are people singing.

Look at them. You see them.

- Can you give me the letter now? - I don't have it with me.

I don't know. I don't have it. Maybe I lost it.

You lost it?

I had it well hidden. Maybe I lost it on the way.

Look well. In your clothes... Maybe you can find it.

No, it's not here.

Look in your scarf. Look for it!

It must be lost.

- You haven't given it to anybody else? - No.