Unveiled (Fremde Haut)

Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking.

We've just crossed over the border

and left Iranian air space.

Excuse me... Can I do anything to help?

- Would you happen to have a cigarette? - Of course.

Here you go.

- Thank you very much. - You're welcome.

- Feeling better now? - Yes, thanks.

The Hand of Fatima.

Nice...

My mother had one like it when I was little.

Thank you.

- It will keep us safe. - Yes.

- Take care. - Thank you.

New paragraph: Reply, colon, opening quotation marks...

"l was arrested again" Period.

"I was imprisoned for two weeks" Period.

A month later, they broke into my apartment.

They came at night, but I managed to escape".

Period, final quotation marks, end of paragraph.

You tried to enter the country with forged documents.

It was the only way

- she could leave the country. - Why did you leave?

You need to cooperate with the authorities here.

- You'd better answer or... - I was being persecuted.

Oh... So, you speak German?

- I'm a translator. - Well, then I guess...

...We should hire you to interpret for us instead of him.

So... why were you persecuted?

Why?

For political reasons.

Reply, colon, opening quotation marks...

"This time, they threatened to kill me".

Period and final quotation marks.

End of paragraph.

Do you have an authenticated copy of the death sentence?

I need your reply for the statement.

No, I don't.

Did you bring your husband in that?

Huh?

Husband inside?

I brought you something for the little one.

- Roller-skates. - Thank you.

Telephone broke.

We go America.

My cousin B'lint...

... restaurant.

We go.

San Francisco... very nice.

With the ocean...

B'lint not married.

You hungry... you come.

Excuse me, I need to make a phone call.

A repairman's coming tomorrow.

Well, if it's that urgent...

Dial this number first.

Thank you.

Can you think of a poet from the Romantic period?

- "Hello?" - Shirin!

I'm so glad I finally reached you! Can you talk?

Not for long, I'm not alone.

- I arrived safely. - Starts with "No"...

Ends with "is"... Seven letters.

- "How are you?" - That's "Novalis".

I'm fine. How are you? Is everything alright?

- Are you really safe where you are? - Yes, sweetheart, don't worry.

It will only take a few days, after all...

And the hotel is very nice.

But what about you? Are they bothering you?

No... They blame you for everything.

They treat me like some poor, sick woman...

... Who's recovering from a disease.

Oh, Shirin...

I miss you so much.

- "I'm not going to leave Iran". - I know.

- "It's better if you don't". - I know.

I won't call you again.

Take care.

- You, too. - "I have to hang up, someone's coming".

Uh, is that spelled with "w"?

No... with "v".

- Hello, how are you? - Much better today, thanks.

What was the matter?

When the Pasdaran came looking for me...

...I had no time to flee, so I hid.

Instead of me, they grabbed my brother...

...and pinned him to the ground.

He saw the fear in my eyes...

... When they demanded to know if he was Siamak Mostafai.

And so Reza claimed he was me...

... and they took him instead.

I just stood there and watched... as they marched him off.

I did nothing to help him.

There was nothing you could do.

As soon as they realize he's not you, I'm sure they'll let him go.

Reza thought he could go through with it for me.

And he did.

You can start a new life in Germany, without fear.

In Germany! This isn't Germany!

They can send us back anytime!

This is an airport, no man's land!

I'm sorry.

Would you promise me something?

If you're allowed to stay here...

...and I'm not...

Would you...

Would you write to my parents for me?

In my name, pretending you're me?

They're not going to send us back.

You... I... America.

l... you...

Muhammad El-Tayeb?

El-Tayeb?

Plane!

- And this? - Bird!

Here we say "Vogel". "Vogel".

He should rather learn German.

What happened?

Another stunt like that and he's out of here!

Idiot!

Two days before his hearing!

If they find out, he'll be on the next plane out!

Tell him that!

Don't worry... He won't report you.

I talked to my parents on the phone.

And, how's your brother? Is he still in jail?

No.

He's dead.

Ms... Fariba Tabrizi?

Hey, Fariba... Tell me, what happened?

I didn't tell them the truth.

I'm.

I didn't flee the country for political reasons.

You can tell me.

The real reason is that I was with a woman.

But I'm sure you can explain that to them.

Just tell them that, explain it to them.

I did! But they're sending me back home anyway!

No way!

- They can't do that! - Oh, yes, they can!

They don't believe a word I say anymore.

Now they're telling me to go to hell!

Siamak?

Listen, I won't be able to write your parents.

They're picking me up any minute.

Siamak, wake up.

Siamak?

Tabrizi, Fariba...

... you have requested political asylum in the Federal Republic of Germany.

Your temporary residency permit is valid until

the legitimacy of your request has been determined.

Most people keep their cooking utensils in their rooms.

Hey, maestro! Stew again today?

Give me a second pot and I'll make something else.

This is Samiak... He's your new roommate.

Well it won't be forever...

Probably only for a year or two...

Well then...

Are you hungry?

At least he won't take up much space, just standing there.

You come in, you close the door.

"Dear Mother and Father,

l only just left Tehran a few days ago.

But it already seems like an eternity to me.

I already miss you so much it hurts.

But I really don't want to complain... I'm doing very well here.

Germany is beautiful.

They have all kinds of strange bread here.

The people here talk very quietly, and they clean a lot.

They even wash the garbage cans.

They're friendly and helpful.

I can see huge trees from the window of my hotel room.

There are so many trees here. Everything is a lovely, lush green.

I'm sure I'll find work and have my own apartment soon.

Excuse me...

I have to lock up now.

Come...

We'll watch a video of my home.

Hey... Come, have a beer with me.

Then you tell me about your country.

You having visitors?

I need a job.

Smells good!

I need a job.

We aren't allowed to work.

It's hard to find work without papers, you see?

- And papers? - Ha!

There is so much paper in Germany!

Government papers, toilet paper... even paper to eat.

I have no job for you.

This is our new man.

Maxim, are you crazy? We'll end up doing all the work.

He'll cook for us.

No work for you today, sorry. Three are enough.

You're too young.

- You want to work, you come. - Asshole!

Hold the cabbage like this, okay?

Not like that, or you'll lose your hand.

Here...

You try it.