Blackboards (Takhté siah)

MAKHMALBAF FILM HOUSE

AND FABRICA CINEMA PRESENT

BLACKBOARDS

a film by Samira MAKHMALBAF

- Said! - Yes?

Thanks for your water.

- You've drunk it all! - I was thirsty. I'm sorry.

Forget it.

Where did you go yesterday?

To Dezle.

Why?

Looking for pupils.

But no luck,

I couldn't find any.

I was there for three days.

- Cigarette? - No thanks.

I don't smoke.

You couldn't find any pupils?

Not one.

My father warned me

but I didn't listen to him

and now,

I truly regret it.

- You studied for long? - Two years.

You became a teacher in two years?

I worked hard.

- You like it? - Not really.

Why?

I looked for three days and I found nothing.

I didn't listen to my father.

- What did he tell you to do? - To be a shepherd.

I failed.

He's gone.

Get up.

Hurry up!

And your wife?

When we got back from Tehran, we had a fight

about the doctor.

Her family insulted my family. Mine responded in kind.

So her father took her.

Hurry up. We have to hide him.

It's been three months

since she went back with her father.

She left me with three kids, one of them just a baby

I tried to find him a wet nurse.

I went through a hundred families

to find one.

As a result

he's drunk the milk of many women, even cows

He looks like a hundred different women.

He's got the eyes of one, the ears of another.

And he's sick.

Now I run from village to village

looking for a pupil I can make into a doctor.

That way, we'd never have to go into town.

If there was a doctor in the next village

things would be easier.

- You're going to make a doctor? - Yes.

- Which path are you taking? - The one on the right.

It's dangerous.

- Which way are you going? - This way.

But it's very dangerous.

Wait.

I'll tell you again, it's a death trap.

Yours is even worse.

No. Yours is more dangerous. Goodbye.

- Where are you going now? - to the village.

- Can I come with you? - If you like.

If we go together do you think we'll find any pupils?

- I'm not coming. - Why?

I want to go to the top.

- How many pupils will you find? - Two or three.

Fine. Keep them.

I'm going to climb to the very top.

The villages bring me bad luck.

My fortune lies up there.

Go on, you take the villages. I'm going up there.

Goodbye.

Take care.

Hello!

Hello!

Is there a school here?

I don't know.

And a teacher?

I don't know.

No idea.

Goodbye.

- And I'm sorry. - The Lord will go with you.

Excuse me!

Wait a minute.

What?

Please, read me this letter.

What is it?

What does he say?

Hold on.

This letter isn't in Persian.

Where does it come from?

For the love of God, read it to me.

It's from your son? It's not in Persian. Maybe Arabic?

Where's it from?

From Iraq.

I don't know if it's in Arabic, Turkish or Kurdish.

It's from my son.

But from where? I can't read it.

I return them.

Next he greets his mother,

his sister, his father and his brother

He finishes by saying goodbye.

But how is he getting by? Has he got money?

Iraqi dinars.

How's he getting on in jail?

I'm sure he's fine...

He must have written that he misses you.

At the end, he says goodbye.

He doesn't say when he'll be released?

Goodbye.

I don't know.

But when will he be freed?

That's all?

If it's God's will, he will be released. Don't worry.

Goodbye.

My god!

Young man!

- Are you OK? - Yes, thank you.

Do you know where I can find the shepherd boys?

Up there. This way or that way.

The goats go up this way?

Listen, I am a teacher.

- What? - I am a teacher.

So what are you doing here?

- Looking for children. - Good luck.

- Where are they? - Up there.

Listen, young man, I'm talking to you.

I've already told you, they're up there.

- Which way should I go? - The way I told you.

Straight ahead.

Do you know how to write?

Do you know how to write?

To read and write?

No.

Would you like to learn?

It's useless.

Show me the way.

The way, young man!

Where are you going?

- Young Man! - What?

The way?

Here. There. Also here.

Not this way?

I'm talking to you!

- Young man! - What?

Show me the way.

I want you to show me the way. Look at me!

Leave me alone.

Anybody here?

Anybody here?

Is there anyone here?

Open the windows. Answer me!

Multiplication tables!

Come and learn how to multiply.

One times two is two.

Two times two is four.

Madame!

Do you need a teacher?

- What? - I am a teacher.

Where are your children?

Leave me alone.

- I have come to teach your children. - I am a teacher.

- Who are you? - I'm looking for pupils.

Good for you.

Where are the children?

Go away.

Anybody here?

Anybody here?

Is there anyone here?

I can hear voices.

I've come a long way

to teach your children

to read and write.

You won't need to pay me much.

I'll teach you to read and write letters.

Children, at last! Wonderful! Come here.

Stop. Tell me where you've come from.

Where have you come from?

Where are you going?

Where have you come from?

I've come from deep in the valley to find you.

Let us through, mister.

Just a moment.

I'm not going to eat you.

I only want to talk to you.

- Do you have a school here? - No.

- And a teacher? - No.

- Would you like one? - No.

Where are you going with those burdens?

- We're mules. - What?

- Then I'll come with you. OK? - No.

Let us get past, mister.

Let us get past!

Wait a minute, kid!