Bashù, the Little Stranger (باشو غریبه کوچک)

CULTURAL ASSOCIATION OF YOUTH

BASHU, THE LITTLE STRANGER

A film by Bahram BEYZAI

Soussan TASLIMI

With Parviz Pourhosseini Adnan OPHRAVIAN

Akhbar DOUDEKAR

Farokhlara and Reza HOUCHEMAND

Zabialah Salmani Mohtaram KHOCHROU

Cinematographer: Firouze MALAKZADEH

Produced by Ali-Reza ZARRIN

Written and directed by Bahram BEYZAI

It's called Death.

The crafty arrive without warning.

Are you afraid of following?

I'm surprised to be alive!

If she comes, she will destroy us.

I'll eat on the way. How much?

My dear, if you go, I'm coming too.

| take no passengers.

Are you scared? Take him.

Excuse me, | don't carry contraband

or passengers, because I'm being watched.

When do you open this tunnel?

Little by little, slowly.

If the materials get here before the snow.

They say!

Mom! Come and see!

There's someone down there.

Wait!

Go away!

Shut up!

Boy, take it!

Hey, get out, you scared the child.

Who are you?

Laic?

Muslim?

I'm talking to you!

What are you doing in this mousehole?

Get out of here!

What did you use to become so black and so dirty?

Speak now. You don't answer?

As you say, poor dumb?

You don't go?

Too bad.

Well, stay in your hole!

Hello, God bless you.

Thanks, you too.

We can speak your language.

Don't make round eyes.

QOuchine, Golbesar, come clean.

What is your name?

Your mother, your father, your sister, your brother,

what are their names?

What is your name?

Wash it first. Him first of all.

Maybe you're a genius, out of a coal mine.

You're black,

you're dumb,

you're without a name...

Every man has a name.

The only one who does not is the giant of the desert.

Your brother did not flee.

He has courage.

He comes himself. Did you see he didn't cry?

My father called me Naie.

| named my children Golbesar and Ouchine.

What is your name to you?

What are you doing? Where are you from?

He has abandoned you

or you ran away?

You're lost, perhaps?

If you want any seeds, come and get it.

If | had wings, | would be up above you.

You didn't fall from the sky.

Where do you come from?

Mom, Mom ...

| came from far away.

| don't know where | am.

Am | still in Iran?

| don't understand your language.

| exist too.

| have the protection of my parents.

Hamani, my sister, was your size.

What happened?

| woke up with a start one morning

| was hungry, my father rose from the table,

the earth moved. The noise was deafening.

Mom prayed but | did not hear,

smoke blinded me.

My sister Hamani was lost in the smoke.

Mom caught fire and burned.

My father raised his arms to heaven

and he fell to the ground.

I ran to school: the teacher lay under the bricks.

My God, why didn't you take me?

They are now searching for me in the other world.

I'm left alone.

Well, dear Naie, what's new?

Aunt, | am alone.

My husband's chasing after work.

He'll come home sooner or later.

These children need their father.

Where does this piece of coal come from?

It comes out of a mine?

Isn't there any mail for me?

A letter? No.

1,2,3,4,5..

It's been over twenty days.

Usually they came earlier?

No, more than twenty days.

Then what?

Have you any soap?

Two pieces.

Who is he, this swarthy man?

Go away, why are you checking the dates?

What are you doing about hospitality, Marhamat?

Clear!

He's with me.

A parent?

I have no family. This is our guest.

When | have washed him, he'll be white.

Then get more soap!

The rice will grow better thanks to this music.

Mama!

It's called "chops".

And you, what are you called?

I'm Naie.

Bashu.

It seems you have a guest who looks like a wild animal.

Where does he come from?

| don't know.

Does he have a language?

The poor man speaks but | do not understand.

He looks at us as if we were strange.

Hello. That's the boy?

What a surprise, step-sister!

Have you lost your way?

Look. One calls that a smoke blackened lamp.

What's his name there?

Bashu. | think he said Bashu.

Bashu, what does that mean?

Each beginning has an end.

He came, when will he leave? Who will look for him?

Last year we had a guest who ran away.

As if he was a thief?

He's not sick?

Show me your teeth.

Then look at his head.

Dear Naie, you haven't acted properly.

You do not have parents but you should have consulted us.

He was lost, step-sister.

Stay here a few days.

It's fate that will decide.

There must be something wrong, if he was abandoned.

This is the newcomer?

Why not say hello?

It's impolite.

All It takes is a bit of politeness.

Who are his parents?

And if he was bad luck?

Exactly. What if he brought disaster,

the plague or something?

You should be ashamed. Shut up.

You have done very well. May God reward you.

You should still not leave him alone.

We have a roof to share.

But if something happens to him,

trouble will come.

Creating a host of expenses.

My brother went to look for work

and you bring a mouth to feed.

You drank your tea, and chatted.

Return to your homes.

Good wind! You've told enough stories.

You've hurt me. | made a mistake?

You scared him to death.

You'll regret it, dear Naie.

If | shake your hand, spit on it and send me back!

Go away. So you're not prevented from sleeping!

My wife is sick and cannot work.

Lend him to me. 1 will put him to work in the field.

Give him to you for work? He isn't an orphan.

I'll give you 10 tomans per day.

| am responsible but he has relatives too.

You owe me a lot.

Rather than settle your debts,

you spend it on him?

When my husband comes back, | will pay my debts.

Mom, I'm feeling ill.

Step-sister! Bashu is sick, help me!

All right. Come back soon!

Who are your friends? Who are your enemies?

Shouldn't they spit on your hand?

What to do with the child of another?

Oh neighbor! Put on your shoes and come here!

The child is dying.

The poor thing is delirious in an unknown language.

| beg you to come.

You have already healed my children.

My medicines are effective only for whites.