Once In The Desert (Однажды в пустыне)

Russian Reconciliation Center has sent a bomb disposal team..

..demining in the area..

The city is practically in ruins..

During this time city has become...

Twenty to forty unexploded land mines and booby traps..

Base, it's raven. I am in the waiting zone.

They are driving on the 4 trucks.

Approaching to the line of sight of the appointed spot.

Bring him out.

Give him here.

Monitoring the target...

foreign language

And you always keep in mind.

...death is always nearby!

Carrying out the field task.

How do we hold our rifle.

Three fingers under the magazine.

Keep the thumb on the safety.

Even if you've... only three fingers.

We've found the wires.

First, think.

Stop!

You're dead.

You're gone.

Those Ali Babas bodge up their tilt sensors out of spares.

In this case, a syringe, entry cables, a metal ball.

- Tilt it, and what happens? - Boom!

One more electronic device.

A gyroscope.

It's triggered by any movement.

Wake up!

If you see an explosive device with a gyroscope, do not touch it.

Once everyone's taken cover,

we yank on the explosive device with a grappling hook.

I pull on it...

and what happens?

Boom!

Boom.

Damn it!

- Captain... - What?

Have you seen this? It's also a geolocation device!

Captain, sir...this is our big day our last day at school,

Pass your exam first.

But we could be blown to bits tomorrow...

But we could be blown to bits tomorrow... Can you read?

Can you read?

What does it say?

"Geolocation devices forbidden."

Any questions?

What are you thinking about?

You have a combat mission today.

Go get ready, and leave at the double.

At the double, I said!

Have you sent the drone?

How's the situation?

We've observed the Syrian Army moving equipment towards Palmyra.

Yeah, copy out!

Gear up!

Riyad!

Come with me.

And switch on the jammer!

Salam!

He say's you're the reason we're offline!

We'll go do our job.

Can you block off the road?

He say's this mine field is cursed.

- A lot of deminers were killed here. - Sure.

What are civilians doing here?

They're locals from Palmyra! He knows them.

Of course.

Hello.

Everyone line up!

Here in this field.

Three Iranian deminers were killed.

So come on, boys... focus!

Whoever passes the exam...

gets a certificate...

A deminer certificate.

Alright, fix the cameras.

Stop searching!

Keep working, Moslem, everyone else, back to cover!

Go, go, go!

Look for the wires!

Don't forget about the false grid!

Look for the grid!

Red or blue?

Don't look at the color!

It can be any color.

Look for the wire. Check the whole socket.

Get back, get back!

He's got it.

Do your job!

And now cut it...

Mohammed is next, Musain get ready.

Alright! Great job, the exam is over.

Line up!

Remove the cordon!

Well, where are we now?

Deminers for real!

Deminers for real!

You will get your certificate at the base.

Riyad, give me your phone please.

- What do you mean sir?! - Come on, come on just for a sec!

I'm not your boss anymore.

- Password? - No password.

Turn off the jammer.

The person you are trying to call is currently unavailable.

He teaches us everything.

WEDDING READY! - So soon...

Alright, what's all this commotion?

- Why are civilians here? - They saw us working,

they say we're heroes.

I said you're the one who taught us.

Please have some!

- You speak Russian? - Yes.

- Russian mother, Syrian father. - Just like me.

It's fairly common here.

My name's Jamilya by the way.

Dima.

Don't just stand around! Pack up!

Here.

May I speak with you please?

- Russian? - In Russian yes.

I noticed you speaking on the phone,

but I have no connection.

And I'm expecting a call.

We set up jammers when we work.

They're off now, check your phone.

Is it working?

It is!

It is.

Are you leaving, too?

Yes.

Without us this mircale ...

will be destroyed.

I was a guide before the war.

- So you know the place? - Yes.

The theater?

We'll be working there. I'll ask you if I have any questions.

Twenty-five children turned into executioners there.

They executed 25 prisoners of the Islamic State.

Yes, I saw the video.

I just kept talking

Were you calling your wife?

- Daughter. - Oh, daughter?

- My daughter. - Your daughter.

Tatyana. Her wedding's coming up.

Have you bought a gift?

Her fiance's wealthy.

Hard to impress her.

The best gift is a father's blessing.

She doesn't asked for my blessing.

My family fell apart a long time ago.

You're easy to talk to.

Dima, sir!

We're taking a photo!

Photo!

Dima!

Hold on.

Dima!

Where are you going?

The equipment!

Get back everybody!

Come on, quick!

I'm talking to you!

Jamilya!

Jamilya...

Over here! Come on!

Where's Jamilya?

I won't go...

- What? - I won't go without her!

Who is she?

I won't go without her!

Captain! Captain, come on!

- I wanted to ask... - You've got a cerebral contusion!

What did you want to ask?

- Turn off the music! - The music is in your head!

Don't worry, your memory will come back. Come on, Captain.

Dima, sir! Dima, sir!

I remember!

Where are my guys?

Shabyorov! You have visitors.

Alright, one more time.

We're not blaming anyone.

We just want to understand the situation.

Mr Shabyorov,

are you aware of the guilt?

And it's a tragic guilt.

We would like to hear from you.

But you are keeping silence.

The file says you've been injured four times in demining operations.

And you also had concussion...

You got those injuries directly in the line of your duties?

- Does the amputation bother you? - It would rather bother me.

I can still juggle, too.

Balls or clubs, up to five objects.

With what, sorry?

Balls.

Ah...

You're heading home tomorrow.