At Five in the Afternoon (Panj é asr) (پنج عصر)

At Five in the Afternoon

Ah, that fatal five in the afternoon!

It was five by all clocks!

It was five in the shade of the afternoon!

It was five in the shade of the afternoon!

Oh God forgive my sins!

Tell pious men to close their eyes

on women

and control their lust.

That is more chaste.

God is aware of their actions

and women stamp not their feet on the ground,

lest their hidden beauties become evident.

Oh, God forgive my sins!

Schoolgirls must wear black dress and white scarf.

Why have you put on a colored dress, Noqreh?

- Madam? - What?

Madam, if I wear a uniform

my father won't let me come to school.

Why?

He believes women shouldn't go to school.

Why not?

Sit down!

The Department of Education has sent a notice for us

to ask students

about their future careers.

For example

those who want to be teachers

raise your hands.

Thanks.

Put down your hands.

Now

those who want to be engineers

please stand!

Those who want to contribute more

to the country

and who want to be doctors

do the same!

Sit down please!

Most importantly,

who wants to be Afghanistan's next president?

Afghanistan's next president.

Very well!

How can an Afghan woman in a burka

with a child become president?

Have you seen a childless woman?

People won't choose a woman to be president!

But she's worthy and capable of becoming president.

A burka won't stay on us forever

and the child will grow up!

Did you ever study women's history?

Do you understand?

Your parents don't let you go to school

or wear a uniform.

How can you become president?

A wise and brave girl chooses for herself.

I made my decision.

I made my decision

and it's none of my family's business.

We are Muslims.

A Muslim girl can never rise up

and declare herself president.

Have you ever seen a Muslim woman president?

Her eminence Ayesheh, the Prophet's wife?

Not every woman can be her!

Why can men be president but not women?

I lost my father and brothers

in a male-ruled regime, not a women-ruled government!

I lived in Pakistan for a few years.

Binazir Butto was premier there.

Remember India's premier was a woman: Indira Gandhi?

She said women could rule for generations.

She spoke well and worked for people.

We're not other countries.

We're talking about Afghanistan.

When Binazir Butto was the premier, though a woman herself,

she created the anti-women Taliban here

and destroyed the society.

Binazir Butto was for the Taliban.

When she was president

the Taliban were against woman.

That's your opinion.

If I become president

I'll treat people

kindly.

I'll laugh, because if I cry from my sorrows

everyone will get sad and cry.

No one understands the pain of losing a family

unless they experience

the same misery.

I lost my father and brother.

Kabul has so many problems.

What's wrong with Afghan women?

Girls weren't allowed in school.

Women had to stay home and couldn't work.

Afghan women were completely oppressed!

Especially how girls couldn't go to school!

We were deprived of education.

Men are women's guardians,

for God

created some superior to others.

Take the bucket and bring some water.

The well's dried up!

Leylomah,

any news of your husband?

No one's had any news.

What can I do?

My milk's dried up

and they baby is dying of hunger and disease.

Let's take her to the doctor.

We have no place. Everywhere is ruined.

There's nowhere left to live.

Follow me if you want to live in ruins!

Do you know if Pakistan's president is a man or a woman?

I don't want to answer that question.

Why not?

I don't like politics. I'm after real life.

You were in Pakistan a long time.

Why don't you know the answer?

Does it matter if I know?

Does it have anything with me?

I'd like to know if it's a woman or a man.

Ask someone else.

I don't want to answer you.

Do you know, Madam?

No, I don't know anything.

I was a beggar in Pakistan. My son was killed.

I have a daughter-in-law and two grandchildren.

I'm illiterate.

My unfortunate mother

had four sons.

One was killed in the Russian assault,

one in the civil war and one by the Taliban.

I'm the only one left alive.

See what shape she's in. This is all politics!

Look there.

They're not here.

Look, that one.

Give back our hen!

That hen is ours.

We've offered you shelter, and now you're accusing us of stealing your hen?

It was a little egg

that I fed and raised with no bread for myself

and now you want me to give it to you?

Why are you lying?

See my white hair?

I'm not lying.

I offered shelter, now you're stealing our hen?

Her baby is sick.

Give it back. What are you saying?

Why are you wrongly accusing us?

We offer you shelter and you accuse us.

I raised the little chick.

Will you swear it's yours?

No, I won't.

The chicken is ours! It's ours, ours!

Which school do you go to?

Qaleh Qazi

Will they register me too?

Why not?

What's the address?

It's far.

Don't worry, I know that school. I'll take your daughter there.

Stay with other refugees. This room is too small for us

and you're a stranger.

My husband's not here and my baby is sick.

I don't have enough food.

I can't share the room with you.

Take one half and we'll live in the other.

Don't put up a curtain!

We won't leave.

We'll have fights everywhere.

Live together. Don't ruin the ruins more.

Look Noqreh!

They put up a curtain in our room!

What?

They're living in our room!

What should I do?

Sir

Would you take us to Barchi field?

Veil your face and I'll take you.

OK, we will.

Cover up. It's sinful.

Veil your face

Don't talk to strangers.

- Do you understand? - Yes

If you have to,

put your finger in your mouth

so your voice

won't sound feminine,

because it's sinful

Don't end up in hell

for this world.

Do you hear?

Don't remove your veil.

OK

Why did you reveal your face?

Get out. Stop. Get out! Why are you doing that?

You're not taking the short way to heaven

but the long one to hell?!