Snails in the Rain (Shablulim BaGeshem)

A film directed by Yariv Mordechai Mozer

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL SUMMER 1989

"Hi Boaz, it's noon... ...the plants..."

SNAILS IN THE RAIN

To: Boaz Refaeli P.O.Box 1551, Tel Aviv

Based on the book "Garden of the Dead Trees" by Yossi Avni Levy

I'll go back to our first lesson, the metaphor of the Swiss prof. de Saussure.

Do you remember the chess game?

There's no difference between him who follows every single move of the game...

...and him who only comes to watch at a very critical moment.

It's the same thing with languages.

We can look at their rules and components at any given critical moment...

...but we can also see how these rules change through time.

You're late, shithead!

- My class was longer. - "My class was longer"!

Tell your professor that you need to get to work on time.

What's this?

"Hi Boaz! Don't ask who I am and how I know you."

"I think of you a lot."

"I'm embarrassed to sit here, near my plants, and to write you a letter..."

"...but I don't have the courage to do anything more!"

- You wrote this, right? - Yeah, yeah! "I think of you a lot"!

Come on now! Hold this closet!

Turn it!

Don't push that much!

- Is it raining? - The last rain of the season.

Come on, move it! The last thing we need now is rain!

- Did you get a reply from Jerusalem? - Not yet.

- Why are you all wet and sweaty? - It was raining earlier.

- A rain? - Yes, the last rain of the season.

I was sure you'd get a reply today regarding your scholarship.

Hands off the cooking pot!

What?

Don't! Not now!

Hello?

- Hi Noa! How are both doing? - Hi Ruth! We're fine. How are you?

I wanted to talk to Boaz regarding his scholarship. Is he at home?

- Boaz? - Yes, is he home?

No, no. He hasn't come back from the University yet.

- And how are you, Ruth? - Fine. I just have a cold...

- Is he going to the children? - The children...?

- At karate. - Ah... the Judo...

Judo, karate... whatever...! Please tell him to call me!

I'll tell him that. Bye-bye!

You're cheeky!

I'd like very much to be present when your mom finds out that...

...her son works as a coolie, a furniture packer.

She'll drop dead on the spot!

She's asked me how you got all these muscles.

And what did you tell her?

I told you that you teach Judo to kids.

That's enough. Go take a shower.

I want you all to look at Arik. When he started with us, he was like... ugh...

Look now how much he's improved! Sucess through hard effort.

Arik go back to your place. Thank you!

If I weren't sweating, I'd kiss you. Congratulations! Let's start!

From the top!

On your positions. Upright body posture... and smile!

Six... Seven... Eight...

Look at each other! At each other!

You are beautiful! Full of pride!

Turn around!

- Stop laughing at me! - Sorry, I can't help it!

I must take off these horrible shoes.

Nir change place with Yoni. Boaz, wake up!

- Boaz! Boaz! - What?

Hang on in there man. We're in this together. Smile!

Smile!

- Don't fuck it up! Smile! - Shut your mouths! Run!

You're under fire!

Come on, Boaz! Do your best!

I know that you're here!

Your beard is stinging me.

I love you!

"Hi Boaz! It's noon now and I'm sitting in my office at home."

"In a while I'll water my plants."

"I grow a geranium near the kitchen window."

"I have a tradescantia (spiderworts) and a huge plant named Yucca."

"An exotic name with an Indian sound in it. Don't you think? Yucca!"

"Most of the time I stay home."

"And very rarely, I have the guts to do anything unusual."

"But I shouldn't burden you with my embarrassing stories."

"Here, surrounded by these walls, I live with my most beloved friend..."

"...my loneliness."

"My loneliness and I, we hold hands in the dark and watch the TV."

"Time is our worst enemy Boaz. It has no mercy!"

"Some day you too will realize that."

"Or maybe not."

"You'll soon leave from the post office."

"You'll drive to the University with your car, a Subaru of 1981."

"In the break, between classes, you'll have a coffee with applecake."

"And you'll smile to all the girls."

"Afterwards, you'll drive home, to your girlfriend, who loves you."

"But me, Boaz? Who'll love me?"

"At night, you hold her in your arms. But who will hold me in his arms?"

"I've already written too much! I can't keep my secrets from you."

"I think of you all the time!"

In Egypt, at Tel-el-Amarna, on the banks of the Nile and in the winter of 1887...

...there were discovered clay tablets written in cuneiform Akkadian language.

The Akkadian was the international spoken language, the lingua franca...

...for the Egyptian Empire of that time and for many Middle Eastern nations.

Something like English today.

Therefore, how can these letters sent from Canaan help us today?

How can they help us understand Hebrew the language that we speak today?

Who will bring to light the secrets of the Amarna letters?

- Professor Richlin? - Ah, Boaz!

Have you received any reply about the scholarship?

That's why I wanted to talk to you.

I thought that maybe you could help me with this matter?

I make recommendations only. You must be patient. It always takes time.

We've no house in Jerusalem and I wanted to know if I should start looking for one.

Patience! It takes time!

- Coffee, sir? - Yes.

Black, one sugar please.

Thank you, prof. Richlin.

Remember this song?

"There was a dream by the window."

Noa, have you enrolled at the Haifa Polytechnic already? (The Technion)

What Haifa and what Technion? We're going to Jerusalem!

Why study architecture in Haifa if she can do it in Jerusalem?

She should study to become a chef, right?

A pastry chef...

How long are you together with Boaz?

Next week it'll be one year and three months. And you two?

- Want more coffee? - Four and a half years...

...as of two days ago.

Didn't you tell me that you would enrol at the Technion?

Yeah... but I don't know...

Everything OK?

I'm just checking the material for my exam tomorrow.

Since when do you worry about exams and tests?

Hold me in your arms!

Boaz, this car is falling apart!

You said the same thing last time too!

Boaz! I must confess something to you!

I fuck your car on purpose 'cause I love seeing you around here often.

Oh boy, you fell for it! Loosen up man!

Why so serious all of a sudden? The University is ruining your brains.

Hezzi, finish up there and then take care of his car.

You can have it back in two days, OK?

How's the cake?

It's just a cake...

When is Boaz coming home?

He's still at the University.

If he knew that you were coming...

Do I need to call and tell you that I'm coming? It's a wasted phonecall!

Alright, I think I've waited long enough...

- I'm sorry! - Don't be! It's not your fault.

Tell me, Noa... Do you two ever plan to get married?

I don't know.

I can only speak for myself.

Don't you ever talk about it?

- Maybe it's too early? - How come "early"?

Tell him to call me, alright? And water the geranium. It's summer!

I'll tell Boaz. He waters the plants.

And you? What do you do? Ah... you cook...

Anyway...

I don't smoke.

Come on! Try it!

- I'll be late for class - So what? Me too!

I'd rather be on time.

You asked for the "Introduction to Syntax of the Semitic Languages"?

- Yes, thank you! - You're welcome, Boaz.

How do you know my name?

I saw your student I.D. on the table.

Cut it out! Boaz, enough already!

Calm down, handsome!

That's prof. Richlin, my teacher at the University.

Mother!

Why do you look horrified?

- Did you tell us that you're coming? - Why do I need to inform you?

I simply took the bus and got here. Where are you going?

To the University.

I brought your favored cake and some honey from Yossi and Nitza's village.

We were there and they asked us to take them to Tel Aviv.

I don't know why people would want to visit Tel Aviv?

- Mom, I'm in a hurry! - I'm not holding you up!

- We also visited the village Nir David. - Did you forget something Boaz?

- Ruth! What's this? A cake? - Yeah, the one that Boaz likes!

I just wanted to bring you some things and then I'll leave.

What's this smell in the house? Ah... you're cooking again!

Boaz, are you following me?

The noises in your car were from the carburettor.

You can pick it up tomorrow morning.

Boaz?

What do you want?

You didn't get your scholarship?

How come? There's no letter yet.

Ah... You're so quite...

Boaz, is there something bothering you?

No! Certainly not!

Shit! I hate it when this happens!

It doesn't matter. They say it's good luck, right?

I have no idea!

I don't believe in this nonsense.

What's there to believe? Things are just like that.

Boaz? Shall we take a bath together?

How long does it take for a letter to come here from Jerusalem?

I'm sick of going every morning to the post office.

Do you want me to go there tomorrow morning?