The Valley of Tears (La Vallée des larmes)

The time has come, Mother.

You've trusted me all these years, and now it's time for me

to accomplish the dark destiny you've prepared me for.

THE VALLEY OF TEARS

It's for Les Editions Al'arme! Les Editions Al'arme!

- Hello, Isabelle. - Hi, Marie. So what's new?

Oh, don't know. What's this?

No, at the hospital.

No, nothing new.

Yes, good morning. am calling about Order 1257, please.

Yes, Josee.

Can take care of it.

But can't come by before Saturday. am really swamped.

MY MOTHER SAID I'D BE A REAL MAN SOMEDAY.

THEN, WOULDN'T NEED HER TEACHINGS ANYMORE

THAT TIME HAS COME...

Yes, am.

Can't tonight.

Absolutely not, sorry.

OK, let me know if there's anything new.

Great, on Saturday. Bye.

You're here!

Managed to free myself.

It's wonderful!

- Where is she? - She's being given a bath.

Thanks for coming.

No need to thank me, Josee.

I'll come early tomorrow.

- Marie! - Hello.

Come in.

Can't, Mr. Kieslowski. I'm already late.

But brought you some crosswords.

Have a good day.

Thank you.

Where are these envelopes coming from?

"On my 12th birthday, my life changed.

“That day, understood why they were whispering in my presence.

“It was to hide something from me that everyone knew."

“We would never be able to return to Palestine. ”

SABRA AND SHATILA CAMPS LEBANON, MAY 1982

That night, from my hiding place,

overheard a conversation between my parents and Uncle Abbas.

Everything became clear

and saw myself as a future hero.

A white knight born to accomplish a mission."

to save his people from restless wandering.

didn't want to impress my father and my elder brother.

only wanted to dry my poor mother's tears.

She still crocheted tablecloths

to cover the little tables in her childhood home,

which overlooked olive trees.

She had to ?ee on a night with a full moon in 1948.

She was 5 and would never see that house again.

That evening, after Uncle Abbas had left,

kissed my children's games goodbye.

In my torn heart, Mother, vowed that,

from now on, your tears would only be a few more drops

in the sea that we would cross one day.

We would make the great voyage, with me up front and you behind me.

Isabelle?

Yes.

Listen, there's a book that came out this summer on Palestine.

Don't remember who published it

but maybe you could find me the title

and the sales figures.

Yes, great, thanks.

Yes?

Forgot to give you this.

Thank you. Where are they coming from?

Found them under the door.

“Your wish is now my duty, and your fear, my death.

“You are the path of my destiny.

“I am yours, Mother,

“the puppet of your ambitions, the jester of your prayers. ”

Ecstasy fulfills me.

am sublimating my life waiting to save you,

to become your hero, your prince,

your beloved.

AASHTAROUT - LEBANON, 1983

BIG & SMALL WILD ANIMALS

When we get older, there's nothing worse than a foreign environment.

Marie!

Are you OK, love?

Yes. Yes, thank you.

I'll come back later.

Don't tell me that you and that stallion...

How'd you manage that?

Well, have to go.

Bernard's waiting with the girls to go to the mall.

- When are you coming back? - Soon.

You'll have your weekend, don't worry.

Thank you.

- Bye. - Bye.

In 1948, it's the Nakba, the disaster.

More than 700,000 Palestinians ?ee their villages

following the Arab-Israeli War.

The poorest take refuge in camps in neighboring Lebanon,

one of the few countries willing to accept them.

It's a small French-speaking country,

landlocked in the Middle East with people of many faiths.

It is very fragile.

In 1975, the presence of the Palestinians exacerbates

the tensions already brewing between Lebanese Christians and Muslims.

A civil war breaks out and lasts 15 years.

Six abominable massacres punctuate this deadly war.

All communities are involved with unprecedented violence.

The most notorious is the massacre at the Sabra and Shatila camps.

In September 1982, the Israeli army that controls the region

allows a bloodthirsty Christian militia to penetrate the camps.

Thousands of Palestinians, including women and children,

are murdered in the camps.

The news went around the world.

Nine days later, 300, 000 Israelis take to the streets

and demand the truth.

The Kahan Commission is set up,

but with no legal mandate or judiciary power.

It establishes that Ariel Sharon is personally responsible.

In Lebanon, Elie Hobeika, the mastermind behind the massacre,

never pays for his crime.

Later, he became a deputy and obtained two ministerial portfolios

before being assassinated in 2002.

Thanks.

- Hi, Isabelle. - Hi.

Doing well?

Thanks.

Do you want another coffee?

No, thank you. It makes me nervous.

Where is he from?

No idea!

SABRA AND SHATILA CAMPS LEBANON, SEPTEMBER 1982

How's it going?

Not too tired?

Thank God.

You're Arab, right?

Yes.

I'm Marie.

Joseph.

Marie and Joseph...

Hey, actually need the walls of my living room repainted.

How much do you charge?

Cheap.

By that, you mean...

The price you're willing to pay.

When could you start?

- Tonight? - Tonight!

Well... sure.

We could do the estimate, then we'll talk.

Is that OK? I'll give you my address.

Well then, 8:00 p.m.?

It's Gilles. Leave me a brief message.

Hi, boss.

Take the advice of an ex-girlfriend and change your message.

It's really too dry.

No, seriously,

have a story about the massacres of Sabra and Shatila.

So please call me as soon as possible, OK?

You're very punctual! Come in.

Can do it in three or four evenings this week

I'll start by taking your coat.

Would you like something to drink?

No,thank you.

In fact,

I'm not really sure want to do any repainting.

Yet, feel it's overdue. What do you think?

It can easily last another two years.

Well, I'll think it over.

But, please, sit down.

Are you in a hurry? Do you have a wife and children?

No.

- How old are you? -40.

You're 40. You're Palestinian.

The same as the guy who sends me these envelopes.

Never said was Palestinian.

- What are you? - Lebanese.

Sorry.

Have nothing to do with this Palestinian.

Let me know what you decide for your living room.

AASHTAROUT CONVENT LEBANON, SEPTEMBER 1982

Isabelle, could you ask Joseph the painter

to come to my office, please?

Great, thanks.

Come in. Close the door.

Don't know how it is in your culture, but here, we don't bite.

Sit down.

Well, just wanted to tell you that thought it over.

Decided not to repaint.

Yesterday, you talked about a Palestinian, right?

Yes.

Am very familiar with this culture. can help you

No, no, it's been settled.

Settled?

Look, the documents receive are anonymous.

Can't do much with them.

Listen-

Come to my place tonight at 8:00. We'll talk again.

- Sorry. - It's OK. Come in.

Got your message this morning.

Look, in my opinion, it's an exceptional firsthand account.

I'm not sure.

Rwanda happened in 1994 and you published the same year.