24 Days (24 jours)

24 DAYS

My name's Ruth Halimi. I have 3 children.

It was winter, getting colder,

and my life fell apart.

How could something like that happen in Paris in 2006?

Yet everything is true. All too true.

It happened to me, but it could have been anyone.

- Hello, madam. - Hello.

- Did you buy bread? - Yes.

- So they're not coming? - No. The girl's still sick.

- Hi, it's me! - Hi.

- All right? - Yes.

- OK, Mum? - My son!

Mum!

Dinner's ready.

I'll just check my e-mail.

- No, Ilan. It's ready. - Coming.

Ilan.

- What? - Be nice.

Ilan.

- Did you hear? - Yes. I'll be right there.

How was it at the store today?

The cold kept people away.

Want to go out tonight? Where to?

- Ilan! Where are you? - Coming.

- Come on. - I am.

Amen.

Shabbat shalom.

Shabbat shalom.

Yaël, why don't you work with your brother?

For 1,200 a month? No, thanks.

She's right.

It's only temporary.

- What do you want to do? - Start my own business.

Doing what?

It's a secret. But it's a really good idea.

Ask your father to help you.

No. He's too proud for that.

- Stop it. - Admit it, you're too proud.

- Go on. - Leave him be, Yaël.

- Some more? - No, it's lovely...

- It's too much. - Come on.

You have to eat. There.

I bought you some shoes. There was a sale on.

- What kind? - Boots.

Black, with a buckle.

Thanks. That's great.

This is really good.

Eat up.

- Yeah? - It's me. Shall I pick you up?

Not tonight. I'm shattered.

- How come? - I worked all day.

Come off it. It's 10pm. Are you getting old?

No. Ask Jérémy.

He's away for the weekend.

I'm not always available.

Wait, I have another call.

- Yeah. - I'll get back to you.

- Hello? - Darling, it's me.

- Yes? - I'm still at work.

- I'll be late back. - OK.

- I'll call you back. - OK.

- Hello? - Yeah?

- That was Mony. - Can't she go?

No. She's working late.

- I'm shattered... - Come on!

No, really...

I worked all day too.

Tomorrow.

OK, remember to put your nightcap on.

Asshole. Have a good night.

- Hello? - Hello, it's Emma.

- Emma? - Yes.

Ah, Emma! All right?

- Yes. Can I see you? - What, now?

- You don't want to? - Why not?

- Porte d'Orléans in half an hour? - OK.

- Great! See you there. - OK.

- See you soon. - See you soon.

- Finished, Mum? - Yes. Thanks, darling.

- Want some tea? - No, thanks.

- Where are you going? - For a walk.

- It's shabbat. - I know.

- Lunch at your sister's tomorrow. - I know.

Ilan! Wait.

What is it?

You haven't even looked at them.

Well?

They're great. Really lovely.

- The buckle... - Superb.

- They're leather inside. - Fantastic!

Bye, Sis.

- Have fun. - You too.

Hey! Ilan!

Ilan! Can you try them on?

No time. Tomorrow. Love you!

Yes.

It would've taken two minutes.

- Mony? It's me. - Are you picking me up?

No. I'm going out with Jérémy.

Afterwards?

Yes, at your place.

- OK. Love you. - Me too.

- Yeah? - Karim, it's me again.

- Know what happened? - What did you do?

- Listen to this. - Go on.

A stunner, like the ones on TV.

She came to the store. She didn't want a phone...

21 January 2006

- You don't want to eat? - I don't want to eat.

You have to eat. Noa, open your mouth.

Come on.

Mum.

Noa.

Just to please Granny.

Ilan, where are you? We've already eaten.

- A little more. - Call me.

- Blanket. - The little cow eats everything.

Well?

He's on voicemail.

It's not like your brother.

- It doesn't matter. - He said he'd come.

Just this once.

He had a good night, that's all.

Time for your nap.

No! No!

Come with Granny.

Noa, be good.

- Ilan will come. - With Granny. Come on.

Oh! Just a little nap.

Want a coffee?

- Yes, please. - I'll make it.

- Want a walnut? - No.

- Hello? - It's Mony.

Ilan didn't come last night.

I've heard nothing. He didn't come home.

I got a call from a guy who said he was a mate.

He gave me an e-mail address,

but it doesn't work.

Ilan's in trouble.

- Give me the address. - mer-855...

Again.

It's mer: m, e, r, -, 855...

The password is "thanks".

It doesn't work!

I don't get it.

What's going on?

- What is it? - It's Mony.

I've heard nothing from anyone.

It's downloading.

Noa's here. Look out!

Ilan!

Ilan!

What's going on? Tell me what's going on!

Tell me!

- It's Ilan. - What's happened to him?

- He's been kidnapped. - What? I don't understand.

Mony, I'll call you back.

Don't hang up! What's happening?

What does it mean?

They want a ransom.

"We have Ilan and his life is in danger.

"We want 450,000 euros to free him.

"I await your reply from the address

"to the outgoing address

"before 7.30pm.

"If you do not co-operate, he will be held responsible."

There's a photo.

Ilan!

What's wrong?

- Let me see! - No, stop it!

What's on the photo?

He's just blindfolded and holding a paper.

We have to tell your father.

Police Headquarters, 10.40pm

Hi, this is Ilan. I'm not here. Leave a message.

Where are you?

Where are you?

Didier Halimi, H, A, L, I, M, I.

Date of birth: 5 May 1955, in Paris, 11th arrondissement.

- Nationality? - French.

- Married? - Divorced. For 20 years.

- Profession? - Shopkeeper.

"I declare

"that my son was kidnapped

"the night of Friday to Saturday..."

Yes.

"...and that I was contacted..." How many times?

About ten. I didn't count.

- I didn't recognise the number. - I understand.

Sorry to ask you this.

- Do you have a personal fortune? - No.

I have a clothes shop.

And your wife... ex-wife, sorry.

She's a secretary. So why my son?

How's your relationship with him?

We've got closer recently.

- Mr Halimi. - Yes?

- We understand your distress. - Who did it?

We'll find him, don't worry.