Kilometre Zero (2005) - full transcript
In the late 80's, in the small village of Amedi, the Kurd electrician Ako is forced to leave his family and join the Iraqi army to fight in Basra against Iran. When he is assigned to escort the coffin of a deceased soldier to his family, the crosses the country with an Arab driver and plots a scheme to desert the army and bring his wife and son to Paris.
K?LOMETRE ZERO
The Iraqi opposition maintains
Saddam Hussein's militiamen
are executing Iraqi soldiers
caught trying to desert
The Kurdistan Democratic Party
states a hundred or so Iraqi soldiers
have crossed the line
of demarcation
to seek refuge
in autonomous Kurdistan
From Porto Alegre to Brussels
the Philippines to the Mid-East
protesters are in the streets
"No to Bush, No to War"
slogans are everywhere.
Seen on one banner:
"This war is not ours.
It's about imperialism."
One Iraqi, Kurd refuqee
from Paris
said to demonstrators
in an iterview:
"We know America is imperialistic.
But we want to be rid of Hussein.
He imposed 35 years
of tyranny on us." Then he added:
"We would have welcomed liberation
by France, Switzerland, Scandinavia
but no one else came."
At 3:32 this morning, Paris time,
US President George Bush
announced to this nation the start
of the military operation:
Iraqi lines south of Basra
have been crossed
This sector is run
by Ali Assad Al Majid,
better known as"Chemical Ali"
for having gassed
thousands of Kurds in 1988.
During the Anphal Campaign,
182,000 Kurds were killed,
more than 5000 villages destroyed.
Southern Iraq's Shiite population
knows "Chemical Ali" well...
Iraqi Kurdistan
Early 1988, a few weeks
before the Halabja Massacre
Come here
Closer!
Put your hands up!
Your documents!
I left them at home
I'm in the Reserve.
Take him away
Get in!
Arab or Kurd?
-Iraqi,sir.
-I know you're Iraqi.
Arab or Kurd?
Kurd,sir.
In that case...
Go down walking backwards.
Stop!
Come back!
You're a Kurd...
Do a Kurdish dance
-I don't dance,sir.
-Yes, you do.
I don't
Now run!
Come back!
The Arab Nation is United
by the Divine Message it Carries
Run!
Come back!
Stop!
Dance!
Dance!
Bravo...
Run!
Any criminal connections?
No.
-What about deserters?
-No.
Good.
Your opinion of Saddam Hussein,
President and Commander-in-Chief?
Not everyone is lucky enough
to have a president like ours.
True.
What's your job?
Electrician
-Let him go
-Yes,sir.
Ride with us.
No, thanks. No.
I said get in!
No,thanks.
You refuse?
Thank you,sir!
We must leave here.
Not while my father's still alive.
You father will end up
burying us!
Fine. I'II discuss it with him.
You know Ahmad? Our neighbor,
your childhood friend...
He's dead! They say
his own daughter killed him.
With her own hands!
With her own hands!
That flying machine...
A helicopter crashed onto the house
of your step-daughter Najiba.
She and her children were killed
And they say apparently
our neighbor Kamel...
They say he killed Saddam Hussein
this morning.
Selma and I...
We have decided to leave here.
We're leaving you alone.
The decision is made!
Selma and I are leaving here.
You'II be alone.
You're all idiots.
Go to hell!
I need your help.
I want to leave the country.
Come fight with us in the mountains.
I don't want to fight.
I want to leave the country
Fight with us
or end up the Iraqi Army.
You'II die for Saddam Hussein.
It's better to fight for Kurdistan
Ako!
I fought on the Iranian front.
I sacrificed my leg
to save myself losing my head
You're both animals!
You don't care about me!
You only care about yourselves!
Selfish!
What about me?
Look at the state I'm in!
You don't care I'm dying!
Come here,you dogs!
Don't hide!
Look at me!
Come here!
You're hiding in shame!
Hiding in shame!
Selma, we must leave.
I won't leave my father all alone.
They're sending me to war.
Selma, we have to escape.
Then find a solution for my father!
Tomorrow, I'm called to the front.
You know how to leave the country?
No!
If I knew,
I would have left long ago.
What will we do?
I don't know.
What can we do?
No choice.
Attention, all soldiers!
All soldiers to the central yard!
That party doesn't interest me!
Come on, Sami!
Let those Kurds rot in hell!
We are involved in a vicious war...
Against local enemies,
gangs of Kurdish guerillas,
agents of imperialism and zionism
This is also a decisive war
against the Iranians.
I swear to Allah!
Not a fish will be left
in the Tigris and Euphrates,
unless it swears loyalty
to Saddam Hussein
To Iraq
To the Arab Nation
Soldiers!
If the Iranians don't kill us...
Then we'?? die from the heat
in Basra.
Adnan,Ako...
Look at those mountains.
We might never see Kurdistan again.
Sami, don't.
We'll be back.
Basra
Iran-Iraq Front
Company!
Attention!
At ease!
Company!
Listen up!
We received a new set of orders.
Any soldiers caught leaving the base
without the proper authorization
will be punished.
Any soldier caught leaving the base
with a weapon will be shot!
-Understood?
-Yes,sir!
Attention!
At ease!
Attention!
To the wall and back!
What's your problem?
Coward!
Come here!
Why aren't you running?
They'?? just come back.
-What?
-They'II came back.
They'II come back?
Come here!
Coward!
Here, both of you!
Hurry!
Take that coward to my office!
Take him!
Take him, I said!
Karwan was right. At least fighting
for Kurdistan was honorable.
But what are we doing here?
Who are we fighting for?
Too late.
Dying for Kurdistan is honorable.
Dying for Iraq...
That's stupid.
What am I doing here?
I'm so stupid!
Damn this war!
And damn Iraq!
Why the hell am I here?
I'II sacrifice this leg.
Or maybe this one.
Do you think a beautiful woman
could still love a one-leggend man?
I want to run away to Europe.
At least the Europeans are smart.
They stopped fighting 40 years ago.
And when they do have a war,
it's pretty serious...
Not less than 60 million dead!
Running to Europe too, asshole?
Europe is great.
That Anita Ekberg prancing around
in the Trevi Fountain...
Her body all wet...
Those beautiful breasts
and the best ass in Europe!
Please tell us more.
Her breasts are like ripe apples,
but sweeter than you can imagine.
And that great ass...
Take it!
Go on, take it!
Stop that!
Go on, take it!
Go on, bastards!
Take my damned leg!
-Give me some.
-Didn't you have any?
There was none left.
Get your backpack
Leave your gun at the depot.
Yes, sir.
Adnan!
We might not see each other again.
Take care.
Good luck.
Here's the letter for the martyr's family.
This is your permit.
Deliver the body
and return in 3 days.
Yes,sir!
The nation has spread its wings...
Stretching across the horizon...
This nation has become the glory
of all other civilization...
You can't use paved roads
during the day.
Yes, sir.
You have to wait for nightfall
Or use dirt roads during the day.
Move along!
Every era chooses its men...
Ours has chosen you, Saddam...
Your hand holds the divine message...
Our friendly relations with France
are based on cooperation.
We respect its international role.
We are in frequent communication.
You don't speak much.
I was a soldier in the North
with you Kurds.
Did you kill many of us?
Be right back.
Bring some water.
Idiot!
Just a disconnected wire.
-Hello.
-Welcome.
Do you have a screwdriver
I could borrow?
-My husband!
-That's not your husband.
My husband is dead!
That's not your husband.
That man's from Dihok.
Calm down!
It's not your husband!
Calm down!
Stop!
Idiot!
Damn Kurd!
I spit on you!
Where's the martyr from?
From Zako.
You can't drive with that
through cities in the day!
Understood?
Park behind the wall.
But we have 500 km to go.
Behind the wall, now!
But the body will decay.
That body is not my problem.
Behind the wall, I said!
Anything to eat near here?
Eat? Think we have restaurants?
Get out of here!
Come back here.
Come here, I said.
Where are you from?
Amedi.
Why do you Kurds
refuse to become civilized?
Why refuse to learn Arabic?
Why not become real Iraqis?
Want me to smash your face in?
Get out of here!
Go to hell!
Don't do that with the flag!
You Kurds have messed things up
as long as Iraq has existed.
Stay away!
And your flag's history?
It changes according to
the boss's whims!
Got any kids?
Nice-looking boy.
And you?
Not that one!
That's my wife.
Don't look at her.
Asshole...
Like I'II eat her!
Betray me and I'II kill you.
Enough.
This is paradise.
This is Kurdistan.
Kurdistan?
Say "Iraq"!
Iraq! Iraq!
Iraqi planes!
They scare me.
Those planes,here...
Get back in!
Time to go.
You don't like Arabs.
Well, you don't like Kurds.
Want to talk about
Arabs and Kurds?
Let's talk about it.
So let's talk Arabs and Kurds.
You start.
No, you start.
Say something.
So?
You say something.
Say something.
Go on.
No,you.
No.
Forget it.
Idiot!
You can't parade around town
with that coffin!
It will depress people!
He died for the country.
That's no reason!
We're taking the body to his family.
Enough talk! Go on and move along!
Park behind that wall.
-But sir...
-Enough talk!
Sir. we're hungry.
Eat poison! Just move it!
Behind the wall, I said!
Understood?
Asshole!
Hey, Rezgar!
How are you, Ako?
-Escorting a body?
-Yes.
Who is he ?
Where's he from?
Your friend...
Sami.
No...
Not Sami!
Get in.
We, have to go.
What happened?
The family moved to Akre. Hurry!
But I have a family.
I have to go back home.
Come on!We have to get to Akre!
Get in, let's go!
I've had it.
Do what you want.
What are you doing up there?
Get down!
Idiot!
Wait. I'II jump down!
-Man...
-What?
I'm starving.
I can go for food
without the coffin.
-OK, but come back.
-Right away.
You're a nice guy...
But I swear to Allah
I'd cut your throat if I could.
Kurd!
Yeah, you're nice, too.
But take more than 15 minutes,
and I'II shoot you down, Arab!
Traitor!
The nation has spread its wings...
Stretching across the horizon...
This nation has become the glory
of all other civilizations...
Deserter?
Yes, 75 hours ago.
Got any money?
My wife does.
Where is she?
In Amedi.
I want to bring her and my son here.
But I have a problem...
Her old father.
If he's not dead yet,
could you help him?
It's really better if he dies.
He's already dying.
It's a problem.
So it's better for him
and it'S better for us.
It's better for everybody.
1000 dinars...
You'II have your wife here tomorrow.
This entire village was evacuated.
Deported everybody.
Take any house you want.
Thanks.
The voice of Kurdistan, here...
Kurdistan representatives
are calling out
to the US, to the UN, to Europe,
and the entire international community
for an immediate intervention
in favor of our people.
The extermination campaign
led by the Iraqi army
has reached a horrific climax
with the use of chemical warfare
on surrounding Kurdish areas...
Son!
How are you?
Are you alright?
Bring him here.
Where are we?
At the end of the world.
This is hell. Hell!
What?
The Turkish border!
Northern Kurdistan.
We're at the border.
France, France!
We're in France.
We flew to France!
Know where France is?
-Stop it!
-Why should I?
Why do that?
He's messing up everything!
I'm only doing this for us!
What more do you want from us?
Ako!
Thank you.
Selma...
I love you infinitely.
My love is as big
as those mountains...
Even more so.
Selma...
I want you.
Go get ready.
Come on. I'II take you
to where it's cooler.
The sun is blinding me.
I really like you.
I'II put you in the shade.
Give me your hand.
-Where are my shoes?
-Forget about them.
I'm putting you in the shade,
under the tree.
Selma, go inside.
Are the planes back?
No, they're gone.
Don't be afraid.
Remember what Father used to say:
"Our past is sad...
"Our present is tragic...
"Luckily we have no future."
In our top story today,
April 9,2003...
Baghdad has fallen to
coalition forces...
We're free!
We're free!
The Iraqi opposition maintains
Saddam Hussein's militiamen
are executing Iraqi soldiers
caught trying to desert
The Kurdistan Democratic Party
states a hundred or so Iraqi soldiers
have crossed the line
of demarcation
to seek refuge
in autonomous Kurdistan
From Porto Alegre to Brussels
the Philippines to the Mid-East
protesters are in the streets
"No to Bush, No to War"
slogans are everywhere.
Seen on one banner:
"This war is not ours.
It's about imperialism."
One Iraqi, Kurd refuqee
from Paris
said to demonstrators
in an iterview:
"We know America is imperialistic.
But we want to be rid of Hussein.
He imposed 35 years
of tyranny on us." Then he added:
"We would have welcomed liberation
by France, Switzerland, Scandinavia
but no one else came."
At 3:32 this morning, Paris time,
US President George Bush
announced to this nation the start
of the military operation:
Iraqi lines south of Basra
have been crossed
This sector is run
by Ali Assad Al Majid,
better known as"Chemical Ali"
for having gassed
thousands of Kurds in 1988.
During the Anphal Campaign,
182,000 Kurds were killed,
more than 5000 villages destroyed.
Southern Iraq's Shiite population
knows "Chemical Ali" well...
Iraqi Kurdistan
Early 1988, a few weeks
before the Halabja Massacre
Come here
Closer!
Put your hands up!
Your documents!
I left them at home
I'm in the Reserve.
Take him away
Get in!
Arab or Kurd?
-Iraqi,sir.
-I know you're Iraqi.
Arab or Kurd?
Kurd,sir.
In that case...
Go down walking backwards.
Stop!
Come back!
You're a Kurd...
Do a Kurdish dance
-I don't dance,sir.
-Yes, you do.
I don't
Now run!
Come back!
The Arab Nation is United
by the Divine Message it Carries
Run!
Come back!
Stop!
Dance!
Dance!
Bravo...
Run!
Any criminal connections?
No.
-What about deserters?
-No.
Good.
Your opinion of Saddam Hussein,
President and Commander-in-Chief?
Not everyone is lucky enough
to have a president like ours.
True.
What's your job?
Electrician
-Let him go
-Yes,sir.
Ride with us.
No, thanks. No.
I said get in!
No,thanks.
You refuse?
Thank you,sir!
We must leave here.
Not while my father's still alive.
You father will end up
burying us!
Fine. I'II discuss it with him.
You know Ahmad? Our neighbor,
your childhood friend...
He's dead! They say
his own daughter killed him.
With her own hands!
With her own hands!
That flying machine...
A helicopter crashed onto the house
of your step-daughter Najiba.
She and her children were killed
And they say apparently
our neighbor Kamel...
They say he killed Saddam Hussein
this morning.
Selma and I...
We have decided to leave here.
We're leaving you alone.
The decision is made!
Selma and I are leaving here.
You'II be alone.
You're all idiots.
Go to hell!
I need your help.
I want to leave the country.
Come fight with us in the mountains.
I don't want to fight.
I want to leave the country
Fight with us
or end up the Iraqi Army.
You'II die for Saddam Hussein.
It's better to fight for Kurdistan
Ako!
I fought on the Iranian front.
I sacrificed my leg
to save myself losing my head
You're both animals!
You don't care about me!
You only care about yourselves!
Selfish!
What about me?
Look at the state I'm in!
You don't care I'm dying!
Come here,you dogs!
Don't hide!
Look at me!
Come here!
You're hiding in shame!
Hiding in shame!
Selma, we must leave.
I won't leave my father all alone.
They're sending me to war.
Selma, we have to escape.
Then find a solution for my father!
Tomorrow, I'm called to the front.
You know how to leave the country?
No!
If I knew,
I would have left long ago.
What will we do?
I don't know.
What can we do?
No choice.
Attention, all soldiers!
All soldiers to the central yard!
That party doesn't interest me!
Come on, Sami!
Let those Kurds rot in hell!
We are involved in a vicious war...
Against local enemies,
gangs of Kurdish guerillas,
agents of imperialism and zionism
This is also a decisive war
against the Iranians.
I swear to Allah!
Not a fish will be left
in the Tigris and Euphrates,
unless it swears loyalty
to Saddam Hussein
To Iraq
To the Arab Nation
Soldiers!
If the Iranians don't kill us...
Then we'?? die from the heat
in Basra.
Adnan,Ako...
Look at those mountains.
We might never see Kurdistan again.
Sami, don't.
We'll be back.
Basra
Iran-Iraq Front
Company!
Attention!
At ease!
Company!
Listen up!
We received a new set of orders.
Any soldiers caught leaving the base
without the proper authorization
will be punished.
Any soldier caught leaving the base
with a weapon will be shot!
-Understood?
-Yes,sir!
Attention!
At ease!
Attention!
To the wall and back!
What's your problem?
Coward!
Come here!
Why aren't you running?
They'?? just come back.
-What?
-They'II came back.
They'II come back?
Come here!
Coward!
Here, both of you!
Hurry!
Take that coward to my office!
Take him!
Take him, I said!
Karwan was right. At least fighting
for Kurdistan was honorable.
But what are we doing here?
Who are we fighting for?
Too late.
Dying for Kurdistan is honorable.
Dying for Iraq...
That's stupid.
What am I doing here?
I'm so stupid!
Damn this war!
And damn Iraq!
Why the hell am I here?
I'II sacrifice this leg.
Or maybe this one.
Do you think a beautiful woman
could still love a one-leggend man?
I want to run away to Europe.
At least the Europeans are smart.
They stopped fighting 40 years ago.
And when they do have a war,
it's pretty serious...
Not less than 60 million dead!
Running to Europe too, asshole?
Europe is great.
That Anita Ekberg prancing around
in the Trevi Fountain...
Her body all wet...
Those beautiful breasts
and the best ass in Europe!
Please tell us more.
Her breasts are like ripe apples,
but sweeter than you can imagine.
And that great ass...
Take it!
Go on, take it!
Stop that!
Go on, take it!
Go on, bastards!
Take my damned leg!
-Give me some.
-Didn't you have any?
There was none left.
Get your backpack
Leave your gun at the depot.
Yes, sir.
Adnan!
We might not see each other again.
Take care.
Good luck.
Here's the letter for the martyr's family.
This is your permit.
Deliver the body
and return in 3 days.
Yes,sir!
The nation has spread its wings...
Stretching across the horizon...
This nation has become the glory
of all other civilization...
You can't use paved roads
during the day.
Yes, sir.
You have to wait for nightfall
Or use dirt roads during the day.
Move along!
Every era chooses its men...
Ours has chosen you, Saddam...
Your hand holds the divine message...
Our friendly relations with France
are based on cooperation.
We respect its international role.
We are in frequent communication.
You don't speak much.
I was a soldier in the North
with you Kurds.
Did you kill many of us?
Be right back.
Bring some water.
Idiot!
Just a disconnected wire.
-Hello.
-Welcome.
Do you have a screwdriver
I could borrow?
-My husband!
-That's not your husband.
My husband is dead!
That's not your husband.
That man's from Dihok.
Calm down!
It's not your husband!
Calm down!
Stop!
Idiot!
Damn Kurd!
I spit on you!
Where's the martyr from?
From Zako.
You can't drive with that
through cities in the day!
Understood?
Park behind the wall.
But we have 500 km to go.
Behind the wall, now!
But the body will decay.
That body is not my problem.
Behind the wall, I said!
Anything to eat near here?
Eat? Think we have restaurants?
Get out of here!
Come back here.
Come here, I said.
Where are you from?
Amedi.
Why do you Kurds
refuse to become civilized?
Why refuse to learn Arabic?
Why not become real Iraqis?
Want me to smash your face in?
Get out of here!
Go to hell!
Don't do that with the flag!
You Kurds have messed things up
as long as Iraq has existed.
Stay away!
And your flag's history?
It changes according to
the boss's whims!
Got any kids?
Nice-looking boy.
And you?
Not that one!
That's my wife.
Don't look at her.
Asshole...
Like I'II eat her!
Betray me and I'II kill you.
Enough.
This is paradise.
This is Kurdistan.
Kurdistan?
Say "Iraq"!
Iraq! Iraq!
Iraqi planes!
They scare me.
Those planes,here...
Get back in!
Time to go.
You don't like Arabs.
Well, you don't like Kurds.
Want to talk about
Arabs and Kurds?
Let's talk about it.
So let's talk Arabs and Kurds.
You start.
No, you start.
Say something.
So?
You say something.
Say something.
Go on.
No,you.
No.
Forget it.
Idiot!
You can't parade around town
with that coffin!
It will depress people!
He died for the country.
That's no reason!
We're taking the body to his family.
Enough talk! Go on and move along!
Park behind that wall.
-But sir...
-Enough talk!
Sir. we're hungry.
Eat poison! Just move it!
Behind the wall, I said!
Understood?
Asshole!
Hey, Rezgar!
How are you, Ako?
-Escorting a body?
-Yes.
Who is he ?
Where's he from?
Your friend...
Sami.
No...
Not Sami!
Get in.
We, have to go.
What happened?
The family moved to Akre. Hurry!
But I have a family.
I have to go back home.
Come on!We have to get to Akre!
Get in, let's go!
I've had it.
Do what you want.
What are you doing up there?
Get down!
Idiot!
Wait. I'II jump down!
-Man...
-What?
I'm starving.
I can go for food
without the coffin.
-OK, but come back.
-Right away.
You're a nice guy...
But I swear to Allah
I'd cut your throat if I could.
Kurd!
Yeah, you're nice, too.
But take more than 15 minutes,
and I'II shoot you down, Arab!
Traitor!
The nation has spread its wings...
Stretching across the horizon...
This nation has become the glory
of all other civilizations...
Deserter?
Yes, 75 hours ago.
Got any money?
My wife does.
Where is she?
In Amedi.
I want to bring her and my son here.
But I have a problem...
Her old father.
If he's not dead yet,
could you help him?
It's really better if he dies.
He's already dying.
It's a problem.
So it's better for him
and it'S better for us.
It's better for everybody.
1000 dinars...
You'II have your wife here tomorrow.
This entire village was evacuated.
Deported everybody.
Take any house you want.
Thanks.
The voice of Kurdistan, here...
Kurdistan representatives
are calling out
to the US, to the UN, to Europe,
and the entire international community
for an immediate intervention
in favor of our people.
The extermination campaign
led by the Iraqi army
has reached a horrific climax
with the use of chemical warfare
on surrounding Kurdish areas...
Son!
How are you?
Are you alright?
Bring him here.
Where are we?
At the end of the world.
This is hell. Hell!
What?
The Turkish border!
Northern Kurdistan.
We're at the border.
France, France!
We're in France.
We flew to France!
Know where France is?
-Stop it!
-Why should I?
Why do that?
He's messing up everything!
I'm only doing this for us!
What more do you want from us?
Ako!
Thank you.
Selma...
I love you infinitely.
My love is as big
as those mountains...
Even more so.
Selma...
I want you.
Go get ready.
Come on. I'II take you
to where it's cooler.
The sun is blinding me.
I really like you.
I'II put you in the shade.
Give me your hand.
-Where are my shoes?
-Forget about them.
I'm putting you in the shade,
under the tree.
Selma, go inside.
Are the planes back?
No, they're gone.
Don't be afraid.
Remember what Father used to say:
"Our past is sad...
"Our present is tragic...
"Luckily we have no future."
In our top story today,
April 9,2003...
Baghdad has fallen to
coalition forces...
We're free!
We're free!