12 Angry Lebanese: The Documentary (2009) - full transcript

Attention, attention to the sergeants
and chiefs of all three floors.

Sergeants and chiefs of all three floors.

Please open the cells for the theater guys.

Please open the cells for the theater guys.

Sergeants and chiefs of all three floors.

Please open the cells for the theater guys.

Please open the cells for the theater guys.

"How can it be possible?"

"I still don't know if I believe him
Maybe I don't."

"But you voted not guilty
without hesitation"

"11 men voted guilty."



"It's not easy to raise my hand"

"and send this boy off to die
without talking about it first"

- "Well, who says it's easy?"
- "No one".

"Just because I voted fast?"

"I believe this boy is guilty."

"You can talk for ages
I won't change my mind"

"I'm not trying to change your mind."

"All I'm asking for is to talk about
someone's life."

"It's not something we can decide
in less than 5 minutes."

"Supposing we're wrong?"

"What?"
Here it should be more cynical.

"What? Supposing we're wrong?"

"It's easier for me to think that the
roof of this room will fall on our heads."

"Stop this nonsense!"



Casting for number 3 or number 8.

Number 3 insists that the boy put on trial

should certainly be executed
by the electric chair.

Number 8 did not say a word.

Neither did he say that
the guy is wonderful, innocent

and fabulous and so on...
He just asked for the evidence.

The difference between number 8
and number 3 is that number 8 thinks.

Number 3 is controlled by his instinct

he is controlled by his desire
to kill the boy...

The first time I heard about
the theater project here in prison

I heard the news from the guys
I mean the inmates.

I was in the handcraft workshop

and then one inmate working
in the administration came in

and asked who wants
to participate in a theater play.

First, I did not understand the idea

I thought that people from outside
will come and present a theater play.

We went to the first meeting
just to know more.

We weren't taking it seriously

I went to the meeting.

But I was considering it all as a lie

just like people who come
to us once, twice... and then disappear.

- "I just want to kill him!"
- Sick! You are a sick person!

Stay in character Hussam!

- "I'm sick?"
- Yes you are sick! Not a liar!

"I'm sick? I am sick?
Leave me! Leave me!"

"I want to kill him!"
"I want to kill him!"

- "I'm a psycho? You are a psycho!"
- You are a psycho!

- "You are a psycho!"
- You are a psycho!

After a while, the number of applicants
went down from 150, to 30, to 6.

At the end, we were only 5 selected
from our building.

We discovered that there were applicants
from other buildings as well

from the convicts Bldg and from Bldg (D)

At the end
the total of all participants was 45.

Attention, attention to the sergeants
and chiefs of all three floors.

Sergeants and chiefs of all three floors.

Please open the cells for the theater guys.

Please open the cells for the theater guys.

Attention, attention to the sergeants
and chiefs of all three floors.

Sergeants and chiefs of all three floors.

Please open the cells for the theater guys.

Please open the cells for the theater guys.

First theme.

Proving yourself.

Think of it outside the context of the play
as we've read it.

Proving yourself.

We will talk about it in two phases
Phase one is about you.

If you want to link this topic
to your personal history.

When or how did you
try to prove yourself?

- Rateb, are you done?
- Just a moment!

Join us.

Rateb.

- Ali, can you help?
- Dinosaur.

- Just wait a moment!
- Answer Dinosaur.

I'm charged with rape.

Actually, it is not a charge. It's reality.

How long is your sentence?

5 years.

My name is Anwar the Iraqi
serving a 15-year sentence for murder

I'm now in my 7th year, I still have 8.

My crime is drug dealing

unfortunately it's drug dealing

and trafficking forged money
and other forged goods.

Of course, I wasn't the forger
but I confessed everything.

Why am I in Roumieh?
Because I'm guilty.

I'm sentenced to death for murder.

I'm convicted of murder

I've already served 14 years
of my sentence and I still have one year

- 14 years.
- Yes.

How old were you
when you were put in prison?

17 and a half

I'm serving a life sentence
I've been in prison for 16 years.

That's it!

- What is your charge?
- Murder.

I'm charged for murder

I've been in Roumieh prison for 4 years
and no judgment has been pronounced yet

I've been here for 5 years
My charge is drug dealing.

I'm serving a life sentence!

And I've been here for 18 years.

Hello, I'm Youssef Chankar
or Grandpa Chankar.

Or, as MP Ghassan Moukheiber calls me

the Dean of the prisoners
participating in this play.

Why?

Because I've been in prison for 18 years.

Not 18 months or 18 days

18 years

216 months

6570 days

157440 hours

9446400 minutes

566784000 seconds.

But I'm not serving an 18-year-sentence.

I'm serving a life sentence.

Oh world full of wonders!

Full of treason for no reason.

Oh world full of wonders!

Full of treason for no reason.

Full of tears and suffering.

Full of tears and suffering

and those who forgot about us
are not to blame

and those who forgot about us
are not to blame.

The easiest psychological
defense mechanism

that we as human beings use

is "burying the truth"
or what we call denial.

As if the incident did not happen to me
I reject it.

We need to start with
your own real life stories.

If we don't talk about real things
we can't do monologues

we will have nothing
to communicate to the audience.

There are people here
whom I still know nothing about.

Now you have the chance.

If I hear 1, 12 or 13
participants opening up

I would be ready to tell my story
and tell you about my family as well.

Ok then, let us start from here.

If there is no trust
we cannot work together.

A group without trust
can never achieve a thing.

They will all fail.

Hussein, we are in prison
We are not out there free...

Guys! We can build trust.

The first rule for building trust is letting
each one of you express his feelings freely.

Even if we do not agree
we have to listen to each other.

It's the best thing about it.

We are working on personal stories
coming from you

and you decide what to share with us
and what you are ready to share.

Otherwise nobody will be able to listen.

I will start with the first topic
Proving yourself.

Many times I've reached death
to prove my personality.

To prove myself
"Look at me, I'm Hussein"

I was put behind bars for this reason

I've even reached the point of ignoring
my parents, my family and my values

I imposed myself
as the only one in control.

I did wrong to my father

I did wrong to my mother
I did wrong to my siblings

and I did wrong to my four wives
whom I married to prove my personality.

As if I was telling people
"Look! Hussein has four wives".

But at the end I found nothing but failure
Always failure.

Do not think that one single day
was successful. Only failure.

At the end
my biggest punishment Zeina...

It was when my dad died
while I'm in prison.

I, Hussein Noun, the tough powerful man

couldn't even walk a few feet
behind my dad's coffin.

- Thank you Hussein.
- No problem.

Chankar?

I will show you a sentence that
summarizes what I am.

Outside prison, I was a jackass.

Let me correct the spelling

I don't want you to correct
I wrote it this way.

Being a jackass has cost me my whole life.

Why are you saying I'm not?

Why are you saying I'm not?
Outside prison I was a real jackass

and I'm paying my life as a result.

My life is now divided
half outside prison and half inside prison.

Personally
I don't like to talk about the past.

It happened that I talked about it
during these years

and I know the pain it causes me
for several days.

Sometimes we have chats in the cell
and I find myself obliged to talk.

I tell a little and then feel very bad
I don't want to talk.

I've been through a lot
I've been hurt by the people closest to me

and my personality is the reason
behind all my troubles.

Before entering prison
no one even dared to deal with me

and no one dared to tell me I was wrong.

No one in the family whether old or young
dared to say I was wrong.

Whether old or young!

My mother was the only exception
She is the only one I respected.

All the others were nothing to me.

This is the personality
that ruined my life.

This is the personality
that put me behind bars

and made me pay my whole life
Why would I talk about it still?

Why would I even mention it?

I've said it all
I'm a jackass. What do you want more?

I didn't say
I was a smartass outside prison

I'm saying I'm a jackass.

You guess why I say jackass
because I'm in prison

because I never negotiated
I never accepted to give and take

I always had the last word.

Nouri, come closer.

If you pass, join the circle and say it.

- Join the circle and say pass.
- I don't wana talk about anything.

Nothing at all?

Nothing. My situation is even worse.
I don't want to talk.

- You too were a jackass outside prison?
- Not a real jackass.

I was a kid who was fooled
by some people.

A kid who was fooled by some people.

They told me
"it 's a matter of 6 months, a year"

"and you'll get out as a real man"

15 years have passed
and look at the man I've become.

Enough. Pass.

Attention, attention to the sergeants
and chiefs of all three floors.

Please open the cells for those I'm calling
to come down to the theater.

An eye for an eye.

Remove your line.

You'll say
"Come on Sirs, let's start".

Let's repeat that, ok!
I will give you the modifications today.

- "Come on, Sirs"
- "Let's start".

In the play
a boy is accused of killing his father.

There is the jury who needs to come up
with an unanimous verdict.

They are tired in the courtroom

the members of jury are tired.

The jury wants to finish with this matter.

They aren't thinking about the boy
who killed his father.

They don't care
if he'll be executed or not.

One of the members is taking the matter
too personal and wants the boy dead.

He won't succeed because at the end
the jury finds the boy innocent.

Character number 8 supports the accused

and asks the rest of the Jury for one hour

to discuss the issue of the boy
who had no lawyer to defend him.

- "Why don't we talk in turns?"
- "Indeed, let's go once around the table".

"Each one will have two minutes
You start first."

"It's hard to say."

"I just guess he's guilty."

- Say it louder.
- "I mean I thought"

"I thought it was obvious"

- "I mean, did anyone see him doing it?"
- It's not a question!

- "Somebody did see him doing it!"
- "Somebody saw him doing it!!"

- "Did anyone see him doing it?"
- "Somebody saw him doing it!!"

"Did anyone see him doing it?"

It means that the neighbor
saw him doing it!

"Somebody saw him doing it"
the son of a...!

Ok? Go.

The role of number 2
reflects a little part of me.

The part of timidity or hesitation.

It's someone who wants to say something
and is afraid to say it.

And when he says it
he's also afraid because he said it.

It's like me

and I'm shy
particularly with ladies.

The foreman of the jury
is someone who is at times grumpy.

Does this character reflect
your personality Anwar?

No, I'm not close to this character

I don't get annoyed
or bothered from the group like he does.

Are you sure Anwar?

- Yes I'm sure.
- Are you sure Anwar?

- Yes.
- Are you sure Anwar?

Yes I'm sure. Why you're asking?

- Come on, let's go by turn.
- "This is a poor woman"

"laying on her bed and she can't sleep."

"It's really hot, her window is open"

- "You picture that"
- No, it's the same intonation.

Zeina, you didn't tell me
to memorize this.

- You told us till page 10
- Ok.

- Ok?
- This has nothing to do with that.

Fine, you're right.

- What do we do now?
- What did we say here?

Try to correct it yourself
I've already given you the remark.

"She is a poor woman."

"She is a poor woman laying
on her bed and she can't sleep."

- This is ok. Right?
- Right.

- "It's really hot, her window is open"
- Write "AND" her window is open

I don't have "AND"
I will add it now. AND her window is open.

And now ask us
to see if we got your point.

- Wait a second, "can you picture that?"
- Bravo.

- You are asking us.
- I know, I know, perfect!

Well this role suits me well
I have tried many other roles.

But I found myself in this one

I have an issue and I'm overcoming it
with the help of Zeina Daccache

I'm a very curious person. I gossip a lot.

I'm nosy about things that are not
my business. But I just poke around!

Before, I was like number 3
The edgy guy who acts impulsively.

He thinks that he is always right
and never listens to others.

This is how I was.

If I were like number 8 outside
I wouldn't have been here in prison now.

What are we doing here then?

We are here to talk about a kid
who was corrupted by life.

Do you know what it's like for a kid
to live on the streets in this city.

After having lost his mother?

He was put in an orphanage
when he was 9 years old

while his father was serving
a two-year sentence in jail for forgery.

Is this good for a start?

They say the boy is very bad
tempered and wild, that's true.

But do you know why he's like that?

Because he was beaten every day
of his life. Every single day for 19 years.

This is pretty miserable
and I think we owe him a few words.

Nothing! We owe him nothing!

In the play, I'm closer to the boy
who committed the crime

I'm closer to him.

None of the characters of the play
except the boy who committed the crime.

- He's very much like me.
- Why?

Because, like me
he was a victim of injustice.

But you did commit your crime
Didn't you?

Yes I did.

So why are you saying that the boy
is a victim of injustice?

Because I feel he is
Because ever since he was a child

he used to be beaten and hurt
and nobody had mercy on him.

The same thing happened to me.

And no one asked about your past?

Nobody asks about the past
They only ask about what they see.

An eye for an eye.

At first, I didn't participate in anything
Not a single thing

I used to sit and watch the guys.

Some acting, others dancing
Some telling their life stories.

Others crying, some turning out grumpy
And I was only watching.

At times, I've comforted some.

Told them to be patient
and that everything will be ok.

While I was sitting and watching

I was often asked: "what are you doing
in this theater project?"

I replied: "just spending time
making fun of the guys".

Really I'm not joking.

They used to ask me "Honestly,
what are you doing in this play?"

I answered
"Nothing, I just sit and watch".

And Zeina kept on asking me
"Capo, what do you want to do?"

I'd answer
"I have no idea".

When I first heard about the project
I joined the group

but I was sure I will not act in the play.

But I directly felt
enthusiastic for the project

I felt that something unprecedented
is being achieved in this prison.

So I wanted to participate

and I love theater since
I was outside prison.

Why didn't you want to act?

Maybe, I'm shy

I don't like acting, I would rather
do anything backstage.

So what are the sentences
that are mostly used by children?

- I want.
- I don't want

- I want.
- I like

- I don't like.
- It's none of your business.

Leave me alone.

Now, what are the sentences that
are mostly used by parents?

- Sit straight.
- Behave.

Now, does any one of you deny
saying these words daily?

You're not children
and most of you are not parents.

Abou Abdo, don't you often use
expressions such as

"I don't want"
"I don't Like", "I don't feel like."

No, I use them daily.

Mawla, don't you always use expressions
such as.

"Sit straight"."Behave".

I mean giving orders.

Ok, So this is the role of authority.

We all have it because we all had parents.

And we have the role of the child
because we all were children. Right?

The role of the child remains in us
it doesn't fade away.

Now, there is an important role
we didn't mention.

It may also be present in our lives

but we unfortunately
don't reveal it at all times.

What do you think this role is?

I mean reacting within limits.

- The peaceful.
- The mature.

- The adult.
- The one who does not attempt to control.

- The one who respects himself.
- The one who has experienced life.

Good, so let us call it
the role of the adult.

For a long time
I've been considering myself as an adult.

So, when you started this session

I thought to myself I am adult enough
and I shouldn't listen to such a thing.

Later, I was surprised to discover
that I'm not even an adult.

My understanding of adulthood
was so different

than the one
you have been talking about

I discovered that
I'm not even an ordinary kid

I'm a confused kid
who doesn't even know that he is a kid.

The role of the adult was never
really present in my life.

Maybe just in 5% of my whole life.

But until now
the child's role is dominating

"I want this". "I want that". "I like"...

Until now.

- Where does this attitude lead you?
- The role of the child?

It leads to problems
selfishness, failure, egoism.

First, I was taking my life for granted

I was led by my desire

I didn't care for anything.

Prison made me discover responsibility

I didn't have a fulfilling childhood

I mean I've lived my childhood
for a very short time

I didn't live the role
of the child as it should be.

Many circumstances
prevented me from living it.

I've played the role of parents
at a very young age

when I shouldn't have played it

I've played the role of the mother
while I shouldn't have

I lost my father at a very young age

I had to be the parent
and take care of my siblings.

This parent role has taken much of my life

I reached a point where I played the role of
the parent instead of enjoying my childhood

I was busy taking care of my siblings
Until... I lost myself

I so wanted to achieve things in life.

All in all, I've spent my whole life
giving and never taking.

What Dear? You're that of a coward?

How dare you sit with us?
Vote guilty like the rest of us?

And just because some
golden-voiced preacher

tears your heart out with the story of a
kid who couldn't help becoming a murderer.

You change your vote?

If you are that emotional and caring.

Why don't we collect
some money for the kid?

- How dare you talk to me like this?
- How dare you change your vote?

Who do you think you are?

Stop it people! He is an edgy man
Take it easy!

Edgy? I am edgy?

- Aha! Isn't it better?
- Big difference.

Can you embody this character for a while?
It should be fun!

This role is not related to you in anyway.

Walk around with more energy.

You're a show off
you believe your own lies

I mean you're in the jury room and 6 ladies
at least are waiting for you outside

and waiting for you like crazy!
"I want Mustafa!"

- "I want Mustafa!"
- Oh Gosh!

This is number 12!

Number 12 speaks out loud
to let everyone hear what he is saying.

"Mustafa Zaiter!"

"Oh! Hi. I've seen you outside"
"How are you?"

"Hello! How are you?"

"Hi!"

Haven't you ever seen such people?

Beirut is "FULL" of them!

I don't see such people!
I swear to God.

If I ever see them
I would shoot them on the spot.

Give me one sentence
you like in French.

- French!?? Are you kidding me?
- You're telling a girl "Je t'aime Sophie".

- What?
- "Je t'aime Sophie".

"Je t'aime Sophie."

My friends between my pages

hidden in the words
and they've stayed there.

All were executed
Who is left?

All are gone.

My friends between my pages

hidden in the words
and they've stayed there.

All were executed
Who is left?

All are gone.

I used to think that conscience is a weapon
and Justice always wins.

Whose conscience is calm
while tormenting human beings?

I used to think that conscience is a weapon
and Justice always wins.

Whose conscience is calm
while tormenting human beings?

God did not create us as wolves
We are human beings.

God did not create us as wolves
We are human beings.

God did not create us as wolves
We are human beings.

- "I want to remind you"
- I want to

I want To

"I want to remind you that this man walks
very slowly and they helped him to sit."

They HELPED him
can you say They HELPED him?

- "They helped him to sit down"
- Repeat the sentence.

- "I want to remind you"
- "I want to..." Stop it man!

- Leave him alone.
- All of you want to interfere.

- Let him say it.
- Why are you getting upset? It's OK.

Listen, when three or four people
interfere at the same time

the person won't know
what to say anymore

he'll be confused whoever he is.

- Even me.
- He needs someone to help him.

But William you trust yourself.

Of course I trust myself but too much
too much noise makes me angry.

Why don't each one of us
take care of his role

and stop bossing around on others!

At 12:10 midnight exactly

on the night of the crime, he heard noise
coming from the apartment above.

He said it sounded like a fight.

Then he heard the boy shouting
"I want to kill you".

Few seconds later
he heard the sound of a body falling.

He ran to the door
of his apartment. Opened it

and saw the boy
running down the stairs.

Then he called the police and they found...

- THEN he called the police.
- "On the night of the crime"

"he heard noise coming
from the apartment above."

"He said it sounded like a fight."

You should be more bored!

- THEN.
- "Then".

- NO! THEN.
- "Then".

NO! THEN

"THEN he called the police and they found
the father stabbed in his chest."

"These are the facts
We cannot deny them."

"This boy is guilty
There's no doubt about that."

Personally, I'm sentenced for 15 years

I do have a number.

But may God help those
who don't have a number.

Those who don't know
which year or which day they will be out.

They have been here
for 18, 23 and even 25 years.

They have no clue when they will leave.

We hope that life sentence
will have a determinate length.

This way, they can at least know
till when they are staying.

They would know they will
be out after 25 years

instead of just sitting here
and thinking of suicide.

Let's not talk about others
I'll tell you about me.

When I knew I was sentenced for 15 years
I said to myself "My life is over!"

I'd rather hang myself

I have to wait for 15 years?

18 years are not easy

I forgot the people living outside
and people forgot about me.

Nobody remembers me
other than my parents

I mean my mother and brothers
but especially my mother.

So I'm cut off the outside world
even in the simplest ways

I only have one thing in my mind.

How will I be executed?
Today? Tomorrow?

Is it my turn or not yet?

Will there be any execution soon?

It grows so strong that I feel my mind
entrapped in this one thought and paralyzed.

Life sentence is a slow death

unlike death sentence
which is a quick death.

Life sentence is to see someone
who was a kid when you last saw him

coming to visit you with his own kid.

Life sentence is to review your life
tens and hundreds of times

from the day you were born

and struggle with your own self.

Life sentence is to regret every moment
of freedom that the victim has lost

before regretting your own lost freedom.

Life sentence is wishing you were
the victim and not the murderer.

Guilty.

Guilty.

Guilty.

Guilty.

Guilty.

Not guilty.

- NO WAY!
- Who the hell changed his vote?

There we go! Another brainless fellow!

The human being lives here as a mere body.

Thinking is forbidden.

Building relationships is forbidden
Feeling human is forbidden.

Everything around me is dead.

Everything is still.

You cannot talk about
anything important to anyone around you.

The life of a prisoner is nothing but
eating, drinking, gossiping

dealing with administrative issues.

One day we're allowed to do this
One day we're not allowed to do that.

Honestly, it's a miserable routine.

Life in prison is difficult
It's difficult for any person

even for those with a zero IQ.

Of course zero
would be considered a number.

Damned be the prison and its bars.

Away from daylight
Away from loved ones.

Oh prison, great school
and revealer of true friends

write on the pages of our past.

How many friends we had before being
put behind your bars

and now they've all forgotten about us.

The prison is full of negative things.

There is no reform
There is no rehabilitation.

There is punishment
that is below the level of humanity.

The timing of the project
was perfect for me

I was able to rebuild contact with society.

Concerning me personally, I can tell you
that I was on the verge of despair

I had almost called off the idea
of pursuing my university studies.

What would university give me
after I had lost 5 years of my life here?

I was thinking "this time I will
sell drugs in a smarter way"

I was serious about this
and was willing to do it better than before

earn money and just live.

This project has given me back
my self-confidence

and has shown me that
I can be successful in other ways.

Before the project, I was thinking
how I could build myself more like a mafia

I mean the phone numbers
good contacts.

Just like a mafia I was working secretly

to conduct some big deals
and secure my future.

But when the project started
I changed a lot.

It will change
I swear to you man things will change.

This life is rough on me
and I know it's rough on you too.

This life is rough on me
and I know it's rough on you too.

Believe me if I tell you that
there is not one "Lira" in my pocket.

Believe me if I tell you that
there is not one "Lira" in my pocket.

Damn this living
everything is forbidden and banned.

Damn this living
everything is forbidden and banned.

Before this project, I used to stay up late
till 5 AM and sleep till 5 PM.

While in the room
They used to come and tell me.

"Hey! Hawillo! The veranda is open!"
No! I'm asleep.

"Hey! Hawillo! You have visitors."

Hmmmm give me 5 minutes
I'll put on my clothes and come.

Now whenever
they say Zeina Daccache is here

I run and almost wear
my clothes outside the room.

Why? I don't know! For some reason
I am attracted to come here

to see the guys, to see something new.

It changed the routine that we are living
It added something to our life.

What was your routine? Tell me.

Veranda, room, veranda.

Hurry up prisoners!

When she came
we started to meet here all together.

There were a lot of guys I didn't know

I got to know them through
the theater project

I knew most of them.

But never spoke to them.

But now
there is a big interaction between us.

I expected hostility and problems

because each one comes from
a different background, confession...

Each one will have
a say and there will be clashes.

But, I found out that this project
has unified the group of 45 men.

All as one

I was never part of a team
I've always played it solo.

In prison I discovered what team work is.

I am in Prison and you're doing just fine.

This is not a good start.

Guys unfold your arms!

You should stand straight
to let the air get into your lungs.

Guys your voice needs air.

Don't fold your arms
Son, do not fold your arms.

You should breathe well
Come on! Sing!

It would be nice
to add some feeling to it.

- Listen please! Guys.
- Listen to Major Mrad.

It's better to add feeling because
some words are touching.

When you say
Your Judgment has burned me Dear Judge.

It's nice
It's enthusiastic. No problem with it.

But in other parts
you should add more feeling

you shouldn't be shouting
all the time.

- True.
- I know you can never imagine my pain.

We should feel how sad
this sentence is.

- Live the lyrics.
- Right!

You are short of breath at some points
and we don't get the end of the sentence.

Your Judgment has burned me Dear Judge

I am in Prison and you're doing just fine.

Your Judgment has burned me Dear Judge

I am in Prison and you're doing just fine

- I'm planning just like a free man.
- Continue

I'm planning just like a free man

I'm planning and learning
to become more criminal

I'm planning and learning
to become more criminal

I know you can never imagine my pain

I know you can never imagine my pain.

Yes good!

First, I joined the project because
I wanted to act and I liked the play.

But later we told you about the music

and I've always written songs
even before prison.

So I started working on the songs.

The songs I made were inspired
from the text of the play

I got inspired by some sentences.

Dear homeland, how noble you are.

Glory is inscribed in your green fields.

Your name is recognized in all places.

You master forgiveness
You master anger.

Oh homeland, Oh homeland, Oh homeland.

TOOOP

They are late. Where are they?

Rawad! Rawad! Where is Rawad?

Where is Rawad?

- He's inside the Building.
- He went to the bathroom.

Great!
And we're starting without Rawad!!

Rawaaaad!

Rawaaaad!

- Are we waiting for the bus here?
- Rawaaaad!

Kid? What did you say?

I said K-I-D: KID.

Because I'm trying
to put some order here?

This is my chair. Take it
I'll just keep my mouth shut. Try it!

- Don't make a fuss out of it!
- Don't make a fuss out of it!?

- What is it with you?
- Are you making fun of me?

We Repeat.

We repeat!
Guess why we need to repeat?

Nidal did not start correctly
You started wrong Nidal!

Nidal! Nidal! Please memorize!

Memorize your lines.

Memorize the remarks I've given you.

It's not the first time I tell you.

Let us start again with number 8
"Stop acting like a kid!"

- Kid? What did you say?
- Are you making fun of me?

Forget it fella! It's unimportant.

Unimportant? Here you try it!

I have no doubts in your capacities
Please have a seat.

He's right, indeed, he is right!

Let's get done with it!
Whose turn is now?

Stop! I want to stop!

Can't you control yourself
and stop eating for few minutes Nidal?

Especially that you're the one
always telling me.

"Zeina, get rid of anyone
who does not commit?"

How can YOU do this?

You are delaying
the work of 11 people here.

They are repeating
and waiting over and over again!

That's it!
Why don't you all handle it!!

Today, two are absent and then
she saw you eating during the rehearsal.

That's it!

We've been rehearsing all day
and we're tired.

So, the problem is not you!
You know she counts on you.

You help her with the guys
You're committed to the work.

You're always present.

Come on, understand her!

Even if she shouted, don't take it personal
Take it easy!

- No man!
- See? Come on!

Wait!

What I want you all to realize
is that we still have 3 months

3 months is all we got.

Whoever feels
that he cannot commit to the rules

that I will be repeating now very clearly.

Would rather say from now
"I cannot commit".

It's unacceptable that one person hinders
the progress of 45 people

achieving a first-time project.

It's not acceptable to say:

"Today I don't feel like coming
to the rehearsal."

"Today, I'm not coming
because X is not coming."

"Today, I changed my mind, I wanna stop"

I'm telling you
I can't work like this. We'd rather stop.

I cannot achieve this project all by myself

I just can't do it.

Especially that the stress
in the coming 3 months

is much more than
what we've been through.

The stress of the play
The stress of formalities.

The stress of authorizations.

The stress to get the clearance
for your parents to watch you.

The stress to get the inmates
to watch you.

This is to name a few.

We wish to accomplish
this project properly

to have similar ones in the future.

Commitment is all you can do to help.

Test one.

Test. Test one.

You'll see 12 angry MEN
not LEBANESE, 12 MEN.

Because when Zeina
wrote the project in 2006

she didn't know that she will be dealing
with an angry Iraqi, an angry Egyptian

an angry Syrian, an angry Palestinian

an angry Nigerian, an angry Bangladeshi.

They didn't know how to get angry
in their own countries

so they came to express their anger here.

I won't mention this in my intro
You will handle it. You get my point?

Let's go through them all now.

You're repeating yourself sometimes
Youssef.

When you say
"We've told you we are 12"

"but in fact we are 20
actors and 45 in total."

Here you will have to add...

And one of the guys told you once
"If you don't choose me, I will kill you".

Actually you once told me
"Listen, I'm a criminal, I will kill you!"

- No! It wasn't me!
- So write it!

"Though we told you the title of the play
is 12 Angry Lebanese."

And though we are all in all 40 Angry Men.

Still, in reality, there are
7000 angry prisoners in Lebanese prisons.

The problem of the prison in Lebanon...
I asked a lot about Roumieh prison

I'm curious about everything.

So, when Roumieh prison was built in
1962-1963.

It was the best prison in the Middle
East built for 1000 prisoners.

They didn't know
it will become overcrowded.

Prison is a different world.

There is no place to sleep

I slept near the toilets

I used my shoes as a pillow.

I covered myself with a mop.

Where are human rights?

Attention, attention to the sergeants
and chiefs of all three floors.

Sergeants and chiefs of all three floors.

Please open the cells for the theater guys.

Please open the cells for the theater guys.

- Yes, try it.
- Does it fit Ma'am?

Wow!

Ma'am, your thong is very nice!

- Try these also.
- What is this? Lipstick?

Wow! Earrings.

Look at me.

Show me the ring.

Director! Director!

Director!

She likes show off
Don't hide it.

Let me see how you do it.

- Please director! Please!
- Yes! Yes! That's the spirit!

These are perfect untearable stockings!

"Director! Director! Please!"
You should see the ring.

- Not like that!
- "Director! Please!"

You should say it louder.

"Director!"

Yeah, yeah! As if you're short of breath
Come on!

"Director! Please! Please!"

I fear this project
won't be followed by others

and that we would go back
to oblivion after it.

This year I went out of
this oblivion world.

And I wish we would never go back to it.

The audience will be afraid of us
when they will come here.

It's normal, some people have never been
inside a prison.

They will be afraid of us
because we are prisoners.

Director?
Where is the director?

Director?

Yes, Ma'am, what is it?

Where is she?

Yes, Ma'am, what is it?

I want to go to the bathroom to do Pipi.

I want to go to the bathroom to do Pipi.

Ma'am, we've said before
the beginning of the show

that nobody is allowed
to leave during the show, I'm sorry.

- Are all these prisoners?
- Excuse me?

- Are all these prisoners?
- You mean the actors? Yes, they are.

- So they are criminals?
- Hmmm, yes prisoners.

And you think this doesn't make
a woman want to go to the toilets?

- Excuse me!!!
- You are scared, Ma'am?

Yes, I'm so scared.

- Sick? Means we can't take it anymore.
- Yeah, it means we're sickened.

No, the meaning is
we've had enough tears.

I confess! How do you say it?

- I admit!
- And I admit!

I've worked with enthusiasm all year long

I don't know
why these last couple of months

I've been nervous and confused.

And it's her fault!
I don't blame anyone else.

When we have a monologue.

When we have a monologue
we start the rehearsal.

Then, she goes
"Liar. I do not believe you. Say it again".

Sometimes, she makes us
repeat the monologue 70 times.

She tells us "Don't depress me".

And she is depression itself.

Basically, a part of this human being
called Zeina Daccache

is now living in each one of us.

She has changed us indeed.

We used to be nothing but prisoners.

Now we feel freedom somehow.

- They feel freedom.
- Yes, we do feel freedom.

- He's a liar.
- No, it's the truth.

It's not a tragedy
calling Zeina Daccache "Abu Ali".

Because she truly is "Abu Ali".

She walks like "Abu Ali".

Speaks like "Abu Ali".

Using manly words.

This is how the nickname was given to her

and we hope that she will always be
"Abu Ali"

I'm honored to have this name indeed!

It has wiped out my progeny
I won't have any children.

Anyway, no man would dare to approach
me in this case.

Calling a girl "Abu Ali"
means she is terrifying.

I often told the guys
Zeina cannot put up with all this.

We are guys, she is a girl.

We cannot overburden her
You have to bear with her.

God be with her.

She runs from office to office

meets with colonels, officers and sergeants

to sign papers, formalities, etc...

Then, after the hassle
she arrives here exhausted

and we start asking her:
"Zeina, did you sign that paper for me?"

and Zeina goes crazy.

We are 45 people here

she cannot pamper each one of us.

We are prisoners and she's a girl.

We were born

and we grew up

with no one around to teach us right.

We were born

and we grew up.

We were born and we grew up
with no one around to teach us right.

We were born and we grew up
with no one around to teach us right.

In war, poverty, fire and hunger
we were born in this suffering country.

In war, poverty, fire and hunger
we were born in this suffering country.

Have mercy on us
we've had enough tears

and I admit we went wrong.

We were born and we grew up
with no one around to teach us right.

We were born and we grew up
with no one around to teach us right.

In war, poverty, fire and hunger
we were born in this suffering country.

In war, poverty, fire and hunger
we were born in this suffering country.

Have mercy on us
we've had enough tears

and I admit we went wrong.

I started to hunt for fast money

I wanted a better motorbike and so and so
I wanted a better gun to show off.

Then, I started drug dealing.

But at first
I didn't need to start drug dealing

I could have made it without drug dealing.

But I've been involved in drug dealing
since I was a teenager.

Family conditions have led me
to live on the streets since I was 12.

It made me follow
militias and political organizations.

There were militias back then.

But when they were dissolved
I had to work for a living

I had no other choice to survive.

When we were outside prison

the common way of expression
was guns and chaos.

We knew nothing about
order, law and government.

During that period I started drinking to
feel better and forget about my problems.

Until I reached the point of addiction.

Problems and worries were increasing
and I was drinking more.

At this stage, I committed the rape.

I am not telling this or the summary
of my life to justify myself.

I know that I'm guilty
and I deserve to be in prison.

But maybe if someone had looked after me
when I was a child

I wouldn't have been in prison today.

You should be wilder. Do it this way!

Freeze. Jamil where are you?

Stop.

Two weeks before the show.

My attitude was affecting
the progress of the work.

The rehearsals, the time frame
"I want that" and "I want this".

In other terms
I became an obstacle to the project

I was delaying the project
and we were running out of time

I worked for one year and one month

and still had two weeks to go
before the opening.

Zeina had to take a decision
and put me out of the project.

Zeina, you're going too far

I didn't mean you Anwar! Calm Down!
They are not dumb.

Everyone got my point.

- They are all talking to me at the
same time - Everyone got my point.

I'll tell you in plain words.

All of you, calm down.

When I arrive here

whether Hussam is joking or not
Cut the joke!

We're not joking here.

Hussam tells me
"I'm not in the mood today".

You cannot be moody. Full stop.

Full stop

I don't care if you think I've lost my mind
You cannot joke with me. Got it?

I begged her many times
to let me in the show again.

She told me: "You are more important
than the show itself".

At first, I didn't
understand what she meant.

She said: "You work to reach the peak
but when you're almost there..."

"you drag yourself down.
You are afraid of success."

These words made me think.

I went over my life
from age 4 until my current age, 36.

Indeed, she was right about it
As if she were a fortune teller.

She knew about my whole life

I reviewed my whole life
at school, at work, and even at prison

I always reach the peak
and then drag myself down.

First question.

In your opinion
how is this play beneficial for you?

Since people now may see
the prisoner in a different way

and may come to the prison
to watch the prisoners' work.

This is a contact between the civil
society outside and the prisoners.

This has never happened before.

In my opinion, it's good enough.

It's more important than conveying
a message to the judges or politicians.

Thanks to the theater project

I see people who come to us
just like you now

I've never seen people for 10 years
No one comes here to know who we are.

Or to know at least that prisoners
are human beings

I started feeling guilty

when I saw that someone
is taking care of me as a human being.

Even in prison.

Someone who respects and listens to me.

My features have changed
You sure noticed it

I feel much better now.

Now I have hope in life

I'll tell you something.

I mean...

Before, I was dead and alive
at the same time.

The disadvantage of the play
is that it has awakened our feelings.

When your feelings are awake
you become vulnerable.

Personally
I was often very irritated as I was feeling

because of the project.

- Nice.
- But I had the strength to overcome it.

This is the work.

This is the goal more than the play itself.

When you enter prison
you lose the ability to feel.

You disable your ability to feel.

Talking about therapy

I'm thankful that Zeina came here

and helped me by therapy
for a certain time.

But when the project ends
and Zeina leaves.

Who continues the therapy?

NOOOO!
Mustafa Zaiter has been released?

- Yes, he's gone!
- NO!

- NO!
- Say it one more time.

- NO!
- Better leave before she commits suicide.

- Mimo, an actor left!
- He's gone.

NO!

William, he's gone!
Number 12.

Jocelyne, would you play number 12
and take Mustafa Zaiter's role?

Are we all here?
Where is everyone?

Guys! "Abu Ali" is calling! Guys!

Zeina, I can play the role if you want.

I need you all to discuss
few things together.

Guys!

Listen and stop talking.

Are you aware that the opening show
is next Saturday?

Who's not aware of this
and needs me to remind him?

It's next Saturday. Count the days.

- Next Saturday.
- 10 days to the opening.

And I still have to tell you.

Sit down. Calm down. Stop talking.
Respect!

It's a shame!

We're receiving nonstop phone calls.

From civilians and foreigners
who don't know a word of Arabic.

They're begging for a
seat to watch the play

I can't even find one empty seat for them.

No one is believing that you stayed
in the project for one year.

No one is believing that there will be
no barriers between you and the audience.

The project is not limited
to you and me anymore.

Your commitment and responsibility
are now much more important than before

I don't mean to scare you

I really don't.

Today, you started to change your image
to the better.

We don't want to ruin this.

Not even for a second!
Not even for a second!

I hear millions of rumors saying that
it won't work, that you will fail.

That someone will fail you

and that a last minute surprise
will stop everything

I believe that if YOU want to do the play
we will do the play

8 shows as we have committed ourselves.

After the first show, believe me.

Although you're not ladies
and I've never given birth.

- It will feel like delivering a baby.
- If God wills!

But you got to have the same energy
for every show as if it were the first.

Now, I have an issue
Mustafa Zaiter has left.

I suggest
Capo takes his role if he agrees.

I suggest
Capo takes his role if he agrees.

Capo?

What do you say Capo?

Can you do it?

You all come here with your hearts
bleeding about slum kids and injustice.

And the Dear Sir here starts telling
you fairy tales.

But the problem is not his tales.

It's that you pussies are believing
his bullshit.

That's it!
Don't interrupt me while I'm talking.

Capo
even if you do mistakes say it out loud.

They all went through this. All of them.

Who's in building B with him?
There's only Ali in building B.

Do you see him or not?
There is also Abdel Sattar.

Let him read the lines for him at night.

Give me this knife. I need a volunteer.

You? Go ahead.

Attention guys, I will do it one time only.

The boy is 15 centimeters
shorter than you, right?

Right, and even more!

Watch carefully. Focus with me!

Watch out! Watch out!

- Are you crazy?
- How dare you?

It's not a big deal!
Nothing happened. Right?

Yes, nothing happened.

Elie, what is the sentence
that you say here?

Up, down and inside
Do you have any objection?

Up, down and inside

- I have nothing to add.
- I have nothing to add.

Yes say it to Elie
"I have nothing to add".

As if he was asking for your opinion
But in fact, he didn't.

- Up, down?
- No, no, Capo watch me.

Come on, we are just rehearsing now!

It's ok, but you'd better do it
with the right movements

I'm sorry
Be patient with me.

Up, down and in the middle.

- Inside.
- Use his words: "inside".

Up, down and in the middle
I have nothing to add.

"Inside". It's "inside".

Up, down and inside
I have nothing more to add.

That's it!

My attitude has changed a lot

I've been heartless since
the day I was born

I'm a human being who had no heart.

Now I have a heart, I have feelings.

My mother sees me in a different way now

I've always been Jamil the weak loser.

I made her see that I've changed
that I can achieve something

and that I can be successful
just like I used to be before addiction

I used to be successful.

It's not shameful to admit our mistakes.

And bring people outside closer to us

forgive us and live with
us in peace one day

and accept us as human beings.

We need to set a clear program
for the play

along with the music.

We'll start with the song:
My Dear Homeland!

I called it: The National Anthem. Ok?

"He came home for his knife."

"It's not nice to leave knives
sticking in people's chests."

- Say it again.
- He will answer me:

"Especially in daddy's chest!"

Yes, say it again as number 12 would.

"He came home for his knife."

No!
"He came home for his Knife".

Come on, we're not acting now
I'm just learning the sentences.

Learn them the right way.

"He came home for his Knife."

- Yes!
- Right?

- Right!
- I said it right.

I'm an Actor now
They will all love me, I'm sure.

They will love you more
if you know your role by heart.

Really?

"Ok, if nobody else has an idea
I might have a good one here"

"I didn't think about it much."

"But I'll throw it out and see
if someone picks it up!"

"If someone picks it up?"

- "Yeah. The boy"
- "Sit down! Just sit down!"

- Bravo! That's it!
- I'm not that bad! Huh?

I'm afraid and terrified

I feel responsible.

As if I was carrying 7000 prisoners
on my shoulders.

I spent the whole night in the toilet

I'm terrified and happy at the same time

I experienced this feeling once
at school during examinations.

And now I'm experiencing it again
after 40 years.

Bro, I didn't sleep all night long
See what I mean?

Yesterday I didn't care much
but today it's totally different

I didn't sleep
Since yesterday, I honestly didn't sleep.

They brought me from my building

but I didn't sleep because I'm afraid.

I was repeating everything
in my mind during the night.

Remember Sirs

we are dealing with
a first-degree murder charge.

This means if we vote the accused guilty
he'll be sentenced to death by hanging.

- Ready?
- Ready.

Fine, all those voting guilty
please raise your hands.

- Guilty.
- 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

11 voted guilty.

Those voting not guilty?

Here we go again!

There is always one who disagrees.

Let your judgment be just Dear Judge.

How good is Justice when it rules on all!

Let your judgment be just Dear Judge.

How good is Justice when it rules on all!

Mercy is a higher virtue than Justice.

Mercy is a higher virtue than Justice.

This is God's will.

This is God's will.

We'll present to you now
a scene about the law 463

the law for the reduction of sentences
known as "The early release law"

according to which the prisoner
has the right to submit a request

for reducing his sentence duration.

This law was issued in 2002.

We're in 2009 and till now
the law has never been implemented.

Let's imagine that it's being implemented

and that a panel of judges
was formed to look into the cases.

We went down to the ground floor.

I looked from the window
and saw you standing near the door

and smoking strangely and very fast.

I wanted you to give me strength
but you were more afraid than me.

As the Arabic proverb says:

"We sought Mr. Help to Help
but he needed Help himself."

I knocked on the window glass
You came to the ground floor

I asked you: "What?"
You said: "What?"

I said: "What?"
You said: "What about you?"

I said: "What about you?"

We both had no idea
about what was happening.

The pressure was mounting a lot
I wanted to pee

I had to use two bottles
before the show

I filled them up.

Both bottles became full

I don't even know
where all this water came from!

Look at this invention.
It's a knife. A real one.

It's a very unusual knife
I've never seen one like it.

Neither had the storekeeper
who sold it to the boy.

What is this?

Good evening everyone.

Let me talk the way I want
or I wouldn't talk!

- Yes, yes, express yourself.
- You ask me.

Hawillo, what did you feel
on the opening show?

The first show was very hard for me

I'll tell you why
Because I was afraid

I was afraid more than you can imagine

I usually suffer
from a 25% degree of trembling.

But when I snooped from the curtain
and saw all the people

it reached 75%.

Guys! Guys! Listen to me!
Listen to me!

If you open your mouth once more
I'll knock your teeth out.

Sit down!

- What I was trying to say.
- Sit down!

I was very anxious
and remained anxious the whole time.

I was afraid

afraid that we fail in what we are doing
and that people will despise us.

I'll finish my sentence in ten months

but don't you think that another Prison
is waiting for me outside?

A prison without bars
and without walls.

Dear homeland, how noble you are.

Glory is inscribed in your green fields.

Dear homeland, how noble you are.

Glory is inscribed in your green fields.

Your name is recognized in all places.

You master forgiveness. You master anger.

Oh homeland, Oh homeland, Oh homeland.

Oh homeland, Oh homeland, Oh homeland.

I went up to the room after the show.

And late at night

I locked myself in the toilet...

and cried.

That's all.

I was crying without knowing why.

I cried my heart out. I don't know why.

Maybe because I remembered my parents.

And thought I shouldn't be in prison.

Maybe because
I saw people from outside watching us

I wished I were in a different place.

So I cried
and the guys started crying with me.

I wasn't believing until the next day.

I didn't believe that the Minsiter of
Interior President Mirza and President Tabet

congratulated us in the backstage

I didn't believe
that they even asked about me personally.

Seeing people cry has helped me.

As for me, I didn't know what I felt
I was happy and irritated at the same time.

Irritated because
for the first time I feel success

I'm not used to success

I was never able to accomplish anything.

I always failed.

Here, I'm in prison. I couldn't escape.

I couldn't escape from success
I had to face it.

This play is a message to say

that prison is a place of punishment
for a crime that happened.

However, punishment should not be double

the conditions of the prison
and the sentence itself.

So I think the message today

is that we can help improve
the prisoner's life and attitude.

The performance we've seen today
is more than professional.

The inmates were working wholeheartedly.

This play has taught me
that there is no way I can go wrong again!

Because when you are good
everyone loves you!

Unfortunately, we are a wasted potential.

As human beings
we are more important than oil.

If Lebanon takes care of its prisoners

and invests in them through productive
activities for the benefit of the society.

Why do we remain idle and useless?

We are meant to be productive

I hope that by the end of this project

some tangible, judicial results
will be reached

for the prison in general
to comfort all the inmates

and not only us.

This show is the best of all
since we started this journey.

I'm very happy
although my mom is late due to traffic.

- She's on her way!
- Let her in! Please!

It's been 18 years since I last
had this quality time with her.

And I feel speechless!