Under the Bombs (2007) - full transcript

August 2006.

For 33 days Lebanon has suffered
heavy Israeli air strikes.

On the 34th day, a ceasefire
was declared, controlled by the UN.

Lebanon was in ruins.

There were 1189 dead
and almost a million refugees...

If you're called,
take your luggage.

To Damascus?

- They're all here?
- Except numbers 75, 76, 77.

All the others are here.

UNDER THE BOMBS

To Damascus?



I want to go to the South.

- Anyone going south?
- No.

Tyre, Saida...
The South! Kherbet Selm?

- Going to the South?
- Tyre, Saida, Kherbet Selm.

Damascus...
10 dollars, with all the help

at the Syrian-Lebanese border...

South?

- No one will take you there.
- No one?

No one will take you there.
To Damascus no problem.

Anyone going south?

Please,
a taxi for the South!

- No one will go.
- Too dangerous.

The road's blocked.
No one will go.

- Where to?
- Saida, Tyre, Kherbet Selm...



- In the South?
- Yes.

- I'll take you.
- You'll take me?

OK, I'll take her.

How long?

Who knows! An hour,
two hours, a day, two days...

- Or never.
- I must get there.

Mind your hand.

How much?

- Let's get there first. Then we'll see.
- I need to know.

Any idea what it's like
in the South?

The war might be over,
but hell could start again anytime.

How much?

For those...

For those beautiful eyes...
300 dollars, all right?

300 dollars!

Lady, I'm not risking
my life for nothing.

Find someone else.
Khalil...

What's your name?

Tony.

OK Tony, let's make a deal.

I'll pay you half now,
and half when we get there.

To whom do I have the pleasure?

Delighted!

The 8 o'clock News
on Radio Lebanon.

Thank you for listening.
The headlines -

Thousands of refugees are returning
following the ceasefire.

Israel says the situation
in the area is fragile

and is keeping control
of the port and airport.

People are advised
to look out for booby-traps.

So you're from the South, Madam?

You don't look it.

And what do southerners look like?

- I didn't mean...
- Rita?

- I just got here.
- Poor damaged South!

I didn't want to disturb you.
I took a taxi.

Via Turkey.
The Israeli blockade, it's hell.

No.

He's still in Hong-Kong.

Yes, for his stupid shopping centre.

If she calls
let me know straight away.

Of course, I'll keep trying.

Yes, yes. Me too.

Hopefully.

You came through Turkey?

You're always that nosy?

We're in the same car.

It's normal.

Anyway, if I can be of help
let me know.

I know everyone here.

My son.

I've had no news from him
for a week.

My sister told me
they'd be in Saida or Tyre.

Saida? I know it
like the back of my hand!

Let's start with the schools.

The refugees are there.

We'll find them.

Don't worry, Madam.

There's another road.

It's further, but we'll get there.

I have an errand to run.
I'll be back soon.

Their names aren't on the list.

Doesn't prove anything, though.

Things change all the time.

They might be here,
without being listed.

- They could've gone back?
- Sure.

Let's try asking people
from the same village.

A boy who looks like you.
His name's Karim.

- He's six. Have you seen him?
- No.

I've come from Dubai.
I'm looking for my son and sister.

They were in Kherbet Selm.
They put people up in the schools.

- In Saida?
- Yes.

At the hospital in Tebnine, too.

Or near Rmeich.
They took the border people there.

Good morning.
I'm looking for my sister and son.

From Kherbet Selm.
Have you heard of them?

I wish we did.
I'm looking for my children too.

We've heard nothing.

- Why are you crying?
- My son and his wife...

They're dead.

I want to see my children.
One of them at least,

to tell me where the others are.

Good morning!

What's all this?
Aid for the South?

Yes, we're taking it there.

You're going to fill up the truck?

Aid parcels only?

- What's your son's name?
- Omar.

God bless your son, Abou Omar.

My cousin has two daughters.
One is dead...

In the fighting?

The other lost a leg...

They have no medicine in the South.
Can you give me some?

The Foundation will give you some.

I'm in a hurry.

We could put
a couple of boxes in the boot.

- Aren't you in charge?
- Exactly. To make sure it all gets there.

- It's your lorry?
- Yes.

So you could give me two boxes?

It's for helpless refugees.

- Abou Omar... Come on!
- Impossible.

COURT OF JUSTICE

I'm Zeina Noureddine.

Is there a Maha Noureddine
on the list and a boy, Karim?

- Yes, there is.
- They're here?

They say that my sister Maha
from Kherbet Selm was here?

I did see a redhead,
she was downstairs.

Yes, that's right, curly red hair!

- Where?
- Downstairs, with a small boy.

- A small boy?
- I saw her, she was downstairs.

- When?
- Since we first got here.

- She's like this?
- No, that's not her.

I must find them.
It's my son and sister.

He's very young!

- Can anyone help me?
- No one can.

You can even forget
your own children.

I left mine behind to get into a van.
We were 15.

I took two kids
and left the others in a garage.

- You left them behind?
- Yes!

When we went back to the village,
they were all dead.

Under the rubble,
we found my husband, his brother,

his wife and four children.

My cousin, shot down outside.
Eleven people.

That's life.
That's what Israel wants.

They were aiming at people.
Women, children...

Anywhere with civilians.

My cousin, they blew her up
on her doorstep. She left a daughter.

Taghrid told her,
"Maryam, you're dying?"

She said, "The 150 thousand pounds
in my pocket,

"give them to my daughter."

She was dying, poor thing.

She said, "The money's
for my daughter", then she died.

What do we get out of it?

The houses, we can rebuild,

but all the lost souls?

They don't come back.

God bless you.

God willing,
you'll find them safe and sound.

You're back?

No, not yet.

I'm looking everywhere in vain.

My sister,
her phone's been dead for a week.

How would you get here?
It's been a nightmare.

You mean, "You want to be
with your son, not with me."

Well, I have to go. Bye.

That's your "small errand"?

- I've looked for you everywhere...
- Where were you?

- Did you find them?
- Why did you disappear?

What do you want to do?

They told me about a convent,
with refugees.

- Where is that convent?
- In Marjeyoun.

According to the Israeli Army,

Hezbollah fighters launched about

ten rockets today

on Israeli positions in the South.

There are no casualties...

You're singing?

How can you sing and laugh?
I have to get there!

We'll get there, Madam.

- Calm down!
- Hands off!

I'm warning you,
if something's happened to them...

God help you!

We'll get there, Madam,
trust me.

Do you know Marjeyoun?

It's not exactly next door.

I thought we were sticking
to the coast road.

It was clear.

But if we have
to go up to Marjeyoun, why not?

What do you mean?

I know the area well.
I come from there.

Winding roads, potholes...

And the war hasn't improved things.

More petrol, more time...
It's not that simple!

We made a deal for a day.

Yes, for Saida and Tyre.
Not for other places.

I'm telling you in case I need...

to ask for a supplement.

One minute you disappear,
the next you want extra...

- It's going to last long?
- 50 dollars.

No more.

Better safe...

And if we need to go anywhere else?

For that price?
I'll take you to the moon.

The civil defence are recovering

bodies from under the rubble

in the villages of
Sifra and Halloussie.

More than 50 bodies

could still be buried
under the devastation.

Would you care for some music?

I have some Fayrouz,
Wadih Safi or Oum Koulsoum...

I even have some Boney M.

It's good Boney M.

Is it extra?

No, it's part of the package!

Sorry Madam, it's an old cassette.

That's where I'd like to go.

When I get some money.
I have a plan with my brother.

To open an oriental restaurant.

The Germans will love it.

They find our food exotic!

I'll be gone ten minutes, no more.

You'll find me easily.

Ask for Tony,
everybody knows me here.

Tony!

If I lose you,
I won't know where to go.

You're not going to lose me, Madam,
you won't.

They went without warning.
We didn't expect it.

They left.
Right after the ceasefire.

They were just waiting
on the doorstep,

ready to get back home.

- Tell me about Joseph.
- He wants to come back.

And end up in prison
because of fucking politics.

Listen... Prison, I know.

Homesickness drove me back.

Bloody homesickness!

You say that
because you don't know.

- He talked about me?
- All the time. He misses you.

And the twins?

Bless them! They are ten
and at primary school.

They speak Hebrew
as if they were born there.

Jews and us, we're the same.

Same look, same face...
same mould.

Shopkeepers like us,
only richer.

Ten years old!

How long is it since
you've seen your village?

Ten years.

You're afraid of going back?

They are still recovering
bodies from the rubble

and clearing the southern suburbs

and many places in the South.

The Lebanese Red Cross
recovered 16 bodies

in Taibe and Adaisse.

It's my aunt's house.

They are martyrs -
Hussein Nasrallah, Nazha Nasrallah...

Is this what's left of it?

Kacem Hazouri, Ali Souli,

Hanu Marmar and his wife Fatme,

Mhamed Karim,
their daughter Aya.

It's that way!
Up there, on the right.

Here!

A bomb has also gone off
in Zaltar-West,

killing one person,
Ali Khalil Turkiya,

whose body was transported
to hospital in Nabatiy?.

The army announced this morning

that military units are still

counting the unexploded munitions

left behind by the Israeli army...

No...

No, they weren't inside.

Dear Lord...

Tell me they weren't in.

Maha!

Karim!

Dear Lord,
tell me they weren't inside!

Who are you looking for?

- I'm Maha's sister.
- Her sister?

She was inside?
Answer me!

- Was she inside?
- You have to be strong.

Your sister's a martyr.

She's in paradise.
Don't be afraid. Don't cry.

In paradise?

Don't cry.
Be proud of her.

And my son, Karim?
Was he with her?

- He's your son?
- Yes! You've seen him?

- He's safe.
- Is it true? You've seen him?

- Karim is your son?
- Yes.

Karim looks like you.

We played together.
Journalists took him.

Where to?

- What's your name?
- Ali.

- Where's Karim?
- With the journalists.

- Which journalists?
- French.

Tell me the truth Ali.

- Where did they take him?
- To Tyre.

Where in Tyre?

You're sure?

Did you see him
with your own eyes? Is he alive?

Your son's alive.
Calm down.

Don't cry.

Maha, my dear Maha!

- Maha, my darling.
- Calm down.

Maha, my darling Maha.
Why you, why?

She wasn't the only one.

You were so peace loving!

If only I'd been with you!

Where are you taking me?

Where are we going?

Where is my sister?

I left without finding out?

And my son?

Where is he?

With the French, but where?

I know about my sister.
But my son?

We drove on without finding out.

You know nothing!

You don't care.

All you care about
is your 50 dollars!

Now you've got your money!

The day's over, you can go.

It's OK, you can go!

That's it?

You've destroyed the bridges.

We have mended their hearts.
Hezbollah

Good afternoon.

- Miss Zeinab, how are you?
- Fine.

- Can I come?
- Yes.

- No cluster bombs?
- No.

- Are you sure?
- Just walk normally.

That's the way I walk.

Hello, how are you?

Well, any news?
Everything's all right?

- You recognise me?
- Yes.

You're the taxi driver?

- It's your house?
- All my family lived there.

Now, there's no one left.

My uncle lived here.

There, that's our flat.

That's my room, there.

A broken vase, even stuck back,
it still shows.

Yes, the hatred keeps growing.

What's happened?
The poor woman is distraught.

Where is her sister's body?

No one is buried here
because of the air strikes.

- But where are they?
- In a communal grave, in Tyre.

The ambulance took her.

- You're sure?
- Provisionally to Tyre.

- Where exactly?
- Near the barracks.

Some people come
to recover the bodies.

To bury them again.

Really?

Are you interested?

I have some.

I have a box of tranquillisers.

- You give it to us?
- Yes...

Aid or...

Almost aid.
At cost price.

How are you, Ali?

Tell me, how old are you?

Eleven.

You've seen all the war?

Two wars.
I've seen two wars.

You saw two wars?

- Which ones?
- 1996 and 2006.

How old were you in 1996?

- Three months.
- Really. Which one was the hardest?

- This one, by far.
- Why?

It lasted 33 days,
the other only 16.

Tell me what happened.

With Karim,
we hid in this shelter.

For more than three days,
the bombing didn't stop.

Karim was very sad
because his aunt was dead.

He asked me once,
"'When will she be back?"

I said, "Come on,
we'll play with Tarek."

So he'd forget his aunt
and stop crying.

- Were you afraid?
- Yes.

Tarek was coughing
because of the dust.

- It was everywhere.
- Who's Tarek?

He's dead.
He was Karim's age.

They were always together.

There was so much dust that
he was coughing and choking.

His mother decided to go
and get it.

- Get what?
- The asthma medicine.

He went with her,
he didn't want to stay alone.

Just then
we heard a great bang.

It was the building.

People were screaming,
"We'll be buried alive."

And Karim?

He wanted to bring Tarek back,
he only had him.

I ran after him,
to hold him back

but he disappeared
in the smoke of the bombs.

And the cars came.

- Which cars?
- The ambulances.

There were two ambulances,

a Jeep from the TV,
a car and a van.

- He went into the Jeep.
- You saw him?

I saw him
in the middle of the smoke.

A man almost tore the jacket
his father bought him in America.

- Which man?
- One of the French journalists.

Where did they go?

There were so many bombs
they went in all directions.

That's Tarek's house.

Poor Tarek,
that's where he died.

It's not five star, but it's OK.
I've brought clients before.

I hope they have
some rooms left.

Good evening.

I'd like two rooms.
The best you've got.

It's for the Lady.
She's had a long trip.

- You pay in advance.
- You pay in advance.

How much?

- How much?
- A hundred.

If you don't mind...

could you pay me
for the day as agreed?

We said, "per day", didn't we?

Here you are, you pay.

It's our best room.

...breach of the ceasefire,

Israeli commandos have attacked

Hezbollah positions
in East Lebanon.

An Israeli officer was killed.

Several people were injured...

They start again
after the ceasefire?

They respect nothing,
the bastards!

Three Shiite fighters
were killed in the attack.

The Lebanese Prime Minister
has lodged a complaint

with the representative
of the United Nations in Beirut

wondering how the Israeli army
would react

if the Hezbollah had been
behind the attack.

- They're going to bomb us again?
- For sure!

It's silly to poke a wasps' nest!

I won't be able to sleep.
Not until I find Karim.

And to think
I'd taken the house keys!

And the door,
that's all that's left!

Poor Maha.

Two days under the rubble,
can you imagine!

She loved that house.

After our parents died,
she moved in.

She used to say,
"Karim must live here...

"like us, when we were kids."

What made me send him here?

Karim's alive, that's important.
Imagine what he's been through.

Don't worry, I'm going to bed.

Me too.

I'll call you tomorrow.

Sorry...

I'd like to apologise...

for...

the 50 dollars.
I'm not...

Usually, I'm not like this...

But some clients
are real bastards.

I've been conned before.

I'm not a bastard, sorry.

Usually, I'm...

It's cold.

Good night, Tony.

You too...

Madam.

"Excuse me, Madam...

"You give me 50 dollars?"

Very classy!
In your vest and shorts!

That's the way
you're going to get her?

I brought you a pillow.

Thank you, I'd forgotten.

What's the matter?

Anything wrong?

I'm scared.

The noise of the wind
reminds me of the planes.

You want to come in?

There's no wind in here.

Come in.

Shy?

No!

No!

What's the matter?

Karim's dead.

He was looking at me.
His eyes were wide open.

He was frozen.
He's dead.

Calm down.
It was a nightmare.

I was holding him in my arms.
I was dead too.

They wanted to take him away,
wrench him out of my arms.

They took him
to lay him in a coffin.

They took him away.

Calm down,
it'll be daylight soon.

They could have put us together.

Why separate us?

Why wasn't I there
when the bombs were falling?

Drink.

You must sleep.

You have to be strong
for tomorrow.

Do you think I'm chasing a shadow?

That's his picture.

We have records.
We have lists.

We are watching everything.

You can be sure we'll take
all necessary measures.

We'll do our best.

Tomorrow the first French soldiers
will be here.

It's the kind of event
that attracts journalists.

Your journalist might be there.

- And you, where are you from?
- Me?

From Qlaiaa.

- In the South?
- Yes.

- We're all children of the South.
- Welcome.

Yes, children of the same country.

God bless you.

We're going to do
everything we can.

As soon as we hear anything
we'll tell you.

- Do you know him?
- No, why?

Just an impression...

He knows where I'm from.
I know where he's from.

He can get stuffed!

Don't get too close.
Don't touch. Inform.

Qlaiaa is an SLA stronghold.
He's more likely to enquire about me.

Were you in the South Lebanon Army?

We've got to fill up.

Not me.

My brother.

I'll be back in ten minutes.

Ready-to-wear
"Promises held"

Hello!

I have "Fatme Majed" here.

From Kherbet Selm.

There are some unidentified bodies.

Maha!

Maha Noureddine.

Where do I ask?

Who's got the names?

Ask the doctor, he's got the names.

Maha Noureddine.
You have the list?

Maha Noureddine?
She was sent to Kherbet Selm.

- Where?
- To Canaa.

Canaa can bury its dead.

It took 19 days for the people
of the small Lebanese town

to be able to organise the funeral
of their victims.

The 29 civilians,
mainly women and children,

killed during the Israeli air strike
on 30 July

were buried today
during funerals,

where the flags of Lebanon
and of the Hezbollah were flying.

The tragic episode of the war
between Israel and the Hezbollah,

was condemned unanimously
in the world.

Once the uncertainty about the number
of victims and the attempts

at recuperation are over,
it will finally lead to peace.

Israel, Israel,
The enemy of the Muslims...

America, America,
the world's great Satan...

When you call us, Prophet Hussein,
we answer "Present"!

- Who are you?
- Hezbollah!

- Your leader?
- Nasrallah!

Let them bury her themselves.

They didn't ask her opinion.

Nor mine either.

Even for this war.

No, it's not my war!

It's not yours, Maha.

Do we have a right to live?

To live!
Is that too much to ask?

It's not your war, Maha.

Forgive me, sister.

I wasn't with you.

I can understand you.
I can understand you so well.

I also lost someone
very dear to me.

Remember
when you use to cover for me?

You followed me in the car
and hooted?

You went alone, quietly.

Without hooting.

I'll miss you, Maha,
I'll miss you a lot.

What do you want to do?

I want to find my son.

We'll find him.

I won't leave you
until we find him, all right?

Where do you want to go?

To the hotel,
I forgot my address book.

A bit of German?

- You know Germany?
- I wish I did!

Only its postcards.

My uncle's there,
waiting for my brother and me.

I went there three times.

You did? Is it nice?

The country, yes.

But I was bored.

I went with my husband
to conferences on architecture.

The buffets were terrible!
All meat!

And I'm a vegetarian!

My uncle's in sausages.

He stuffs all day!

All this talk's making me hungry.

I can't wait to get there.

What's stopping you?

I asked for my passport
eight months ago.

To join
your collaborator of a brother?

To join him in Israel, that's it?

You know the charges against him?

It's no use saying
I haven't seen him for six years.

To calm him down...
Stop hooting, stupid bastard!

For me, it's the opposite.

When I was in Dubai,
I only wanted to come back.

The only time I felt at home,

was when I planted
an olive tree from Lebanon.

My brother says,
"Nothing's worse than exile."

But how can I bring up my son here?
With all this hatred around!

We've known nothing but war!

75...

82, 84...

89, 96, 2006.

In another ten years
it might start again!

Ten years?
You're very optimistic.

We're that close to a world war.

What do you think?

I don't care about the world war!

I want to find my son.

Anything new?

Did the picture help?

The journalists register with you,
don't they?

Where can I find them?

OK, tomorrow, in Naquoura.

They'll all be there?

- Is this a taxi?
- Not any more.

My old legs
won't carry me any more.

My house isn't far.
Can you take me there?

Get in.

I came to pick some figs.

Our figs are well known
in the region.

Come on, have one.

Where can we find a petrol station?

There's one ahead.

They're lovely, taste one!

When there are no planes,

we come out to pick the figs.

When the fighting starts,
we hide in the caves.

- We're lucky to have the caves.
- Where's that station?

My house is on that little road.

I'll show you.
We're almost there.

The station is that way?

- On that road?
- Yes. They always have petrol.

That's my house.

I was born here.
I live here. I'll die here.

And you, my girl, don't worry.

The land shakes but doesn't fall.

And you, my friend,

you carry on straight on that road.

Tell them that
Abou Salem sent you

and they'll give you petrol.

Go on, God bless you.

Look, it's really packed!

Let me handle it,
I'll make a deal.

Hello!

Anybody here?

Abou Salem sent us.

We'd like some petrol!

Well, how are you?

I need a little petrol.

Just a drop to drive
out of this hole.

This hole...

Please.

You want petrol?

Abou Salem sent you?

Then you're welcome.

- Do you a have a jerrycan?
- Yes.

Bring it over.

The jerrycan!
I'll give you some from here.

You don't believe me?

You should've seen it before!

It was the most beautiful station.

That's why they hit it.

My son sent me money from Africa.
And I built.

"What do you do with it all?"
He'd ask.

I'd say,
"You come and see."

Do you have children?

- A son.
- God bless him.

Him and all the world's children.

A week ago,
Abou Ahmad came to take some petrol.

I told him,
"Leave some for others."

Go on...

Can I help you?

Be my guest.

God is great.

My son will send me money
and I'll rebuild it.

A son, it's a great help!

God is great.

When you come back,
it will be even more beautiful than before.

My son is lost.

Everybody's looking for him.

All this terror, these bombsl

The madness of some...

It doesn't matter,
we must search.

Many have died.
It doesn't matter.

Everything can wait,
we must search.

My son is lost.

What did he do wrong?

We have to fight back.
It's not important.

First we must search.
Then we'll resist.

Have I been a bad mother?
It's not important. I don't care.

America, Israel, the Hezbollah,
Syria or Iran - I don't care.

I don't care about religion.

My son is lost.

The ruins, the bombs.
Your help... I don't give a damn.

My son is lost.
I must find him.

Majd?

It's Zeina.
And you, how are you?

I'm not disturbing you?

Tell me...

Do you remember that colonel,
an old friend of Dad?

Yes!

Do you have his number?

No, don't worry.

Love too. Bye.

It's Zeina, the daughter...

You remember me?

Very well.

I went to see the police about...

Can you turn up the music?

...about my son.

I thought you could call them to...

You think it's going to be OK?

My father always said
nice things about you.

We'll get in touch.

He's a good man.
He remembers me.

- Really?
- He promised to help me.

I hardly speak Arabic,
so forget about French!

I'll wait for you here.

Are you French?

With the arrival of French soldiers,

one can only wonder -
is Lebanon emerging from the crisis

or is France getting
sucked into the conflict

between Lebanon and Israel?

I'm looking for my child.
His name's Karim.

He was taken from Kherbet Selm.

The French journalists took him.
He was lost.

His aunt died under the rubble.

A small boy?

His name's Karim, he's six.
Brown hair, green eyes.

I've heard nothing...

They will rebuild infrastructures
if necessary.

They will of course have
bomb disposal

and de-pollution capacity.

We know that South Lebanon
is scattered with mines, booby-traps

and clusters.

A group of journalists

took him during the air strike
in Kherbet Selm.

- You don't even have a name?
- Nothing.

You're going to Beirut?

I'm in a hurry.

What do you think?
I'm more in a hurry than you.

I'm more in a hurry than you!

Because of a lost kid
whose mother ignores me!

Hang on.

Sorry?

I'm not going to Beirut!

- I'll pay double.
- No.

I'm not going to Beirut!
I'm speaking Arabic, no!

Calm down!

If you have problems,
don't take them out on other people.

Pass me Yves.

I'm coming. I'm changing taxi.
This one's crazy.

You have to call the embassy,
tell them about your problem in detail

and ask them which French teams
are over here.

What right do they have to do this,
without an emergency?

What can be more dangerous?
It's war!

- He's under their responsibility?
- It's to protect him.

Then, they inform
the relevant authorities.

Can you write down the number?

We're ready to go live.

I'd like the French embassy's number.
It's an emergency.

I'll hold.

Ramza, while waiting for the number...
We've just sent a report

on the 150 French soldiers

representing the first of the UNIFIL.

We're ready for the live.

They're preparing
a second landing operation.

420000, what's the area code?

You mean you might have an answer
in a couple of hours.

I'll call the embassy
in the meantime.

If I hear anything,
I'll text you.

You'll be here tomorrow?

I'll wait for your call.

Your husband?

Until two weeks ago.

What happened?

With the French.
I meant with the journalists.

And to think I sent
Karim to the South...

to protect him from our problems!

The car is over there.

Can we walk a bit?
I'd like to unwind.

OK.

My husband knows someone
in French television.

He's trying to find the journalist.

Where is this husband?

In Jordan.

Poor thing,
he can't get here.

Why do I always defend him?

At the beginning of the war
I called him in Hong Kong.

His secretary didn't
even give him the message.

Can you imagine?

Lebanon's burning, his son's here
and he didn't even call.

When I called him, he said

he'd try to cancel his appointment

and take the next plane.

His son is under the bombs,

and he's afraid of losing a client!

How long were you married?

A long time.

I was twenty.

I was stupidly in love.

How did I let him
take me away from all this?

My village.

My sister.

And you?

Why did you cry yesterday?

I've never talked to a woman.

I mean poured my heart out
to a woman.

Why did you cry?

I know I'll never go to Germany.

Not me, not my brother.

It's all bollocks.

Otherwise I'd have bribed a clerk
a long time ago.

- What did your brother do?
- Nothing.

He was just 18!

He stuck his neck out.

Remember the 82 Israeli
invasion of the South?

The Israelis were welcomed
like liberators.

He believed it and joined the SLA,
the "allies" of the Israelis.

Beaten in 2000, they fled
without even saying goodbye.

Didn't give a damn!

Wait, there's going
to be an explosion.

He left with them.
That's my brother's story.

Is he still there?

- Where's the explosion?
- On the other side.

- What explosion?
- Cluster bombs.

No!

It's my husband.
He found the journalist.

Where?

In France? And the kid?

He's in hospital.

- Is he injured?
- He's OK.

All the patients in Tyre
were transferred to Beirut.

Nadine dealt with it.

He was scared. He didn't speak.
There was shooting everywhere.

Explosions...

There was the kid injured
on the 30th of July.

He kept quiet in his corner.

I tried to comfort him,
to talk to him...

Is he still there?

- He was afraid?
- Very.

That's the hospital number.

Call them.
They have all the details.

In a monastery?

I'll write it down.

Keep in touch.

It's past Jezzine.

Through the mountains, it's better.

He won't say anything.

No one knew who he was.

Karim.

Darling.

Karim, can you hear me?

It's mummy, darling.

Why don't you answer me?

I know what's happened.
I know you're afraid.

That you're angry.

But mummy was looking for you,
and now she's found you.

I'm coming to get you.
I'm coming to you.

Karim, say something.

I brought you a present.

What happened?

He gave you back the phone?

OK. Tell him I'm coming.

Look after him well.

I don't know,
a couple of hours.

Look after him.

Thank you very much.

Shall we go?

Why didn't he speak to me?

He'll chirp when he sees you.

What have I done to this boy!
How can we make it up?

Zeina...

We've been looking for him
for two days.

Let's get him before dark.

Thank you.

Two.

I have two sons.

The oldest is Gregory.
The youngest, Elias.

I haven't seen them in ages.

Gregory is something!
He's smart.

Elias is a moaner,
like his mum.

While Gregory...

A great football player.
A clever boy!

But..."Gregory"!

What a name!

His mother insisted.

"It was fashionable!"

Fashionable?

He isn't a pair of jeans!

I don't know...

I don't know anymore.

I don't know which bridges are down.

I've got friends here,
they'll know.

We have to go back.

I know your son's over there.
But I'm lost!

You think
I don't want to get there?

You think it's all for the money?
I don't care about it!

Here, take your money!

Where are your friends?

Tony!

How are you, mate?
How are you doing?

Mum, come and see who's here.

How long has he been promising
this visit!

Auntie!

You're welcome!

How are you?
How are you keeping?

We missed you.

- Any damages from the war?
- No, thank God.

- I missed you.
- Me too.

This is Zeina.

- How are you?
- Fine.

Come in!

- We have to go on.
- Impossible.

We're in a hurry. They're waiting
for us at the monastery.

We have to go.

- At night, no way!
- Yes, auntie.

I won't let you move.

She hasn't seen her son
for a month.

He's at the monastery.

Khalil, call your friends.

Tony, the road is dangerous.

Call them anyway.

OK, I will.

Karim,

I'm coming to you, darling.

I'm coming to see you, my love.

You don't know the country road.
Even we get lost!

They're riddled with bombs.

Tell her what it's like.

This road is really dangerous.

Any cars going past
are taken as targets.

But she's such a nice lady.

For the Israelis,
it's "Death Valley".

And for the Hezbollah,
"Martyr Valley".

- Are there still Israelis?
- We don't know.

- I saw no one.
- You see nobody.

Go and play the hero in Beirut.

- And the ceasefire?
- Already violated by the Israelis.

You can leave tomorrow.

- I'm ready.
- To go where?

They say the road's dangerous.

- My son's waiting.
- He's safe.

I promised him.

He's safe. Don't worry about him.

Come in, please.

Dinner's ready.
There's chicken,

taboule...
God is generous.

Hey, guys...

- Can't we call them?
- The lines are down.

Even the mobiles don't work.

You're looking for this?

You want to go there at night?
Can you drive?

I thought they were going
to help us.

They will, tomorrow morning.

You want me to stuff myself
while my son is waiting?

He doesn't even know
if I'm coming.

Zeina,

these people know
what they're talking about.

Come out.

Ali had to behave like a man
during the war.

He lost his parents.

He got through to his mother
on our phone.

I'm near the hospital.
I'm alone without money.

They've bombed everything,
the bastards.

Even the Christian villages.
To them we're all Arabs.

The same shit.

Keep your voice down,
the walls have ears.

There's no danger, don't worry.

You can say what you like.

Elie did join his brothers
in Israel.

Whatever the reason,
we mustn't go there.

They have to return.
It's their land!

What are you talking about?

And what would they do here?
In Beirut, who cares?

- In Israel, they have social security.
- I don't understand.

These bastards bomb you,
destroy your houses and bridges.

Take your children,
send you to prison,

and you, you work for them?

Right? Yes or no?

You think
my brother Joseph's happy?

In his emails...

He dreams of coming back.

All this, for what?

For a stupid thing he did
when he was 18.

What stupid thing?
When your life's at stake,

you deal with the devil if you have to.
That's what happens.

That's right. We know the song.

We've been through it enough times.

But what can we do?

There's no future here.
We've tried every policy.

- Who's looking after the South?
- Stop it!

The South is not a land.
It's a forlorn corner.

You've eaten nothing.

I'm not hungry.

My aunt sent you some chicken.
I know, you're a vegetarian.

But she says it makes you stronger.

Taste it, it's good.

Go on.

Enjoy your food!

What are we doing here?

Get dressed.

We're going to get your son.

I thought it was too dangerous.

I'm going to take
that bloody road!

I'll wait outside.

My son Gregory...

he was a mistake.

And he was premature.

Two months in an incubator.

We didn't know
if he was going to live.

We hadn't anticipated these expenses.

I borrowed money.

Driving a taxi doesn't bring much.
Social security is not enough.

Fortunately with Elias,
it was easier.

And you?

Ever thought of
giving Karim a brother.

I wanted to!

I was pregnant twice.

And I lost the babies.

That's when he started
cheating on me.

Or that's what I believe.

Everybody knew, but me.

I was a dumb fool.

Watch out, that way!

There's the sign.

From here on
we keep the headlights off.

It's about five kilometres.

- You know what?
- What?

Pray.

May God help us.

Not now!

Try to start the car,
I'll stall it.

Go on!

- It won't start.
- Try again.

Go and hide there.

Hide, quickly.

- Why?
- They'll aim at the car.

- They can't see us.
- What, they can't see us?

What do you think?
They have all the ultras -

the violets, the reds,
the ultra my ass!

Go over there.

We keep going on foot?

It's a 1975 model.

Can you hear me?

It's from 1975.

A 280 S.

You can't find them like that anymore!

We've been through
a lot of things together.

I say that so
if you see it tomorrow,

before throwing your rocket, remember -
it's a 280 power steering.

1975 model.

If only we had some water.

I lost my mobile.

You must have dropped it
near the car.

My husband might be trying
to call me.

He's going to worry.

We'll call him from the monastery.

If the lines aren't down.

When you get your son back,

will you go back to Dubai?

My husband swears
he has left his mistress.

- So you'll go back.
- I don't know.

I want to be with my son.

I want to rebuild my house,

in the South.

Ah, the South!

Good morning, Father.

Good morning, Father.

You're here for the boy?

- Yes. Where is he?
- He's waiting.

We were just about
to send him to the sisters.

How is he?

He plays with no one.
He just stares at the TV.

- He's in this room.
- Just a minute.

Karim?

Tarek?

They're all dead.

This isn't your jacket.

It's Karim's.

Why are you wearing it?

My mother was
under the rubble.

I took my shirt off
to cover her face.

When he saw me,
he gave me his jacket.

Where is Karim?

He stayed under the bombs.

Under the bombs,
most were crushed to death.

It is for them that this film was made.
To tell the suffering of the innocents.