"The time has come, Mother." "You've trusted me all these years, and now it's time for me to accomplish the dark destiny you've prepared me for." "THE VALLEY OF TEARS" "It's for Les Editions Al'arme!" "Les Editions Al'arme!" " Hello, Isabelle." " Hi, Marie." "So what's new?" "Oh, don't know." "What's this?" "No, at the hospital." "No, nothing new." "Yes, good morning. am calling about Order 1257, please." "Yes, Josee." "Can take care of it." "But can't come by before Saturday." "am really swamped." "MY MOTHER SAID I'D BE A REAL MAN SOMEDAY." "THEN, WOULDN'T NEED HER TEACHINGS ANYMORE" "THAT TIME HAS COME..." "Yes, am." "Can't tonight." "Absolutely not, sorry." "OK, let me know if there's anything new." "Great, on Saturday." "Bye." "You're here!" "Managed to free myself." "It's wonderful!" " Where is she?" " She's being given a bath." "Thanks for coming." "No need to thank me, Josee." "I'll come early tomorrow." " Marie!" " Hello." "Come in." "Can't, Mr. Kieslowski." "I'm already late." "But brought you some crosswords." "Have a good day." "Thank you." "Where are these envelopes coming from?" ""On my 12th birthday, my life changed." ""That day, understood why they were whispering in my presence." ""It was to hide something from me that everyone knew."" ""We would never be able to return to Palestine. "" "SABRA AND SHATILA CAMPS LEBANON, MAY 1982" "That night, from my hiding place, overhearda conversationbetween my parents and Uncle Abbas." "Everything became clear and saw myself as a future hero." "A white knight born to accomplish a mission."" "to save his people from restless wandering." "didn'twantto impressmyfather and my elder brother." "onlywantedto dry my poor mother's tears." "She still crocheted tablecloths to cover the little tables in her childhood home, which overlooked olive trees." "She had to ?" "ee on a night with a full moon in 1948." "She was 5 and would never see that house again." "That evening, after Uncle Abbas had left, kissedmy children's games goodbye." "In my torn heart, Mother, vowed that, from now on, your tears would only be a few more drops in the sea that we would cross one day." "We would make the great voyage, with me up front and you behind me." "Isabelle?" "Yes." "Listen, there's a book that came out this summer on Palestine." "Don't remember who published it but maybe you could find me the title and the sales figures." "Yes, great, thanks." "Yes?" "Forgot to give you this." "Thank you." "Where are they coming from?" "Found them under the door." ""Your wish is now my duty, and your fear, my death." ""You are the path of my destiny." ""I am yours, Mother," ""the puppet of your ambitions, the jester of your prayers. "" "Ecstasy fulfills me." "amsublimatingmy life waiting to save you, to become your hero, your prince, your beloved." "AASHTAROUT" " LEBANON, 1983" "BIG  SMALL WILD ANIMALS" "When we get older, there's nothing worse than a foreign environment." "Marie!" "Are you OK, love?" "Yes." "Yes, thank you." "I'll come back later." "Don't tell me that you and that stallion..." "How'd you manage that?" "Well, have to go." "Bernard's waiting with the girls to go to the mall." " When are you coming back?" " Soon." "You'll have your weekend, don't worry." "Thank you." " Bye." " Bye." "In 1948, it's the Nakba, the disaster." "More than 700,000 Palestinians ?" "ee their villages following the Arab-Israeli War." "The poorest take refuge in camps in neighboring Lebanon, one of the few countries willing to accept them." "It's a small French-speaking country, landlocked in the Middle East with people of many faiths." "It is very fragile." "In 1975, the presence of the Palestinians exacerbates the tensions already brewing between Lebanese Christians and Muslims." "A civil war breaks out and lasts 15 years." "Six abominable massacres punctuate this deadly war." "All communities are involved with unprecedented violence." "The most notorious is the massacre at the Sabra and Shatila camps." "In September 1982, the Israeli army that controls the region allows a bloodthirsty Christian militia to penetrate the camps." "Thousands of Palestinians, including women and children, are murdered in the camps." "The news went around the world." "Nine days later, 300, 000 Israelis take to the streets and demand the truth." "The Kahan Commission is set up, but with no legal mandate or judiciary power." "It establishes that Ariel Sharon is personally responsible." "In Lebanon, Elie Hobeika, the mastermind behind the massacre, never pays for his crime." "Later, he became a deputy and obtained two ministerial portfolios before being assassinated in 2002." "Thanks." " Hi, Isabelle." " Hi." "Doing well?" "Thanks." "Do you want another coffee?" "No, thank you." "It makes me nervous." "Where is he from?" "No idea!" "SABRA AND SHATILA CAMPS LEBANON, SEPTEMBER 1982" "How's it going?" "Not too tired?" "Thank God." "You're Arab, right?" "Yes." "I'm Marie." "Joseph." "Marie and Joseph..." "Hey, actually need the walls of my living room repainted." "How much do you charge?" "Cheap." "By that, you mean..." "The price you're willing to pay." "When could you start?" " Tonight?" " Tonight!" "Well... sure." "We could do the estimate, then we'll talk." "Is that OK?" "I'll give you my address." "Well then, 8:00 p.m.?" "It's Gilles." "Leave me a brief message." "Hi, boss." "Take the advice of an ex-girlfriend and change your message." "It's really too dry." "No, seriously, have a story about the massacres of Sabra and Shatila." "So please call me as soon as possible, OK?" "You're very punctual!" "Come in." "Can do it in three or four evenings this week" "I'll start by taking your coat." "Would you like something to drink?" "No,thank you." "In fact," "I'm not really sure want to do any repainting." "Yet, feel it's overdue." "What do you think?" "It can easily last another two years." "Well, I'll think it over." "But, please, sit down." "Are you in a hurry?" "Do you have a wife and children?" "No." " How old are you?" "40." "You're 40." "You're Palestinian." "The same as the guy who sends me these envelopes." "Never said was Palestinian." " What are you?" " Lebanese." "Sorry." "Have nothing to do with this Palestinian." "Let me know what you decide for your living room." "AASHTAROUT CONVENT LEBANON, SEPTEMBER 1982" "Isabelle, could you ask Joseph the painter to come to my office, please?" "Great, thanks." "Come in." "Close the door." "Don't know how it is in your culture, but here, we don't bite." "Sit down." "Well, just wanted to tell you that thought it over." "Decided not to repaint." "Yesterday, you talked about a Palestinian, right?" "Yes." "Am very familiar with this culture. can help you" "No, no, it's been settled." "Settled?" "Look, the documents receive are anonymous." "Can't do much with them." "Listen" "Come to my place tonight at 8:00." "We'll talk again." " Sorry." " It's OK." "Come in." "Got your message this morning." "Look, in my opinion, it's an exceptional firsthand account." "I'm not sure." "Rwanda happened in 1994 and you published the same year." "It's been over 25 years since Sabra and Shatila." "Don't think it'll interest anyone" "What do you mean?" "It's too melodramatic and... too Arabic." "Too Arabic?" "What do you want to publish?" "Cookbooks?" "How to Make Dirty Jokes?" "Five Steps to Happiness?" "Sorry, Gilles, but if can't publish this testimony, then better quit!" "You know that only a select audience would read it." "What do you mean by "select"?" "Mean people directly involved in the conflict, that's all." "So one must be directly involved in a conflict to find it interesting?" "No, there are plenty of people who want to be informed, who want to be a part of global interests." "In our society, these people are left behind!" "I've got a meeting in five minutes." "You mean people in their 30s are not able to focus on such subjects?" "If you had had children with me, wouldn't be with a 30 year old." "Send me your manuscript." "Didn't put anything in it." "The doctor said she could remain in a coma for years." "Makes you think." "About what?" "Well, we still keep coming every night." " Nobody forces you to come." " know." "Anyway, don't come here for her." "That's supposed to make me feel better?" " At least I'm not a hypocrite." " Nobody ever said you were." "Right." "Just an alcoholic." "A functional alcoholic!" "Your gigolo asks about you every day." "Oh, speak of the devil..." "Marie, I'm glad to see you." "You won't be glad much longer." "You just got here." "Yeah, and now I'm going." "I'll leave you alone with the monster!" "By the way, you're not the monster." "Tell me about Sabra and Shatila." "In Lebanon, they forgot about the killings." "Was there an inquiry?" "Were the murderers arrested and tried?" "So when you say "they forgot", what do you mean?" "The Lebanese have no memory." "And the Palestinians?" "The Palestinians will never forget." "So you're writing this account for the Lebanese." "I'm ready to work with you." " Work with me?" " Yes." "We can meet from time to time." "ask questions, you answer." "But everything's in the documents." "No, they're not enough." "Don't think have more to add" "Well, it's up to you." "Look, I'm putting my trust in a total stranger, just like that." "Am also putting my trust in you, just like that." "Yes, but here, I'm the one who decides." "It could also stop right now." "It's your choice." "Go home." "Sleep on it." "How long have you known him?" "Since I've been in Montreal." "Thought it over." "I'm ready to do whatever you want." "Even paint my living room?" "It's a joke." "Well, that's great." "So we'll work at my place every evening at 8:00 p.m., OK?" "See you tonight." "Thank you." "Where did you grow up?" "In the mountains" "Where exactly?" "A village called Aashtarout." "Ashtarout..." "No, Aa shtarout." "No, not like that." "May ?" "Look, it's a double It's pronounced "ea"." "The back of the throat." "Aa!" "Almost..." "That's my mother." "Is she still alive?" "Thank God." "Ali is a Muslim name?" "Yes." "And Joseph is Christian." "Yes." "May talk to you?" "Yes, but quickly." "I'm in a hurry." "have to go to the hospital." " The hospital?" " My mother." "What's wrong with her?" "She's been in a coma for two weeks." "What did you want to talk about?" "Can't come tonight" "It's actually good timing." "So we'll do it tomorrow?" "Can't we do it now?" "Right now?" "Really need to talk to you." "I'll be back." "So?" "I've doubts." "I'm wondering." "What's the point?" "Of what?" "To publish?" "It all depends on your motive." " What do you mean?" " Your motive." "Your intention." "Why do you want to get published?" "Haven't thought about that." "You don't lie very well." "I'm not lying." "So think about it now." "If you have a motive and you don't trust me, it makes no sense to publish." "Can't tell you the whole truth." "Everything you say is true, right?" "That, swear." "So... your motive?" "Want to..." "I'm trying to..." "What?" "Writing, the simple act of writing, it removes a weight." "It's also a way of not acting." "Yes." "It could help overcome some emotions and events." "Which means what?" "You want to overcome the death of your father and your brother through writing, right?" "If not that, what else?" "Sorry'?" "If not that, what would you do?" "Gotta go now." "Well, me too." "Before rush hour." "Come in, it's open!" "Sorry, just got home." "Are there hyenas in Canada?" "What?" "Hyenas." "No, we don't have them here." "We do in my village." "Really?" "They are foul beasts." "They eat human remains." "Yuck!" "You know... unlike most animals, the female hyena dominates the male." "The male must submit to the female to be accepted by the group." "That wouldn't go over well with the men in your area, think." "Men in my area, as you say, must also submit to women." "Really?" "Know." "It may be surprising, but it's the truth." "Well, explain it to me." "The woman governs the family and the children's education." "Men don't get involved." "But men make the rules, right?" "Maybe." "But women are the guardians of the traditions and they ensure these rules are respected." "Without the rigidity of women, society would evolve." "That's interesting." "You're also very eloquent." "I'm only repeating what read in a book." "You read a lot?" "It helps me feel alive." "Think it's the same here." "At home, my mother made all the decisions." "My father had nothing to say." "When was young, got pregnant." "My mother decided that I'd get an abortion." "That wasn't right?" "Maybe." "But... it made me sterile." "She probably thought it was for your own good." "Of course, same old story." "My mother always made decisions for me too." " So?" " So?" "Well, that doesn't bother you?" "For us, that kind of question doesn't even come up." "Why'?" "It's cultural." "We don't question our parents, that's all." "What do you do then?" "We..." "We write." "Yes?" "Who's there?" "Josee, is that you?" "You're a beautiful woman." "I'm getting old." "Being able to grow old is a gift." "Read about the horrors the mercenaries did in the camps." "How do you feel about the fact that they will never pay for their crimes?" "You always end up paying one day or another." "In an ideal world, yes." "It's been 28 years, and they live peacefully, without fear." "There is the fear of God." "You are a believer?" "Of course." "And you?" " Not at all." " Don't say that." "Why'?" "Might go to Hell?" "Oh, I'm already there." " Hey, hello." " Where are the painters?" "It's done." "It was about time!" "Do you have anything for me?" "SUSPICIOUS DEATH IN MONTREAL" "Isabelle!" "Did you read the newspaper?" "The police were here this morning." "Imagine!" "I'm still shaken." "Got coffee for that guy." "What did the police want?" "Called them. panicked." "Gilles told me they won't come back." "Sorry for coming in here. just wanted to drop off this envelope." "Good morning!" "Gilles speaking." "Leave a detailed message, and I'll be more than happy to call you back." "Gilles, it's me." "Have to go away for a few days." "I'll contact you as soon as get back." "Say hello to Melissa." "Please..." "Thank you." "No, thank you." "Enjoy your stay." "Thank you." " Hello." " Hello." "A strange noise woke me up this morning." "Was wondering what it was." "A strange noise?" "Like what?" "Oh yes!" "A hyena has been prowling around the village for several days." "Don't worry." "They'll capture it and kill it." " Are you alright, ma'am?" " Yes,thank you." "Breakfast is on your right." " Thanks." " Don't mention it." " Excuse me." " Yes?" "How do get to Aashtarout?" "Aashtarout?" "Take the same road it's the first one on the right." " Is it far?" " 4 to 5 minutes." "Walking?" "No, if you walk, it's 15 to 20 minutes." "OK." "Thank you." "Do you want me to drive you this afternoon?" "No, have to go right away." "Can send the girl with you." "She speaks French." "Sure, that would be really nice." "I'll be waiting at the reception when you're done." "Good." " Bon appetit." " Thanks." "Do you know Aashtarout well?" " My mother works at the convent" " Which one?" "There's only one!" "Do you know Sister Gabrielle?" "Sure!" "I'd like to meet her." "They died in Canada." " Really?" " They were killed." "By Whom'?" "No one knows yet." "There are rumors in the village." "What kind of rumors?" "Do you know Joseph?" "Joseph, the son of the grocer, Georges..." "Youssef..." "know 16 Josephs here." "No, his mother worked for Sister Gabrielle at the convent" "Joseph!" "He taught me to speak French well!" "Do you know where his house is?" "He also died in Canada." "Why is his photo not with the others?" "He's not from here, so nobody thought of putting up his photo." "Can you take me to his house?" "Of course, but..." "But what'?" "We'll go there." "But if anyone talks to us, don't say a word, OK?" "OK, but why'?" "We are not allowed to go there." "They are Palestinians." "There's no one here?" "They are all gone." "Gone?" "Joseph left first." "A few months later, the whole family disappeared." "Where did they go?" "No one knows." "It seems they left without even saying goodbye to the convent." "She's asking for you." "I'll wait here." "No, go back to the hotel." "I'll manage." "Thanks." "Don't know of any Joseph." "And don't want to hear his name." " Why'?" " Why'?" "Welcomed them here." "Gave them shelter." "Fought for them to be accepted by the people here." "And they ran away like that!" "Now am wrong, and the whole village is right." "Do you know how he died?" "I'll leave this with you." "Read it." "I'll come back tomorrow and we'll talk." "Didn't know that Tony and Miled..." "The two men killed were involved in the massacres." "Initially, there were rumors." "Some said that most of the sons in the village took part in it." "When Joseph and his family came here, from their accent, the mother superior, and everyone, knew they were Palestinians." "No one except me knew they were Muslims." "Wanted to make up for all the suffering they'd gone through, so kept the secret" "The years passed, and no one spoke about the massacre any more." "Young people were emigrating to Canada and Australia to forget the memories." "Too was struck with amnesia." "Saw him grow and become a man." "Was proud of him, like he was my own son." "You know, in the camps, they don't have papers." "Got him a passport." "Didn't know was helping a monster plan and commit his crimes." "It was your duty to open your doors to them after what the men in your village did to them." "Joseph gave me his manuscript, and I'm going to publish it." "Could that put you in danger?" "Of course!" "You have no right to dig up the dead!" "In addition, his family- think his family is safe." "Otherwise, he wouldn't have wanted it published." "You'll open very old wounds." "God willing." " So that's what he was doing." " I'm sorry?" "Every afternoon, he would stay in a room." "He was writing." "And thought he was only reading." " Here?" " Follow me." "Who are they?" "His wife and two children." "Sabra and Shatila are on the way to the airport?" "We'll stop there for a few minutes." "This $200 is yours if you wait for me here with my suitcase, OK?" " Journalist?" " No." "Do you know her?" "What's going on, Brother?" "Who is she?" "This concerns us." "Sorry, the door was open." "Do you speak French?" "I'm from Montreal." "See what she wants." "Hello." "What do you want?" "Knew her son in Montreal." "How do we know you're not a journalist?" "Get a coffee cup." "Translate." "The massacre began on Thursday at 5:30." "At first, we did not believe it." "We stayed in our homes." "By nightfall, the sky was lit up by flares, and we heard gunshots." "Abu Omar had chills." "Gave him some chamomile and put the children to bed." "On Friday at 7:00 a.m., had no more bread." "Sent Ali to my sister's." "She lives next door." "His sister followed him." "Omar stayed with me." "Ten minutes later, they came in." "Two minutes, and they left." "Heard one of them say Aashtarout." "As soon as they left, got the children and we fled." "On the road, wondered where Aashtarout was." "My son is a martyr." "You knew he was going to die?" " Where are his children?" " The children are OK." "Praise God." "What did you gain?" "My dignity." "Wait!" "The time has come, Mother." "You've trusted me all these years, and now it's time for me to accomplish the dark destiny you've prepared me for." "But since the birth of Omar and Noha, onlyseeare?" "ectionof the violent past in you, Mother." "This past paralyzes me." "can't overcome it." "Your will shall be done." "With my suicide, Mother, want to end the cycle of hatred." "My children will not have to avenge my death, nor will they be killed in revenge." "I want them to imagine their future, like all children of the world." "What did they do to inherit our misfortunes?" "begyou not to shatter their lives." "For the sake of the Palestinian children, Mother, and for all the children in the Arab world, want to say:" "Stand up and break the chains we've passed on to you." "We have another way to reach our dreams." "Most of all, we want to protect our children from the bloodbath." "This morning, Mother, while crossing the street next to the market, wasassailed by the smell of jasmine, like a dagger in the heart, Mother." "This fragrance has revived beautiful memories that 'm desperately trying to bury deep inside me." "can'tholdbackalonelytear on my cheek, my cheek that longs for your kisses." "wish,Mother, you had remained the woman who sang about love and innocence next to my cradle." "But am dreaming of a human miracle, the miracle of playing one last time under the July sun and picking from your garden, for your beautiful black eyes, the white rose of forgiveness." "THE VALLEY OF TEARS" "Subtitling:" "CNST, Montreal"