BANOO
A film by Dariush Mehrjui
Translated by
Mamak Nourbakhsh
Cast:
Ezzatollah Entezami
Bita Farahi
Gohar Mahmoudeirandish
Ferdows Kaviani
Hamideh Mahmoudeirabadi
Fat’hali Oveisi
Sima Tirandaz
Mahmoud Kalari
And
Mahmoudosro Shakibai
Assistant Director:
Masoud Rashidi Amir Seyedi
Make-up:
Abdollah Eskandari Akram Navidi
Production Assistant:
Hassan Najm Hamid Modaressi
Script Girl:
Parvaneh Parto
Photographer:
Aziz Sa’ati
Decoration Designer:
Kazem Fariborzi
Costume Designer:
Jila Mehrjui
Sound Recordist:
Asghar Shahverdi Sasan NaMahmoudai
Set Designer:
Fariar Javaherian
Editing:
Hassan Hassandoost
Sound Mixing:
Jahangir Mirshekari
Music:
Naser Cheshmazar
Production Manager:
M. Alinaghi Kani
Producers: Majid Modaressi
Mohammad Mehdi Dadgu
Director of Photography:
Turaj Mansuri
Writer & Director:
Dariush Mehrjui
Banoo: "Save me from the dark side of myself,
let me see the light within myself.
The story of my life is in no way
separate from my anxious longings,
From the moment I left
my father's humble lodgings.
I split my body and soul
and readied my heart for pain.”
Mahmoud: Listen, you're stupid, totally...
I need sweaters, too.
I'll bring my suit.
It's not possible over the phone.
The hell with them.
Banoo: If I knew you were going on a
long trip I would've come along.
I really wouldn't bother you.
Mahmoud: I am not staying in one place.
I'll be going from Bandar Abbas to
Sharja, then to Dubai and Singapore...
...from one airport to the next,
from one hotel to another.
It's no place for you.
Banoo: Why do I always have to be alone?
I want to be with you;
I want you to stay in this town.
You always leave upon arrival.
Mahmoud: Am I really with you when I'm
here? Are you living with me in your secret prayers.
You've always shut
Yourself off.
Banoo: Which secret prayers?
If I knew, I'd be better off…
Mahmoud: Hello? This line is not
working again.
Where's my ticket?
Banoo: It's disconnected.
I don't know.
Did you leave it here?
Mahmoud: No, I checked everything
before going to bed.
Banoo: Isn't it here?
Maybe it's here.
Yes, here it is.
"Mahmoud dear, in this
40 degree heat...
...I'm lying on the grass by the pool,
my body is burning with the sun..."
Mahmoud: Don't read anymore.
Give it to me.
I've wanted to tell you for
a while, but I didn't dare.
I mean I didn't know how to
say it. But now you know.
If you want the truth, I no longer
fear you, nor do I fear myself.
Yes, I was afraid you'd leave
me, make me miserable but...
She's from Shiraz, she
works at Iran Venus.
She's divorced.
I like her. She's
warm & passionate.
I mean I'm in love
with her.
She's supposed to join
me in Dubai.
I wanted to solve this thing in my own
way, so that you wouldn't know...
By God, don't stare at
me like that.
I know it's my fault
but I was forced to.
I know I've sinned, I mean
I was suddenly involved.
I'm sick of this wheeling and dealing world…
Constantly on the watch...
...not to get screwed when
everyone wants to screw you.
I want love. Love!
You don't give me anything.
The truth is that in the
past two years...
...I always thought I was bothering
you, that I was not wanted.
Neither my presence nor my absence
seemed to make any difference.
You're with yourself and
with those books of yours...
...it feels like I'm living with a
spirit, with a nun in a convent.
No, no, it's not that, it's not
your fault. It's my fault.
It's I who suddenly became a fool
& fell madly in love with this girl.
Why so late?
Do you need anything?
Banoo: Go!
Mahmoud: Go in, you'll catch cold.
Shamsi: My God, Madam, why are
you sitting here?
You'll get sick.
come on, get up. Let's go inside.
Banoo: "I want to taste this pain so slowly that
its bitterness never leaves me.
I want its bitterness
to increase...
...to intoxicate my body,
my heart, my soul.
This is the war I've waged
with myself. I accept it."
Shamsi: Madam, dinner is ready.
I'm leaving.
Karam Ali: Isn’t there anybody here?
Banoo: Who is it?
Karam Ali: Don't panic! It's me, Karam Ali,
the gardener next door.
There was no one around,
I saw a light.
Banoo: What do you want?
Karam Ali: My wife is sick, she's been
crying with pain for two hours.
Banoo: Wait, I'm coming down.
Karam Ali: God bless you!
Watch out!
This way. Be careful! Don’t fall!
Banoo: My dear lady.
What's wrong with you?
Hajar: My legs hurting.
Banoo: Is it labor pain?
Hajar: No dear, I'm dying. I told you to get
a doctor. Is this lady a doctor?
Karam Ali: How can I get a doctor
at this hour of the night?
Banoo: Where do you hurt?
Hajar: Everywhere.
Karam Ali: She's been like this
for two years.
She get burnt in an explosion
but she doesn't hurt from that.
Banoo: What is it then?
Karam Ali: We don't know. Every
doctor says something different.
We've spent so much on
doctors and medicine.
She's okay for a while
then she relapses.
Last night she
threw up twice.
Banoo: Get up. I know a good doctor.
Hajar: A doctor?
Banoo: Get up.
Hajar: Okay.
Karam Ali: Careful, madam.
Hajar: Oh mother, my back.
Karam Ali: Easy, hold on to the ladder.
Hajar: Ouch! I can't walk. Oh God!
Karam Ali: Excuse us for going ahead.
Hajar: Oh, my back!
Karam Ali: Go on.
Hajar: I can't.
Karam Ali: Go on.
Get down!
Go ahead!
Banoo: Bring her in.
Hajar: Oh Madam, I can't.
Banoo: Hello, Doctor.
Dr: Hello.
Banoo: She's sick. She's in pain.
Dr: What's wrong?
Hajar: It's my kidneys, Doctor.
Dr: What's wrong with your kidneys?
Hajar: They're bursting, Doctor.
Dr: Kidneys don't burst, lady.
Hajar: Oh yes they do, my feet,
my back, please doctor...
Dr: Give her a painkiller.
Nurse: Let's go.
Hajar: What for?
Nurse: I'll give you a shot.
Dr: She's had too much cortisone,
that's her problem.
How many months pregnant is she?
Karam Ali: Seven months.
Dr: Seven? It's a curios disease,
maybe it's a muscular problem...
...in any case, it's been
worsened by her pregnancy.
Banoo: Is it dangerous?
Dr: I don't think so.
But she must undergo
some routine tests.
Is it over?
Haar: God bless you, Doctor.
Dr: You'll get better.
Hajar: Please God, help me.
Dr: Hello, I want some routine
tests done right away.
Come over here.
Haar: Now what?
Dr: It's nothing, just some simple tests.
Haar: No, I won’t do it.
Dr: Please come this way.
It's nothing, just a few drops of blood.
You come along with me.
The painkiller will act & she'll
be fine. How are you?
Banoo: Awful!
Dr: Why? Are you taking your medication regularly?
No. It hurts here and here.
Dr: Why? What's happened?
Banoo: Mahmoud has found
another woman.
They've gone on a trip,
he wants to marry her.
Dr: How did you find out?
Banoo: He himself told me.
Dr: Who's the girl?
Banoo: I don't know. Some secretary or
manager of a trading company.
Dr: I knew nothing about it.
I don't want to judge or
to interfere in this...
...but the truth is I told
you once that...
...Mahmoud is not the way you'd
like him to be, poetic, sentimental...
...it's natural
for him to fool around.
Sometimes one is
forced to.
Banoo: How is that possible?
He was always with me, by my side.
Dr: You know what it
reminds me of?
The first time I heard
you get married.
Suddenly my heart, my soul,
everything in me collapsed.
I asked myself how
it happened.
We had grown up together
& were meant for each other.
I can understand you
quite well, Mariam Banoo.
Banoo: That's right, I'm paying for
the pain I caused you.
All this guilt without even
knowing about it.
Dr: It's too bad you still
don't know me.
Karam Ali: I told you there wasn’t anything
to worry about.
Hajar: Ok, doctor, that's done, too. They
put my blood in a tube, now what?
Dr: Almost done. Just an ECG.
Hajar: Where do I go now?
Dr: This way.
Hajar: Okay, that should
really help.
Listen, doctor, if I tell you
something will you keep it a secret?
Doctor, do something to
abort my baby.
Find me a doctor, a nurse, someone
who'll do it, Karam will pay for it.
Dr: My good woman, it's not so
easy to abort a baby.
Hajar: Why? Is it a crime?
Everybody does it...
...but if I do it, the
world goes upside down.
Dr: You should've done it
long ago, now it's too late.
Hajar: I didn't know. I thought if
I never got pregnant...
...then my husband would say I'm barren &
marry someone else.
But now I wish he'd do it.
The hell with him.
With my pain and illness what
do I need a baby for?
For pity's sake can't you
do anything about it?
Dr: Impossible!
Hajar: Why not?
Dr: Take these pills
when in pain...
...this powder every night &
these vitamins between meals.
Banoo: What's wrong with her?
Dr: The tests don't show anything.
Probably malnutrition since childhood...
...& the lack of calcium has
caused bone fragility.
Karam Ali: What's the cure?
Dr: There's no cure, just painkillers
& rest & no stress on her bones.
Karam Ali: Should she take painkillers
till the end of her life?
Dr: It is better then suffering.
Karam Ali: Thank you very much Doctor.
Dr: You're welcome.
Karam Ali: Let's go!
Hajar: Thank you, good-bye.
Man: Wait, wait a minute.
Listen to me.
These are the plans for
the building. Look at them.
Do you see your cabin in them?
Karam Ali: No!
Man: Why isn't it there?
Banoo: What's the matter, sir?
They live here.
Man: They're tearing this place down.
They can't go in.
Karam Ali: No one paid me. I' the gardener
& the keeper of this park.
Man: Which park?
Karam Ali: This very park whose trees you tore
down in the middle of the night.
Man: There was no park here and no trees.
I'm doing you a favor.
Get your stuff and get out, otherwise
we'll just tear your hut down.
You see this bulldozer? You want
me to have it wipe your place out?
Karam Ali: Is that so?
Over my dead body!
Man: Listen you dumbhead, what am
I going to tell the owner?
Shamsi: Help me with this.
Banoo: It's torn and dirty.
Shamsi: It's good enough.
Banoo: I brought some new sheets.
Shamsi: Madam, do you think these
people are aristocrats?
Banoo: She's sick, she's poor. she
mustn't think we don't respect her.
Shamsi: I don't see any
sickness in her.
Hajar: Oh mother!
Banoo: Are you in pain?
Let me fix your back.
Hajar: God bless you!
Thank you so much for all your trouble.
Banoo: Come have some supper. Sit up!
Hajar: I can't.
Banoo: Come on, I'll feed you.
Hajar: What is it?
Banoo: Chicken soup.
Haar: What's that for?
Thanks.
Banoo: Eat. It's good.
Hajar: It needs some salt and lemon.
Banoo: Shamsi, please bring the
salt & some lemons.
Shamsi: We don't have any lemons,
& it's got enough salt.
Hajar: Bring me some lemon juice then.
Shamsi: And what else?
Hajar: Who's that in the picture?
Banoo: It's my father.
He passed away last year.
Hajar: Yeah, that's before we
came down here.
Who are they? Your sisters?
Banoo: That's right.
Hajar: Which one are you?
Banoo: The last one.
Hajar: Are you the youngest child?
Banoo: I was not wanted.
That's why they sent me
abroad to do hard labor.
Hajar: Hard labor?
Banoo: Yes, a Catholic
boarding school.
Hajar: But why?
Banoo: So that I would learn
foreign languages.
In fact they wanted
to get rid of me.
Hajar: How could they?
Such a beautiful girl!
Where are your sisters now?
Banoo: They're all gone.
Hajar: Where?
Banoo: Abroad.
Even my mother
left & died there.
Hajar: Thank you.
I'll eat it myself.
Where's your husband?
Is he on a trip?
Banoo: No, this time he
went for good.
Hajar: God rest his soul.
Banoo: No...
Shamsi: Well, Madam, I'm leaving.
Good-bye!
Where are you taking the tray?
Good-bye!
Karam Ali: Get lost you bastards.
Man: Son of a bitch!
Karam Ali: Get lost!
Man: Throw out all his stuff, I'll
show you, you bastard!
I'll bring this shack down
on your head!
Let's go!
Banoo: What happened?
Karam Ali: What are you doing here?
Banoo: Who are they?
What did they do to you?
Let me bandage your wound.
Karam Ali: Thank you, Lady.
You know what I dreamt of a few
nights ago? God be my witness.
I dreamt I was alone in a
desert & I was dying of thirst.
Then from a speck of dust, a
jug bearer rose & came to me.
She was a kind lady,
just like you.
I swear it's true,
now it's come true.
Banoo: Shamsi, come help me.
Hajar: They threw you
out & they hit you!?
Karam Ali: They broke the
door & the windows.
It wasn't safe to stay
there any more.
Hajar: The hell with it, you deserve it.
Good for them.
Now are you satisfied?
Karam Ali: We've got no place to
live & no 70,000 tomans.
Hajar: That's because
you're do stupid.
Shamsi: What's this 70,000 tomans?
Karam Ali: When the missile hit the garden &
madam here was burnt all ever...
...they sent us down to this orchard.
Then they came and told us...
...they'd sold the property.
They told us to take this
money & go somewhere else.
But she wouldn't move
unless they gave us a house.
I kept telling her to accept
the money, but she wouldn't.
Hajar: And I was right. What could
you do with 70,000 tomans?
Karam Ali: She didn't accept & our
employer said we were on our own.
Now we have no
place to go & no money.
Hajar: You're so stupid, that's why. You're
an ass. Everyone swindles you.
Karam Ali: Just go get some sleep.
Hajar: Bastard! What can I do?
Shamsi: What's all this shouting about?
Karam Ali: Excuse me, ma'am.
Banoo: Don't worry, Karam Ali,
let me fix your wound.
Shamsi: Look, what you’ve done!
Who are these people...
...you’ve brought
into the house?
Banoo: He's a poor wretch.
They've destroyed their shack.
Karam Ali, come here.
Shamsi: That's enough.
See what he's done.
Banoo: That's enough fighting.
Your wound will open up. Come here.
Hajar: May God punish you!
Karam Ali: I swear, Banoo, everything
I endure is because of her.
When we were well off, selling the
orchard produce there were no arguments.
Since our luck turned & they sold the
property, this woman has turned against me.
What orchards we had!
What fruit! Persimmons this big,
apricots, plums.
Everything I earned I
spent on doctors and drugs for her.
I worked myself to
death for her...
...washing dishes, cooking,
laundering, everything...
...and she
always grumbles.
Karam Ali: Sit down, the doctor
said you must rest.
Banoo: Karam Ali, take this blanket to your
room, the other one is too thin...
...it's cold.
Karam Ali: Thank you, Banoo.
Banoo: Why do you call him "Mahmoudan"?
How does it fit him?
Just call him Karam Ali,
that's good enough for him.
Banoo: He's your husband,
the father of your child.
Hajar: Oh Lady, I'd like to see him
dead & I don't want this baby.
I hope I lose it,
I'll be much better off.
Banoo: Once I was like you,
I wanted to lose my baby.
Hajar: So you lost it,
are you happy?
Banoo: No, I regret it. I tried to
have another one after that...
...but God never gave me
another baby.
Hajar: Poor thing, tell me,
did your husband want a baby?
Banoo: Yes, he did. But I fell into
women's lib & independence.
Hajar: What does that have
to do with losing your baby?
What is that like?
Banoo: "Heng", "Survival".
"Successful progress without fault...
...of action and consistency
will bring success.
Movement in any
direction will be successful.
Here thunder &
wind have joined..."
Banoo: Karam Ali!
Karam Ali: Yes!
Banoo: I think someone wants to see you.
Karam Ali: Yes?
Shirin: Hello!
Karam Ali: Hello, Shirin. Good to see you.
How are you?
Shirin: Terrible! The baby's sick.
What happened to your place?
To the park?
You don't live there any more?
Karam Ali: No. What can I say?
They cut down the trees,
& threw us out.
A tree fell over and destroyed
the neighbour’s wall.
Karam Ali: Lady, this is Shirin,
Hajar's brother-in-law.
She's come a long way from
Arak & her baby is sick.
Banoo: Bring them in!
Karam Ali: God bless you, Lady!
Banoo: Come in! Is she in pain?
Shirin: No Ma'am, she's got
a cold & I must change her.
Last night she cried all
the way on the bus.
Banoo: Let's go in here, it's warm.
Shirin: Thank you.
Shamsi: Don't run with those
muddy shoes!
Banoo: Come, put her down here.
Go warm up by the fireplace.
Karam Ali: How are you?
Banoo: She's got a fever.
Did you give her any medicine?
Shirin: I gave her one last night.
I'm going to feed her & give
her another one.
Hajar: Shirin!
Shirin: Hello, Hajar dearest.
Hajar: Has Ahmad come?
Shirin: No.
Hajar: Why not? Did you have a fight?
Shirin: Not at all.
Hajar: Sit! Sit!
Oh cutey, your aunt loves you!
Is she wet?
Shirin: No, she's got a fever.
May God grant that I get sick & you well!
Banoo: I'll go get the baby's bag.
Shirin: Don't trouble yourself, thank you.
Banoo: Put this down here.
Shamsi: Here Lady, what's with you?
Take this to your room!
Hajar: So how come you suddenly
arrived without telling us?
Shirin: You know Ahmad. He lets me
do all the hard work &...
...he's waiting to be officially employed,
God knows when! I've had it!
It's impossible to run a
family on a school teacher's salary.
So what are you going to do?
Shirin: I don't know.
He doesn't do anything else.
Where can I get some
boiled water?
Banoo: I'll get it for you.
Shirin: Please let me do it.
Banoo: It's alright, I'll get it.
Thank you.
Shirin: Thank you so much.
When he comes from work he's
completely self-absorbed &...
...he's proud that his articles
get printed in newspapers.
Now he's asked me to come to
Tehran to see your father &...
...get things straightened
out with the house.
Hajar: Which house?
Karam Ali: The house that belonged to
the second or third wife of your father.
Hajar: What?
Karam Ali: Ahmad's mother's house.
Shamsi: It's heavy! Put it here!
Karam Ali: Put it down.
Shamsi: Okay. Now let's straighten it.
Banoo: Please lay down the rug.
I'm going to see to the french fries.
Shirin: Who is she? She's so kind.
Hajar: She's the lady of this house.
She's taken pity on us wretches.
She wants to help
the destitute.
Shamsi: The eggplants are ready, the rice, too.
The fries are getting done.
Banoo: Thank you, Shamsi.
Shirin: Can I help, too?
Shirin: You can peel these.
Not with this knife, you'll cut
yourself. Take this one.
Shirin: Thank you.
Shamsi: It's getting dark.
I must go. By the way my son asked...
...about that fridge you were to
get at cooperative price.
Banoo: I told Dr. Hessam.
It'll be ready in a few days.
Shamsi: Okay, good-bye.
Shirin: I swear from the moment
I saw you, I really liked you.
...Mariam Banoo.
What a sweet name!
I thank God for having found
you after that nasty trip in the cold.
It was like
landing in paradise.
You are so kind to us
I really want to thank you.
Hajar: But it still does not taste
as good as those...
...my father cooked in Sultan
Abdul Hossein's house in Shiraz.
Karam Ali: But I've never had
such a good meal.
Shirin: Now that you mentioned
your father...
...I wanted to ask him to
get a job for Ahmad.
Hajar: Like what kind of a job?
Shirin: I don't know. Mason, street vendor,
it's better than being a school teacher.
Hajar: I swear Lady, we're not
lucky as far as husbands go.
She's unlucky one way,
me another way.
What ambitions I had! Don't look at
me now! I wasn't always like this.
I had such beautiful hair.
My eyes, the size of a cow’s! I swear.
Karam Ali: Don’t believe her, Ma’am!
Banoo: It's funny the last time we sat
under a korsi, I was nine.
On a night like this, my aunt was
sitting here with her two children...
...my father, my mother,
surely this must be a sign.
Shamsi: This morning when I arrived,
it was a mess. A pile of dirty dishes!
I don't understand, am I serving
you or this bunch of creeps?
Banoo: What nonsense!
They're nice people.
You've got a little extra work.
They’ll help you, even I’ll help you.
Shamsi: I'm not saying you shouldn't help
people, but help the needy.
I just don't like parasites;
living off other people.
Banoo: Let's go buy some fruit.
I'll go buy the fruit.
Shamsi: Ok. I'm going to the shrine for a while.
How much for the oranges?
Banoo: Listen to your heart!
Don't pay attention to Shamsi.
Thank God for sending you
these people...
...for not being
alone & bursting with grief.
Forget Mahmoud, forget him!
Hajar: Hello!
Shamsi: Who put these in here?
Get them out of here, quick!
Hajar: I didn't put them there.
Shamsi: Whoever put them here.
you get them out.
Don't tell me you
want me to wash your baby's diapers.
Get them out.
Hajar: My goodness, even servants
give out orders nowadays.
Shamsi: You shut up because I've
had it with the likes of you!
Hypocrites! "It needs salt &
lemon, the rice is not well-done!"
It's not your place to
find fault with me.
Banoo: What's the matter?
What's wrong with you, Shamsi?
Shamsi: What? You side with them, too?
I've really had it!
I'm sick of your useless pity.
Why do you keep them here?
Do you call these people needy?
Shirin: What's the matter?
Hajar: You’ve thrown these in here?
Shirin: Oh. I'm sorry,
it's my fault.
I told Karam Ali to put them away
until I got around to washing them.
Hajar: Then wash them!
Banoo: Where are you going Shamsi?
Shamsi: I can't live with
these people...
...as long as they're here,
I'm not coming back.
Banoo: It’s no big deal.
Shamsi: Yes it is.
I put all the valuables
in the master's closet.
Banoo: Let me at least take you home.
Shamsi: No need. Good-bye.
Banoo: "You can't please everyone.
Shamsi is leaving, too.
As usual my heart
sinks & drops.
I've become hollow,
stupid & weak.
Why? Is there
no salvation?
I hate this self-pity!
I hate it, hate
it, hate it .."
Banoo: Who's there?
Karam Ali!
Karam Ali: Don't be frightened, Lady,
it's Ghorban Salar, Hajar's father.
He's just come out of the
hospital, he had his pancreas taken out.
He's got no one, so he
came to stay with us.
Lady? Are you all right?
Banoo: Go get some sleep!
Ghorban Salar: Don't be frightened!
I'm no toad.
Of course, I know my
looks cause me trouble.
But if it weren't for my son-in-law's
unworthiness or my son's incompetence...
...I wouldn't be here
disturbing you.
I've been in a lot of wealthy homes.
I'm no stranger, I'm well-know.
I'm a cook. A lot of people
would want me back.
Cooking is an art.
When I make “Beef Stragonoff”
or “Tabrizi koufteh”, wow!
Its taste,
its smell melts the heart.
Ouch! My back!
This morning I got up &
said to myself...
...Let's clean up this mess in the
kitchen, in return for lady's kindness.
You’re like a daughter to me!
Would you like some breakfast?
An omelet "a'la champignon"?
Good! A Spanish omelet?
Toast?
If there's no bread, I'll go buy some.
Whatever you wish,
I'm at your service.
Mahmoudosro Jan, how are you?
Are you hungry?
Have you eaten?
Here take this, go play.
You won't believe it, it's been 5 years
since I've seen my grandchildren.
Since my son broke up
& drew a knife at me…
I don’t if my grand-children,
children are still alive.
...I've got one foot in the grave,
I'm going down to the cemetery.
Mariam Banoo, when
I was in the hospital...
...no one came to see
whether I was dead or alive.
Shirin: That's because no one
knew where you were.
Ghorban Salar: Then they tore and sewed up
my belly & told me to leave.
I didn't want to leave.
Where would I go?
I have no one, everybody
hates me.
Fortunately, I haven't got long to live,
I'm at the end my life is over, over…
Hajar: Don't act so helpless
in front of this kind lady!
Nobody know where you were.
You were chasing other people’s
women all year round.
Ghorban Salar: What could I do?
Shirin: Don't let him fool you. He's
abused two wives & eight kids...
...for a lifetime,
drinking & chasing women.
One of his wives went
mad & left for Astara.
Banoo: Really?
Shirin: The other one died of grief.
Banoo: Who?
Shriin: My husband's mother.
what a beauty!
As soon as she got pregnant
he left her & took everything she had.
He even swindled away the house
Ahmad was supposed to inherit.
Banoo: What does he do now?
Shirin: Anything! He sells tyres, coupons.
He’s even been in prison
for smuggling.
I don’t think it’s right that
he stays here.
Karam Ali: Hello, Doctor.
Dr: Hello! Where's Banoo?
Hello! How are you?
Banoo: Hi, how are you?
Dr: What's wrong with your telephone?
I can't reach you.
Banoo: All the better.
No one needs me & I need no one.
By the way, it's a good thing you're
here. Come and see this baby.
Hajar: Hello, Doctor.
Dr: Feeling any better?
Do you take your pills regularly?
Hajar: Yes, Doctor, by God, you're
a healer, I'm much better.
Shirin: Hello!
Dr: Hello. What's wrong with the baby?
Shirin: She's got a fever.
Dr: Does she eat well?
Shirin: Not too well.
Dr: What did you give her?
Banoo: Karam Ali, go get some
logs for the fireplace.
Dr: If her fever goes any higher,
give her two or three pills.
It's just a common cold.
Shirin: Thank you, Doctor.
Banoo: Come & see Ghorban Salar.
He's in a lot of pain.
Ghorban Salar: Hello, Sir.
Dr: Hello, what's the matter?
Ghorban Ali: Well, I'm sick. I go to this doctor,
he says my kidneys are swollen.
I go take some x-rays.
It's okay. He says it’s a big sore.
I get tested again,
& he says it's a glands of lympha...
Lymphatic.
Dr: That's it.
The lymphatic glands.
Banoo: Karam Ali!
Karam Ali: Yes.
Banoo: Take these logs to the living room. It's cold.
Karam Ali: Yes, Ma'am, right away.
Ghorban Salar: I ask the doctor what's going to
happen to me, am I to live, to die?
He says, "I don't know
in the end you’ll either live or die."
Now the pain hits here,
Doctor, the pelvic area...
...& then it goes to my
head, it's an awful pain.
Dr: You'll have to come to
the hospital...
...for a complete check up
to make a diagnosis.
Ghorban Salar: May God grant you
a long life, Sir!
Dr: Now I'll give you this pill,
it’s a very strong painkiller...
...hard to find, take one if
you are in pain.
Ghorban Salar: All right, Sir.
God give you a long life and keep you young.
Dr: They're everywhere.
Banoo: They're so kind. Poor things
they take care of me all day long.
One goes shopping, one cooks,
Ghorban Salar is a really good cook.
Dr: Who are they?
They might be thieves.
Ghorban Ali: I brought you some tea, Sir.
Dr: Thanks, I don't drink tea.
Ghorban Salar: And you, Ma'am.
Banoo: Thank you, Ghorban Salar.
Ghorban Salar: I went shopping, Ma'am.
Here's the change.
I paid the water & electricity
bills. Here's the change.
Banoo: Okay, thanks.
Dr: These guys don't look honest
to me, especially that one.
Banoo: This one is a bit scary looking,
but his accounts are straight.
Dr: How long will you keep them here?
Why don't you ask them to leave?
There are many really poor people in
town and you've stuck to these?
At least you could adopt
some orphans.
What are you trying
to prove?
Banoo: I don't want
to prove anything.
With them, I’m not lonely.
They keep me company.
They're fine, much better
than my faithless husband...
...than all those friends who knew about
the other woman & kept quiet.
Dr: Why was anyone supposed
to know about this?
Banoo: You think you can fool me
with sweet talk, it's ridiculous.
Dr: I'm sorry. I thought to drop by
& see how you were doing since…
…I’ve not heard from you in a while.
Sorry to bother you. Good-bye!
Ghorban Salar: Doctor, are you leaving?
We'll do whatever you say.
Thank you for the pills,
I'm much better.
Dr: What do you want
from this house?
Ghorban Salar: What?
Dr: Listen, if anything happens
to this lady, you'll answer to me.
Ghorban Salar: Stupid cat, get lost! Git!
You screwed up the salad,
Karam Ali!
Karam Ali: What's this?
Just give me a knife.
Ghorban Salar: It must not be cut,
it must be like a spring.
Here!
Stop! I'll do it my self!
Take the "sarimsaMahmoud"...
...put it in here and squeeze.
Put it in that small bowl.
Karam Ali: What is saruMahmoudma?
Ghorban Salar: SarimsaMahmoud, i.e. garlic.
Karam Ali: Okay, should I peel it?
Ghorban Salar: Oh God! You eat garlic with the peel on!?
Karam Ali: Okay.
Ghorban Salar: Lady, do you know what
we're having tonight?
Banoo: No.
Ghorban Salar: "Jewelry rice" & roast lamb.
Hajar: "My flower, bring the urn,
may I see your trousers!"
"My flower,
may God preserve you."
"My lady, what a good night
since we are your guests!"
"God knows where we
shall be tomorrow night."
Shirin: Hello!
Banoo: Hello, Shirin dear.
Shirin: I'm so tired.
Banoo: Did you find the
material you wanted?
Shirin: No, and I looked everywhere, Hajar dear,
But I got you your medicine.
Hajar: Thanks.
Shirin: This is not worthy of you. I wanted
to get you something much better...
...but I didn't
find anything.
Banoo: Well, thank you, Shirin.
It's beautiful.
Shirin: What's wrong?
Hajar: She didn't like the gift.
She's upset.
Shirin: Here, take her.
Is there something wrong
with my gift?
Banoo: No, it's nothing.
It's just that it reminded me
of my boarding school days.
On Sundays the parents used to come
to visit & bring gifts for their children.
There was this Algerian girl
& I, we didn't have anybody...
...so we'd go in the yard
so as not to see the visitors.
But we'd look at them
through the window.
With this gift...
Hajar: Believe me, I know you
suffered abroad...
...but it's nothing compared to what
I got at Hessam O'Dowleh's house.
He himself, his sons, his
daughters, they all hit me.
They'd put me in a frozen pool when
I was twelve. They broke the ice...
...& made me go in to fetch the
silver cutlery from the bottom of the pool...
...or they'd seal me in the coal
house full of snakes & scorpions.
Ghorban Salar: Karam Ali!
Karam Ali: Yes.
Ghorban Salar: Put it here.
Lay the table cloth.
What happened?
Why all this crying?
Lady Mariam, don't cry.
Tonight we're having a feast.
Don't sit crying.
Careful, slowly.
Shirin: Don't run!
Ghorban Salar: Karam Ali watch out.
Shirin: Come in.
Karam Ali: So heavy.
Ghorban Salar: Give me the rice.
Take away this vase.
Here, closer
Karam Ali, here.
Give me the rice.
Slowly, watch out, good!
Shirin: Banoo's coming down.
Get away from here.
Shirin: You're so beautiful.
Banoo: Thanks.
Shirin: You are stunning!
Ghorban Ali: Lady, up here, at the
top of the table.
Banoo: What a beautiful table!
Ghorban Salar: You sit here, Karam Ali,
sit here, Shirin here.
You sitting? Go get the soup.
Jewelry rice of all colors.
Lamb and sauce, poultry, & goulash.
Salad & pickles, we
have everything, thank God.
"Bon appetite"!
Mmmmm. The soup is so good
you want to eat your fingers.
Mahmoudosro, some soup?
Shirin: Eat darling.
Ghorban Salar: Serve the soup.
Karam Ali: Yes, yes.
Banoo: Fantastic.
Ghorban Salar: To Mariam Banoo's health.
Banoo: What a beautiful sun!
Shirin: Hush, hush, baby sleep.
Banoo: "As soon as I feel the sun's rays on
my face, all my sorrows are chased away.
My heart is clear & sweet.
I feel such greatness, such
perfection that...
...I'm ready to forgive everyone's
sins & faults, even my husband's.
I see that those I love are around me.
So, this is it!
This is eternal bliss.
What more do I want?"
Ghorban Salar: Hello Lady!
Shirin: Don't go in with your shoes on.
Go to the kitchen...
...Aunt Hajar will give you
something to eat.
Ghorban Salar: So you called him?
Shirin: Yes.
Ghorban Salar: What did he say?
Shirin: I told him father said to be
wise, to come up here...
...he'll give you the house
& so on and so on.
What's so on and so on?
I told you to tell him to come here...
...big house, everything
in it, food, clothes...
I run the place, come
here. I'll fix everything for you.
What did he say?
Shirin: He said he'll think about it.
Ghorban Salar: Think about what?
My son is an ass.
Shirin, give me those pills.
Those pills. Over there.
Shirin: Right away.
Ghorban Salar: The yellow bottle.
Shirin: Here it is.
Ghorban Salar: Karam Ali, hurry.
Karam Ali: Yes?
Ghorban Salar: Put some mortar here.
Heydar: All right, you get back.
Over there. Right.
Thank you.
Ghorban Salar: Karam Ali, if this guy comes over,
tell him you don't know me.
Don't say I'm here.
Heydar: Wait!
How're you doing?
Karam Ali: Thanks.
Heydar: You've seen the gardener
who lived here?
The guys said he’s here.
Karam Ali: Well?
Heydar: Aren't you Karam Ali?
Karam Ali: Yes!
Heydar: Tell Ghorban Salar I put a
note for him on your door.
He'd better go and read it.
Karam Ali: Yes.
Heydar: You had to come here,
you son of a bitch!
Ghorban Salar: "Ghorban Salar is dead unless he pays.
Your enemy, Heydar."
Ghorban Salar: Enemy, my ass.
Heydar dear.
I'm your servant.
Heydar: Shall I send to hell?
Ghorban Salar: My good, dear Heydar.
Heydar: Now you're deceiving me.
Ghorban Salar: No way.
Heydar: Yes.
Ghorban Salar: Oh I swear...
Heydar: Will you give me my money?
Ghorban Salar: No. yes! I mean don't
push this into my throat.
Heydar: Here's your "I owe you" document.
Ghorban Salar: Where were you?
I looked for you to pay you.
Heydar: Shut up.
Banoo: Karam Ali! Karam Ali!
Shirin: Yes Lady, I
sent him to quiet them down.
Banoo: Who's that guy?
Shirin: I think it's Ghorban Salar’s partner.
Banoo: What is he doing here?
Shirin: I don't know.
Karam Ali: What's going on?
It's midnight. Lady's asleep.
Shame on you. Quiet!
What are you doing
in the pool?
Aren't you ashamed of yourselves.
Be quiet!
Heydar: We want to take a swim.
Ghorban Salar: Heydar!
Heydar: Take this first.
Ghorban Salar: No more, "I owe you".
Heydar: What!!!!
Hajar: My God! What happened?
Banoo: Pick it up.
Shirin: What happened?
Banoo: I said pick it up &
give it to your father.
Hajar: She broke it.
My father? What?
Banoo: Where are you?
"The sun rose;
the reason for the sun."
Shirin: Banoo, dear Banoo,
are you awake?
Why don’t you answer?
Won't you come down?
Banoo: No! You go
ahead & have breakfast.
Shirin: What's breakfast?
It's dinner time.
Are you all right?
Come on, let's go down,
everyone is worried for you.
Karam Ali: Why are you standing around?
Go see how she is.
Maybe she's sick.
Hajar: What's with her?
Shirin: She's really upset.
HajarL Why?
Shirin: She says she's been
taken for a fool.
Her kindness is taken
for stupidity.
Hajar: What does that mean?
Shirin: She saw your father
passing on a china vase...
...and a rug to
his partner at dawn.
Hajar: To do what with them?
Shirin: To take them away.
Hajar: You mean he stole them?
Shirin: That's right.
Hajar: My goodness, if my father
were a thief, he'd be better off.
Karam Ali: All right quiet down.
Shirin: Is the food ready?
Ghorban Salar: There's no food. Food ready, my foot!
Hajar: Don't you see, they've
made you into a thief.
Ghorban Salar: I? A thief?
Son of a bitch!
Work hard all day, cook for
Lady & then I become a thief.
Karam Ali: Ghorban Salar!
Ghorban Salar: Let's go!
Come.
Work like an ass from
morning to evening.
Now Lady, I hear things
that make my hair stand on end.
You must prove this.
It's not my cup of tea.
I worked in wealthy houses.
Cooked.
Nobody complained, Lady.
What vase? What rug? What thief?
Dear Lady, there are so many
vases here, so many rugs...
...maybe you dreamt all this.
Banoo: No, I didn't dream it.
I saw it with my own eyes.
Shirin: Ghorban Salar!
Ghorban Salar: Shirin come here.
Shirin says Lady talks to herself...
...she looks at walls and talks,
she looks at the sky and talks.
So you dreamt this.
Shirin: I didn't say it like this.
Banoo: That's enough.
take anything you wish and go.
Banoo: Take the other pair, too.
The party's over. Get out.
Hajar: Very well, madam.
Who wants to stay here?
Did we want to come here?
You brought us here.
If we'd stayed in our place, could
they have destroyed it with us in it?
We'd have shown them.
It's your fault if she talks like this.
Karam Ali: Shut up woman!
Ghorban Salar: You have no right to insult us.
We stole no goods.
Banoo: I spit on material goods.
Hajar: If you really do...
...then how come you've gathered
so many of them around you?
How come we don't have any?
Then she calls us thieves.
God knows you're the
biggest thieves yourselves.
Shirin: That’s enough. What kind of talk
is that? Aren't you ashamed?
This lady has been
so kind to you.
Then you stand in front of
her & talk to her like this?
Hajar: I'm not lying.
Ghorban Salar: Shut up! What are you saying?
You left your husband & brought
your children to crazy Tehran!
Shirin: Didn't you yourself tell me to call Ahmad
& tell him to come here as well?
Ghorban Salar: Shut up...
Shirin: Why are you insulting me?
Banoo: That's enough!
Leave me alone!
Hajar: She's throwing us out.
Okay, I'm going.
I'd never stay in a place
where I'm not respected.
Karam Ali: Fine, just go!
Ghorban Salar: Heydar, wake up!
It's morning everyone will be up.
Get up and go!
Quietly! Go!
It's no good. The lady knows.
There's been a theft. She knows.
Heydar, put it down, please.
Your shoes. Go. Come back
in the morning.
Heydar: Get out of my way!
Ghorban Salar: Put it down!
Heydar: Get out of my way
you son of a bitch.
Karam Ali: Who's there?
Ghorban Salar: Get out!
Get going.
Put the rug down.
Let go!
Heydar, this way, please.
Karam Ali: Hajar!
Where are you going?
Hajar: Leave me alone! You have no
honor, you worthless shit.
Karam Ali: Get up! Let's go!
Hajar: I want to go
back to our shack.
Karam Ali: All right, get up.
Hajar: Let go of me.
Karam Ali: Let's go!
Hajar: I've lived in
poverty all my life.
Let me go lie in the
gutter like a dog.
Karam Ali: Okay, let's go.
Hajar: I can't stand it any more.
Karam Ali: Get up, you bitch!
You're crazy, get up!
Shirin: Banoo dear,
are you awake?
Banoo: Who's there?
Shirin: I brought you your breakfast.
Banoo: I'm not hungry.
Shirin: You must eat. Open the door.
Banoo: I don't want any.
Shirin: Okay.
I'll leave the tray behind the door,
just in case you change your mind.
Karam Ali: What's the matter?
Who's done this?
What?
Don't worry, I'll take it out.
Ghorban Salar: Take it out, throw it out.
It's nothing,
Banoo, just a cat.
Banoo: Get lost.
Ghorban Ali: All right. Don't cry.
Shirin: Banoo, please, wait.
Open the door. Please... Banoo…
For God’s sake open the door!
Mahmoud: My head is bursting all because of her!
Ghorban Salar: Watch out. Slowly. Help me.
Mahmoud: Thank you.
Ghorban Salar: You want something, Sir?
Mahmoud: I live here.
Ghorban Salar: Are you Mariam Banoo's husband?
Mahmoud: Yes, & who are you?
Ghorban Salar: Ghorban Salar, your servant.
Mahmoud: Where are you taking this?
Ghorban Salar: It's going to the cleaners.
Mahmoud: Is that so?
Heydar: To the cleaners.
Mahmoud: Thank you.
Heydar: It's going to get cleaned. Here's
my card. I'll call you when it's ready.
Ghorban Salar: Yes, sir.
Mahmoud: Don't bother, thank you.
Ghorban Salar: My back!
My daughter is here.
They threw her out.
Oh, my back!
My daughter-in-law, a refugee
with two kids, she's come here.
Oh, sorry.
The plumbing has burst.
We got a barrel.
Mahmoud: Quiet please, the
children are asleep.
Ghorban Salar: We put a barrel and a stove
under it to have hot water.
Can't live in the cold, Sir.
Mahmoud: That's right.
Ghorban Salar: I must say...
Shirin: Who is he?
Ghorban Salar: Mariam Banoo's husband.
Shirin: Hello, Sir.
Mahmoud: Hello.
Shirin: Welcome back.
Mahmoud: Thanks. Where's Madam?
Shirin: Upstairs.
Mahmoud: Is she well?
Shirin: Well, I can't say. I mean it's been
A couple of days, I don't know.
She hasn't eaten anything again!
Mahmoud: Mariam, Mariam! It's me, Mahmoud.
Why has she locked the door?
Shirin: She's locked it from inside, she
opens it when she wants to.
Mahmoud: Why?
Shirin: I told you she's not well.
Mahmoud: Mariam! How are you? Mariam!
Shirin: What stuffy air!
She's weak from not eating.
Then she takes
these pills on an empty stomach.
I'll bring her an infusion & then some
soup, and please make her eat.
Banoo: Is that really you?
Mahmoud: No, I'm like a nightmare.
As soon as
we got abroad...
...the girl showed her real face:
bad-tempered, calculating.
She wanted a definite answer, that
I should divorce you and marry her.
She was a shrew authoritative.
When I was out, she
took off with all my money.
Then I learnt she had made plans to
meet with someone else.
She just needed a visa and some
money which I provided like a fool.
Banoo: The sun! The sun!
Mahmoud: What? Mariam,
what do you want?
I'll give her this.
You go get some soup.
Shirin: Right away.
Mahmoud: Mariam, please,
have some of this.
Shirin: Karam Ali, did you bring
the pickles? Bread?
Karam Ali come in.
Lay the tablecloth.
Karam Ali: Please Sir, come in, lunch is ready.
Mahmoud: Thanks.
Karam Ali: Hello, Sir.
Mahmoud: Hello.
Karam Ali: Very welcome, Sir.
Mahmoud: Thanks.
Karam Ali: Come in, Sir.
Mahmoud: No, thanks.
Karam Ali: Please, have a bite with us.
Mahmoud: Thanks, but I'm not hungry. Go ahead.
Shirin: With your permission.
Karam Ali: Excuse us.
Ghorban Salar: Ouch! Sir,
my legs, my heart...
...please sir, hand me that
yellow bottle of pills.
Oh, my back!
Mahmoud: Is this it?
Ghorban Salar: This pain is killing me, Sir.
I've this sickness, no one
knows what it is.
Thanks to Lady, this doctor came
here, gave these pills, God bless him.
Your Lady is great, she
gave us room, clothes.
Sir, this place is
more then 1000 sqm.
It's worth 100 million tomans.
Mahmoud: No, it's not
worth that much.
Ghorban Salar: It is. Anyway, all this furniture
& stuff, & no owner.
Mahmoud: It has some kind of an owner.
Ghorban Salar: You know sir, to rent a place in
Tehran, you have to pay a lot...
...a down payment & rent.
Where do I have to go?
Where has your father-in-law
got all this money from?
It's no joke.
Now my groom, Karam Ali, says,
"Whether the master agrees or not...
...I can't move out with
this pregnant woman.
I will sue them, eventually
there will be someone to claim...
...my rights, Sir, injustice
will not remain unpunished."
I say you mustn't talk like that,
these are educated people.
They have read lots of books.
Oh, my back!
Shirin: Excuse me father.
Your room is ready, Sir.
Mahmoud: Thank you,
you shouldn't have bothered.
I would have slept somewhere.
Shirin: It's nothing.
Mahmoud: Thank you.
Shirin: You're welcome.
Mahmoud: With your permission.
Ghorban Salar: Good night. Oh my back!
Ghorban Salar: Ouch! Karam,
my pills! Get up.
Karam Ali: What?
Quiet father.
Ghorban Salar: By God, where are my pills?
Were did you put them?
Karam Ali.
My back!
Shirin: Quiet, you'll
wake up the Lady.
Mahmoud: Hello.
Dr: Hello.
Dr: What's up?
Ghorban Salar: My back, Sir.
Dr: I told you, you must be
hospitalized, so that I can cure you.
Shirin: He's been lying here all
day & he was awake all night.
Dr: I'll give you a painkiller.
If it doesn't work, it means
your spine has collapsed.
Ghorban Salar: What do you mean collapsed?
Mahmoud: It means your ribs will
fall over each other.
Ghorban Salar: God forbid!
Mahmoud: That's it.
Dr: She doesn't have a fever,
but her blood pressure is very low.
Ghorban Salar: Oh my God. Ouch, ouch...
Mahmoud: He's in a bad shape.
Dr: He must be hospitalized.
Lift him. Watch out.
Ghorban Salar: I won't go. I don't want to.
Dr: Watch his back.
Ghorban Salar: I won't go to the hospital.
I'm not going anywhere.
You stupid bastards.
I won't move.
Where are you
taking the chair?
I won't go to the hospital.
You're killing me.
Karam, dear Karam.
Karam Ali: Yes, dear.
Ghorban Salar: Don't let them.
They're killers.
Shamsi: Hello, Lady.
Thank God, you’re better.
Banoo: Yes, Shamsi, I'm well.
Where are they?
Shamsi: They're all gone.
Ghorban Salar and Hajar
were taken to the hospital.
Doctor Hessam was so kind.
And the master brought these
painters to repaint the house.
Banoo: Where's Shirin, her children,
Karam Ali? Where did they go?
Shamsi: The master spoke to both of
them, & gave them a lot of money.
The gardener took it.
But Shirin didn't, the master
insisted but she said no.
She went back to her town.
I'll fix you some hot soup.
Banoo: "You were the only
person I felt close to.
I felt proud to be able
to lean on you.
But like everyone else,
you did not last.
I'm so tired of people.
I must accept my loneliness,
feel close to it, make it mine.
"O" purity! O' honesty!
It is this moment of awakening
that gives me the vision of purity.
This must be the way of life.
Then I'd be so impure.
Not to set an eternal reminder
of my immense faith...
...on the evanescent
surface of the earth."
Mashhad, Kouh Sangi St.
First House.