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1
00:00:01,401 --> 00:00:08,475
[music]
2
00:01:01,360 --> 00:01:08,668
[background chatter]
3
00:01:19,712 --> 00:01:21,548
[coughs]
4
00:01:28,354 --> 00:01:30,490
[opens door] [sighs]
5
00:01:57,316 --> 00:01:58,718
[opens door]
6
00:02:35,540 --> 00:02:37,590
Are you ready to continue, Mr.
Petrosyan?
7
00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:40,393
Counselor Whitlow.
8
00:02:44,300 --> 00:02:45,531
I'll repeat the question.
9
00:02:45,832 --> 00:02:47,233
Mr. Petrosyan,
10
00:02:48,670 --> 00:02:50,803
were you or your family
11
00:02:51,504 --> 00:02:56,342
ever victims of
direct acts of violence?
12
00:02:56,942 --> 00:02:57,976
[screams]
13
00:02:58,110 --> 00:02:59,345
Oh, no.
14
00:02:59,479 --> 00:03:01,314
Ohanna, help.
15
00:03:01,681 --> 00:03:02,882
[screams]
16
00:03:03,349 --> 00:03:04,651
Oh, no.
17
00:03:05,417 --> 00:03:07,820
[cries] No.
18
00:03:07,953 --> 00:03:09,322
[gunshot] [screaming]
19
00:03:09,455 --> 00:03:10,623
[gunshot]
20
00:03:18,831 --> 00:03:25,939
[music]
21
00:04:35,441 --> 00:04:37,209
Grigor, what happened?
22
00:04:37,677 --> 00:04:40,446
Someone decorated
my window with a brick.
23
00:04:41,800 --> 00:04:42,181
Are you okay?
24
00:04:42,348 --> 00:04:43,650
Yes, I'm okay.
25
00:04:44,417 --> 00:04:45,718
Did you see who did it?
26
00:04:46,185 --> 00:04:47,587
Local teens.
27
00:04:49,288 --> 00:04:50,523
Did you call the police?
28
00:04:50,657 --> 00:04:52,692
Police don't
care what happen to us.
29
00:04:58,397 --> 00:04:59,699
I'm sorry my friend.
30
00:05:00,266 --> 00:05:01,534
It's okay.
31
00:05:02,267 --> 00:05:03,368
No one was hurt.
32
00:05:03,502 --> 00:05:05,104
That's all that matters.
33
00:05:05,571 --> 00:05:07,106
Go home to your family.
34
00:05:07,407 --> 00:05:09,909
Tell my wife
I'll be late for dinner,
35
00:05:10,242 --> 00:05:13,780
but please, don't tell her why.
36
00:05:13,478 --> 00:05:14,513
No, no, no.
37
00:05:14,881 --> 00:05:16,549
I will stay here until
we finish,
38
00:05:16,682 --> 00:05:18,951
and then will walk you home.
39
00:05:19,118 --> 00:05:20,486
Okay.
Thank you.
40
00:05:22,354 --> 00:05:23,990
-Thank you.
-Of course.
41
00:05:26,525 --> 00:05:27,927
Okay, here.
42
00:05:32,431 --> 00:05:34,000
[bell rings]
43
00:05:34,133 --> 00:05:35,535
-Can we have dolma for dinner?
-[background chatter]
44
00:05:35,668 --> 00:05:36,636
It's your
sister's night to pick.
45
00:05:36,769 --> 00:05:38,270
But she likes it too.
46
00:05:38,404 --> 00:05:39,705
She can tell me herself.
47
00:05:39,839 --> 00:05:41,741
-Bye.
-Oh, Principal Petrosyan,
48
00:05:41,874 --> 00:05:44,430
please, this
record needs your signature.
49
00:05:44,176 --> 00:05:46,545
-Can it wait until tomorrow?
-I'm afraid not.
50
00:05:47,246 --> 00:05:50,216
Come on, Mom.
Let's go home. I'm hungry.
51
00:05:50,349 --> 00:05:51,651
Thank you.
52
00:05:53,753 --> 00:05:57,230
The cat
[stutters]--
53
00:05:57,156 --> 00:05:58,558
Sound this word out slowly.
54
00:05:58,691 --> 00:06:00,827
What sound does
each letter make?
55
00:06:01,961 --> 00:06:03,896
Climbed.
56
00:06:04,863 --> 00:06:06,866
-Climbed?
-That's right. Good.
57
00:06:07,566 --> 00:06:08,768
Mama.
58
00:06:09,168 --> 00:06:10,690
Yes.
59
00:06:10,202 --> 00:06:11,804
Hello.
60
00:06:11,938 --> 00:06:13,939
Her reading comprehension
is coming along day by day.
61
00:06:14,730 --> 00:06:15,507
Oh, I'm so proud of you.
62
00:06:15,641 --> 00:06:17,877
-I'll see you
tomorrow before school? -Yes.
63
00:06:18,110 --> 00:06:19,440
Good work today.
64
00:06:19,178 --> 00:06:20,279
Thank you for your help.
65
00:06:20,412 --> 00:06:21,547
Oh, it's my pleasure.
66
00:06:22,414 --> 00:06:25,517
-I know you studied, correct?
-Yes, I did a lot, actually.
67
00:06:25,651 --> 00:06:27,190
-How'd you feel about that?
-Good.
68
00:06:27,152 --> 00:06:28,420
-Let's go get dolma.
-[crowd protesting]
69
00:06:28,553 --> 00:06:29,855
Yay.
Dolma.
70
00:06:29,988 --> 00:06:31,858
-See?
-Did you tell her to say that?
71
00:06:32,425 --> 00:06:33,725
Of course not.
72
00:06:34,920 --> 00:06:35,930
I miss dolma too.
73
00:06:35,227 --> 00:06:41,567
[crowd protesting] [music]
74
00:06:41,700 --> 00:06:44,570
Mom, why does
their signs say that?
75
00:06:45,171 --> 00:06:46,839
What does the signs say?
76
00:06:48,207 --> 00:06:51,611
-They say--
-Julia, we're leaving now.
77
00:06:54,130 --> 00:07:01,154
[music]
78
00:07:01,687 --> 00:07:04,689
Mr. and Mrs. Sarkisian,
what's with all the luggage?
79
00:07:04,823 --> 00:07:06,492
We're leaving for Moscow.
80
00:07:06,625 --> 00:07:08,260
I didn't know you
had family in Moscow.
81
00:07:08,393 --> 00:07:11,630
We don't, but it's
safer there for all Armenians.
82
00:07:11,764 --> 00:07:13,699
[sighs] Every few years or so,
83
00:07:13,832 --> 00:07:18,370
Azerbaijanis and Armenians have
a flare-up and things come right
back down.
84
00:07:18,471 --> 00:07:21,730
This time, it feels different.
85
00:07:21,774 --> 00:07:23,943
Russia will not
allow anything to happen.
86
00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:25,177
Open your eyes.
87
00:07:25,444 --> 00:07:27,145
The Soviet Union is crumbling.
88
00:07:27,713 --> 00:07:32,840
Russia has no
resources left to protect us.
89
00:07:32,652 --> 00:07:35,621
We can't just leave.
This is our home.
90
00:07:36,355 --> 00:07:37,657
Is it?
91
00:07:41,961 --> 00:07:44,397
Who wants to help
prep the grape leaves?
92
00:07:44,530 --> 00:07:46,465
-Me.
-Yes, and the minced meat?
93
00:07:46,598 --> 00:07:48,133
-No, it's not me.
-[chuckles]
94
00:07:48,267 --> 00:07:53,939
[plays guitar]
95
00:07:54,730 --> 00:07:57,275
Why did the people in the
streets have those signs today?
96
00:07:57,542 --> 00:07:58,944
Don't you worry about that.
97
00:07:59,770 --> 00:08:00,379
What signs?
98
00:08:00,646 --> 00:08:03,582
There were people in the streets
with signs that scared Mama.
99
00:08:03,716 --> 00:08:05,840
Mama wasn't scared.
100
00:08:05,618 --> 00:08:09,454
Sometimes people say and write
things they don't really mean.
101
00:08:09,588 --> 00:08:11,900
It's about war, isn't it?
102
00:08:11,357 --> 00:08:12,825
-What war?
-It's not a war.
103
00:08:12,958 --> 00:08:15,227
Yes, it is. They
talked about it in class today.
104
00:08:15,361 --> 00:08:17,620
Julia, watch your tone.
105
00:08:17,462 --> 00:08:21,100
There is a small conflict going
on in the mountains right now.
106
00:08:21,634 --> 00:08:23,268
What are they fighting about?
107
00:08:23,535 --> 00:08:25,304
A piece of land
108
00:08:25,437 --> 00:08:28,974
that both Armenians and
Azerbaijanis each claim as
their own,
109
00:08:29,108 --> 00:08:33,120
but this has been going on for
many, many years, off and on.
110
00:08:33,145 --> 00:08:34,146
It's nothing new.
111
00:08:34,814 --> 00:08:37,382
Aren't you
Armenians and Azerbaijanis?
112
00:08:37,516 --> 00:08:39,385
Yes, that's right, sweetheart.
113
00:08:39,585 --> 00:08:41,820
Then whose side are we on?
114
00:08:42,421 --> 00:08:43,889
We're on no one's side.
115
00:08:44,556 --> 00:08:49,361
We are Armenians in our blood,
but Azerbaijan is our home.
116
00:08:49,661 --> 00:08:51,463
We have Armenians in our blood?
117
00:08:51,596 --> 00:08:53,833
-[laughter] -No, what Mama meant
118
00:08:53,966 --> 00:08:57,937
is that our families came from
Armenia many, many years ago
119
00:08:58,700 --> 00:08:59,872
before Mama and I were born.
120
00:09:00,372 --> 00:09:01,473
Oh.
121
00:09:01,840 --> 00:09:03,442
That's enough questions for now.
122
00:09:03,575 --> 00:09:04,877
Time for baths.
123
00:09:05,844 --> 00:09:06,946
No stalling.
124
00:09:07,790 --> 00:09:08,180
Let's go.
125
00:09:09,548 --> 00:09:10,782
Okay.
Good night.
126
00:09:10,916 --> 00:09:12,500
-Bye.
-Good night.
127
00:09:12,184 --> 00:09:13,986
[music]
128
00:09:14,119 --> 00:09:17,690
-Are you going to tuck us in?
-Of course. I'll be right there.
129
00:09:31,469 --> 00:09:34,240
Are you going to tell
me what those signs said?
130
00:09:36,441 --> 00:09:37,910
"Death to Armenians."
131
00:09:40,179 --> 00:09:41,213
Really?
132
00:09:41,547 --> 00:09:42,648
I know,
133
00:09:42,982 --> 00:09:44,616
but we've seen this before.
134
00:09:44,750 --> 00:09:46,919
We can't just run and hide
135
00:09:47,520 --> 00:09:49,822
every time there's a
flare-up in the mountains.
136
00:09:50,856 --> 00:09:53,920
[dog barking]
137
00:09:53,726 --> 00:09:56,610
Someone vandalized
Grigor's store today.
138
00:09:56,328 --> 00:09:57,630
My goodness.
139
00:09:58,663 --> 00:09:59,966
Was he hurt?
140
00:10:00,566 --> 00:10:01,667
No.
141
00:10:01,900 --> 00:10:03,202
Fortunately.
142
00:10:06,105 --> 00:10:07,973
Russia said
they would send troops
143
00:10:08,106 --> 00:10:11,677
to protect Armenian
neighborhoods if tensions
worsen.
144
00:10:12,100 --> 00:10:15,810
Do you really think
Russia is going to come save us?
145
00:10:17,383 --> 00:10:18,684
I believe in Russia.
146
00:10:20,185 --> 00:10:24,123
I believe in the
solidarity of the Soviet Union
147
00:10:24,724 --> 00:10:26,391
and I believe in
the Communist Party.
148
00:10:26,525 --> 00:10:29,661
We are brothers and sisters. We
do not fight amongst ourselves.
149
00:10:29,795 --> 00:10:31,664
[dogs barking]
150
00:10:39,040 --> 00:10:40,306
Except when we do.
151
00:10:42,575 --> 00:10:44,677
What do you believe in, Ivan?
152
00:10:46,745 --> 00:10:48,748
I believe in music.
153
00:10:49,581 --> 00:10:50,883
Seriously?
154
00:10:51,483 --> 00:10:52,584
Seriously.
155
00:10:52,818 --> 00:10:55,988
[plays guitar]
156
00:10:56,121 --> 00:11:02,940
I believe in you and the girls,
157
00:11:08,967 --> 00:11:10,670
and I believe in love.
158
00:11:19,645 --> 00:11:26,919
[music]
159
00:11:30,456 --> 00:11:31,490
[background chatter]
160
00:11:31,623 --> 00:11:32,924
Baby, have a good session, okay?
161
00:11:33,580 --> 00:11:34,326
-Mrs. Petrosyan.
-Hmm?
162
00:11:35,930 --> 00:11:36,996
We cannot take Olga today.
163
00:11:38,363 --> 00:11:39,465
Why?
164
00:11:40,832 --> 00:11:41,933
I'm sorry.
165
00:11:42,301 --> 00:11:45,170
What do you mean
you can't take her?
166
00:11:45,303 --> 00:11:47,306
Some men
came by yesterday evening
167
00:11:47,439 --> 00:11:50,309
asking for the names of
all the Armenian children.
168
00:11:50,809 --> 00:11:52,745
What?
169
00:11:52,878 --> 00:11:56,214
I'm sorry, but if Olga stays
here, we cannot guarantee
her safety.
170
00:11:56,715 --> 00:11:58,170
You're joking.
171
00:11:59,518 --> 00:12:00,820
I wish I was.
172
00:12:01,720 --> 00:12:02,888
They're just children.
173
00:12:03,220 --> 00:12:04,656
Mrs.-- you
have to go.
174
00:12:04,890 --> 00:12:07,930
We can't have any
of you here anymore.
175
00:12:09,270 --> 00:12:15,333
[background chatter]
176
00:12:15,467 --> 00:12:16,434
Come on.
177
00:12:16,568 --> 00:12:22,174
[sirens]
178
00:12:28,146 --> 00:12:30,382
Mom, you're hurting my hand.
179
00:12:30,515 --> 00:12:31,617
Sorry, baby.
180
00:12:31,884 --> 00:12:32,985
Where are we going?
181
00:12:33,319 --> 00:12:35,420
You're going to
spend the day with Mama.
182
00:12:35,554 --> 00:12:36,856
Yay.
183
00:12:39,240 --> 00:12:40,525
Have a good day, okay?
184
00:12:41,590 --> 00:12:42,361
-Bye.
-Bye.
185
00:12:45,630 --> 00:12:47,990
You should go to my office.
Yeah?
186
00:12:47,466 --> 00:12:49,935
Those attendance records
that I signed last night,
187
00:12:50,680 --> 00:12:51,369
can I see them?
188
00:12:52,370 --> 00:12:54,173
Someone came by
and picked them up.
189
00:12:54,873 --> 00:12:56,174
Who?
190
00:12:56,374 --> 00:12:57,476
I can't say.
191
00:12:58,444 --> 00:12:59,845
You can't or you won't?
192
00:13:00,746 --> 00:13:02,882
I wasn't here. I saw nothing.
193
00:13:07,886 --> 00:13:14,659
[music]
194
00:13:14,793 --> 00:13:17,763
Why don't you draw a
nice picture for Mommy, okay?
195
00:13:17,963 --> 00:13:19,331
-Okay.
-There we go.
196
00:13:21,333 --> 00:13:22,434
[coughs]
197
00:13:26,772 --> 00:13:27,873
[phone rings]
198
00:13:28,060 --> 00:13:29,410
Baku Research Center.
199
00:13:29,174 --> 00:13:31,090
Hi, this is Violetta Petrosyan.
200
00:13:31,142 --> 00:13:33,212
Has my husband Ivan arrived yet?
201
00:13:33,378 --> 00:13:34,480
One moment.
202
00:13:35,648 --> 00:13:37,150
-Violetta.
-Ivan.
203
00:13:37,449 --> 00:13:38,551
What's wrong?
204
00:13:40,180 --> 00:13:42,540
Would it be
possible for the girls and I
205
00:13:42,187 --> 00:13:46,291
to come and meet you at your
office and then go to Papa's
house together?
206
00:13:46,858 --> 00:13:48,227
Are you all right?
207
00:13:49,328 --> 00:13:51,230
I'm fine, yes, we're all fine.
208
00:13:51,764 --> 00:13:53,365
Your tone tells me otherwise.
209
00:13:54,700 --> 00:13:57,803
We'll meet you this afternoon,
right after school, okay?
210
00:13:58,237 --> 00:13:59,872
-Okay.
-Bye now.
211
00:14:04,209 --> 00:14:07,512
♪ Happy birthday to you, ♪
212
00:14:07,979 --> 00:14:11,216
♪ Happy birthday to you, ♪
213
00:14:11,449 --> 00:14:15,520
♪ Happy birthday, dear, Yuri, ♪
214
00:14:16,288 --> 00:14:19,757
-♪ Happy birthday to you. ♪
-♪ -to me. ♪
215
00:14:19,891 --> 00:14:20,959
[laughs]
216
00:14:21,920 --> 00:14:22,328
[blows candles]
217
00:14:22,461 --> 00:14:25,464
[applause]
218
00:14:25,697 --> 00:14:31,370
My father used to always
tell me on days like today,
219
00:14:31,636 --> 00:14:32,871
"We live in exile,
220
00:14:33,605 --> 00:14:37,842
and it's your duty to
remember where you're from
221
00:14:38,176 --> 00:14:40,120
and to your children
222
00:14:40,212 --> 00:14:44,383
who've never seen
the snow on Mount Ararat.
223
00:14:45,484 --> 00:14:46,585
Remind them."
224
00:14:49,954 --> 00:14:51,189
I'm Armenian
225
00:14:51,322 --> 00:14:55,600
in my heart, my soul, my blood,
226
00:14:56,795 --> 00:14:58,564
and I'm proud of it.
227
00:15:01,660 --> 00:15:04,503
I've never seen
the snow on Mount Ararat,
228
00:15:06,237 --> 00:15:08,540
but what have I seen?
229
00:15:10,675 --> 00:15:11,777
The morning sun
230
00:15:12,277 --> 00:15:14,680
shimmering off the Caspian Sea,
231
00:15:15,880 --> 00:15:17,816
spring afternoons,
232
00:15:18,160 --> 00:15:19,285
[speaking indistinctly]
233
00:15:21,153 --> 00:15:24,256
and the old city...
234
00:15:25,757 --> 00:15:27,392
This is my city too.
235
00:15:27,726 --> 00:15:33,165
These Azerbaijani nationalists
think it's only for them.
236
00:15:34,666 --> 00:15:40,390
I've sold tea and newspapers,
and Prima cigarettes to them
237
00:15:40,806 --> 00:15:43,575
for 50 years.
238
00:15:46,111 --> 00:15:51,684
The city is the
only home I've ever known.
239
00:15:56,755 --> 00:15:58,570
To Baku.
240
00:15:58,857 --> 00:15:59,791
To Baku.
241
00:15:59,925 --> 00:16:00,859
To Baku.
242
00:16:00,992 --> 00:16:05,640
[glasses clink]
243
00:16:06,640 --> 00:16:09,401
♪ Sitting in an open window, ♪
244
00:16:09,934 --> 00:16:14,060
♪ And a songbird landed near, ♪
245
00:16:14,906 --> 00:16:17,509
♪ It was sweetly singing, ♪
246
00:16:17,643 --> 00:16:23,749
♪ Country,
country home forever be. ♪
247
00:16:24,850 --> 00:16:29,621
♪ Country,
country, home forever, ♪
248
00:16:29,822 --> 00:16:30,755
♪ With the sky-- ♪
249
00:16:30,888 --> 00:16:32,257
You're okay, Mama?
250
00:16:33,224 --> 00:16:34,926
[dishes clinking]
251
00:16:35,600 --> 00:16:36,661
Your father and I are thinking
252
00:16:36,795 --> 00:16:39,998
of going to my cousin Yana's
place in Volgograd, Russia
253
00:16:40,665 --> 00:16:43,568
just until the things
settle down around here.
254
00:16:44,336 --> 00:16:46,672
That's why he was
extra moody tonight.
255
00:16:47,673 --> 00:16:49,740
The invitation is open.
256
00:16:51,090 --> 00:16:52,544
Even if we wanted to,
257
00:16:52,678 --> 00:16:55,470
there's not enough space
at Yana's place for all of us.
258
00:16:55,347 --> 00:16:58,283
I know. She knows of
an empty apartment nearby.
259
00:16:59,184 --> 00:17:00,752
Mama, we're not leaving.
260
00:17:01,319 --> 00:17:04,556
It's getting more
dangerous out there by the day.
261
00:17:05,857 --> 00:17:08,126
You and Ivan need
to think of the girls.
262
00:17:08,860 --> 00:17:11,730
I love my job, Ivan
loves his, and Baku is our home.
263
00:17:11,864 --> 00:17:15,100
We can just quit our jobs
and leave everything behind.
264
00:17:17,169 --> 00:17:19,304
It's just temporary.
265
00:17:24,409 --> 00:17:27,945
Yana's phone number in
Volgograd,
should you change your mind.
266
00:17:28,980 --> 00:17:32,151
You worry yourself sick
over everything all the time.
267
00:17:32,418 --> 00:17:34,620
The world is
changing all around you,
268
00:17:35,870 --> 00:17:36,321
yet you fail to see it.
269
00:17:37,880 --> 00:17:40,292
We won't need this,
and you don't need to go to
Russia either.
270
00:17:40,425 --> 00:17:44,496
No government, no
political party, and no friends
271
00:17:44,629 --> 00:17:48,990
are ever going to look
out for you like your family.
272
00:17:48,233 --> 00:17:49,535
Take it.
273
00:17:52,537 --> 00:17:53,639
Mama.
274
00:17:56,574 --> 00:18:00,379
Why don't you and Ivan head
back before it gets too late?
275
00:18:06,485 --> 00:18:13,592
[music]
276
00:18:17,595 --> 00:18:20,980
Just get them to bed.
Get them straight to bed.
277
00:18:20,231 --> 00:18:21,132
Okay.
278
00:18:21,266 --> 00:18:22,568
That's a good idea.
279
00:18:26,438 --> 00:18:28,400
[shouting] [gunshot]
280
00:18:28,340 --> 00:18:30,175
-Papa?
-Yes?
281
00:18:30,308 --> 00:18:31,976
What's that sound?
282
00:18:32,110 --> 00:18:33,712
I'm not sure, my angel.
283
00:18:34,979 --> 00:18:36,348
I will find out, okay?
284
00:18:38,550 --> 00:18:39,650
No.
285
00:18:39,817 --> 00:18:40,918
Help.
286
00:18:41,520 --> 00:18:41,953
Ohanna?
287
00:18:42,870 --> 00:18:43,288
Ohanna?
288
00:18:43,588 --> 00:18:44,689
Help.
289
00:18:44,856 --> 00:18:46,124
Oh, no.
290
00:18:46,258 --> 00:18:48,590
Ohanna, help.
291
00:18:48,259 --> 00:18:50,662
Help.
Ohanna, help.
292
00:18:51,290 --> 00:18:52,397
[screams]
293
00:18:52,531 --> 00:18:53,799
-What is going on?
-Oh, help.
294
00:18:53,932 --> 00:18:55,660
-I don't know.
-Help.
295
00:18:55,199 --> 00:18:56,567
-No, no.
-Shh, and keep quiet.
296
00:18:56,701 --> 00:18:58,170
-Nobody make a sound.
-[screams] Help.
297
00:18:58,303 --> 00:18:59,605
Help.
298
00:19:04,090 --> 00:19:05,760
No.
299
00:19:05,209 --> 00:19:06,577
Help.
300
00:19:06,711 --> 00:19:08,580
No, no, stay
away from the windows.
301
00:19:08,713 --> 00:19:10,448
Stay away from the windows.
302
00:19:10,581 --> 00:19:12,284
-Why?
-Do as I say.
303
00:19:13,451 --> 00:19:15,286
-Shh, shh, shh, shh.
-No.
304
00:19:15,420 --> 00:19:17,121
[screams] Oh, help.
305
00:19:17,255 --> 00:19:19,491
It's Grigor Arzumanyan.
306
00:19:21,225 --> 00:19:22,694
-[screams] -No.
307
00:19:23,161 --> 00:19:24,396
No.
308
00:19:25,196 --> 00:19:27,310
[cries]
309
00:19:27,165 --> 00:19:29,367
No. Please. Please. No.
310
00:19:29,500 --> 00:19:31,436
[gunshots] [screaming]
311
00:19:31,569 --> 00:19:33,805
[breathes heavily]
312
00:19:35,807 --> 00:19:36,909
What do we do?
313
00:19:39,411 --> 00:19:40,678
Shh, shh, shh, shh.
314
00:19:40,812 --> 00:19:42,714
No, no, no,
please listen, listen,
315
00:19:42,914 --> 00:19:45,684
no matter what happens,
no matter what you hear,
316
00:19:46,117 --> 00:19:48,253
nobody makes a sound. All right.
317
00:19:48,386 --> 00:19:49,755
Do you understand?
318
00:19:50,454 --> 00:19:51,589
Do you understand?
319
00:19:51,722 --> 00:19:53,124
-[door bangs]
-Shh, shh, shh.
320
00:19:53,258 --> 00:19:54,159
Open up.
321
00:19:54,292 --> 00:19:58,263
[door bangs]
322
00:19:59,970 --> 00:20:00,732
Ivan and Violet Petrosyan,
323
00:20:01,366 --> 00:20:02,834
open the door.
324
00:20:03,735 --> 00:20:05,537
You're looking
for the Petrosyans?
325
00:20:05,670 --> 00:20:07,606
They left for Moscow last week.
326
00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:10,576
When they return, so will we.
327
00:20:15,380 --> 00:20:18,684
We have to leave here now.
328
00:20:25,230 --> 00:20:28,226
[sirens]
329
00:20:28,360 --> 00:20:31,997
-Did you put my monkey in the
bags? -No, just your clothes.
330
00:20:32,264 --> 00:20:33,966
-Did you, Papa?
-No, my angel, I forgot.
331
00:20:34,990 --> 00:20:35,333
-We have to go back and get it.
-[gunshots]
332
00:20:35,467 --> 00:20:36,801
-Shh.
-Shh!
333
00:20:36,935 --> 00:20:40,272
-[bombs blasting]
-Get down. Get down.
334
00:20:40,439 --> 00:20:41,873
It's not safe to go back now,
335
00:20:42,060 --> 00:20:44,542
but I promise,
when we get back from our trip,
336
00:20:44,742 --> 00:20:46,545
your monkey will be there, okay?
337
00:20:46,678 --> 00:20:48,446
I want him to go
on a trip with us.
338
00:20:48,580 --> 00:20:51,816
I know, my angel, but I
promise you'll see him again.
339
00:20:52,150 --> 00:20:59,458
[sirens]
340
00:21:04,950 --> 00:21:05,564
We have to move quickly.
341
00:21:07,980 --> 00:21:08,990
Let's go.
342
00:21:08,233 --> 00:21:14,720
[sirens]
343
00:21:14,205 --> 00:21:16,408
I assume you've been
briefed by your lawyer
344
00:21:16,541 --> 00:21:19,110
about the process
that will take place today.
345
00:21:19,244 --> 00:21:21,579
This is not a criminal trial.
346
00:21:21,780 --> 00:21:24,820
However, you did
break United States law
347
00:21:24,215 --> 00:21:27,552
by willfully choosing to skip
your return flight back
to Moscow
348
00:21:27,685 --> 00:21:31,289
-and overstay your tourist visa.
-We did not mean to
break the law.
349
00:21:31,422 --> 00:21:32,791
We applied for asylum.
350
00:21:32,924 --> 00:21:35,794
You will not
interrupt when I'm speaking.
351
00:21:35,927 --> 00:21:37,396
Do you understand?
352
00:21:37,529 --> 00:21:39,297
We apologize for speaking
out of turn, Your Honor.
353
00:21:39,430 --> 00:21:40,498
I'm sorry.
354
00:21:40,632 --> 00:21:46,338
[background chatter]
355
00:21:46,471 --> 00:21:47,905
I'm sorry.
What is this?
356
00:21:48,390 --> 00:21:50,508
These are our
congregation in West Virginia.
357
00:21:50,642 --> 00:21:52,644
They came to
support, as I told you.
358
00:21:52,777 --> 00:21:54,679
-Please.
-Did you mention this?
359
00:21:54,812 --> 00:21:58,183
All right. Will someone
please tell me what's going on?
360
00:21:58,316 --> 00:21:59,617
Okay.
361
00:22:00,185 --> 00:22:02,687
Your Honor, these are friends,
362
00:22:02,887 --> 00:22:05,957
supporters, character witnesses
from the Petrosyan's church.
363
00:22:06,900 --> 00:22:07,910
Petrosyan.
364
00:22:07,225 --> 00:22:08,927
Sure.
Yes. Petrosyan.
365
00:22:09,360 --> 00:22:12,864
These witnesses drove in
from West Virginia this morning.
366
00:22:14,398 --> 00:22:15,701
Counselor Owens,
367
00:22:17,301 --> 00:22:18,936
the defense failed
368
00:22:19,700 --> 00:22:21,390
to submit any witness lists
ahead of this case this morning.
369
00:22:21,172 --> 00:22:23,675
Therefore, the court
cannot and will not hear
370
00:22:23,808 --> 00:22:26,110
any testimonies from
any character witnesses
371
00:22:26,244 --> 00:22:28,179
for this case.
372
00:22:28,312 --> 00:22:30,181
I must say that two
interruptions in one morning are
more than enough.
373
00:22:30,315 --> 00:22:32,550
If anyone else would like
to disrupt this court today,
374
00:22:32,683 --> 00:22:35,530
I will gladly
hold them in contempt.
375
00:22:36,287 --> 00:22:37,488
Understood, Your Honor.
376
00:22:37,755 --> 00:22:38,990
Today's hearing will decide
377
00:22:39,124 --> 00:22:40,725
whether or
not the court believes
378
00:22:40,858 --> 00:22:43,270
there is justification
to grant you asylum.
379
00:22:43,161 --> 00:22:45,960
Now, if you cannot prove to
this court that you qualify
for asylum,
380
00:22:45,230 --> 00:22:48,299
then you will be deported
back to Russia immediately.
381
00:22:48,533 --> 00:22:50,769
Do we understand
what's at stake today?
382
00:22:51,936 --> 00:22:53,838
My clients
understand, Your Honor.
383
00:22:53,971 --> 00:22:55,720
Let's begin.
384
00:22:55,473 --> 00:22:57,475
I give the floor
to Counselor Whitlow.
385
00:22:57,708 --> 00:22:59,343
Thank you, Your Honor.
386
00:23:00,111 --> 00:23:03,614
I would like to call Violetta
Petrosyan to the stand first.
387
00:23:03,915 --> 00:23:05,417
Please raise your right hand.
388
00:23:05,550 --> 00:23:07,385
Do you solemnly swear
389
00:23:07,518 --> 00:23:08,820
to tell the truth, the whole
truth, and nothing but
the truth,
390
00:23:08,953 --> 00:23:10,389
-so help you God?
-I do.
391
00:23:11,255 --> 00:23:12,724
You may sit, Ms. Petrosyan.
392
00:23:16,361 --> 00:23:17,595
Good morning.
393
00:23:17,862 --> 00:23:19,864
According to
documents received by the court,
394
00:23:19,998 --> 00:23:24,369
you and your family fled
Azerbaijan due to targeted
ethnic violence
395
00:23:24,503 --> 00:23:27,605
during the 1988
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
396
00:23:27,805 --> 00:23:29,440
First, you went to Armenia
397
00:23:29,574 --> 00:23:33,778
and then shortly after that,
you landed in Volgograd, Russia
398
00:23:33,911 --> 00:23:36,848
where you were permitted
to live with refugee status.
399
00:23:37,315 --> 00:23:38,550
That is correct.
400
00:23:39,484 --> 00:23:42,253
Ivan's cousin
invited us to Armenia,
401
00:23:42,620 --> 00:23:44,489
but when we got there,
402
00:23:44,622 --> 00:23:47,391
we were treated as foreigners
because we were born in
Azerbaijan.
403
00:23:47,525 --> 00:23:48,827
We do not speak Armenian.
404
00:23:49,394 --> 00:23:52,830
We could not find any work,
so it became impossible to stay.
405
00:23:53,130 --> 00:23:55,700
Russia became
your home after that?
406
00:23:55,834 --> 00:23:57,302
I wouldn't call it home.
407
00:23:57,502 --> 00:23:59,370
You were
given residency in Russia,
408
00:23:59,504 --> 00:24:01,138
-correct?
-Yes.
409
00:24:01,272 --> 00:24:03,340
Free to stay as long as you
like for the rest of your life?
410
00:24:03,474 --> 00:24:04,776
Yes.
411
00:24:06,344 --> 00:24:12,117
Why would you and Mr. Petrosyan
decide to leave a country
412
00:24:12,250 --> 00:24:13,885
that welcomed you with open arms
413
00:24:14,180 --> 00:24:17,321
only to apply for
asylum in a brand new country
414
00:24:17,455 --> 00:24:20,124
hoping this one would
also welcome you with open arms?
415
00:24:20,258 --> 00:24:22,894
We weren't exactly welcomed
with open arms in Russia.
416
00:24:23,280 --> 00:24:25,129
Is this a pattern
for you and your husband?
417
00:24:25,262 --> 00:24:28,466
Do you like to take
vacations to other countries
418
00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:30,301
and then stay when you see
419
00:24:30,435 --> 00:24:32,937
it's just a little bit better
than the one that came before?
420
00:24:33,710 --> 00:24:34,973
Of course not. That is a lie.
421
00:24:35,106 --> 00:24:36,208
What's next?
422
00:24:36,374 --> 00:24:37,608
Cayman Islands?
423
00:24:37,742 --> 00:24:39,310
-Objection, your honor.
-Sustained.
424
00:24:39,443 --> 00:24:42,313
Counsel needs to tighten
up her line of questioning.
425
00:24:43,140 --> 00:24:44,982
We may have been
allowed to stay in Russia,
426
00:24:45,116 --> 00:24:48,219
but we'll never
have a real life there.
427
00:24:48,386 --> 00:24:50,188
Can you elaborate for the court?
428
00:24:51,589 --> 00:24:58,897
[music]
429
00:25:03,734 --> 00:25:05,870
I don't like this neighborhood.
430
00:25:06,040 --> 00:25:07,706
We won't be here forever.
431
00:25:09,274 --> 00:25:10,809
Ivan, how much further?
432
00:25:11,543 --> 00:25:12,777
We're almost there.
433
00:25:16,547 --> 00:25:18,516
How did you find this place?
434
00:25:18,650 --> 00:25:21,419
Your grandmother told us about
it. She knows someone who
lives here.
435
00:25:21,552 --> 00:25:23,654
Why can't we live with Grandma?
436
00:25:23,854 --> 00:25:26,658
Because they don't
have the space for all of us.
437
00:25:27,959 --> 00:25:30,529
This building looks scary.
438
00:25:31,162 --> 00:25:32,264
It's not scary.
439
00:25:33,598 --> 00:25:35,232
We have nothing for you.
Go away.
440
00:25:35,366 --> 00:25:36,568
Yana sent us.
441
00:25:36,901 --> 00:25:39,337
Yana? She said you'll
be here in the morning.
442
00:25:39,470 --> 00:25:41,106
Our bus was late, I'm sorry.
443
00:25:41,239 --> 00:25:43,241
Well, come in quickly.
444
00:25:43,541 --> 00:25:46,210
Come on, come on,
you're letting the cold air in.
445
00:25:46,344 --> 00:25:53,618
[music]
446
00:26:25,483 --> 00:26:26,617
Where's the bathroom?
447
00:26:27,180 --> 00:26:29,200
Common, all
toilets down the hall.
448
00:26:29,787 --> 00:26:31,890
Papa, where are the beds?
449
00:26:32,623 --> 00:26:33,724
You'll get beds.
450
00:26:34,125 --> 00:26:35,926
We can't fit two beds in here.
451
00:26:36,527 --> 00:26:37,829
We'll figure it out.
452
00:26:41,298 --> 00:26:42,300
Is there no heat?
453
00:26:43,567 --> 00:26:46,637
Yana's brother will come
by tomorrow then work on it.
454
00:26:46,771 --> 00:26:48,673
You have blankets right there.
455
00:26:52,944 --> 00:26:54,979
How long we have to stay here?
456
00:26:55,112 --> 00:26:57,414
We don't know, darling,
but we're safe right now.
457
00:26:57,548 --> 00:26:58,849
That's what's important.
458
00:26:58,983 --> 00:27:00,685
I don't like this place.
459
00:27:00,818 --> 00:27:02,187
I want to go home.
460
00:27:02,987 --> 00:27:04,889
I miss my monkey.
461
00:27:05,230 --> 00:27:07,920
[music]
462
00:27:07,225 --> 00:27:08,326
Come here.
463
00:27:09,760 --> 00:27:11,620
I know
464
00:27:11,329 --> 00:27:13,330
this place doesn't
look like much right now,
465
00:27:13,831 --> 00:27:20,871
so we're going to make it cozy
and beautiful just like our
home, okay?
466
00:27:21,205 --> 00:27:23,307
We're going to
make it much better.
467
00:27:23,507 --> 00:27:25,677
Where are we going to sleep?
468
00:27:35,486 --> 00:27:42,327
I'm going to make you a bed so
we don't get our clothes dirty.
469
00:27:44,295 --> 00:27:45,563
I'm hungry.
470
00:27:45,697 --> 00:27:47,766
It's okay, baby,
I brought some things.
471
00:27:50,435 --> 00:27:51,736
Okay, come on.
472
00:27:59,343 --> 00:28:02,346
♪ Sleep, daughter, sleep, ♪
473
00:28:02,747 --> 00:28:05,750
♪ The moon above is shining. ♪
474
00:28:06,150 --> 00:28:09,153
♪ The Earth below is turning, ♪
475
00:28:09,520 --> 00:28:12,657
♪ Just as my love. ♪
476
00:28:12,790 --> 00:28:16,193
♪ Sleep daughter, sleep. ♪
477
00:28:16,327 --> 00:28:23,435
[music]
478
00:28:35,747 --> 00:28:37,480
[door knocks]
479
00:28:40,652 --> 00:28:41,953
[door knocks]
480
00:28:45,323 --> 00:28:46,357
[door knocks]
481
00:28:46,890 --> 00:28:48,159
[opens door]
482
00:28:50,661 --> 00:28:51,729
You are Yana's brother?
483
00:28:51,863 --> 00:28:53,131
Yes.
484
00:28:55,733 --> 00:28:57,435
-Hello.
-Hello.
485
00:28:57,568 --> 00:28:59,237
-I'm Ivan.
-Sasha.
486
00:29:00,370 --> 00:29:01,372
Feels like Siberia in here.
487
00:29:01,506 --> 00:29:03,641
We didn't realize
there would be no heat.
488
00:29:03,774 --> 00:29:05,310
And no furniture.
489
00:29:06,377 --> 00:29:08,579
The main thing
right now is the heat.
490
00:29:08,713 --> 00:29:09,947
Yes, the heat.
491
00:29:10,800 --> 00:29:11,282
It's always the heat.
492
00:29:11,882 --> 00:29:15,953
Should be fixed, the leak, and
get connected to the waterline.
493
00:29:16,870 --> 00:29:21,250
I would've tried to fix it
myself, but I had to leave my
tools behind.
494
00:29:21,158 --> 00:29:24,620
No problem. My
tools, my job, my pleasure.
495
00:29:24,629 --> 00:29:25,864
Thank you.
496
00:29:30,000 --> 00:29:35,406
You wouldn't happen to know
anyone around here who might
be hiring?
497
00:29:35,773 --> 00:29:37,809
What kind of work do you do?
498
00:29:38,709 --> 00:29:39,911
I'm a rocket scientist.
499
00:29:40,440 --> 00:29:42,479
Oh, you're a comedian.
500
00:29:42,613 --> 00:29:43,781
[laughs]
501
00:29:44,150 --> 00:29:46,217
No really, what
kind of work do you do?
502
00:29:46,451 --> 00:29:47,752
I'm a rocket scientist.
503
00:29:48,419 --> 00:29:50,989
I specialize in
spacecraft propulsion.
504
00:29:52,790 --> 00:29:54,726
Serious?
505
00:29:54,859 --> 00:29:57,862
I've worked at the space
program, the Soviet Research
Institute in Baku.
506
00:29:58,663 --> 00:30:00,264
My friend,
507
00:30:00,398 --> 00:30:03,334
I'm afraid you won't find
anything like that in Volgograd.
508
00:30:03,734 --> 00:30:07,205
I will do anything to
take care of my family.
509
00:30:08,720 --> 00:30:09,707
All right. I
will ask around.
510
00:30:09,941 --> 00:30:11,342
Okay.
Thank you.
511
00:30:12,760 --> 00:30:13,710
You're welcome.
512
00:30:14,144 --> 00:30:18,650
Oh, do you know if there is a
bakery or a market open at
this hour?
513
00:30:18,983 --> 00:30:21,452
Yes, it's just around
the corner to the left,
514
00:30:21,919 --> 00:30:23,654
and I am going to get my tools.
515
00:30:24,210 --> 00:30:25,323
Okay.
516
00:30:26,624 --> 00:30:33,932
[music]
517
00:30:37,701 --> 00:30:39,360
If you need something to do,
518
00:30:39,170 --> 00:30:41,105
I need you to go to
the--this thing--
519
00:30:41,238 --> 00:30:42,640
-if it's only four of them.
-Okay, good.
520
00:30:42,773 --> 00:30:44,750
Yes?
Thank you.
521
00:30:44,942 --> 00:30:46,430
[door knocks]
522
00:30:46,377 --> 00:30:49,380
Is this
Violetta and Ivan's place?
523
00:30:49,514 --> 00:30:50,615
Who's asking?
524
00:30:51,150 --> 00:30:53,585
I'm a friend of your
mother-in-law, Annette.
525
00:30:56,687 --> 00:30:57,655
Hello.
526
00:30:57,788 --> 00:30:58,823
I'm Ivan.
527
00:30:58,956 --> 00:31:00,591
-[music] -Vova.
528
00:31:00,725 --> 00:31:04,429
Annette said you might be short
on some items for the apartment.
529
00:31:07,231 --> 00:31:08,867
Where should I put this?
530
00:31:09,834 --> 00:31:11,335
Over there, I guess.
531
00:31:11,635 --> 00:31:12,937
Okay.
532
00:31:13,871 --> 00:31:15,139
I'll leave it right here.
533
00:31:15,272 --> 00:31:16,808
You are American?
534
00:31:17,175 --> 00:31:19,810
[chuckles]
My New York accent gave it away.
535
00:31:19,944 --> 00:31:21,980
I'm Duane.
Nice to meet you.
536
00:31:23,213 --> 00:31:25,950
I heard all about your
family from your mother.
537
00:31:27,285 --> 00:31:28,819
We have some more boxes.
538
00:31:28,953 --> 00:31:29,887
That's right.
539
00:31:30,210 --> 00:31:31,322
We'll be back.
540
00:31:32,189 --> 00:31:33,491
The rest of the--
541
00:31:34,558 --> 00:31:35,660
Do you know them?
542
00:31:42,132 --> 00:31:43,333
-Hey.
-Hello.
543
00:31:43,467 --> 00:31:44,568
Oh.
544
00:31:44,702 --> 00:31:46,503
Grandma and Grandpa.
545
00:31:46,637 --> 00:31:48,940
I thought we'd
never see you again.
546
00:31:49,640 --> 00:31:52,810
-Oh, woah. -[crosstalk]
Look at you, my love.
547
00:31:53,110 --> 00:31:55,379
We'll help you set
up in this apartment.
548
00:31:55,512 --> 00:31:57,715
-Don't worry.
-Girls, come with me,
549
00:31:57,848 --> 00:31:59,584
we have more things outside.
550
00:32:00,884 --> 00:32:02,190
Here's something--
551
00:32:02,253 --> 00:32:03,520
All right.
Here we go.
552
00:32:03,654 --> 00:32:05,523
-Another box for you.
-Thank you.
553
00:32:06,524 --> 00:32:09,694
These are my
friends from church.
554
00:32:10,461 --> 00:32:12,297
Mommy, you go to a church?
555
00:32:13,298 --> 00:32:16,234
We met them
shortly after we arrive.
556
00:32:16,567 --> 00:32:20,270
They have been helping
many of Armenian refugees.
557
00:32:21,380 --> 00:32:24,808
Duane's been visiting and
volunteering for a while now.
558
00:32:25,309 --> 00:32:28,913
Why would you leave your home
and come all the way to
Volgograd, Russia?
559
00:32:29,460 --> 00:32:32,349
Our church back in the States
actually helped stock
Vova's church,
560
00:32:32,483 --> 00:32:34,184
and I wanted to
make regular trips.
561
00:32:34,318 --> 00:32:35,519
To do what exactly?
562
00:32:35,753 --> 00:32:37,555
Anything that I
could do to be useful.
563
00:32:37,688 --> 00:32:39,557
We heard about
your furniture situation,
564
00:32:39,690 --> 00:32:42,693
so a few of us from the church
will be stopping by later on
565
00:32:42,827 --> 00:32:44,161
to help with that as well.
566
00:32:44,495 --> 00:32:46,664
What are you
expecting in return?
567
00:32:46,798 --> 00:32:50,335
-We don't have much to offer.
-No, no, no,
we don't expect anything.
568
00:32:51,302 --> 00:32:52,603
We don't want anything.
569
00:32:52,936 --> 00:32:55,573
We're just really
happy to be able to help you.
570
00:32:57,174 --> 00:32:58,676
I don't know what to say.
571
00:33:00,511 --> 00:33:02,246
Contrary to
what you said earlier,
572
00:33:02,379 --> 00:33:05,516
you were welcomed
with open arms into Russia.
573
00:33:05,650 --> 00:33:09,953
You had a new apartment,
new friends, relatives nearby,
574
00:33:10,870 --> 00:33:12,956
and it sounds like home.
575
00:33:13,690 --> 00:33:17,280
We may have found some support
through friends and family,
576
00:33:17,161 --> 00:33:18,629
but we soon discovered
577
00:33:18,762 --> 00:33:21,432
that everything else
would be very difficult.
578
00:33:21,632 --> 00:33:22,967
Everything else?
579
00:33:23,101 --> 00:33:24,668
The government may
have allowed us to stay,
580
00:33:24,802 --> 00:33:27,271
but the people of
Russia did not accept us.
581
00:33:28,105 --> 00:33:32,810
I expected some level of racism
towards Armenians in Russia,
582
00:33:32,943 --> 00:33:37,682
but what we encountered
was something beyond that.
583
00:33:38,182 --> 00:33:43,221
As far as looking for work, it
was very difficult for us both.
584
00:33:43,921 --> 00:33:45,122
A bus driver?
585
00:33:46,900 --> 00:33:48,859
Maintenance
too, not just driving.
586
00:33:49,226 --> 00:33:50,994
I want to ride a bus too.
587
00:33:51,128 --> 00:33:52,129
Me too.
588
00:33:52,263 --> 00:33:53,731
Well, it's not free.
589
00:33:53,964 --> 00:33:55,660
You have to pay.
590
00:33:56,200 --> 00:34:00,104
You work with calculations,
engineers, propulsion systems.
591
00:34:00,237 --> 00:34:01,205
You don't drive buses.
592
00:34:01,338 --> 00:34:02,707
Think of it
593
00:34:02,840 --> 00:34:05,475
as a different
kind of propulsion system
594
00:34:05,642 --> 00:34:08,579
propelling people through
the streets of Volgograd.
595
00:34:10,914 --> 00:34:12,216
Okay.
596
00:34:14,385 --> 00:34:15,619
How about you?
597
00:34:15,753 --> 00:34:17,187
Did you get the
interview at the school?
598
00:34:17,321 --> 00:34:18,890
-Tomorrow.
-Good.
599
00:34:19,230 --> 00:34:22,920
It's not administration.
It's a teaching position.
600
00:34:22,226 --> 00:34:23,528
Very low pay.
601
00:34:24,328 --> 00:34:25,763
At least it's something.
602
00:34:27,230 --> 00:34:28,533
It's something.
603
00:34:30,868 --> 00:34:31,802
[sighs]
604
00:34:31,935 --> 00:34:33,271
What are you drawing?
605
00:34:33,871 --> 00:34:34,838
Ooh.
606
00:34:34,972 --> 00:34:36,140
Oh, I love it.
607
00:34:36,273 --> 00:34:37,941
I'm sorry,
608
00:34:38,750 --> 00:34:40,711
could you run down to the store
and get us a few more potatoes?
609
00:34:40,978 --> 00:34:42,813
-Sure.
-Thank you.
610
00:34:43,800 --> 00:34:44,615
Do we need anything else?
611
00:34:44,748 --> 00:34:45,850
-No.
-No.
612
00:34:50,120 --> 00:34:51,321
Hey,
613
00:34:52,890 --> 00:34:53,791
everything's going to be okay.
614
00:34:55,125 --> 00:35:00,431
[music]
615
00:35:01,640 --> 00:35:02,366
Great.
616
00:35:02,499 --> 00:35:04,680
How come she's
not doing a cartwheel?
617
00:35:04,201 --> 00:35:05,202
[chuckles]
618
00:35:05,336 --> 00:35:06,637
-I can!
-[door closes]
619
00:35:10,875 --> 00:35:18,182
[music]
620
00:35:24,540 --> 00:35:25,880
[whistles]
621
00:35:25,222 --> 00:35:26,323
Hey.
622
00:35:26,490 --> 00:35:27,825
You.
Come on.
623
00:35:31,950 --> 00:35:32,362
Me?
624
00:35:32,729 --> 00:35:35,666
What do you think you're
doing around this neighborhood?
625
00:35:36,366 --> 00:35:39,904
I live right here.
626
00:35:41,710 --> 00:35:42,540
Show us your papers.
627
00:35:43,070 --> 00:35:44,740
Papers?
628
00:35:44,208 --> 00:35:45,676
So you're deaf and dumb, huh?
629
00:35:46,811 --> 00:35:48,679
I don't have any papers.
630
00:35:53,283 --> 00:35:55,153
You're not White.
631
00:35:56,319 --> 00:35:57,822
You're not Black,
632
00:35:59,556 --> 00:36:01,492
and you're not so Brown either,
633
00:36:05,762 --> 00:36:06,864
so what are you?
634
00:36:10,834 --> 00:36:11,936
I'm Armenian
635
00:36:13,203 --> 00:36:14,705
from Azerbaijan.
636
00:36:15,873 --> 00:36:17,808
I just moved
here with my family.
637
00:36:18,642 --> 00:36:20,811
We were given refugee status.
638
00:36:23,247 --> 00:36:24,549
Armenian.
639
00:36:25,182 --> 00:36:26,383
[spits]
640
00:36:27,551 --> 00:36:30,488
There's too many of
you stinking up our city.
641
00:36:33,324 --> 00:36:34,625
It's just temporary
642
00:36:35,560 --> 00:36:37,628
until things
calm down back home.
643
00:36:38,829 --> 00:36:40,398
Vadim,
644
00:36:41,320 --> 00:36:44,902
would you like to show what
happens to foreigners who don't
have their papers?
645
00:36:47,838 --> 00:36:49,473
Hey, hey, Dimitri.
646
00:36:50,674 --> 00:36:51,675
Vova.
647
00:36:52,109 --> 00:36:53,177
Stop.
It's okay.
648
00:36:53,310 --> 00:36:54,311
I know this man.
649
00:36:54,445 --> 00:36:56,647
Vova, you know this scum?
650
00:36:57,381 --> 00:36:58,749
Ivan is a good man.
651
00:36:58,916 --> 00:37:00,170
He has family.
652
00:37:00,251 --> 00:37:01,752
Very, very, very good people.
653
00:37:01,885 --> 00:37:03,588
Please let him go.
654
00:37:04,855 --> 00:37:06,891
How can I take
you for your word?
655
00:37:09,930 --> 00:37:12,964
You are a hardworking officer,
certainly you deserve
something nice.
656
00:37:15,980 --> 00:37:16,400
On me.
657
00:37:16,867 --> 00:37:17,969
Please.
658
00:37:19,570 --> 00:37:21,405
Educate
your Armenian friend here
659
00:37:21,538 --> 00:37:24,308
about the dangers of
not carrying his papers.
660
00:37:24,441 --> 00:37:25,743
Yes, of course.
661
00:37:33,817 --> 00:37:34,919
You're okay?
662
00:37:36,860 --> 00:37:37,488
Do you know those guys?
663
00:37:38,289 --> 00:37:40,758
Yes, my brother
Dimitri.
664
00:37:40,891 --> 00:37:42,393
The shorter one.
665
00:37:42,526 --> 00:37:43,828
He's lovely.
666
00:37:45,610 --> 00:37:48,532
Whenever you see him,
go the other direction.
667
00:37:48,665 --> 00:37:53,337
-Noted. -Please carry
your papers at all times.
668
00:37:54,372 --> 00:37:56,707
He wouldn't be the
only one to harass you.
669
00:37:57,541 --> 00:37:59,410
That goes for Violet too.
670
00:38:00,770 --> 00:38:01,379
I will let her know.
671
00:38:02,450 --> 00:38:03,347
Thank you.
672
00:38:04,810 --> 00:38:05,650
-Bye.
-Bye.
673
00:38:07,118 --> 00:38:09,453
Come by the church
sometimes to say hello.
674
00:38:09,987 --> 00:38:12,290
Your mother-in-law
has the address.
675
00:38:14,558 --> 00:38:15,860
I'll think about it.
676
00:38:16,527 --> 00:38:18,195
-[music]
-See you around, friend.
677
00:38:18,328 --> 00:38:19,430
Take care.
678
00:38:19,663 --> 00:38:20,965
Thank you, friend.
679
00:38:24,368 --> 00:38:31,410
[background chatter]
680
00:38:31,175 --> 00:38:33,511
Mrs. Petrosyan, in here.
681
00:38:49,125 --> 00:38:50,760
I understand
682
00:38:50,894 --> 00:38:53,263
you've had trouble finding work
since you arrived in Russia.
683
00:38:53,597 --> 00:38:56,670
It has been more
difficult than I expected.
684
00:38:59,469 --> 00:39:03,774
That's because no one likes to
give a Russian job to a
foreigner
685
00:39:04,975 --> 00:39:06,143
unless we have to.
686
00:39:06,910 --> 00:39:11,820
In this case, we are
understaffed, so we have to.
687
00:39:12,716 --> 00:39:15,686
I would be very
grateful if you hired me.
688
00:39:18,388 --> 00:39:20,391
You are a
Communist Party member?
689
00:39:21,250 --> 00:39:22,930
My whole life.
690
00:39:25,629 --> 00:39:27,797
You'll start Monday, 7:00 AM.
691
00:39:27,931 --> 00:39:29,330
[sighs]
692
00:39:30,167 --> 00:39:31,234
Thank you very much.
693
00:39:32,302 --> 00:39:36,440
Just because you are going to
work here doesn't mean you are
one of us.
694
00:39:38,942 --> 00:39:39,843
I'm sorry?
695
00:39:40,277 --> 00:39:42,747
I need you to
repeat something after me,
696
00:39:44,147 --> 00:39:49,120
"I am quieter than
water and lower than grass."
697
00:39:52,550 --> 00:39:53,157
What?
698
00:39:54,991 --> 00:40:00,731
If you want this job, I suggest
you repeat after me right now.
699
00:40:01,965 --> 00:40:03,670
Okay.
700
00:40:03,801 --> 00:40:06,170
I am quieter than water-
701
00:40:07,671 --> 00:40:09,539
I am quieter than water-
702
00:40:10,173 --> 00:40:12,108
-and lower than grass.
703
00:40:12,542 --> 00:40:14,178
-and lower than grass.
704
00:40:15,412 --> 00:40:16,647
One more time.
705
00:40:16,914 --> 00:40:19,282
I'm quieter than
water and lower than grass.
706
00:40:19,416 --> 00:40:20,718
One more time.
707
00:40:28,258 --> 00:40:31,562
[cries] I'm quieter
than and lower than grass.
708
00:40:32,529 --> 00:40:33,630
Yes, you are.
709
00:40:34,765 --> 00:40:39,470
Recite this to yourself every
day when you enter the doors of
my school
710
00:40:40,570 --> 00:40:42,840
because this is your place here.
711
00:40:52,782 --> 00:40:54,518
Get out of my office.
712
00:41:01,491 --> 00:41:05,896
We are all very sorry
to hear that, Mrs. Petrosyan.
713
00:41:09,265 --> 00:41:10,734
I can only imagine
714
00:41:10,867 --> 00:41:13,203
what a difficult moment
that must've been for you.
715
00:41:14,380 --> 00:41:16,340
I had never been so humiliated.
[cries]
716
00:41:16,507 --> 00:41:20,677
How was the rest of your
experience during your time
teaching at that school?
717
00:41:20,811 --> 00:41:22,120
I did as I was told.
718
00:41:22,145 --> 00:41:24,681
I never
attempted to make friends.
719
00:41:24,815 --> 00:41:26,784
I just tried
to maintain the distance
720
00:41:26,917 --> 00:41:29,519
from the school director
and rest of the faculty,
721
00:41:30,120 --> 00:41:35,358
but I was always the
target for humiliation.
722
00:41:35,492 --> 00:41:36,760
Why was that?
723
00:41:36,894 --> 00:41:39,295
It was not only
because I am Armenian,
724
00:41:39,429 --> 00:41:44,334
but because I started to attend
my mother's church in Volgograd.
725
00:41:44,468 --> 00:41:46,636
Despite being a Communist
726
00:41:46,870 --> 00:41:48,339
-at the time?
-Correct.
727
00:41:48,472 --> 00:41:51,307
I obviously had no
interest in attending at first,
728
00:41:51,441 --> 00:41:56,213
but I started to notice some
positive changes in my
mother's life
729
00:41:56,346 --> 00:41:59,549
after she
started going, and [chuckles]
730
00:41:59,683 --> 00:42:03,587
she wasn't so worried about
everything all the time anymore.
731
00:42:04,454 --> 00:42:08,726
She had this new sense of peace
732
00:42:09,726 --> 00:42:11,662
despite our circumstances.
733
00:42:11,795 --> 00:42:18,010
[cries] I'm sorry, I don't know,
I suppose I was looking for
that too,
734
00:42:18,235 --> 00:42:22,405
so we started to
attend, myself, Julia, and Olga.
735
00:42:22,539 --> 00:42:23,974
The more I listened,
736
00:42:24,108 --> 00:42:27,430
the more I changed
the way I carried myself.
737
00:42:27,177 --> 00:42:30,681
Well, maybe you
could give us an example.
738
00:42:32,949 --> 00:42:35,785
Jesus's teachings on
the concept of forgiveness.
739
00:42:35,919 --> 00:42:41,424
When the faculty at the school
would say or do mean
things to me,
740
00:42:41,558 --> 00:42:44,661
I would forgive them
741
00:42:45,161 --> 00:42:48,865
and try to be even kinder to
them the next time I saw them,
742
00:42:48,999 --> 00:42:52,902
but unfortunately, this only
made me stick out even more at
the school.
743
00:42:53,336 --> 00:42:56,573
Your relationships at
work were negatively affected
744
00:42:56,707 --> 00:43:00,711
by the fact that you had started
to develop this new faith?
745
00:43:00,978 --> 00:43:02,246
Yes.
746
00:43:02,379 --> 00:43:04,615
One could even call
it religious persecution.
747
00:43:05,949 --> 00:43:08,818
Did your husband, Ivan,
attend this new church with you?
748
00:43:08,952 --> 00:43:11,321
He wasn't interested in going.
749
00:43:11,755 --> 00:43:13,723
He was fine with us attending,
750
00:43:13,856 --> 00:43:18,595
but he wouldn't let us go alone
because Volgograd is not a very
safe city.
751
00:43:19,496 --> 00:43:23,867
My challenge for you
for this week is simply this,
752
00:43:24,601 --> 00:43:25,903
love your neighbor.
753
00:43:26,703 --> 00:43:28,710
Who is your neighbor?
754
00:43:28,872 --> 00:43:31,775
That's everyone
you come in contact with,
755
00:43:32,509 --> 00:43:34,278
no matter who they are.
756
00:43:35,846 --> 00:43:39,350
Yes, our world is divided.
757
00:43:41,751 --> 00:43:45,121
Nation fragmented, family
torn apart
758
00:43:45,255 --> 00:43:48,920
by opposing
political ideologies,
759
00:43:49,425 --> 00:43:52,695
but Romans 15 says
760
00:43:53,529 --> 00:43:59,690
to accept one another
as Christ has accepted us,
761
00:44:00,670 --> 00:44:02,372
and John 13 says
762
00:44:03,390 --> 00:44:05,776
to love one
another as Christ loved us.
763
00:44:12,480 --> 00:44:15,451
If you can do that
for me this week--
764
00:44:15,585 --> 00:44:22,893
[music]
765
00:44:35,738 --> 00:44:36,806
Papa.
766
00:44:36,940 --> 00:44:38,442
Oh, my angels.
767
00:44:38,575 --> 00:44:41,145
I guess they ran a
little late in there today, huh?
768
00:44:41,278 --> 00:44:43,513
Yes, but when are
you going to join us?
769
00:44:43,646 --> 00:44:47,160
No, no, I like it out here
where I can see the door to
the street,
770
00:44:47,150 --> 00:44:49,652
keep an eye on things,
make sure everyone is safe.
771
00:44:49,786 --> 00:44:51,754
Like the angels in the Bible.
772
00:44:51,888 --> 00:44:55,292
Ah, but unlike
the angels in the Bible,
773
00:44:55,558 --> 00:44:56,760
your papa is real
774
00:44:56,893 --> 00:44:58,295
and he's
right here in front of you
775
00:44:58,428 --> 00:45:01,699
where you can see him
physically and hug him.
776
00:45:02,532 --> 00:45:03,834
Do it.
777
00:45:04,567 --> 00:45:05,969
You too, do it.
778
00:45:06,102 --> 00:45:07,704
You know, there is a
chair in the sanctuary
779
00:45:07,837 --> 00:45:08,905
next to the girls'
780
00:45:09,380 --> 00:45:10,373
with your name on it.
781
00:45:10,540 --> 00:45:11,909
Oh, thank you.
782
00:45:12,420 --> 00:45:13,543
This bench is
comfortable enough for me.
783
00:45:13,676 --> 00:45:16,613
Then I will set it in
the front row next Sunday.
784
00:45:16,947 --> 00:45:18,382
Nice try, my friend.
785
00:45:18,515 --> 00:45:19,716
Who's ready for lunch?
786
00:45:19,849 --> 00:45:21,417
-Me.
-Me too.
787
00:45:21,551 --> 00:45:23,870
And me three.
788
00:45:23,686 --> 00:45:25,122
Okay, let's go.
789
00:45:25,889 --> 00:45:27,390
I'm sorry, Annette.
790
00:45:27,523 --> 00:45:28,792
I'm not going to be
able to join you for lunch.
791
00:45:28,925 --> 00:45:30,930
My shift starts soon.
792
00:45:30,227 --> 00:45:31,961
Not even for a quick bite?
793
00:45:32,950 --> 00:45:33,897
Well, if the pastor had
finished his service on time,
794
00:45:34,310 --> 00:45:36,132
-maybe I can join you next time.
-[mumbles]
795
00:45:36,266 --> 00:45:38,680
-What?
-It's true.
796
00:45:38,902 --> 00:45:40,403
-Okay. Goodbye.
-Bye.
797
00:45:40,536 --> 00:45:42,139
-Bye, girls. Have a great day.
-See you tonight.
798
00:45:42,272 --> 00:45:44,374
-[kissing sounds]
-Goodbye, my love.
799
00:45:46,877 --> 00:45:54,184
[music]
800
00:46:17,407 --> 00:46:18,509
Hello there?
801
00:46:20,343 --> 00:46:21,780
Hello.
802
00:46:21,211 --> 00:46:24,314
Are you the Armenian?
803
00:46:26,750 --> 00:46:29,920
Can you believe they let
Armenians drive buses
these days?
804
00:46:30,530 --> 00:46:31,755
[laughter]
805
00:46:31,988 --> 00:46:34,224
We hear you run from Azerbaijan
806
00:46:34,358 --> 00:46:36,793
because the people
weren't very nice there.
807
00:46:36,926 --> 00:46:38,594
[laughter]
808
00:46:38,728 --> 00:46:39,963
Enough.
809
00:46:40,397 --> 00:46:42,499
Oh, he speaks.
810
00:46:44,330 --> 00:46:46,570
Yes, he speaks,
811
00:46:49,172 --> 00:46:50,841
and he carries a hammer.
812
00:46:54,678 --> 00:46:55,979
Now leave me alone.
813
00:46:57,914 --> 00:46:59,850
Not while you're in my country.
814
00:47:01,585 --> 00:47:02,953
It might be your country,
815
00:47:03,653 --> 00:47:06,289
but there is something
you all seem to forget.
816
00:47:07,190 --> 00:47:10,994
Enlighten me
before I cut you open.
817
00:47:13,997 --> 00:47:18,602
This world has been trying to
eradicate Armenians for over
100 years.
818
00:47:19,703 --> 00:47:21,371
We have been stabbed
819
00:47:22,272 --> 00:47:23,440
and shot
820
00:47:24,730 --> 00:47:25,876
and burned alive,
821
00:47:27,176 --> 00:47:29,679
dragged onto death marches.
822
00:47:29,813 --> 00:47:32,148
We survived a genocide,
823
00:47:32,849 --> 00:47:34,618
and yet we are still standing,
824
00:47:36,319 --> 00:47:38,956
but for some reason,
you all seem to forget
825
00:47:40,657 --> 00:47:43,260
that a man who has
been driven from his home
826
00:47:43,760 --> 00:47:46,363
and stripped of
everything he has ever owned
827
00:47:47,697 --> 00:47:49,399
and backed into a corner
828
00:47:50,900 --> 00:47:52,870
has nothing left to lose.
829
00:47:55,872 --> 00:47:58,108
My question to you three is,
830
00:48:00,843 --> 00:48:02,579
what do you have to lose today?
831
00:48:07,918 --> 00:48:10,654
Lighten up, big boy.
832
00:48:13,489 --> 00:48:14,591
See you around.
833
00:48:22,932 --> 00:48:25,602
[thunder strike]
834
00:48:38,215 --> 00:48:40,951
Is this going to
be our life forever?
835
00:48:42,652 --> 00:48:45,422
At worst, always
looking over our shoulder.
836
00:48:46,623 --> 00:48:50,270
At best, always
visitors, never neighbors.
837
00:48:52,962 --> 00:48:56,232
Will we
ever be accepted anywhere
838
00:48:56,933 --> 00:48:58,936
till we ever find home again?
839
00:49:00,937 --> 00:49:03,106
The church accepts us.
840
00:49:04,774 --> 00:49:06,760
The church?
841
00:49:07,177 --> 00:49:08,578
Listen to yourself.
842
00:49:10,460 --> 00:49:12,849
Forever it was
your duty to communism.
843
00:49:12,982 --> 00:49:14,283
Now it's Christianity.
844
00:49:15,510 --> 00:49:18,254
You're always clinging to
some other community out there
845
00:49:18,388 --> 00:49:23,226
when you should be focused
on your own family in here.
846
00:49:23,961 --> 00:49:26,960
All I do is
think about the family.
847
00:49:29,565 --> 00:49:32,468
I degrade myself every
single day at that school
848
00:49:32,602 --> 00:49:35,338
so our family can
have a chance at survival.
849
00:49:35,672 --> 00:49:39,743
I bring the girls to church so
they can listen to stories
of hope,
850
00:49:40,310 --> 00:49:43,713
and I support you, my husband,
no matter what you do and
believe.
851
00:49:43,846 --> 00:49:47,840
So don't you ever, don't
you ever question my duty to it.
852
00:49:47,217 --> 00:49:49,619
I am not questioning
your duty to our family.
853
00:49:50,220 --> 00:49:53,457
I just don't want
you to put all your hope
854
00:49:54,357 --> 00:49:59,730
into some other cause that's
just going to let you
down again.
855
00:50:00,830 --> 00:50:04,534
[thunder strike]
856
00:50:06,690 --> 00:50:07,371
Violetta.
857
00:50:09,706 --> 00:50:17,140
[music]
858
00:50:43,239 --> 00:50:44,508
Go in peace
859
00:50:45,175 --> 00:50:46,676
and God be with you.
860
00:50:52,381 --> 00:50:53,883
What else can you fix
861
00:50:54,517 --> 00:50:57,654
or your skill set is
limited to door hinges?
862
00:50:59,589 --> 00:51:01,924
No, I can fix many things.
863
00:51:02,910 --> 00:51:05,195
Plumbing,
flooring, heating units?
864
00:51:06,290 --> 00:51:07,931
With the right tools, yes.
865
00:51:08,698 --> 00:51:12,335
If you are going to continue
to spend time here every week
866
00:51:12,468 --> 00:51:15,138
without joining in our services,
867
00:51:15,405 --> 00:51:17,707
you might as well
get paid to be here.
868
00:51:18,241 --> 00:51:19,742
Paid?
869
00:51:19,875 --> 00:51:23,346
What if we employed you
part-time to give us a hand?
870
00:51:24,470 --> 00:51:25,515
This building is very old
871
00:51:25,648 --> 00:51:29,486
and it's a lot of
things need fixing around here.
872
00:51:31,287 --> 00:51:33,290
Can I ask you a question?
873
00:51:33,756 --> 00:51:34,790
Yes.
874
00:51:35,240 --> 00:51:36,492
You're Russian, correct?
875
00:51:36,692 --> 00:51:38,127
Born and raised.
876
00:51:38,294 --> 00:51:39,796
Why are you so nice to us
877
00:51:40,630 --> 00:51:42,765
when it seems no one else
in this country wants us here?
878
00:51:42,899 --> 00:51:44,600
Jesus was a refugee too
879
00:51:45,635 --> 00:51:48,505
and He could also
fix a lot of things.
880
00:51:50,730 --> 00:51:51,374
You accept my offer?
881
00:51:55,411 --> 00:51:58,148
Yes, I accept your offer.
882
00:51:59,150 --> 00:52:00,282
What offer?
883
00:52:00,416 --> 00:52:02,718
Ah, I'll let
your husband explain.
884
00:52:04,353 --> 00:52:08,591
Dwayne is coming back in a
couple of weeks with a team from
the States.
885
00:52:09,580 --> 00:52:12,895
Maybe you can lead them on the
maintenance projects
around here.
886
00:52:13,290 --> 00:52:14,331
I would be happy to.
887
00:52:14,830 --> 00:52:15,765
Great.
888
00:52:16,632 --> 00:52:18,235
-Thank you.
-Thank you.
889
00:52:19,902 --> 00:52:20,937
Well?
890
00:52:21,700 --> 00:52:21,971
Well,
891
00:52:22,104 --> 00:52:23,573
it looks like I'm
892
00:52:23,706 --> 00:52:25,275
the new part-time
maintenance man for the church.
893
00:52:25,408 --> 00:52:28,445
-Really?
-Yes. That is wonderful.
894
00:52:29,112 --> 00:52:30,947
God bless,
we could use the money.
895
00:52:31,800 --> 00:52:32,482
How are we doing on time, Ivan?
896
00:52:32,615 --> 00:52:34,250
Soup's on the stove at home.
897
00:52:34,417 --> 00:52:36,352
Seems like someone
gave over the message.
898
00:52:36,485 --> 00:52:39,188
I have just under 30
minutes before my shift starts.
899
00:52:39,322 --> 00:52:40,891
Okay. So
let's get you fed.
900
00:52:41,240 --> 00:52:43,927
I'm so hungry I
could eat two last suppers.
901
00:52:44,961 --> 00:52:49,365
You found a job in education
again and your husband found
two jobs.
902
00:52:49,499 --> 00:52:52,969
Although, yes, I understand,
they weren't in his typical
line of work.
903
00:52:53,102 --> 00:52:55,305
Your children found
a community at church.
904
00:52:55,438 --> 00:52:56,740
Is that correct?
905
00:52:57,206 --> 00:52:58,107
Yes.
906
00:52:58,240 --> 00:52:59,475
That's wonderful.
907
00:53:00,476 --> 00:53:02,545
Earlier in the
trial, your attorney said
908
00:53:02,678 --> 00:53:06,615
that all of these individuals
behind me are friends.
909
00:53:06,749 --> 00:53:08,510
Yes.
910
00:53:08,184 --> 00:53:10,419
It's a shame they
can't testify on your behalf.
911
00:53:10,553 --> 00:53:11,922
It was really kind of them
912
00:53:12,550 --> 00:53:14,590
to come all the way
to DC for your hearing.
913
00:53:14,724 --> 00:53:16,793
They wanted to be
here to support us.
914
00:53:16,927 --> 00:53:19,620
Is the church in
West Virginia connected
915
00:53:19,196 --> 00:53:21,631
-to your church
back in Volgograd? -Yes.
916
00:53:21,765 --> 00:53:24,567
They helped start
the church in Volgograd
917
00:53:24,700 --> 00:53:28,238
and continue to make
many trips out to volunteer.
918
00:53:28,504 --> 00:53:30,060
Is it fair to say
919
00:53:30,139 --> 00:53:32,909
that the church in West Virginia
financially supports
920
00:53:33,430 --> 00:53:34,376
the church back in Volgograd?
921
00:53:34,510 --> 00:53:36,880
Well, yes, they do.
922
00:53:40,283 --> 00:53:43,587
Would you say that communism
was like a religion to you?
923
00:53:44,620 --> 00:53:47,257
It used to be, but not anymore.
924
00:53:47,424 --> 00:53:49,759
Now that you've
converted to Christianity?
925
00:53:50,860 --> 00:53:51,761
Yes.
926
00:53:51,895 --> 00:53:52,996
I'm a Christian now.
927
00:53:54,730 --> 00:53:56,466
That's convenient, isn't it?
928
00:53:56,666 --> 00:53:58,468
Now that you've
left communism behind,
929
00:53:58,601 --> 00:54:01,338
would you say that
you're a capitalist as well?
930
00:54:02,571 --> 00:54:04,273
No system is perfect,
931
00:54:04,407 --> 00:54:08,177
but I can say, firsthand, that
capitalism is a better option
932
00:54:08,311 --> 00:54:10,460
But wasn't
it your Jesus who said
933
00:54:10,179 --> 00:54:13,215
that it was easier for a camel
to go through the eye of
a needle
934
00:54:13,416 --> 00:54:15,451
than for a rich
man to get into heaven?
935
00:54:16,118 --> 00:54:20,923
Mrs. Petrosyan, it seems like
you're just a bit all over
the place.
936
00:54:21,157 --> 00:54:23,259
You move to Russia,
937
00:54:23,392 --> 00:54:26,463
and you tell your new communist
employers that you are also
indeed a communist.
938
00:54:26,596 --> 00:54:28,497
Then you move your
family to the United States,
939
00:54:28,631 --> 00:54:30,133
and you convert to a religion
940
00:54:30,266 --> 00:54:33,102
that seems, at least to
me, to be a bit anti-capitalist,
941
00:54:33,235 --> 00:54:36,539
despite your newfound
acceptance of capitalism.
942
00:54:36,706 --> 00:54:38,775
From my perspective,
943
00:54:38,908 --> 00:54:41,978
I am standing in front of a
woman who doesn't seem to know
herself.
944
00:54:42,112 --> 00:54:43,813
Someone who lacks conviction.
945
00:54:43,947 --> 00:54:47,617
Someone who will take whatever
better path is in front of her
946
00:54:47,750 --> 00:54:49,452
whenever she pleases.
947
00:54:49,585 --> 00:54:54,900
The difference between
who I was and who I am now
948
00:54:54,490 --> 00:54:56,759
is that I finally made a choice.
949
00:54:57,193 --> 00:54:58,727
I was born into communism.
950
00:54:58,861 --> 00:55:00,797
I was born an
Armenian in Azerbaijan,
951
00:55:00,930 --> 00:55:03,800
and both my country
and communism failed me.
952
00:55:03,933 --> 00:55:06,135
They left my people
to die in the streets.
953
00:55:06,268 --> 00:55:08,905
They left us without the
chance to better our lives.
954
00:55:09,380 --> 00:55:11,708
I did not have a
choice what I was born into,
955
00:55:14,410 --> 00:55:19,816
but I chose Jesus, I chose
Christianity,
and I choose this country.
956
00:55:24,820 --> 00:55:30,459
When the United States
government offers asylum and a
path to citizenship,
957
00:55:30,593 --> 00:55:33,262
it is usually
because of one or two reasons.
958
00:55:33,396 --> 00:55:39,536
One, you and your family are in
imminent danger of being killed,
959
00:55:40,020 --> 00:55:41,637
or two,
960
00:55:41,804 --> 00:55:45,475
you face religious persecution
at such an insufferable rate
961
00:55:45,675 --> 00:55:49,440
it becomes impossible
to stay in your home country.
962
00:55:49,178 --> 00:55:52,948
It doesn't sound like you
will be in any imminent danger
963
00:55:53,820 --> 00:55:54,617
if you return to Russia,
964
00:55:54,751 --> 00:55:56,419
and I don't believe you
were ever seriously threatened
965
00:55:56,553 --> 00:55:58,421
for your new
found Christian beliefs.
966
00:55:58,554 --> 00:56:01,724
Maybe you were treated a little
differently in the workplace,
967
00:56:01,857 --> 00:56:04,930
experienced a bit of harassment,
968
00:56:04,794 --> 00:56:07,864
but no one ever
laid a hand on you.
969
00:56:10,200 --> 00:56:13,736
Just because no one laid a hand
on me yet doesn't mean it
won't happen.
970
00:56:13,869 --> 00:56:16,439
The threat is always there,
971
00:56:16,773 --> 00:56:20,643
not just for me and my
husband, but for our girls too.
972
00:56:21,344 --> 00:56:22,878
I can tell you as a parent
973
00:56:23,120 --> 00:56:26,515
that that fear is the
greatest threat of them all.
974
00:56:26,749 --> 00:56:28,818
My girls are safe here.
975
00:56:28,984 --> 00:56:30,286
They are happy.
976
00:56:30,419 --> 00:56:32,889
I can help them build a
better life for themselves here.
977
00:56:33,389 --> 00:56:34,691
Do you understand?
978
00:56:36,359 --> 00:56:38,194
Do you have children, Ms.
Whitlaw?
979
00:56:38,995 --> 00:56:41,798
I'm not the one on
the stand, Mrs. Petrosyan.
980
00:56:42,565 --> 00:56:43,933
None of the evidence
981
00:56:44,660 --> 00:56:45,768
that you've
provided today convinces me
982
00:56:45,901 --> 00:56:47,737
that your life in
Russia would be any different
983
00:56:47,870 --> 00:56:49,605
than your life here in America.
984
00:56:49,772 --> 00:56:51,407
With all due respect, Ms.
Whitlaw,
985
00:56:51,541 --> 00:56:54,430
why don't you go put on a
dark wig and dark eye contacts
986
00:56:54,176 --> 00:56:56,646
and slap a dark tan on
that light skin of yours,
987
00:56:56,780 --> 00:56:59,949
and you go to Russia, and
you tell me how you are treated?
988
00:57:02,285 --> 00:57:03,686
No more questions, Your Honor.
989
00:57:03,820 --> 00:57:06,550
You may take your seat, Mrs.
Petrosyan.
990
00:57:06,956 --> 00:57:10,930
I'd like to call Ivan Petrosyan
to the stand next.
991
00:57:13,596 --> 00:57:15,980
Please raise your right hand.
992
00:57:15,231 --> 00:57:17,660
Do you solemnly swear
993
00:57:17,199 --> 00:57:18,601
to tell the truth, the whole
truth, and nothing but
the truth,
994
00:57:18,734 --> 00:57:20,369
-so help you God?
-Yes, I do.
995
00:57:20,503 --> 00:57:22,572
You may be seated, Mr.
Petrosyan.
996
00:57:25,208 --> 00:57:27,143
According to
your wife's testimony,
997
00:57:27,276 --> 00:57:29,450
you and your family experienced
998
00:57:29,178 --> 00:57:32,849
certain levels of
racism and harassment in Russia.
999
00:57:32,982 --> 00:57:34,830
Is that correct?
1000
00:57:34,250 --> 00:57:35,684
Yes, that's correct.
1001
00:57:36,585 --> 00:57:41,900
People in every country
experience racism and
harassment,
1002
00:57:41,224 --> 00:57:42,558
including this one,
1003
00:57:42,692 --> 00:57:44,930
doesn't mean they
should be granted asylum
1004
00:57:44,226 --> 00:57:46,950
every time things get
a little bit difficult.
1005
00:57:46,229 --> 00:57:47,664
I understand.
1006
00:57:48,197 --> 00:57:49,499
Were you
1007
00:57:50,366 --> 00:57:51,500
or your family
1008
00:57:52,168 --> 00:57:56,390
ever victims of
direct acts of Violence?
1009
00:57:59,909 --> 00:58:01,211
Mr.
Petrosyan?
1010
00:58:02,440 --> 00:58:03,145
Yes.
1011
00:58:03,312 --> 00:58:05,810
Did you hear my question?
1012
00:58:07,950 --> 00:58:09,520
Yes.
1013
00:58:16,826 --> 00:58:18,862
May I go to the
bathroom, please?
1014
00:58:20,562 --> 00:58:21,530
Can it wait?
1015
00:58:21,663 --> 00:58:22,765
No, it can't wait.
1016
00:58:23,432 --> 00:58:25,601
The court will take
a five-minute recess.
1017
00:58:25,735 --> 00:58:27,360
[bangs gavel]
1018
00:59:37,720 --> 00:59:39,080
-Pops.
-Hello, my angels.
1019
00:59:39,141 --> 00:59:40,809
Olga, can you put
your coat on, please?
1020
00:59:40,943 --> 00:59:42,178
-Okay.
-Hello, darling.
1021
00:59:42,312 --> 00:59:44,130
-Mm.
-How many spare rubles you have?
1022
00:59:44,146 --> 00:59:46,182
-Spare? None. -Well, how
many rubles do you have on you?
1023
00:59:46,315 --> 00:59:47,517
What for?
1024
00:59:47,650 --> 00:59:49,218
Don't worry. It
will be worth it.
1025
00:59:51,420 --> 00:59:52,655
What are you doing?
1026
00:59:52,789 --> 00:59:54,591
Don't worry.
Help your mother. Olga.
1027
00:59:55,758 --> 00:59:57,693
Are you going to
tell me what's going on?
1028
00:59:57,827 --> 00:59:59,596
-No. Bye.
-Bye.
1029
01:00:01,597 --> 01:00:04,100
Okay, look straight.
Look straight. Don't peek.
1030
01:00:04,233 --> 01:00:06,469
-What are you doing, Papa?
-You'll see. You'll see.
1031
01:00:06,602 --> 01:00:07,904
Cover your eyes.
1032
01:00:08,471 --> 01:00:09,772
Cover it.
1033
01:00:10,272 --> 01:00:11,307
Okay.
1034
01:00:13,375 --> 01:00:14,377
Ready,
1035
01:00:14,510 --> 01:00:15,945
and open.
1036
01:00:16,445 --> 01:00:18,948
-My monkey.
-[laughs] Can you believe it?
1037
01:00:19,148 --> 01:00:21,651
He came all the way
here just to be with you.
1038
01:00:21,984 --> 01:00:23,252
Love you, monkey.
1039
01:00:23,386 --> 01:00:24,787
I love you, monkey.
1040
01:00:25,654 --> 01:00:26,622
Love you, Papa.
1041
01:00:26,755 --> 01:00:27,856
Aw.
Okay.
1042
01:00:27,990 --> 01:00:29,625
He took very good care of him.
1043
01:00:29,759 --> 01:00:33,930
So let's pay him so we can
show monkey our new home, huh?
1044
01:00:42,571 --> 01:00:44,730
Hello, my Armenian friend.
1045
01:00:44,206 --> 01:00:47,309
I thought you said your
stay in Volgograd was temporary.
1046
01:00:47,710 --> 01:00:51,147
It is temporary just until
things calm down back home.
1047
01:00:51,447 --> 01:00:52,548
I don't like liars.
1048
01:00:52,682 --> 01:00:54,150
I'm not lying.
1049
01:00:54,283 --> 01:00:56,850
-Are you planning to
buy that doll? -Of course.
1050
01:00:56,285 --> 01:01:00,550
I have the money right
here, and I have my papers.
1051
01:01:00,189 --> 01:01:02,225
We don't need
to see your papers.
1052
01:01:04,593 --> 01:01:06,362
Did you steal that money?
1053
01:01:08,531 --> 01:01:09,832
Of course not.
1054
01:01:10,466 --> 01:01:11,566
I have a job.
1055
01:01:11,700 --> 01:01:12,768
Ah.
1056
01:01:13,469 --> 01:01:16,305
So you took a job
from a hardworking Russian
1057
01:01:16,672 --> 01:01:19,942
and put him and his
family out into the street?
1058
01:01:20,676 --> 01:01:22,278
No.
1059
01:01:22,412 --> 01:01:25,848
This is a donation for the
hardworking families of Russia.
1060
01:01:27,616 --> 01:01:29,518
Please, don't do this.
1061
01:01:29,818 --> 01:01:31,654
We can arrest you for stealing.
1062
01:01:32,880 --> 01:01:33,789
But I haven't stolen anything.
1063
01:01:34,256 --> 01:01:37,193
You can't purchase
that doll without any money,
1064
01:01:37,894 --> 01:01:40,763
so it seems
you're planning to steal.
1065
01:01:42,465 --> 01:01:44,467
Okay. I
understand.
1066
01:01:45,367 --> 01:01:46,502
I'll put it back.
1067
01:01:46,635 --> 01:01:48,204
-No, he's mine.
-We have to--
1068
01:01:48,337 --> 01:01:49,706
Sorry, my Angel.
1069
01:01:49,839 --> 01:01:51,373
-We have to put him back.
-You promised.
1070
01:01:51,507 --> 01:01:53,760
I know, my Angel. I'm
sorry. Papa made a bad mistake.
1071
01:01:53,209 --> 01:01:54,877
-Okay, please? Let
go of the monkey. -No.
1072
01:01:55,100 --> 01:01:56,678
-Shut her up now or we will.
-Give me one sec.
1073
01:01:56,812 --> 01:01:58,247
You have one second
1074
01:01:58,381 --> 01:02:00,249
-to get this shrilling
rat out of here Okay.
1075
01:02:00,382 --> 01:02:02,551
-I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
-before I stomp
1076
01:02:02,684 --> 01:02:04,954
-Go.
-[yelling]
1077
01:02:13,596 --> 01:02:15,998
I'll repeat the question, Mr.
Petrosyan.
1078
01:02:16,532 --> 01:02:20,836
Were you or your family ever
victims of direct acts of
violence?
1079
01:02:21,690 --> 01:02:23,172
It's an easy question, Mr.
Petrosyan.
1080
01:02:23,372 --> 01:02:26,420
Were you or your
family ever shot with a gun?
1081
01:02:26,542 --> 01:02:27,510
No.
1082
01:02:27,643 --> 01:02:28,710
-Stabbed?
-No.
1083
01:02:28,844 --> 01:02:30,146
Beaten?
1084
01:02:31,647 --> 01:02:32,781
No.
1085
01:02:33,215 --> 01:02:35,184
Then you and your
family were never victims
1086
01:02:35,317 --> 01:02:37,420
of direct acts of violence?
1087
01:02:42,925 --> 01:02:48,498
Somehow, by the
grace of God, no.
1088
01:02:51,867 --> 01:02:53,169
Okay.
1089
01:02:54,690 --> 01:02:55,771
Your Honor,
1090
01:02:55,905 --> 01:02:58,174
I would like to speak with the
Petrosyan's lawyer privately.
1091
01:02:58,307 --> 01:02:59,408
I have an offer.
1092
01:03:00,080 --> 01:03:01,310
10 minutes.
1093
01:03:01,510 --> 01:03:02,812
[bangs gavel]
1094
01:03:10,118 --> 01:03:12,154
I'm not sure but it
could be a good thing.
1095
01:03:12,287 --> 01:03:15,224
Doesn't mean she won't
blow it up, but let's see.
1096
01:03:16,192 --> 01:03:17,726
Okay, let's hear it.
1097
01:03:17,860 --> 01:03:21,663
Mr. and Mrs. Petrosyan,
I empathize with your plight.
1098
01:03:21,997 --> 01:03:24,901
You may not
believe me, but I do.
1099
01:03:25,500 --> 01:03:26,735
That being said,
1100
01:03:27,169 --> 01:03:29,806
nothing I've heard in
this courtroom convinces me
1101
01:03:29,939 --> 01:03:31,674
that you're going
to qualify for asylum.
1102
01:03:31,807 --> 01:03:35,844
I know this judge and he
sticks to the letter of the law.
1103
01:03:36,780 --> 01:03:37,612
I think you and your girls
1104
01:03:37,746 --> 01:03:40,382
are going to be on a
plane back to Russia tomorrow.
1105
01:03:41,117 --> 01:03:44,820
But I am
willing to make you a deal,
1106
01:03:45,587 --> 01:03:49,692
a special status
called withholding of removal.
1107
01:03:49,825 --> 01:03:51,194
That means
1108
01:03:51,327 --> 01:03:53,262
there will be no
more threat of deportation.
1109
01:03:53,596 --> 01:03:54,864
But?
1110
01:03:55,598 --> 01:03:58,601
But it means no asylum,
1111
01:03:58,767 --> 01:04:00,302
no petition
1112
01:04:00,436 --> 01:04:02,571
to bring additional
family members to this country
1113
01:04:02,804 --> 01:04:04,673
and no path to citizenship.
1114
01:04:04,807 --> 01:04:06,408
It also means
1115
01:04:06,542 --> 01:04:10,450
that should circumstances
change in Russia or Azerbaijan,
1116
01:04:10,279 --> 01:04:13,148
the United States government,
at its sole discretion,
1117
01:04:13,282 --> 01:04:15,117
can send you
back to either country.
1118
01:04:15,250 --> 01:04:16,518
Do you understand?
1119
01:04:16,651 --> 01:04:18,353
Wait, what?
1120
01:04:18,587 --> 01:04:20,589
If we accept this offer
1121
01:04:20,723 --> 01:04:24,260
and then we settle into a new
life here with new jobs and
schools, a home,
1122
01:04:24,159 --> 01:04:29,640
you could just send us back
whenever, even 5 or 10,
20 years from now?
1123
01:04:29,298 --> 01:04:32,000
If conditions
improve in your home country.
1124
01:04:32,234 --> 01:04:34,469
No, absolutely not.
That will not work.
1125
01:04:34,669 --> 01:04:36,271
Violetta, listen.
1126
01:04:36,405 --> 01:04:38,541
I represent more families
than I can count right now.
1127
01:04:38,674 --> 01:04:42,444
Some of them with
conditions far worse than yours.
1128
01:04:42,811 --> 01:04:44,246
I think you should consider it.
1129
01:04:44,380 --> 01:04:46,381
No, absolutely not. Right?
1130
01:04:46,515 --> 01:04:48,650
How can we be
expected to build a life
1131
01:04:48,784 --> 01:04:50,652
when we don't know
from one day to the next,
1132
01:04:50,786 --> 01:04:53,688
if tomorrow is the day we
will be pulled from our homes
1133
01:04:53,822 --> 01:04:54,890
and sent right back?
1134
01:04:55,524 --> 01:04:57,726
From my perspective,
this is a win for you.
1135
01:04:57,860 --> 01:04:59,161
No, it isn't.
1136
01:05:00,996 --> 01:05:02,331
I agree.
1137
01:05:02,565 --> 01:05:05,670
We can't live with
this level of uncertainty.
1138
01:05:05,434 --> 01:05:08,637
If it is meant to be, the
judge will grant us favor today.
1139
01:05:08,904 --> 01:05:10,573
You're both making a mistake.
1140
01:05:12,675 --> 01:05:14,090
Let's finish this hearing.
1141
01:05:14,143 --> 01:05:15,578
Okay, then we're not done.
1142
01:05:15,711 --> 01:05:16,678
See you on the stand.
1143
01:05:16,811 --> 01:05:21,383
[footsteps fading]
1144
01:05:21,517 --> 01:05:23,919
When the
prodigal son returned home,
1145
01:05:24,386 --> 01:05:28,957
the father gave him a
robe, a ring, and sandals.
1146
01:05:29,291 --> 01:05:31,460
The robe stands for honor,
1147
01:05:32,227 --> 01:05:34,964
the ring for authority,
1148
01:05:35,531 --> 01:05:40,636
and the sandals were a reminder
that he was a member of
the family.
1149
01:05:41,870 --> 01:05:44,373
That's what God wants to
give us,
1150
01:05:44,773 --> 01:05:46,908
no matter where we are in life.
1151
01:05:47,175 --> 01:05:49,445
The true emphasis in this story
1152
01:05:49,912 --> 01:05:51,947
is not on the prodigal son
1153
01:05:52,314 --> 01:05:55,650
and what he went through
on his journey of coming home,
1154
01:05:56,284 --> 01:05:59,622
but the emphasis is
instead on the Father.
1155
01:06:00,389 --> 01:06:02,570
He wants us to come home
1156
01:06:02,758 --> 01:06:07,829
because he wants nothing
more than just to be with us.
1157
01:06:07,963 --> 01:06:15,271
[music]
1158
01:06:20,642 --> 01:06:22,111
-Hello?
-Hi.
1159
01:06:26,582 --> 01:06:29,180
Mr. Dwayne,
you don't have to do this.
1160
01:06:30,752 --> 01:06:31,753
Good.
1161
01:06:31,887 --> 01:06:33,121
It's what I'm here for.
1162
01:06:33,355 --> 01:06:34,991
I don't understand you.
1163
01:06:35,791 --> 01:06:36,892
Any of you actually.
1164
01:06:37,250 --> 01:06:38,360
What do you mean?
1165
01:06:38,494 --> 01:06:40,929
You could be home
or somewhere in comfort,
1166
01:06:41,263 --> 01:06:44,866
but you all decided
to come here to Volgograd
1167
01:06:45,767 --> 01:06:49,972
to serve total strangers
in the middle of nowhere.
1168
01:06:50,439 --> 01:06:53,242
Yes, I suppose we could.
1169
01:07:02,250 --> 01:07:03,418
Who are we to you?
1170
01:07:03,685 --> 01:07:05,688
No one is
forcing you to be here.
1171
01:07:09,357 --> 01:07:11,260
Well, I can't
speak for the others.
1172
01:07:11,427 --> 01:07:13,950
I was brought up in New York.
1173
01:07:13,328 --> 01:07:15,130
It's where I grew up.
1174
01:07:15,364 --> 01:07:18,801
Then I was given a scholarship
to play football in
West Virginia.
1175
01:07:19,802 --> 01:07:21,437
Total fish out of water,
1176
01:07:22,304 --> 01:07:24,673
homesick all the time.
1177
01:07:26,208 --> 01:07:32,514
When I was over there,
I met this incredible woman,
Charlotte.
1178
01:07:33,215 --> 01:07:37,586
Whenever I was with
her, it felt like home.
1179
01:07:39,988 --> 01:07:41,557
Eventually, we got married.
1180
01:07:41,857 --> 01:07:43,125
Happiest day of my life.
1181
01:07:43,692 --> 01:07:47,696
The first time Charlotte got
pregnant, she had a miscarriage.
1182
01:07:49,498 --> 01:07:52,534
You think one miscarriage
is enough to rip your heart out?
1183
01:07:52,667 --> 01:07:53,769
Try three more.
1184
01:07:55,370 --> 01:07:56,772
I'm so sorry, my friend.
1185
01:07:57,906 --> 01:08:01,109
They found a very aggressive
form of ovarian cancer.
1186
01:08:01,810 --> 01:08:06,148
Less than six months
later, she was just gone.
1187
01:08:07,116 --> 01:08:10,385
I raged at God for many years.
1188
01:08:10,885 --> 01:08:13,388
I did many things
1189
01:08:14,122 --> 01:08:16,591
that I'm very, very ashamed of,
1190
01:08:17,192 --> 01:08:19,194
but one Sunday morning,
1191
01:08:19,394 --> 01:08:21,463
I stumbled into some church,
1192
01:08:21,796 --> 01:08:22,797
and the pastor,
1193
01:08:22,931 --> 01:08:24,433
he was preaching a sermon
1194
01:08:24,566 --> 01:08:27,836
about what a new life
in Christ could look like.
1195
01:08:28,270 --> 01:08:29,638
At the end of the service,
1196
01:08:29,905 --> 01:08:31,807
he said they were
looking for volunteers
1197
01:08:31,940 --> 01:08:34,910
to help out with a new
church they started in Russia.
1198
01:08:35,611 --> 01:08:39,140
Every single time
that I come back here,
1199
01:08:39,481 --> 01:08:44,220
that pain in my heart
eases up just a little bit.
1200
01:08:45,454 --> 01:08:47,255
I don't know
if it'll ever go away,
1201
01:08:47,389 --> 01:08:51,427
but this is where
I'm meant to be right now.
1202
01:08:57,866 --> 01:08:58,967
Here.
1203
01:08:59,100 --> 01:09:00,836
I'll help you finish my job.
1204
01:09:00,970 --> 01:09:03,239
[laughs] Let's get this done.
1205
01:09:06,108 --> 01:09:13,382
[music]
1206
01:10:24,987 --> 01:10:27,550
Okay, keep them closed.
1207
01:10:27,355 --> 01:10:29,858
Now I know
this is not your monkey,
1208
01:10:30,920 --> 01:10:32,995
but open.
1209
01:10:34,329 --> 01:10:35,798
I love him, Papa.
1210
01:10:35,931 --> 01:10:37,233
Thank you.
1211
01:10:38,233 --> 01:10:39,969
Opa.
1212
01:10:43,639 --> 01:10:44,740
Aw.
1213
01:10:46,541 --> 01:10:48,676
-Now you've heard this.
-Yes, I understand.
1214
01:10:48,810 --> 01:10:51,780
-It's complicated. -Hey,
can I ask you guys something?
1215
01:10:51,913 --> 01:10:53,150
What's that?
1216
01:10:54,516 --> 01:10:56,552
How would you like
to come to West Virginia,
1217
01:10:56,685 --> 01:10:58,754
meet the church,
share your story?
1218
01:10:59,487 --> 01:11:00,923
Come to America?
1219
01:11:01,390 --> 01:11:02,457
Yes.
1220
01:11:02,591 --> 01:11:04,627
You, Ivan, and the girls.
1221
01:11:05,727 --> 01:11:08,563
What do you
mean, share our story?
1222
01:11:08,964 --> 01:11:11,199
If the folks
back home could meet you,
1223
01:11:11,700 --> 01:11:13,234
learn about your journey,
1224
01:11:13,935 --> 01:11:16,438
see the impact that
this place has had on you,
1225
01:11:16,704 --> 01:11:19,741
they'd see the benefits
of their own financial support.
1226
01:11:20,875 --> 01:11:25,414
[chuckles] I'm not
very good at public speaking.
1227
01:11:25,547 --> 01:11:27,482
Violetta can do
all the speaking.
1228
01:11:27,816 --> 01:11:28,917
Me?
1229
01:11:33,621 --> 01:11:34,656
What do you think?
1230
01:11:34,789 --> 01:11:37,260
So you were invited to America?
1231
01:11:38,359 --> 01:11:39,761
That's correct.
1232
01:11:40,280 --> 01:11:41,996
So it wasn't a premeditated
decision on your part
1233
01:11:42,130 --> 01:11:45,233
to just leave Russia behind
and settle in the United States?
1234
01:11:45,366 --> 01:11:46,801
No, of course not.
1235
01:11:47,168 --> 01:11:51,306
If I were to ask members of
your church the same question,
1236
01:11:51,606 --> 01:11:53,709
would they give me
the same answer under oath?
1237
01:11:53,842 --> 01:11:55,778
They're right there behind you.
1238
01:11:56,178 --> 01:11:57,446
You should question them.
1239
01:11:58,213 --> 01:12:01,316
They will tell you, we only
packed our bags for one week.
1240
01:12:01,449 --> 01:12:02,984
Hurry, we don't want to be late.
1241
01:12:03,118 --> 01:12:05,587
Will we get to meet Mickey Mouse
when we're in America?
1242
01:12:05,721 --> 01:12:08,523
-Not on this trip, My Angel.
-What about Michael Jordan?
1243
01:12:08,656 --> 01:12:11,527
I don't think Michael Jordan
lives in West Virginia.
1244
01:12:12,160 --> 01:12:13,795
-Oh, no.
-What?
1245
01:12:14,290 --> 01:12:15,563
I forgot my teddy bear.
1246
01:12:16,640 --> 01:12:17,466
Oh, not again.
1247
01:12:17,666 --> 01:12:19,668
-Are you serious?
-We have to go back and get it.
1248
01:12:19,802 --> 01:12:21,837
No, no, no. All of
you get inside the taxi.
1249
01:12:21,970 --> 01:12:24,440
I will run back and get it.
We're not going through
this again.
1250
01:12:24,573 --> 01:12:26,174
-Make it quick.
-Go, go, go.
1251
01:12:26,308 --> 01:12:33,582
[music]
1252
01:12:56,338 --> 01:12:58,306
Hey, looking for me?
1253
01:12:58,440 --> 01:13:05,748
[music]
1254
01:13:40,181 --> 01:13:41,216
You okay?
1255
01:13:41,616 --> 01:13:42,551
Here you go.
1256
01:13:42,684 --> 01:13:44,118
Thank you, Papa.
1257
01:13:44,252 --> 01:13:45,554
We should go.
1258
01:13:52,827 --> 01:13:54,730
I became tired of running.
1259
01:13:57,650 --> 01:13:59,401
It wasn't until we
actually landed in America
1260
01:13:59,534 --> 01:14:00,768
that I began to wonder
1261
01:14:01,536 --> 01:14:04,873
what our lives could be like
if we actually settled here.
1262
01:14:06,808 --> 01:14:08,777
I just wanted my
family to live in a place
1263
01:14:08,910 --> 01:14:11,879
where they could rest
their heads at night in peace.
1264
01:14:12,313 --> 01:14:15,216
Where we're not constantly
looking over our shoulder,
1265
01:14:15,850 --> 01:14:18,987
always reminded that
we will never be accepted.
1266
01:14:19,621 --> 01:14:21,220
Mr. Petrosyan,
1267
01:14:21,356 --> 01:14:24,993
when someone comes to the
US and overstays their visa,
1268
01:14:25,593 --> 01:14:26,795
that is illegal.
1269
01:14:28,396 --> 01:14:32,267
We only overstayed our visa
because the asylum process took
so long.
1270
01:14:32,400 --> 01:14:33,368
You broke the law.
1271
01:14:33,501 --> 01:14:35,030
Pure and simple.
1272
01:14:35,136 --> 01:14:36,805
If we broke the law,
we certainly didn't mean to.
1273
01:14:36,938 --> 01:14:39,308
Whether you meant to or not,
1274
01:14:39,441 --> 01:14:42,711
breaking US law is not a great
first step towards
seeking asylum.
1275
01:14:42,844 --> 01:14:45,546
My family has waited so
long for this day to come,
1276
01:14:46,147 --> 01:14:49,251
to be in this
room to share our story.
1277
01:14:51,553 --> 01:14:53,550
Thank you for hearing us.
1278
01:14:56,124 --> 01:14:57,959
No further
questions, Your Honor.
1279
01:14:58,159 --> 01:15:00,696
Mr. Petrosyan,
you can take your seat now.
1280
01:15:06,534 --> 01:15:09,571
I'll allow the attorneys to
present your closing arguments.
1281
01:15:09,704 --> 01:15:12,407
We're behind
schedule, so keep it brief.
1282
01:15:12,707 --> 01:15:14,209
Counsel Owens, you're up.
1283
01:15:14,976 --> 01:15:16,511
Thank you, Your Honor.
1284
01:15:16,645 --> 01:15:18,480
I will not take up
much of your time here.
1285
01:15:18,613 --> 01:15:21,616
I believe the Petrosyans'
testimony today speaks for
itself.
1286
01:15:22,517 --> 01:15:26,455
They have endured way more than
any of us could ever imagine.
1287
01:15:27,220 --> 01:15:30,258
They faced rejection in
every new place they stopped.
1288
01:15:30,725 --> 01:15:32,160
They were not accepted.
1289
01:15:32,461 --> 01:15:36,264
They still face constant threat
and insult back in Russia.
1290
01:15:36,430 --> 01:15:37,432
Most importantly,
1291
01:15:38,660 --> 01:15:41,503
they have not known
peace in a very long time,
1292
01:15:41,836 --> 01:15:43,371
the kind of peace
1293
01:15:43,505 --> 01:15:45,573
that all of us in this
room just take for granted.
1294
01:15:46,730 --> 01:15:48,676
All that Mr. and Mrs.
Petrosyan are asking of us
1295
01:15:48,810 --> 01:15:50,478
is that we give them a chance
1296
01:15:50,912 --> 01:15:56,652
to finally settle into a place
where they are accepted for who
they are.
1297
01:15:57,285 --> 01:15:58,954
A safe place
1298
01:15:59,870 --> 01:16:00,889
where they can raise their
daughters without having
to worry
1299
01:16:01,220 --> 01:16:03,191
about the dangers
lurking around every corner,
1300
01:16:03,325 --> 01:16:04,726
sometimes literally.
1301
01:16:05,493 --> 01:16:10,699
A life lived without constant
fear should be the most basic
human right.
1302
01:16:11,532 --> 01:16:12,767
In light of that,
1303
01:16:13,735 --> 01:16:16,838
I ask the court
to rule in their favor
1304
01:16:17,339 --> 01:16:20,976
and grant the
Petrosyan family asylum today.
1305
01:16:22,177 --> 01:16:23,278
Thank you.
1306
01:16:25,580 --> 01:16:26,615
Counselor Whitlaw.
1307
01:16:26,748 --> 01:16:28,116
Thank you, Your Honor.
1308
01:16:29,984 --> 01:16:34,155
Mr. and Mrs. Petrosyan,
I believe your story.
1309
01:16:34,856 --> 01:16:39,193
I don't deny
that they face challenges,
1310
01:16:39,494 --> 01:16:42,597
but the Petrosyan
story has done very little
1311
01:16:42,731 --> 01:16:44,399
to prove
1312
01:16:44,532 --> 01:16:49,671
that they face imminent danger
of life-threatening violence
1313
01:16:50,380 --> 01:16:51,940
if they return to Russia.
1314
01:16:52,540 --> 01:16:53,875
To the contrary,
1315
01:16:54,175 --> 01:16:57,279
they have shown that
they have an intimate community
1316
01:16:57,412 --> 01:17:01,350
of friends and family,
and church members in Russia.
1317
01:17:02,417 --> 01:17:03,684
Therefore,
1318
01:17:04,510 --> 01:17:08,223
I ask the court to
deny this asylum claim today.
1319
01:17:10,625 --> 01:17:11,827
Enough.
1320
01:17:12,394 --> 01:17:13,461
No, it's okay.
1321
01:17:13,595 --> 01:17:14,695
It's not okay.
1322
01:17:14,895 --> 01:17:16,564
I've heard enough.
1323
01:17:16,697 --> 01:17:18,967
Mr. Petrosyan, please sit down,
you had your chance to speak.
1324
01:17:19,100 --> 01:17:21,803
Haven't you heard
anything we've said here today?
1325
01:17:22,437 --> 01:17:23,838
How much will it take?
1326
01:17:24,238 --> 01:17:27,943
How much more must we endure
for you to think it's enough?
1327
01:17:28,760 --> 01:17:30,444
Mr. Petrosyan, please.
1328
01:17:30,578 --> 01:17:32,614
It's in here all the time,
1329
01:17:32,748 --> 01:17:35,549
everyday voices
saying, "Watch your back.
1330
01:17:35,716 --> 01:17:37,786
You don't belong here. Go home."
1331
01:17:37,919 --> 01:17:40,540
Where is home? Where is it?
1332
01:17:40,188 --> 01:17:42,570
Where is supposed to be home?
1333
01:17:42,190 --> 01:17:43,859
Okay, okay.
1334
01:17:47,496 --> 01:17:49,331
We'll take a 15-minute recess,
1335
01:17:49,464 --> 01:17:52,200
and then I will come
back and read my judgment.
1336
01:17:52,334 --> 01:17:53,435
[bangs gavel]
1337
01:17:55,970 --> 01:17:57,605
What if the judge denies us?
1338
01:17:57,939 --> 01:17:59,708
-We can't go back.
-I know.
1339
01:18:00,410 --> 01:18:02,544
I refuse to bring our
girls back to that place.
1340
01:18:02,677 --> 01:18:04,120
It's out of our hands, Ivan.
1341
01:18:04,146 --> 01:18:06,113
Why don't I give
the two of you a minute?
1342
01:18:06,247 --> 01:18:08,683
-No, they deserve a good life.
-I know.
1343
01:18:08,817 --> 01:18:10,919
We have to give them a chance.
1344
01:18:11,786 --> 01:18:13,688
If it is meant to be, it'll be.
1345
01:18:13,822 --> 01:18:15,323
If not,
1346
01:18:15,456 --> 01:18:17,426
we'll give them the
best life we can offer them.
1347
01:18:18,860 --> 01:18:20,762
I want them in
the courtroom with us.
1348
01:18:21,262 --> 01:18:23,298
-No, Violet. We
said Ivan, please.
1349
01:18:23,431 --> 01:18:25,366
No matter
what the judge decides,
1350
01:18:26,000 --> 01:18:28,236
we should be
together as a family.
1351
01:18:29,504 --> 01:18:30,438
Okay.
1352
01:18:30,572 --> 01:18:32,400
If that's what you want.
1353
01:18:36,577 --> 01:18:39,130
Do you guys want to go
in the courtroom with us?
1354
01:18:39,147 --> 01:18:41,282
We're going to
find out where home is.
1355
01:18:41,716 --> 01:18:43,180
All rise.
1356
01:18:49,790 --> 01:18:51,930
You may be seated.
1357
01:18:56,631 --> 01:18:59,334
The court found this
to be a very tough case.
1358
01:19:01,502 --> 01:19:04,405
Counselor Whitlaw,
you made a very strong case.
1359
01:19:04,539 --> 01:19:05,840
I commend your work here.
1360
01:19:06,400 --> 01:19:07,475
Mr. and Mrs. Petrosyan,
1361
01:19:08,209 --> 01:19:10,244
you've been
through a great deal,
1362
01:19:10,678 --> 01:19:12,514
there is no denying it.
1363
01:19:14,480 --> 01:19:15,484
I have to admit
1364
01:19:16,952 --> 01:19:19,120
I've seen a lot of
people come through here.
1365
01:19:19,554 --> 01:19:23,891
Some of them have experienced
direct incomprehensible
violence.
1366
01:19:24,580 --> 01:19:26,940
Their very
lives would be at stake
1367
01:19:26,227 --> 01:19:28,563
if they returned to
their country of origin.
1368
01:19:29,430 --> 01:19:33,734
I agree with Counselor Whitlaw
that there are more
egregious cases.
1369
01:19:34,568 --> 01:19:39,373
That the Petrosyans clearly have
a semblance of community back in
Volgograd
1370
01:19:39,640 --> 01:19:43,110
just as they clearly
have a community here.
1371
01:19:43,778 --> 01:19:46,480
What I heard from you both, Mr.
and Mrs. Petrosyan,
1372
01:19:46,614 --> 01:19:49,818
is utter exhaustion.
1373
01:19:51,520 --> 01:19:55,857
It's that insidious nature of
racism that's quiet but
persistent and known.
1374
01:19:57,910 --> 01:19:59,600
The daily suspicions,
1375
01:20:00,610 --> 01:20:06,100
the accumulation of tiny
humiliations that are more
menacing than anything else.
1376
01:20:07,235 --> 01:20:12,240
It reminds me of that poem
located at the base of the
Statue of Liberty,
1377
01:20:12,474 --> 01:20:13,808
and it states,
1378
01:20:14,142 --> 01:20:17,678
"Give me your tired,
your poor, your huddled masses
1379
01:20:18,179 --> 01:20:19,981
yearning to breathe free.
1380
01:20:21,215 --> 01:20:23,518
The wretched refuse
of your teeming shore,
1381
01:20:24,252 --> 01:20:30,959
send these, the
homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
1382
01:20:32,527 --> 01:20:36,970
I lift my lamp
beside the golden door."
1383
01:20:37,432 --> 01:20:39,334
It reminds us
1384
01:20:39,534 --> 01:20:45,740
we should strive to be a nation
of freedom, enlightenment,
and compassion.
1385
01:20:47,080 --> 01:20:50,612
A democracy that gives hope
to those who have lost all hope,
1386
01:20:52,713 --> 01:20:54,249
a land of refuge
1387
01:20:55,149 --> 01:20:58,620
but I found nothing in your case
1388
01:20:58,753 --> 01:21:00,654
that compelled me to believe
1389
01:21:00,788 --> 01:21:04,326
that you would be in great
physical danger if you returned
to Russia,
1390
01:21:05,920 --> 01:21:06,461
but I have to ask you,
1391
01:21:08,496 --> 01:21:12,670
and I ask everyone
else in this courtroom today,
1392
01:21:15,700 --> 01:21:17,380
haven't they
been through enough?
1393
01:21:18,720 --> 01:21:21,275
It is my privilege as
a servant of this court
1394
01:21:22,760 --> 01:21:24,479
to be the first
person to welcome you home.
1395
01:21:26,470 --> 01:21:28,215
I hereby
grant your family asylum
1396
01:21:28,349 --> 01:21:31,485
on the grounds of
accumulated mistreatment.
1397
01:21:31,719 --> 01:21:33,988
[bangs gavel]
1398
01:21:34,121 --> 01:21:41,429
[applause] [laughter]
1399
01:21:47,168 --> 01:21:54,476
[instrumental music]
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