Original subtitles

- What did she say? - A barber. Maybe a singing barber.

Um al-Sharayet?

Ramallah?

Enough. Enough.

Soraya?

Cheers.

So what brings a pretty girl like you back to Palestine?

They won't give us the Right to Return so I took it.

Ah, the Right to Return...

That'll be the day!

Who wants to return here?

A lot of people.

We have to live with two states: one for us, one for them.

We lost Jaffa a long time ago.

So we celebrate

when they give us 95% of 20% of 5% of our own ass?

So what are you here for?

It's better abroad.

Better for whom?

Have you lived abroad?

Ready to order?

Another bottle of wine, right away.

You don't move without a tip?

Good morning.

How can I help you?

- It's about my grandfather's account. - Is he with you?

- He's dead. - God bless his soul.

His name?

Abdel Salam Musa Tahani.

Where are you from?

I'm Palestinian, from New York.

Welcome, to you and all New York.

What's your sign?

Taurus.

Do you have the account number?

This document is very old.

You have nothing more recent?

These are papers from the bank.

A letter from my father in 1976...

and one in 1982.

One moment please.

Hello. How do you do? Please come with me.

This account is from before 1948. It is no longer valid.

It's my grandfather's money.

- He left it to us. - I know.

But after the Nakba, they froze the accounts in...

in Jaffa.

Everything was lost, my dear. The country is gone.

That branch doesn't exist now.

But the bank still does.

Yes...

It's the same bank, with a new branch in Ramallah, right?

So the bank is responsible.

Listen, I'm sure there's a solution to this.

You can see our regional manager after his vacation.

Thank you.

There's a washing machine too.

You didn't say where you work.

I'm looking for a job.

You speak Arabic very well.

Thank you.

Let me tell you...

Neighbors are important in a building like this.

And our neighbors are good people.

You saw Um Raed who lives opposite? Her son is in Michigan.

How much is the rent?

Well, because I like you...

$800.

Your invitation?

- I want to buy a ticket. - It's invitation only.

I can't buy a ticket?

- Why not? - Invitation only.

It's okay. Soraya, hello. She's with me.

Come in. How are you?

How is everything?

Good evening. How are you?

- Can we get in? - Sorry, no.

- My man... - Invitation only.

Just this once. You know me.

Why can't we come in?

Sexy curves, baby!

Where are you going?

To pick up my nephew.

Okay if I come?

Sure, if you want.

What's your name?

Emad. You?

Where are you from, Emad?

I was raised in Am'ari

and live in Ramallah now but I'm originally from Dawayima.

Dawayima?

You know it?

Look, I need a job at your restaurant.

- Who do I need to see? - You, in the restaurant?

Who do I need to see?

Abu Jihad, the manager.

You're late!

There was traffic.

You're always late.

Get in, man.

Who's she?

I'm Soraya.

I sit in front.

Get in!

Is she your girlfriend?

Come on in.

I'll wait here.

Okay.

You're sure?

Just a second while I say hi to my mother.

Hello.

He's so tactless, no manners.

- I told her to come in. She didn't... - Shut up!

Soraya is new to Ramallah.

Where are you from?

Jaffa, originally.

Jaffa, the Bride of the Sea.

Where, after the Nakba?

First to Lebanon, to Nahr Al Barid.

A girl of the refugee camps.

Of the American camps.

Welcome home.

Thank you.

This is it. My limit.

I'm not permitted to go further.

That's the sea over there.

Where?

See those houses?

Not that colony.

Forget that. Look further.

That's Tel Aviv.

The sea lies beyond it.

Can we see Jaffa?

Over there.

My grandfather swam in that sea every morning.

Then he'd walk on Al Helwa Street

to reach Al Tawfiqiya library,

then on to Al Nuzha Street.

"Cars weren't allowed on Al Nuzha."

The orange traders

- Jaffa oranges -

met at Al Salahi market.

My grandfather always talked about the Al Madfa Café.

Umm Kulthum sang there, and Farid al-Atrash.

My grandmother really loved Farid.

Sometimes, my grandparents went to the cinema.

The Hamra cinema.

When they were broke, they'd wait by the side door

and the doorman would sneak everyone in.

Ever been there?

Are you sure you haven't?

I haven't been to the sea in 17 years.

They won't give me a permit to leave Ramallah.

But I'm going away soon.

Where to?

Canada.

I have a scholarship.

It covers everything, even my plane ticket.

Congratulations.

I'm just waiting for the visa.

And once I get it...

I'm gone.

I'll never see another soldier in my life.

See these? They put them here for us.

- What? - These.

They have them in America?

Of course.

I thought we only had them here.

Why would they only be here?

I thought they put them here

to make our lives harder.

Do they have them in Canada?

Of course!

Army.

Get out of the car.

Raise your arms.

Lift your shirts.

She's a woman.

You, your shirt.

Don't worry, this is normal.

Your pants!

Anything else?

Go home.

Dogs.

I want to make a film about those tiny cages.

- How can you film that? - I'll learn to fly.

Want to join me?

No way.

Let me show you a film I made.

Poor girl has to watch that?

C'mon, man, go easy on her.

I'm getting to know our guest. Do you mind?

I filmed this here.

I'd like to visit other cities and film them too.

When Emad goes to Canada, he'll take me along.

I'll do something good on Canada.

She was born in 1921

and he was born in 1918.

But do you have birth certificates from the Palestinian Authority?

You don't?

Do you have family from the West Bank?

Or Gaza?

Where are you from? You can't get a passport nor a residence ID.

They were born in Palestine. Look...

"Jaffa, Palestine."

I know.

But we're forbidden to issue passports based on that.

- By whom? - It's an agreement with Israel.

So you agreed that they decide if I'm Palestinian or not?

On paper,

I'm afraid that's the case.

This is my father's ID from Lebanon.

It's written that he was...

a Palestinian refugee.

Sister,

personally I agree with you.

But your problem isn't with me.

Don't you have a US passport?

What's better than that?

The visa's only valid two weeks.

Then what?

You leave the country.

Leave?

Then you re-enter and get another visa.

I'm really sorry.

I wish I could help you.

Why did you really come here?

There's nothing here.

There's nothing anywhere.

Life is better in other places.

So why?

We had something here.

We had lives.

We were robbed.

What can we do?

Remember the day we met?

At the restaurant?

No, outside the bank.

My family's money is in that bank.

I came here to get it back.

And I will.

I believe you.

Is New York close to Canada?

So when I go to Canada,

will you go back to New York?

All my life, I've dreamed of coming here.

There is no going back.

That's a problem.

How do you feel now you're here?

I feel like I don't know what to do.

I'm finally here.

And all I get is a two-week visa.

You should've said

you were here to see Jewish friends.

Why should I lie?

Why should you tell the truth? It only makes their job easier.

I have nothing to hide.

They'd search until they found the secret. A Palestinian!

Let them waste their time digging away.

- Don't help them out. - So what should I do?

They can deny me entry, turn me back or...

Or give you a measly two-week visa

when you deserve the same as anyone else.

No, you deserve more.

You come from here.

Your family comes from here.

But they'll never let you live here. You'll only ever be a tourist.

So give them what they want.

Confess all if you think it will help.

All we have is the truth.

I'm not giving that up.

Think the truth helped anyone here?

Wake up. Look around. They won.

You're wasting your time giving them the truth. They don't deserve it.

What matters is you hold your head up.

You think Palestine is just oranges?

Jaffa oranges?

What a fantasy.

Finished?

I'm not some foreign chick who'll kiss your ass

and make you feel special just because you're Palestinian.

I don't need a lecture on Palestine!

Don't tell me what Palestine is! I know what it is!

"Sorry"

Good morning.

Nader... Good morning.

My wife is pregnant and not very well.

I hope she's okay.

The thing is, she wants to move back into this apartment right away.

I'm really sorry to do this to you

but we have to move back on Sunday.

I've had an idea.

I'll take it back myself.

You want to rob the bank?

It's not robbery. It's my family's money.

The Israeli army robbed the banks several times already.

Fucking Israeli army.

It's not robbery! It's my family's money. 315 pounds.

Count me in.

It's a great idea. The experience I've been after.

Great reason, if I may say so.

Count me out. I have enough problems. And I'm going to Canada.

I'll do anything you ask.

Seriously.

What's a hold-up?

Any kid can rob a bank here with a toy gun.

The guards here aren't allowed to carry guns.

We take the money, hide a few days and everything's cool.

Hide where?

Wherever!

Jerusalem, say. I haven't been there in 8 years.

A plate of eggplant, please.

I love eggplant.

- How much is it? - One shekel.

- What's your name? - Khader.

You're sweet.

I'll give you two shekels. Keep one for yourself.

Thank you.

I want to make a film on something important.

Like why the sun rises in the east.

Or cockroaches. They've been around since the Ice Age

in spite of earthquakes, famines and floods.

How often have humans tried to eradicate them?

Or why Ramallah girls won't go out with me.

Back off!

Or why the earth turns and we stay stuck here.

Marwan, can you shut up?

What's up with you, man?

We won't be paid again this week.

Why not?

No one in town is getting paid. There's no money.

Sure. Those pigs are drinking and throwing down cash.

Emad, I'm not paying you to sit around and ignore customers.

You're not paying us at all.

Is that true?

Be patient. Things will improve.

The Arab dream...

I've been good to you and you know the situation.

- Tell those bastards the situation. - Take it easy!

I want them to hear!

Don't touch him!

Another bottle of wine, you assholes?

Don't treat them like this!

- Get your hand off! - Leave him alone!

Get out!

Out, all of you!

Get out, I said!

What's wrong with you, man?

They refused my visa.

I haven't left this fucking town in 17 years.

We'll reapply.

Seriously. They might reconsider if we apply again.

Did you tell the university?

We'll talk to them. They can help.

It doesn't work that way.

We'll make it work.

No.

This is the fourth refusal. The fourth.

I won't humiliate myself anymore.

- Is it hard to get guns here? - Guns?

We were never allowed guns.

Now that we shoot each other, they're flooding in.

American made, Israeli approved.

You're really serious.

I'm ready.

But without bullets.

Are you crazy?

That's what I want.

You don't know how things work here.

I know how guns work. Very well.

No way.

We do it this way or not at all.

You want to rob a bank without bullets?

It's not robbery.

I'm with you on one condition.

We do it Soraya's way.

Your residence ID?

Hey you, come, come.

You have a residence ID?

Need a ride along a back road, sister?

It's 20 shekels.

... Israeli F-16 aircraft

struck after dark in Gaza City,

killing 6 Palestinians,

including a top military leader.

Also wounded in the raid...

Can I help you?

See that man?

He's here to help if you give me any trouble.

I want you to put $15,572.16 in this bag.

I don't understand. Do you have an account here?

Yes, I do.

15,572 dollars and 16 cents.

- You're joking. - No!

Everyone get down!

Move it!

Nobody breathe!

Move it!

Take it.

Count it out!

15,572 dollars and 16 cents.

Everything fine?

Fine, thanks.

Interest!

Go, man, go!

We did it!

Is there army up ahead?

How far to the checkpoint?

One cigarette.

It's fine.

Get behind them.

Pull to the side.

Buddy, check the van.

This is a dream!

A dream!

Come on up!

Marwan, look, Jaffa.

And Jerusalem.

And Palestine!

1924. It was Palestine.

Let's eat every single one.

We won't leave even one.

It fell on those girls.

And last but not least...

What are you doing? It's yours.

It's ours.

Without you, I wouldn't have it.

I've never seen this much money before.

I don't know what to do with it.

Okay, it's ours.

Where do we hide until we go back?

I'm not going back.

Me neither.

The Ramallah police can inform the Israelis.

Don't worry.

The line is down. There's no connection.

Forget the police. We're here without permits.

In the West Bank, we go to jail for robbery,

in Israel, for being Palestinian.

Nice!

Where do we go now?

To the sea. The motherfucking sea!

I thought you spoke Hebrew.

We didn't learn "sea" in jail.

West is that way.

West is that way?

Where's the sun? Over there.

Emad, come on!

Soraya!

Emad!

Come here, man!

Fuck you, I can't swim!

I can't either.

C'mon, man!

The fucking sea!

"The sea lies before you

and thine enemy behind."

Wake up, sleeping beauty. We're taking Jaffa back.

Where are we?

"Haifa and Jaffa before Jerusalem." Get up.

Jerusalem my ass!

Excuse me.

You can see the whole world!

I hate the sea.

Keep your head up.

"Shalom"

Where's Emad?

He went swimming.

It's perfect, right?

What?

Being in your house.

Jaffa.

You want to stay, right?

It might be nice if you ask her.

Ask her?

Is this my house or not?

So, when do I see you? I miss you.

Tomorrow? See you then.

Take it easy, girl.

You feel okay?

I feel like shit.

Marwan is staying.

Why let them get to you?

Make you crazy. As if you were under occupation.

- It is an occupation. - Not inside.

Hey, mad girl.

Let's go see our country.

I want to see Dawayima.

With your accent and my look, we have it made.

What a small world!

Incredible, man.

Tell me, what's your sign?

Leo.

I'm Gemini.

He knows my father! He's originally from Dawayima.

They call it Amatzya now.

Just go straight on.

Straight on till the traffic lights, then turn right.

It's that way. God be with you.

God be with you, my girl.

We can stay here.

I'll buy a mattress tomorrow.

The sea is laughing

Why? Why? Why?

As I carry a jar down to the shore

How many jars have we filled for others?

We were thirsty yet gave our water away

We wait in patience while the sea quenches our thirst

Instead of one burden, we carry many

Why is the sea laughing?

Why? Why? Why?

As I carry a jar

Down to the shore

Standing between us, wall after wall

And I am no genie nor a bird...

ID, please.

Don't ever do that again.

Okay?

Pretend you don't know me.

I wouldn't do that.

Your visa expired. I don't want us both in jail.

Okay?

Okay.

Are you sure they're Palestinian?

They serve hummus and ful.

- Here you go. - Thank you.

Is everything okay?

- Thank you. - It's great.

Sorry, but your face is familiar. I've seen you before.

- Where are you from? - Jerusalem.

Not Ramallah?

No, brother.

Everything tastes great.

Enjoy.

I swear I've seen you before.

I have relatives in Ramallah.

Cousins.

I don't know.

Relax. We're in the same boat. I'm illegal too.

Enjoy.

If you had a baby,

would he get an American passport?

So he could go wherever he wanted?

Sure.

If I wanted a baby.

I think it'd be nice

to have a kid. Someone with your name and blood.

Doing the things you couldn't.

Imagine we had a baby.

She'd be the first born in Dawayima since 1948.

All this space to play in.

We'd raise her with pride and dignity.

What are you doing here?

Guys! Come and meet someone from Brooklyn!

Come on!

Move your asses!

Can you fish?

No.

We'll go fishing in Haifa.

Hello.

A pack of cigarettes.

... imposing a full curfew, Israeli troops searched the camp...

May I see your ID, please?

You don't have it?

Step out of the car, please.

Turn around.

A dozen Israeli bulldozers and armored vehicles

raided Balata refugee camp

and demolished 18 homes...

The other hand too.

Do you know this cutie?

Turn around!

Do you know her?

You don't speak Hebrew?

Where are you from?

Do you know her?

I asked you if you know her.

Look at her.

Where is your ID then?

Where did you hide it?

You don't understand me now?

Why not?

- How's it going? - How are you?

- Where's she going? - America.

Let's check her.

Her visa is expired.

Seems she found a boyfriend.