Original subtitles

Lion!

What? She did it on her own!

Did you take it apart?

But it works, right?

No, this one doesn't work.

The screen is broken.

Is it working now?

It works?

What time is it now?

Wait a minute, Kuba.

You made it work!

Now we can go.

Let's go.

Wait while I get my belt.

Asalif?

Hurry up.

Ok, let's go.

You see that drunk guy yesterday?

"I don't care about anything... just beer."

"I drank a hundred beers!"

How much is 25 plus 25?

50.

So if he drank 100 beers, he drank four cases.

Four cases.

Make room!

Don't kick me.

Kuba, my friend?

Where are you? - I'm on the last planet!

Kuba, the smart one!

Then the lion! He's the ancient one!

Clean me, clean me!

Brush me off.

How'd you even get down?

I got scratched, look!

Come on!

The buildings look so nice from here!

The land where I was born...

It's all covered by the condominiums now.

You think there are like 700 buildings?

It looks like a chicken's face! - Nah, it's like a flea's house.

Make sure it has a little of everything...

All those small plants we used to have.

Exactly.

A memory of what we used to have.

You could draw the big fruit tree.

It's still there, they haven't removed it yet.

Don't you see it when you go into the condominiums?

What about the palm tree we planted?

We can't forget...

You can't forget the palm tree!

And the little dam we made to water the garden.

What else? There was more.

The eucalyptus trees.

500 of them!

What? You want me to draw 500 trees on one paper?

Don't worry. Now it's just a memory.

Do you remember the papaya?

You rotten boy...

You're a silly boy!

Will you do it again?

No, Mom! I'll never do it again!

And this is Addis Ababa.

Mom, try to read this one.

This is rue. Then there are one, two, three...

Wait, wait! Let it grow.

But we don't need the weeds.

Have you seen Kuba?

I'm looking for him.

Let's go for a little walk.

I really don't like these boys...

Hello.

...Shut up!

I'm just passing through.

Leave me alone, I'm busy.

Please, can you leave me alone for once?

Is that wood?

Stop that. Put your ball away.

Hide your ball.

Or else the condo boys will take it.

They'll claim it's theirs.

They took my ball last time.

Recyclers!

They find all the good stuff!

Look! So nice.

I swear on Selassie.

This house is so bright.

The light is marvelous, right?

I swear on Selassie.

On Selassie, how beautiful this house is!

Now let's go to our pretty houses.

Is tonight a story night?

I have some stories.

Tonight is storytime?

Don't you think so?

Once there was a very wise man.

He was so brave.

He was respected by all, loved by all.

A real hero for his people.

One day, the church hosted a big fancy feast.

The poor people came and sat on one side

and the rich who came sat on another side.

The brave man came dressed in rags but he sat down with the rich.

"Hey, you're poor!" they yelled. "Go wait over on that side!"

But see, he was only pretending to be poor.

In reality, he was very rich himself.

So the next day, he put on his most beautiful suit.

He marched in like an important man.

He looked like God!

The people bowed at his feet. "Welcome, father, welcome..."

He sat proudly and was served a big plate of food right away.

But then from the table, he took stew...

and smeared it all over his nice clean suit!

"Yesterday, I was disrespected..." he said.

"What's wrong, dear father?" the people cried.

"You'll ruin your clothes!"

"Clothes are the reason you dismissed me yesterday," he said.

"So let's spoil them."

And when the wine came, he poured it down his nice shirt...

"It's the clothes that get your adoration..."

"but not the man."

The End: now return my story and wipe my mouth with bread.

That was an amazing story!

You know, our fathers were very kind and had many stories for us.

Here comes the rain...

Yeah, well I don't want this suffering either.

When they announced the Master Plan to expand the city into Oromia farmland

that really made me mad.

That means all these teff farms will become skyscrapers.

People should speak against this even if they�re scared.

Ah, this government is like a failed carjack.

A failed carjack, I said!

It was supposed to lift the country but instead it fell on itself.

Now it�s dead.

...Quiet now, don�t get arrested.

Who's gonna arrest me, the Ethiopian government?

Nobody else cares.

You know I make the best injera!

Asalif?

If I give you some of this injera, will you eat? - No, I'm full.

So you had lunch?

I ate until my stomach stretched!

For me? My mom made it.

So when the condominiums expand

are we all gonna get relocated again, or what?

Whatever happens, happens.

Ugh, this is sad.

Why�d you have to be broken?

You disappoint me.

I guess I found you on a bad day.

Oh, you smart city boy...

From the trash, what did you find, smart boy?

You�re the best!

Hey you, give me that.

Where'd you get that?

When you connect, it lights up?

It lights up?

C'mon, connect it!

Hey! There's something on your shirt.

St. Mary's picture, huh?

Come on, show me!

Stop, that�s all I have.

...Ok, get out of here.

...I swear, just go.

Hey wait, that�s my stuff!

Today I found everything I wanted!

Turn it on, show me the new light.

...Hold on, I'm still working on it.

She mooed and she said... "I'm a new light!"

That's not working either?

Mom, did you hear the hyena?

It is a hyena!

I hear it from afar.

Do you think it's coming for us?

Are you hearing this? Hey!

The hyena on the hill...

The hyena on the hill...

Abi.

Put this in the church box, ok?

With respect and joy, tithe with this.

Lion!

You must give something to the church.

But the hyena�s home is that forest.

You are not allowed to go there.

Ah, there is something!

It's coming, it's coming...

You'll never guess what I just saw!

The world's biggest hyena!

It was terrifying.

I still can�t believe I escaped.

Would the hyena eat a kid like me?

Maybe he will, maybe not.

If you sin against the church, he might come for you.

But if you�re good, maybe he won�t.

Ok...

If you�re a good kid, the hyena won�t touch you.

What a day.

You ever have a day like this?

I don�t believe I have.

You! Scram! Go to your home.

Three big ones. You see that first one?

Let�s collect our things.

I�m already inside!

This door is useless. None of this is strong enough.

The light is finicky! You made it like this?

Mr. Light, you don�t give us much time, huh?

Hurry up and eat.

I think it�s scared of me.

When I move, it comes back on.

Oh this light...

Watch. When I move to slap it, it will work.

I'm fed up with you, light!

See? It respects me!

Let�s finish up.

I can�t fight with this light.

Did you wash?

In a good way?

I�m gonna go now, bye.

...Can I come with you?

No, it�s better you stay home.

Kuba!

Kuba!

Kuba.

Come here.

So yesterday...

A hyena came to my house.

A hyena.

It came to me.

Follow me.

Follow me.

Quiet, we're at the church.

Come, quick.

Don�t walk too loudly.

Keep your voice down.

Please watch my back.

Let�s take this way...

Just watch over me, ok?

...There it goes!

You swear?

You saw him?

You swear?

Why are you messing with me?

Knock it off.

...A hyena is coming!

Knock it off!

Look after me, friend. I need you.

Especially in this place, you need security.

I swear on my mom, he will tear us apart!

I swear I saw something!

I�m spooked.

How far away was that noise?

Oh, Asalif! The biggest wimp!

Stop it.

You�re useless.

Asalif!

Asalif.

Leave me alone.

Motherfucker.

Don't call me that!

I can make the hyena eat you!

Tell him to eat me. I dare you.

See if I care.

Come back, you dummy!

Wait, don�t go...

Asalif! Come back!

Asalif! Where are you going?

I told you to leave me alone.

What�s your problem? - You called me a motherfucker.

You mean nothing to me anymore.

You�re a punk.

You�re a punk.

Me?

You heard me.

I'll kick your ass.

Like hell you will.

Leave me alone.

Don�t come any closer.

You said, "motherfucker" - what do you know about my mom?

...That she�s just the poor lady who makes baskets.

Don�t come closer.

Don�t come closer to me.

Abi.

Did you leave Kuba at his house?

Don�t talk about him.

What happened?

I'll tell you later.

Go ahead and wash up.

Ethiopia!

Isn�t my honor because of you?

Who will inherit this land?

Let your bounty be full!

You, Asalif!

Don�t you leave!

Asalif!

Asalif...

23, 24, 25, 26.

He's busy right now.

I�m sure you have your own work to do, go on.

Abi?

Abi. Where are you going now?

The condominium.

To do what?

To search for things.

What kind of things?

Whatever I need.

The only reason I let you go in that condo is because you made our lights.

Otherwise, I really don�t want you there.

I don't like you wandering around, picking up just anything in there.

But I really want to go.

Why?

What's the point?

Tell me!

I need stuff.

Ah, he's becoming like this...

You! Get the hell out of here!

Who chased you out of the condo?

That old hag who chews khat.

The one with chickens.

You went to her house?

...And you cried, huh?

...Did she hit you?

She threw a stone!

...Did she hit you?

You hear me? She threw a stone!

...I�m asking did it hit you.

...Nah, she missed him... She hit my hand!

...Oh, come on...

...Should we do something about it?

...Yeah, let's call the federal police!

Asalif.

What were you doing, anyway?

Just walking.

You thought it was like our bar here and you just barged in.

If stone comes out of nowhere

what am I supposed to do?

...Were you really just standing there?

She scared the fart out of you, huh?

You deserve even worse, I wish she'd hit you.

...Hey now...

I wish she'd hit him!

He�s an evil boy.

He's always causing trouble.

This kid? Don�t let his small size fool you.

I'm serious.

I only let him in here because you guys like him.

It�s his father who taught him evil ways.

But then he abandoned them.

God knows why, but the father left them.

...All this is from the past?

Before the condominium kicked us all out.

We were all living on that land before.

Maybe I told that lady to hit you...

Maybe I said, �When this kid comes around, hit him!�

Come on! I only said that to make you mad.

Show me your mad face.

Show me. You frowning yet?

I was lying!

She won't touch you.

And sir, how do you entice investors for construction on undeveloped lands?

The region is very attractive for investment.

The investors will provide sustainable community development

development that will help everyone.

Look, all we see is progress and opportunity here.

This investment, it helps everyone.

So there's nothing to lose? - No one loses.

This development means benefit for all.

Thank you for this interview, sir. - Thank you.

Biruk! What�s my tab?

Come sit.

Leave him alone, he�s a smart kid.

Yeah, I like you.

Don�t worry, the liquor is safe right here with me.

Actually, it's just water.

So you were saying something about animals.

Now let's talk hyena.

What? No! The hyena will haunt me!

Let it go!

C'mon!

Ok, it's fine.

You ever seen a hyena?

Hyena?

They�re always lurking, day and night.

I even saw one eat our sheep!

You ever kill one?

No, you can�t kill it.

He�s too fast. He escapes to his forest.

Never try to kill the hyena, he�s in God�s hands.

Asalif told me he saw a hyena nearby.

He says he�s not afraid of the hyena.

You?

You've seen it? - Yeah!

I saw it!

He came so close...

You know, a hyena is different from a dog.

...It looked like that?

It�s a different color than a dog.

I know. There�s a black one, a red, a brown, a white.

...There�s no white hyena!

There is!

No, it can�t be...

The white one is the leader!

I�m dead serious.

I�ve never seen that but I�ve seen a white rat.

There�s a white rat?

Oh wow.

Once I caught a white rat in a cage.

I think you just trapped your shoe!

Ah my country boy, don�t mess with me!

Ok, let me tell how I faced the hyena.

So I fall in love with this girl.

One night, I wake up thinking of her.

Finally we hear a new story! This better be good...

I just have to see her.

So I start out on the road, walking along.

I pass a field of bones.

All of a sudden

30 hyenas surround me.

I said 30, did you hear?

You counted?

No, but there were a lot... - How can you say 30 without counting?

I used to be a sheep merchant, so I�m good at estimating.

Yes! I love this guy!

Half are on the road

half on the path below.

Behind me - hyena.

In front - hyena.

I�m in the middle.

How to escape?

They have me cornered!

About to tear me to bits!

Out of nowhere, a car arrives!

The headlights scatter them and I run.

�Jump on the car!� the driver calls.

God bless him.

In one moment, he saves my life.

Hyena.

He's tricky. He know everything about you.

You could call him a devil animal.

Abi, you hear that?

Ok, so what animal can beat the hyena?

Lion!

Lion.

You ever see them fight?

I�d say a lion can take on five hyenas.

He might not eat them all, but he�d kill �em.

He�d kill them in the best way.

Come out, come out...

Lion...

Lion, lion.

The strongest in the whole country.

Who�s gonna bite and who�s gonna win?

My dear lion!

Who�s gonna win?

My dear lion!

Right above my house

Mr. Hyena shouts!

When I go to face him

he vanishes!

I�ve never seen such a lazy hyena in my life!

What a coward, that hyena!

But the lion is the hero!

Lion - the ancient one.

Lion - the best of my country.

Lion - the hyena�s foe.

Lion - the king of the forest.

Lion - the king of the people.

Lion - the king of heroes.

Lion, lion, lion.

Lion king.

Everyone is here for you.

Receive them with a bow.

The lion king.

Lonely lion.

Lonely lion.

I'm serious! I�ll hit you!

Bull�s eye!

Bull�s eye!

Just watch me!

Say it to my face!

I�ll bust your face with this!

What now?

Just try me, I�ll bust your head!

This is the best stick!

Use this one, it�s the best.

My name? It�s Asalif.

...Is your house far away? Yeah.

...Where is it?

It�s far, don�t worry about it.

...But I saw you yesterday.

Really, we met?

...You don�t remember?

I think you�re dreaming.

Asalif?

Come!

You... Why did you change into an animal?

You missed it big-time.

The dream I had last night.

...What was your dream?

I was on the hill near St. Mary�s Church.

Then as I came down...

You know that guy Abri?

He met me at the condo's edge in the dark.

Then he said, �Why did you change into an animal?�

I left him behind without saying a word.

...Abri said you looked like an animal?

Abri, the guy who lives over there.

...Ok, let me take the pot. You�re done, right?

C�mon, let�s roll!

Want to come inside?

Come on!

Ok, I'll come.

Hey, Fikrab!

Ah, it shut off.

Fikrab, c�mon. It�s my turn.

Try to get to level nine.

It�s gonna get you!

I�m gonna get it!

Now jump!

Go up, up...

See? It went right in.

I was just about to jump! I can do it!

It�s not my fault, it�s too big!

How do you get in there?

I�ve done it before.

Don�t press two.

Let go of the button.

You lost.

Why did you disappear?

Go turn on the light.

Hurry, the light please. It�s so dark.

We�re in the darkness.

Are you getting to work? Very good.

The flashlight isn�t working tonight.

Can you repair it for me?

The snake isn�t going.

If it�s not working, just leave it.

But the snake...

Let�s do something else. - The ball isn�t working either.

Enough of that.

Let�s play a game together instead.

If you want to work then fix this for me.

Bring me the tape.

Where is it?

Under the mattress.

Ok, let me tell you a story.

A very nice story, it will serve you well one day.

Ok?

In the countryside, when a couple gets engaged to be married

they form a contract.

�May I have your daughter�s hand?� they ask.

�May I have her hand?� one farmer said.

And the girl's father said, �Bring a lemon and an orange tree.�

�You must bring both together.�

�They should be intertwined like husband and wife...�

Abi?

Abi?

Fine, we�ll continue some other time.

Helicopter...

Properties now available outside the city!

Pay 10% cash to get your condo now!

This is the trash car?

What'd you put in it?

Like, what kind of trash?

Fikrab?

Fikrab?

Is Fikrab home?

What, he's in the shower?

I brought this helicopter I made.

Plug it in!

My parents will buy me a better one.

One that works by remote control.

Those ones run out of battery within a day.

I�ll fly it wherever I want.

Eh, your plan isn�t good.

This is better than a remote control one.

You think it�s better?

No way.

It doesn�t even fly.

Abi?

Doesn�t this thing need to sit in the sun?

That doesn�t use solar energy.

Does this one need the sun?

...No, it doesn�t!

...The one out here does!

Don�t get angry! I never had anyone to teach me.

I�m reminded of it every day.

I had no education.

If I had education like you, I would have gone far in life

instead of becoming the dummy I am today.

Abi?

Come teach me something.

You always show me things.

Come, my lion. Just one small lesson.

Leave me alone.

Show me.

Teach me one thing, from all you know.

You�re my good little lion.

Teach me.

Abi, my sunshine.

You can�t just show me one thing?

You can�t do that for me?

Won�t you do what I ask?

Am I not calling you?

Abi.

What�s going on?

You know everything I do is for you.

I don�t know what�s going on.

But I can�t stand it anymore.

How long must I suffer for you?

It�s because of you that I�m even living here in this awful situation.

The plants need water. Go get some.

Stop crying.

If I died, others would only make you cry more.

I�m all you�ve got so don�t fight me.

Go! Don�t just sit there.

Kuba...

Pour for me?

Fine, forget it.

Go ahead. Water the plants.

...Hello, how are you? Good, thanks to God.

...We're looking for something... For what?

...Where can we get wood around here?

I don�t know, my dear.

I think they sell it over there.

...Which house?

That one with the tin roof.

...Do you have legal papers to be here?

Yes, this is a legal place.

Isn�t this land the government provided?

The government relocated the farmers here when they started condo construction.

You�re not the first land brokers to ask me about it.

...Has anyone offered you a price?

No, I wouldn�t know about that.

The real owners of this land live in Ambo...

...The owners?

...So the legal owner of this land isn�t here? No, he�s not here now.

A man over there acts like a lawyer for us.

Ask around if you like but I don�t know anything.

...Thank you, mother.

The way they were talking to me... it felt heavy.

It�s like they knew my situation already.

You know, hyenas aren�t the evil ones...

These days it�s the humans you should fear.

They�re selling that compound, too...

Once upon a time there was a boy, and unfortunately he turned into a lion.

Speaking of this...

He used to plow the land.

And then...

And then...

And then...

And then...

Fix the things that need fixing.

Don�t just start things here and there.

What are you making next?

I�m definitely going to make a spaceship.

Spaceship.

I don�t know what that is.

But if you make it - then I learn.

Where do you want it to fly?

To the sky.

Real high up.

To the sky, huh?

Once you�re up there, where will it take you?

I don�t know.

What do you mean you don�t know?

Don�t say you don�t know.

You should know where you�re going to land.

The strongest in the whole country.

Who�s gonna bite and who�s gonna win?

My dear lion!

Who�s gonna win?

As soon as the hyena catches a glimpse...

he scampers away fast!

Right above my house!

Mr. Hyena shouts!

When I go to face him...

he vanishes!

I�ve never seen such a lazy hyena in my life!

Oh my God, oh my God!

What a coward, that hyena!

But the lion is the hero!

The hyena is the laziest!

But the lion is the real hero.

Yeah, that hyena is the lazy one.

The lion is truly the hero.

What an incredible thing...

What an incredible thing...

What an incredible thing...

What an incredible thing...

Return my story?

Won't you return my story?

Wipe my mouth. Not with bread, with beso.

Return my song.

And wipe my mouth with beso.

Man, I've been through a lot of stuff.