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"A HOLE IS A MEASURE OF RELATIVITY.

"A HOLE ONLY EXISTS IF YOU LOOK AT IT FROM ABOVE.

"I SUGGEST INSTEAD WE TALK ABOUT THE FOLDS OF THE TERRAIN,

"AND CONDUCT OUR RESEARCH FROM THERE."

LOYSE PAHUD - HOLES, IN SEARCH OF A FAMILIAR GEOGRAPHY

LIKE AN ISLAND

A FILM BY TIZIAN BÜCHI

Go ahead, we'll follow you.

Take the bag.

The Italians are lucky, it's a cow.

-A cow. -Really?

Or it could be gold.

Or gold.

There might be gold in there.

How would a cow get down here?

What would a cow do in the Vuachère?

Drink water,

and eat grass.

I would have said gold.

Sorry?

I'd have said gold too, or silver.

You think there's gold in the river?

Or silver.

Have you ever looked?

No.

I'm not allowed.

Why aren't you allowed?

It's dangerous.

Once, I was with my friend,

and a ball fell into the river, and we wanted to go and get it,

there was a lot of mud and he fell.

Was he hurt?

No, but it could be dangerous.

There are a lot of rocks. If you fall, you'll crack your head.

Is this your son?

-He agrees with... -He's my nephew.

He's your nephew.

And he agrees,

that there might be gold in the Vuachère, in the river.

Well, like grandfather, like grandson.

What do you think?

Do you think it's possible?

I think there's nothing in there.

Really?

I walked the whole thing when I was young, there's nothing.

Not even fish.

-Did you grow up here? -I did.

I followed the whole river down to the lake,

walking in the water. There's nothing at all.

And our friend has joined us.

Yes.

Victor has joined us.

Can you see me?

Yeah, yeah.

Hello, everyone.

So we're telling stories about this place?

Like, next to your house.

Yeah. My neighbors, right next to my house.

Well, the police came.

I wasn't there,

but it was about drugs,

like, my neighbors.

There were police everywhere.

Yes, it was about drugs, but there was shooting.

Yeah, that's what I heard.

I was there. There was a dog, it sniffed me.

There were people there

who were making drugs.

Next to the green building over there.

-It's a very... -Yeah.

-It's very what? -Very lively.

There are police here nearly every day.

Is there anything other than the police?

There are other stories.

Other than that, it's quite a quiet place.

Yeah.

Yeah, quiet.

Yeah, quiet, but not really.

It is quiet.

-It depends on the day. -He lives a little further away.

But I live right here. It's not really quiet.

-It depends on the day. -Yeah.

It depends on how motivated people are.

If people are motivated, or not.

We're a good team.

We're united.

-That's it. -It's funny.

It's true!

What?

When the camera's not there, it's: "We can take on the world!"

It's true.

It's a good thing, being united.

Yeah.

And we're lucky,

because not every neighborhood has what we have here.

I'm proud to live here, anyway.

-Same here. -Me too.

Honestly,

it's a good neighborhood.

There you go.

-It's true! -Yeah.

Hello, Ammar. How are you?

-You're late, Ammar. -I'm really sorry.

Be more careful next time.

You shouldn't be late for work.

It's important to always be on time.

-OK. -OK.

Without further ado, I'll give you some equipment

to help you do your job.

I'll give you this armband, you can put it on.

Just like me, so we have a uniform.

-Here? -Yes.

-I can help you. -Please. Thank you.

This is really important. Don't go out without it.

And this is a flashlight,

-since we'll be working at night. -At night?

Exactly, so we'll need a flashlight.

It'll help light things up.

And this is a radio.

Just press here to be able to talk.

If we get separated, this means we can still communicate.

-Can I try it out? -Yes.

-OK. -I'll call you, and you answer.

Hello?

Hello?

Yes? Yes, I can hear you.

Can you hear me, loud and clear?

Hello?

I can't hear you.

OK, come over here,

so I can show you.

Is it working?

-It's working. -OK, good.

We can turn them off now.

What we're going to do now...

Wait, how?

Just press here,

the same button you turned it on with. Good.

-Are you afraid of working at night? -No.

If you're afraid, then this job isn't for you.

Of kids, yes, but not all the time.

So you are afraid sometimes?

No, I don't think so.

-Will you be afraid at night? -No.

I hope not, my boy,

because we've got schedules to keep.

The boss talked to you about it during the hiring process.

He told you there will be days when you're working nights

and days when you're working days.

Just so I'm not repeating myself.

Got it.

Is there something that we have to really watch?

Yes, your mission is clear:

it's to keep watch.

We have no other jobs.

We don't give out fines,

but we have to stop people from getting to the river.

That's our job.

So our mission is to secure

this whole area so that people

can't get to the river.

That's all it is, but it's a task, nonetheless.

It's a lot to do.

You have to watch both sides.

You have to walk both sides,

in front, behind.

It's a lot to cover up until tomorrow morning.

-You don't think so? -No, I get it.

OK.

Get a good hold of it.

-Do you have scissors? -Yes, I have scissors.

-Ready? -Yes.

-Keep it taut. -OK.

Make sure it's visible.

Keep going, keep going.

OK.

Keep going.

That's it. Thank you.

-Here? -Yes, there. Now tie it off.

Now they can't get in.

That's good.

That's good.

I think I'm going to leave you to it.

Yeah.

I'm leaving soon.

I've finished my day.

That's expected, I started this morning,

and now, it's up to you to take over.

Please do a good job.

Of course.

And have...

-a good evening. -Same to you.

-Be good, be careful. -Thanks, for sure.

-Keep your eyes peeled. -Don't worry.

No looking at the ground, look all around.

Do it right.

Don't worry, I'm in.

Don't forget you're a security guard, my boy, OK?

-All the best. -Have a good evening.

Thank you.

-Ciao, see you tomorrow. -See you tomorrow, ciao.

-Hello, ma'am. -Hello.

Good evening.

Hello?

-Hello? -Hello?

-Hello, my boy. -Hello.

-How are you? How are you feeling? -Good, thanks be to God. What's up?

-I'm fine. What's going on? -Everything's fine, thanks be to God.

Where are you right now?

I'm patrolling the neighborhood I told you about.

I don't know why they put me here.

It's quiet, nothing's happening.

Even if it's quiet, be careful, watch yourself.

I walked through the woods, nothing, everyone's asleep.

-I don't know what I'm watching. -No job is easy.

You have to stay alert, and pay attention.

Don't let anything get by you.

-Take care of yourself, my son. -Inshallah, Dad.

Where are you right now?

I'm at home. I'm watching TV.

What's the weather like there? Warm? Cold?

It's hot, we've put on the AC.

It's cold here.

I'm looking at the sky.

I remember when we used to sleep up on the roof.

When the electricity went out,

we'd each take a blanket and go up onto the roof.

We'd get comfortable.

We had to find the coolest spot.

That's right.

And we could hear the pigeons sleeping.

Honestly, I miss all that...

Putting a table on the roof, with falafel, bread on a big plate...

At the river? In the woods there?

Yes, but on the other side.

-That's strange. -Towards Lake Geneva.

We'll have to be careful then. What did she say she saw?

Listen, you know Angela,

she doesn't explain things clearly,

so I can't really tell you.

She said: "Mom, something happened!"

I couldn't make the connection, I don't know.

Maybe I'll ask Cassandra.

She might be able to explain it better than her sister.

-It's strange. -I have no idea.

I haven't heard.

I don't know. I haven't even heard.

Normally, the kids tell me things, but I haven't heard anything.

You haven't heard?

-Good morning, chief. -Good morning, sir.

-How are you doing? Good? -No.

Life's like that.

In cash?

All good with you?

-No. -Why not?

Huh?

It happens to everyone, even me, young man.

Even to me.

Orange juice? Coffee?

-No. -No?

Life's like that,

not everything is all rosy, unfortunately.

Yeah.

Some days are good, some days aren't.

Some days are easy,

other days are harder.

It's good though, because if we knew the future,

nothing would be interesting.

We don't know what's going to happen tomorrow.

It's a mystery.

A mystery like the Vuachère.

Exactly!

A mystery like the Vuachère!

Yes?

Yes, that's right.

Are you Portuguese?

I am, yes.

There are a lot of Portuguese people here.

This neighborhood is very... There are a lot of...

They're like mushrooms, they're everywhere.

The Portuguese are everywhere,

like mushrooms.

Wherever you go, there's a Portuguese mushroom!

Where are you from?

Me, I'm originally from Angola.

My mom was from the Democratic Republic of Congo, formerly Zaire.

I was born in Angola too.

-No! -Yes.

In Luanda.

-Luanda? -Luanda.

So you speak a little Portuguese.

Yes, I speak Portuguese. We speak Portuguese in Angola.

It was colonized by the Portuguese.

My father went there for the war, and my mother went out too.

My sisters and I were all born out there.

I was born in Luanda, my sister was born in Sà de Bandeira.

My father was there for the war.

I was also born in Angola.

But after the war, we went to Zaire.

-The Congo. -The Congo.

Now it's the Congo, it used to be Zaire.

-Small world! -It is, that's right.

-Right! -And after that,

I went from Angola to Portugal.

-Yeah. -I worked there for a year

in Lisbon, Famalicão, Guimarães.

And after that, I came here.

There's someone down there.

They're playing guitar.

Hello, ma'am.

-Hello. -How are you?

What was that piece you were playing?

It's called "No estamos locos."

"Sabemos lo que queremos."

"We know what we want."

Ah, I see.

"Vive la vida igual que si fuera un sueño."

"Life your life as if it were a dream."

It's nice.

Yeah.

Can you play us a little?

Of that song?

-Yeah. -Sure.

Not bad!

-Thank you, ma'am. -My pleasure.

Do you come here a lot?

I can't play at home, in my apartment,

because it's just a small room.

I found this place a little while ago.

I come here to practice,

percussion, guitar...

And with the river there,

it's a good place to play.

And what are you doing here? Patrolling?

Do you work for the municipality?

Yes, we're here

to secure this area.

The whole area here, Faverges.

I see.

All along the river.

So we can't go into the river,

is there something in there?

If you could avoid going in,

that would be best.

I'm not going into the river anyway, it's too cold.

I won't go in, that's for sure.

Yes, but even if you don't go in,

you see this tape.

That means something.

So we can't go past this line.

It's not just going past the tape,

but coming to this side.

It's not a good thing.

OK. Do I have a choice here?

You have a choice, but we're asking you politely.

I won't be here long, I have to go to work at six,

so another 20 minutes.

I don't get much time to myself.

I just get two hours of fun, and guitar.

So if I can enjoy that...

Just this once, we'll let you stay,

but please, don't go down to the river.

OK, great.

-I got that. -Don't go down to the river.

-OK? -Ciao.

I think that lady was right.

Did you see that?

We have to secure that spot better,

including the bench.

The bench is outside the tape, see?

Here.

-Ammar? -Hang on.

Come and cut this afterwards, please.

Now they can't get past.

-Great. -Here.

Thanks.

We're at work, you're in uniform,

and when you're in uniform,

you've got to be very, very careful about flirting with girls.

It's not allowed.

I know, but that's a little...

I try to keep my distance, because I really want to...

You want to do something stupid?

Not stupid, no, but still...

What do you want to do?

But...

Get her number?

Ask her where she lives?

We talked, but not about her private life.

Something like: "Hi, how are you?"

Yeah. My advice to you, when you're working,

is to talk like that...

Anything else, for example,

like asking for her phone number,

is something I would not recommend.

I'm speaking from experience.

It's not something I would recommend.

What you can do, for example,

is ask about where she works.

I'll give you some tips,

on what you can do.

You ask: "Oh, you work in a restaurant?

"Which restaurant do you work at?"

And when she gives you the name,

you try to get the name of the restaurant.

Then, one day, you can go for a drink where she works.

See? And then you can talk to her:

"How are you? So this is where you work."

That's my advice to you.

You talk a lot Daniel, but it's all good.

I get what I need to do.

You know how I am.

I like to really get to the end of a topic.

OK.

If you tell me: "OK, Daniel, I've had enough,"

then I'll stop. You don't have to listen to me.

OK, then stop there.

Or you can make the most of my experience.

OK.

I'm taking notes.

In my head.

Don't make fun of me though.

"Oh, you know nothing about flirting..."

I can teach you some things about flirting.

What are these two gentlemen doing?

-They look calm. -Yeah.

People aren't saying hello to them.

No, but they're thinking about it.

We don't know why they're wearing those sweaters.

With the armband.

Yes, with the armband,

but it must be on the sweater.

They're not even stopping that woman walking by.

I don't think they're waiting for the Messiah, because...

But no one's offering them a drink.

Well, no.

Our balcony's like a cinema.

Yes.

You see so many things.

And it's funny because she's out on her balcony as much as I am.

I'd rather watch what's happening on the street,

people passing, walkers, cyclists,

than watch movies on TV.

That's why I'm often out on the balcony.

When something big happens:

"Hello? Did you see? Go out to the balcony."

Oh, yes.

She's curious.

That's how it is.

There are plenty of distractions.

Last week, or two weeks ago,

I saw a police car stop.

I saw an officer and a woman go down to the Vuachère.

And then the man driving the car went down.

I thought: "He's looking for someone."

I think he joined the other two,

but they came out

near that house over there.

So I don't know if they were looking for someone or what.

The only time I didn't see something,

it was Malou who called me:

"Are you on your balcony?" "No."

"Go and look!"

There were three police cars, they went to the second floor,

with their plastic shields,

they said to me: "You didn't see it?"

I said: "No, I was watching TV." For once.

And they park however they like,

these police officers with their cars.

-They have priority, don't they? -Well, yes!

But no, around here, between the fire,

and... the police,

I don't feel at ease here.

Me neither, but it's alright from the balcony.

And you've got a man in the house.

Yes.

-But I wouldn't go outside. -No.

I don't watch all of that.

You've seen too much already.

When you were in the anti-noise force.

A police officer.

He's seen things.

Well...

Sometimes there are some noisy young people.

We call them the young Faverges thugs.

Because that's how it was.

They go past, they're loud.

-Everyone knows. -Yes, yes.

Well, it's...

Nicole's mom told me that back in the day,

there were gangs in Faverges, and it was over hockey.

But we weren't here then.

And there were huge fights.

Yeah.

But that's how it is,

these are the little stories from the neighborhood.

That's why we go out onto the balcony.

We hear a noise, we say: "Oh, what's going on?

"Let's go and see."

That's the land we bought to build a school.

-A school? -Yes.

So you've got big plans.

Yes, it's serious business.

That's the director, that's the seller, and that's me.

We bought the land last year.

I see.

I can see that's you.

"That's me."

It's obvious that's you!

And this is all yours?

Yes.

You maintain it all?

Yes. But there are bigger plots than this.

This, this isn't...

This isn't the biggest plantation in the region.

This is nothing, this is just 20 hectares.

Some of them are 100, 200 hectares,

300 hectares, for the rich people.

So you're rich?

No, I'm not rich, I'm one of the little people.

If I was rich,

I wouldn't have 20 hectares,

I'd have 50, 100, 200 hectares.

I bought this with what I have, the little I have.

With what I can make in Switzerland. You know what I mean?

Wait, wait, hold on...

Not like that. No, wait.

Like that. That's it.

That's my little family.

-With her black bag, at the seaside. -Cool.

One of my cousins.

I'm dressed up like a soldier.

Were you a soldier?

No, I'm just dressed as if I were a soldier.

But you weren't a soldier?

No, I wasn't.

I'm not a soldier.

But people respect you when you dress like that.

They think: "Maybe he's a colonel."

Ah.

You mean they're afraid,

if they see someone dressed like a soldier?

-Yeah. -No?

Yeah.

What's that?

Those are fruit trees.

Mango trees.

Mango trees, butter fruit trees, avocado trees...

You get everything over there.

It's really...

Wow, that's amazing.

Who's that speaking French?

The one who's talking?

Yeah, is that you?

No, it's not me.

It's my driver.

-You have a driver? -Yes.

Agege.

You must be a rich guy over there.

No, don't be stupid.

What's stupid about it?

You have a big house, a car,

someone to drive you,

you've got so many things. Doesn't that make you rich?

That doesn't make you rich.

Well?

Do you know how much he makes?

How much?

He makes 100, 150 dollars.

That's not a lot for someone from Switzerland.

If you pay someone 100 dollars,

it doesn't mean you're rich.

See that?

The nature.

What are those? Dates?

No, they're palm trees.

Ah, a palm tree.

These are palm trees that produce fruit

that's used to make palm oil,

-that you eat for... -What's that?

Now you're just talking nonsense.

That's my belly, obviously!

Ah yeah, I see it.

Come on!

When are you leaving?

What time do you finish today?

Now. I've finished.

Come on, stay with me.

Oh, come on!

-Good evening. -Good evening.

Good evening.

There's smoke.

That's it!

That's enough, we've woken up the whole neighborhood!

We have to clean up now.

We've woken up the whole neighborhood!

No!

-We've woke everyone up. -It's like fake fireworks.

It's worse than fireworks!

Look, everyone's out on their balcony.

-Even your mom. -Oh, yeah.

Come on, pick it up!

Alright, let's go.

Don't start!

Come on, help us!

Cédric, where are you going?

To put this in the trash.

We'll call the cops!

Go ahead, call the cops,

it's not even ten o'clock yet.

She wants to call the cops.

Call the cops, it's not ten o'clock yet.

It's not even ten o'clock yet.

Pick it up.

Who wants to call the cops?

I don't know.

Mathieu, help us pick this up.

It's not even ten o'clock yet.

We have to pick this up!

Yeah.

No!

We need to pick it up...

No.

They're going to call the cops!

Hello? Daniel?

Is that you?

Daniel, is that you?

Daniel, is that you?

Geologically speaking, this place

is very interesting

because you can see

that this embankment behind us, which is very imposing,

easily 20 to 30 meters tall,

maybe more, in some spots, it's definitely an ancient moraine

from the Rhône glacier.

There were 1,000 meters of ice here, at times.

But it wasn't then when the moraine was formed,

it was when it was tiny,

barely above the level of the lake.

And you can see something very interesting,

geologically speaking,

which is that the Vuachère

carved out its own riverbed

through the sediment, very easily,

because these were areas of sediment.

It must have been a lake at some point,

when the glacier left its moraine,

there was probably a lake, and sediment,

and it carved out its path down to the molasse.

This is a little oasis of nature,

and it's very special.

So there is a significant amount of nature here.

It's not nothing.

And the vibrational quality, in terms of vibrations,

which I'm measuring with the divining rods,

is quite exceptional.

The energy here is beautiful,

and you can feel the presence of the creatures of nature,

the water, the trees, and so on.

Those poor folks in the town don't know where to go.

They go to the parks, but it's all maintained,

there are so many people walking around, whereas here,

there's almost no one. Sometimes some kids.

Maybe some people see them.

Some people see these creatures of nature.

You can see them here.

I don't see them, I feel them.

-Hello, sir. -Hello, ma'am.

Still here?

Yes, we're always on duty.

I still don't understand what it is you do.

You still don't know what we do?

No, is it a state secret?

No. While you're sleeping,

we watch over the neighborhood.

What do you think of the Vuachère,

and the neighborhood? Do you like it here?

Listen, I've been living here for 23 years.

Twenty-three years?

And do you know what's nice about this place?

No, I don't, tell me.

Nothing changes.

You can go back to somewhere you used to live 20 years ago,

and you won't recognize anything.

Houses, and houses, and houses, and houses.

Here, nothing changes.

That's good. And you like it like that?

I love it.

Instead of being in a neighborhood

where there are houses sprouting up like mushrooms.

Yeah.

Whereas here, it's...

At one point,

I was worried they were going to dam the Vuachère,

tear down the trees and build a...

No, who told you that?

No, I was worried about it. You read about it everywhere.

I doubt they would go that far.

Look at Flon, there used to be a river there.

-Yes. -Not anymore.

That's the phone.

No worries. Maybe see you later.

-See you later. -Thank you.

-Tonic water alright? -Yes, that's great.

-Thank you. -Thank you.

Not many people around, are they at the lake?

Oh yes.

Getting a tan. It's the season for it.

-Cheers. You've finished your coffee. -Cheers.

That coffee did me good.

How's life, good?

Life is good.

Your family doing alright?

Yes, they're fine.

-Lots of money here in Switzerland? -Well, not here...

You've got to work for it!

If you don't work, you don't eat. You've got to work.

Some people eat without making any money...

Another day...

Hello?

Ammar, I called you on the walkie-talkie,

you didn't answer.

Did you hear me?

I don't know. Maybe it's not working.

I don't know. I can't hear anything.

I can't hear anything on the walkie-talkie.

You were supposed to meet me, right?

OK, sure.

-See you later. -See you.

-Ciao. -Bye.

Ammar, Ammar, Ammar...

You're driving me crazy with this.

Come on, Daniel, this is part of the job.

I'm not arguing with that, but right now,

-listen, look at me. -Yeah.

Can you tell me what the noise you heard was?

I don't know, it was someone shouting, really loud,

or something.

How am I supposed to understand that?

I don't know!

That's why I'm concentrating,

I'd like to know what it is.

What is it?

Is it only your ears that can hear this sound,

and I can't hear it?

-I don't know. -How does that work?

-Tell me! -I don't know.

What do you hear? What do you see?

This is strange!

Let's go. What's strange about it?

If I hear something, I...

You're hearing something you can't explain.

I don't know how to explain it.

You should be able to explain what kind of sound you're hearing.

It's very far off,

I don't know, as if someone's shouting.

It's not right in front of me, I don't know what it is.

It's very far away.

I don't know where, exactly, I don't know what it is.

You know?

You don't hear anything?

No, I don't hear anything.

Because you're always talking.

Maybe that's why you don't hear anything.

I'm not saying that to get under your skin.

You always start talking, and talking...

That's why you don't hear anything.

You don't think so?

I'm going to keep quiet.

-Why are you looking at me weird? -I'm not looking at you weird.

I'm going to keep quiet

so I can hear these voices that you hear.

-Let's go. -Let's go.

Alright?

Did I do it right?

It's great, my boy!

Let's go.

I've had three girls in my life.

One is dead,

and the other two, here, were crazy.

So I've closed that part of myself off for now.

I don't want a relationship.

I just want to take things easy.

Why?

Because it's hard to find a girl here.

I think.

But it'll happen.

First of all, you have to look at their character.

That's the first thing, as far as I'm concerned.

She has to be somewhat presentable.

-You know what I mean? -Yeah, yeah.

Because you're going to introduce her to your friends,

to your family, and everything...

You don't want them to say:

"What's happened to Ammar,

"being with this kind of woman?"

But I don't care about what people say, or:

"Why did you choose her?" It's my choice!

Yes, it's your choice, but your family...

It's my choice, sorry.

We're foreigners here. I know that our families

will still have something to say.

Ammar, I promise you...

If you married a woman today...

Why did I leave my home country?

-Why did you leave home? -Yeah.

Because of the war.

Because of the war, and lots of other things,

but listen, back home,

there are these systems that I really don't like.

You grow up, you finish school,

then at around 20, 23 years old,

your mother and father tell you:

"OK, we're going to find a wife for you."

And I feel...

I really feel like...

There are things, I don't know how to say it.

Like a weight.

Like there's a weight hanging on you.

Exactly. "Come and get married,

"have kids, and so on."

It doesn't work like that, my friend.

I'd die.

I hate this system.

You hate it?

Yes! Because of that,

because of a lot of things,

I left my home. I just want to be free,

-to be left alone. -You want to be independent.

-Of course. -To have the freedom to choose.

I did choose a wife,

-back home. -But you said you hadn't.

Yeah, but there was a whole thing...

-You had a girlfriend? -Yeah.

-Back in your home country? -Yeah.

In Iraq.

And my father wouldn't accept it.

He said: "You're in a relationship with her,

"but maybe before you, she had another relationship."

I said: "Why do you think like that?

"What do you mean?"

He said: "That's it."

That's how it is, you know?

If I understand correctly, in your home country,

for you to take a wife, she has to be a virgin?

Yes.

Oh my God...

That's...

That's the mindset, in your country.

But in the end,

if you really love this woman, bring her to Europe.

No, she's married now.

-She's already married? -Of course.

Why is she married?

Because she waited, and waited, and waited...

Sure.

Her family said to her: "Why are you waiting?

"What are you waiting for?"

Are your parents still alive?

Your mom? Your dad?

Are they still alive?

Yes, yes.

Are they in Iraq?

Your father and mother...

They're divorced.

I see.

I stayed with my dad.

You went to live with your dad? You abandoned your mom?

I don't know where my mom is.

-You don't know? -No.

You still haven't heard anything about your mom?

I don't know if she's alive or dead.

That's tough.

My dad never told me the story.

He said: "You've got to forget about all that."

He never talks about my...

-Your mom? -Yeah.

-That's a shame. -But...

I went to live with my dad when I was four.

-When you were four? -Yeah.

-That's when they divorced? -Yeah. I was young.

And my father

did everything by himself.

-By himself? -Yeah.

He quit his job...

And in your father's view,

according to the customs in your home country,

when a woman leaves

her marital home,

is it the woman who takes the children

or is it the father?

It depends, but always the father.

-Always? -Always the father.

But it depends.

If he's kind,

and he doesn't want them,

he can let his wife take the children.

And she has to be grateful.

But usually, they always go with the father.

In my home country, when you get divorced...

That's just in Iraq, in Europe, it's always the woman.

In Africa,

it's always the woman who keeps the children.

Not in Iraq.

-In Iraq, woman are like this. -It's automatic.

You know? This is women.

For example.

Women are like that.

-They're tiny. -Tiny.

Men always take priority.

Men take the children, men work,

men do everything...

And she's nothing.

That's a shame.

Even today, in the 21st century, that's still going on?

-Huh? -Even now?

Even now.

They're human beings,

they have the right to a life as well.

Yeah, but...

To breathe, for goodness' sake!

Who do you think you're talking to?

You, an Iraqi!

When you go home, you have to change that mentality.

You have to say: "That's not how it is."

OK, and if I do, then no more Ammar.

Yeah. Boom, that's it.

They'll kill you?

Yeah, that's right.

Or they'll say: "What's this?

"You come back from Europe,

"you've taken in their system, what are you doing? Goodbye."

That's it.

So you're stuck living the rest of your life in Europe, then?

-Me? -Yeah.

Of course!

No, but seriously!

Honestly.

Thank God I'm here.

What's that noise?

Music,

from people's houses.

It's music.

You want a hand?

Hello, sir, how are you?

-Good, you? -Good, thank you!

Good evening.

Hello, young man!

-Hi. -How are you?

I bought a scooter.

I bought a really nice scooter.

When you have to pay nine francs for parking every time,

that's hard for me!

That's too much.

With a scooter, you get free parking spaces.

It makes my life easier.

And in two years, I'll give it to my son.

Do you know how to ride one?

No, honey! How would I know that?

So you have to take lessons, then.

No, because I have a driving license, so I don't have to.

Can you ride a bike?

Nope!

But I can drive!

I drive everywhere.

But I'll learn. I'll go out by myself,

up and down, everywhere. I'll go by myself, and...

If I fall off, you'll all know about it!

That's funny!

In my goddaughter's apartment here,

the apartment has belonged to various families.

Someone's distant cousin used to live in that apartment.

She lived in the neighborhood,

and she fell in love with a young man from Chandieu.

-Oh, just nearby? -But the two areas were rivals.

Faverges and Chandieu had problems.

These people didn't mix with those, and vice-versa.

So these two fell in love.

Of course, they live so close by, they met and fell in love!

But the problem was they weren't allowed to see each other.

So, you know the river?

What they'd do is go out at night, or early in the morning,

and they'd meet there,

because here, with everyone watching...

If someone saw them, then the doorman would know,

then your neighbor on the fifth floor and on the sixth...

So they had to avoid being seen. Because of the neighbors.

Their parents wouldn't have accepted it.

So they came here, and then...

I don't know if this is just a family legend,

-but one night, they disappeared. -Both of them?

I guess...

when I lived in Madrid, my father stopped me from doing anything!

So I understand why they just disappeared.

That's true.

When I came to Faverges, my neighbor was a Swiss woman.

She'd lived there for at least 50 years, a very long time.

She told me that story.

She said my son shouldn't go to school in Chandieu.

That I should never agree to that, not in Chandieu, no way.

He could go to Léman. But if they did it like they used to,

and a kid from here went to Chandieu...

Because it's so close! You just go across, and you're there.

It's so close. It's easier to go to Chandieu.

I remember my family watching me.

In Colombia too, they always want to know...

-Back home for me too. -It's like that for us too.

-That's true. -Where you are, who you're with...

I had to go with my brother. He's a year older.

And I used to have to beg him to go to parties with me

so my dad would let me go. He'd blackmail me to get him to stay!

It's the same in Cuba. We call the old ladies security cameras.

As soon as they look out their window they know everything!

-What do you call them? -Security cameras.

They were always there. If anything at all happened...

If your boyfriend came up on his scooter,

They'd be saying: "Oh, Yumi's boyfriend is here!"

-I saw him! -Now that's you on your scooter!

You're right. It's your neighbors who watch everything going on.

Some outsider might come in, but they're only there for a moment.

Then they go. They don't live here.

Your neighbors are always there.

And more and more,

we've become individualists.

We used to pay more attention to other people.

Whether that was for gossip, or to look out for people.

-Or both. -Right.

Now everyone

stays in their own homes.

If you're good, you're good, and if not...

And every person has their own story.

I don't know why that story about the apartment came to mind.

For years now, in that apartment, people have been coming here

to live here, others have left, and come back...

It's like all these family stories.

I imagine we're not the only ones who have a story like that.

And you bring your family, from far away.

Your dad, your mom... Whoever might need you.

I brought you!

Yes! I came here because she was born!

She was about to be born, and I came, just for a vacation!

But you came for me!

That's what they used to tell me when I was a kid.

You're changing the whole story, oh no!

I love you! But I came here...

-because... -Time for the truth!

Things with your grandfather had become unbearable.

He told me: "Go help your sister for a year."

I took three months of vacation...

And I'm still here.

-You've never gone back? -Never.

For various reasons...

But, well...

I think there are a lot of examples just like that.

-I came for three months too. -You too!

And I've been here for three or four, I don't know how many years.

But I only came for three months.

We all came for just a short time.

But now I haven't been home in four years.

Three or four years, I don't know anymore.

-The whole time? -Exactly.

I think you feel powerless, when you're far away,

and you can't help.

It's hard when...

And since you're far away, you have no...

no weight.

That's true.

With the distance, it's hard.

Yes, it's really hard.

You can't give your opinion or anything.

You can't say anything about what's happening to them.

I'm alone, and no one realizes that...

that I'm alone, with no family, no one.

I don't have anyone either, all my family is over there.

If you have a problem,

they're all over there.

You get through life with your intuition.

But alone.

My mother came here because I begged her.

She stayed for three months then left.

She never came back.

My sister said she wasn't interested. No one wants to.

I'd like them to come to see my son, at school,

so he can have a family.

My son is alone. He's got no cousins, no brothers.

They're all so far away.

I think the worst thing is the powerlessness.

In every sense.

When good things happen, and you miss them,

and you can't be there for sad things either.

You give your opinion, but it doesn't count.

There are two sides to it.

You can have a different perspective,

but you also don't have the context.

So you can't see things the way they do.

You have to read these things, and know your limits.

You don't know what's changing there,

how they are, what the situation is like...

So you have to accept that powerlessness.

Like you said,

we make our choices for various reasons.

-For different reasons. -Yes, but we did choose it.

And we chose the bad and the good.

But personally, when you were telling that story, it reminded me...

I think, now that I've been here for so long,

that you leave because you want to leave.

When you leave, you don't know why you want to.

You make excuses, maybe.

But deep down inside, something is saying: "I don't want to be here."

There are different reasons,

violence, or family,

or pressure,

to get away from a reality that you don't like,

or because you want to see things you've never seen before.

I left in 2003.

First I went to Spain, then Italy, then here.

And I realized that I left to get away

from the pressure from my family.

It wasn't a bad kind of pressure.

But I wanted to explore life. I wanted to know who I am.

And that story of the girl who had so much pressure on her

and in the end decided to do something, we don't know what,

the uncertain future of some tragic event...

Or the future you choose, because: "I'm leaving because..."

"I've had enough!"

I don't want to see my parents anymore.

She didn't want to be criticized, she wanted to live her life, like us.

And it's hard when you feel a love that's forbidden.

You fall in love, you can't do anything about it.

It's beautiful.

It's beautiful, you know... It sustains you.

Good evening.

Hello?

Hello, hello?

Hello, can you hear me?

Can you hear me, Ammar?

Answer me, please.

Yeah, hi Ammar, listen, it's Daniel, from work.

I've been trying to call you for a while now,

but you're not picking up, unfortunately.

I don't know what's happened to you.

Well, if you get this message,

call me back, my boy.

I'm starting to get worried.

Call me back, please, it's the least you can do.

OK? Counting on you.

Get back to me, Ammar, tell me what's going on.

That would be nice. Thank you, see you later, bye.

Counting on you.

I hope it's nothing serious, you know?

Thanks, speak to you later.

It's Daniel, from work.

WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY TIZIAN BÜCHI

FOR BERNARD FOR FATIMA

Subtitling: TransPerfect Media