Original subtitles

You look beautiful, sister.

I know.

Thank you.

Hey...

You're not married yet.

Ismaël...

You see her smile?

Yeah. I see yours too.

Move it!

WE'LL FIND HAPPINESS

Mr. Reza Mohammadi,

as your representative,

do I have your permission to enter you in a lifelong marriage

with Ms. Ava Kiani,

with her dowry and other conditions?

May I have your permission?

With the blessing of my parents, yes.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

My son...

Dad.

This is the best day of my life.

No, it's mine.

And look at you, the wife of a chemist.

I'm not officially a chemist yet!

I'm proud of you. You're my daughter-in-law now.

Look at you! You're emotional.

Ava...

I wish you all the happiness in the world.

You'll have your turn.

You...

I'll have my eye on you.

Now make your father happy.

Dad, no.

He's going to sing!

Reza's going to sing!

SODOMITES

Reza?

Come with us.

You have to come with us.

Shame on you!

Run, Reza, run!

Stop!

Ismaël!

That's for last time!

Oh yeah?

Come in.

Hi.

Hi, Nora.

It's all there?

Yes. But you know you don't have to do this.

It's my pleasure.

It's really nice of you.

I'm sorry. I'll buy a washing machine.

How is Reza?

He's not good.

I don't know what to do.

He can't stay there. He'll lose it.

Stay strong.

I'll bring it back this week.

Thank you.

Thank you.

We're back, live from the Radio-Canada headquarters.

We're here with the Honorable Gloria Price,

Federal Minister of Immigration and Citizenship.

Before the break, we were talking about Canada's generosity toward asylum seekers.

Yes, but we can't forget this generosity has its limits.

Asylum seekers have a long road ahead of them if they want to stay.

Gloria Price.

Move it!

Gloria Price...

Ms. Price! Ms. Price!

Ms. Price!

Madam.

Madam! Please, Ms. Price.

Reza, my friend from Iran. They'll deport him.

Sorry.

Thank you for being here.

Laurent?

Laurent?

Hey! Hi there!

How are you?

Great. Things are good?

Yeah, still working for the Minister.

Lunch soon?

Taxi! Sir, taxi!

Thank you.

Hey, let's get together soon?

For dinner or something.

No, it's over with Martin. We broke up.

OK, that works. Bye.

I like what you're wearing.

You have good taste.

That's nice of you to say. Thanks.

Keep the change. I don't need a receipt.

This is my number.

If ever you need anything.

Thanks, Saad.

You?

Hi, how are you?

Hello?

Hey, Habibi. How's it going?

OK, clear out.

Get out of here!

There's more there. Send them to the front.

Clean up this mess.

We're evacuating.

Go on, guys. Go!

Move it, move it!

It'll help.

Hey. Are you following me?

Yes.

I never do this.

This way.

We'll take you to a social services agency.

You'll apply for asylum, OK?

No prints, no identity.

What do we do with him?

We'll take him to the ER.

If you behave, everything will be fine.

Can I help you?

Do you have any tea?

No.

I can get some if you want.

I don't take breakfast.

I have to go soon.

I have a big day today.

Want a ride somewhere?

No, thank you.

No charge.

No. Don't go to the trouble.

I'll take an Uber.

OK, I'm off.

Yeah? OK.

Well, thanks.

It was fun.

Yeah, it was cool.

Bye.

Bye.

I'm sorry. I don't usually take guys home.

I mean, we don't usually wake up together.

I mean, you're so hot. It was great.

My name is Laurent.

Get in.

Has anyone ever told you you smell really good?

No, not recently.

- No? - No.

Well, you smell really good.

Has anyone ever told you you're a great kisser?

Hey, stop.

- What? - I'm driving. We'll never make it.

The association will pay the first few months.

There's a stove and a fridge.

We'll bring mattresses this afternoon.

Thank you.

I live next door if you need anything.

Hi, Laurent?

Hi.

I miss you already.

I can't stop thinking about you.

I miss your lips, your body. I miss your voice.

You're a romantic.

If you only knew.

Let's hang out soon then.

Anytime. OK.

I gotta get back to work.

Thanks.

Want one of you together?

If you don't mind, yeah.

It's my pleasure.

Thank you.

Good. Another one?

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Have you been here long?

A few months, yeah.

Oh, welcome to Rawdon.

Well, to Quebec.

Do you mind taking a photo with the truck?

My pleasure.

Thank you.

It's really nice of you.

Hi.

Hi.

Show me your hands.

You know fingerprints grow back.

Your temporary resident permit is renewed.

- Thanks. - Have a nice day.

- Thanks. - We changed scents.

It's lavender. Does he like lavender?

Yes, he loves perfumes. He'll be happy.

- Great. - Thank you so much.

Hi.

Can we talk for a minute?

Yes, of course.

He didn't ask me about hiding here.

Reza is fragile.

When we got here,

he was so cold, he thought we had taken the wrong boat.

Do you know why they want to send him back to Iran?

The Commissioner just changed her mind. I don't know why.

When they tried to arrest him, he ran away.

He's been here for far too long.

I know.

Thank you, again.

Sheltering someone who should be deported is a crime.

So now I'm complicit.

He can't be seen in the church.

You can stay the night.

Thank you.

Hi.

I'd like to meet your friends.

Oh yeah?

Yeah. I'd like to get to know you a bit better.

I don't know if...

If what?

They're not really your kind of people.

What's my kind of people?

That's not what I mean.

Tell me, who are your kind of people?

It's just that they're friends, but they're also coworkers.

We're always talking about work.

I promise I'll find them fascinating.

Maybe even less boring than you.

You're so handsome.

Oh yeah?

You'll end up convincing me.

- Hello. - Hello.

- Laurent Gauthier, please. - Yes.

The Seychelles, though.

Apparently, the beaches there are super clean.

Not very gay-friendly.

Well, gay-friendly...

Here he is.

Saad, meet Jeanne, a friend and colleague.

And Martin, a former colleague and friend.

We've been more than friends.

- So, Jeanne? - Yes.

- And Martin. - Yes.

Nice to meet you.

And what was your name again?

Saad.

Like the car, but a D instead of a B.

This is a nice place.

Laurent isn't a Starbucks type.

We were talking about vacation spots.

The Seychelles, specifically.

Where's that?

The Seychelles, in the Indian Ocean.

It's nice there?

Thank you.

Thanks.

It's on me.

Where are you from?

North Africa.

Feel free to ask about it, yeah?

Yes, sure.

How long have you lived here?

It's been a year and a half.

You must know some good beaches.

Yeah, of course.

One in particular, yeah.

Miles of sandy beaches, the ocean at the foot of the buildings.

It's beautiful.

What did you study?

Geography.

You studied geography, but you don't know where the Seychelles are?

Don't worry. We've all been interrogated by her.

Professional training.

Careful, the plates are hot.

- Chicken with seasonal vegetables. - Thank you.

Mushroom risotto.

Two duck breasts with grilled vegetables.

What do you do for work?

I'm a taxi driver.

Washing dishes, cleaning, working the fields, driving taxis...

That's about it for new immigrants, huh?

No thanks, I don't drink.

Do you have any tea?

Yes, I'll bring the selection.

Thank you.

Is there anyone in your life?

I don't know how to answer that.

Pardon.

The Bai Mudan is a white tea. We have an orange blossom oolong.

We have a smoked tea, a jasmine tea.

A bergamot black tea.

We also have a standard...

...with citrus and floral notes.

Have you decided?

Where are the washrooms?

That way.

Very cute.

I haven't seen you this happy in a long time.

I can't explain it. It's...

It's serious.

SPAIN

Dad...

Dad, it's me, Reza.

You!

Hey, you!

Give me the phone.

I'm OK.

Give me the phone!

Please!

Give me that.

Ismaël...

I'm not done with you.

Karim Berrada.

Now everyone will know you hit a guard.

It'll be on your record anywhere you go.

ENTRY BAN TO THE EUROPEAN UNION

Make me a copy.

Your hand.

The other one.

Go.

Why are you introducing us?

Seriously?

What is it?

His age? His race?

You haven't known him that long.

I like him, a lot.

Me too.

Well, you...

- What? - You like everything.

Not everything.

My friends are assholes.

Yeah, I felt like I was being interrogated.

I'm sorry, really.

Here, for you.

What is it?

Tea.

It may not have floral notes, but you'll have it when you come over.

And this too.

So you don't have to knock to come in.

Thank you.

My pleasure.

Why are you so nice?

I don't know how to be mean.

And you?

Why do you seem so far away sometimes?

Homesick, I guess.

I don't know how to explain it.

Try.

Let's just say it wasn't as easy as I said earlier.

You little whore!

Cocksucker!

Sissy!

If we see you here again, you're dead.

Tell me.

Over there, you have two options.

You hide yourself and make sure no one knows...

or you wind up in prison.

I decided to leave.

Come here.

Ready for another boring outing next week?

I'm solid. You'll see.

Oh yeah?

An artist my boss likes is having an opening.

She'll be there?

Yeah.

She's a bit uptight, I'm warning you.

OK, my handsome geographer, time for bed, huh?

Where are the Seychelles again?

Don't be scared. I know Laurent.

I'm a friend.

My name is Saad.

You scared me.

Sorry.

Thank you.

Laurent is a good man.

You're Moroccan?

You speak Darija, like my husband.

Laurent helped you with your papers?

No. He hired me.

I'm studying urban planning, and I didn't have any money.

I'm also working for his friends until I graduate.

Are you sleeping with him for papers?

What kind of person do you think I am?

That's insulting.

Laurent is generous.

Don't hurt him, OK?

Yes, good!

OK, let's try in French?

Who do we find on the $5 bill?

- We found... - We find.

We find the face of...

Wilfrid Laurier.

Yes, good!

Happy.

Happy?

I am happy.

- Hi, Reza. - Hi.

- Hi, Saad. - Hi.

I brought the photos.

Photos of us, the apartment, our room.

Photos proving we're a couple.

I'm sorry, I can't swear you in.

What?

We won't need you today.

But I'm Reza's only connection.

Yes, but we don't know who you are.

Of course you do.

That was before I found out you don't legally exist.

We have to put the odds in his favor.

Here, their job isn't to let in immigrants.

It's more like the opposite.

Unless you decide to disclose your real identity, of course.

I'm Saad.

Prove it.

You can stay in the room, but don't do or say anything.

Council.

Mr. Reza Mohammadi, an Iranian national,

seeks asylum in Canada according to the Convention on the Status of Refugees

due to threats against him because of his sexual orientation.

Mr. Mohammadi is a homosexual.

Mr. Mohammadi fled Iran during his arrest.

He has a police record.

His return to the country would put him at risk of corporal punishment

and death.

Like thousands of other Iranian refugees, he passed through Türkiye,

who granted him temporary asylum.

He later went to Spain, and then France,

before arriving clandestinely in the Port of Montreal.

Mr. Reza has difficulty speaking English at times.

He will on occasion speak in his mother tongue, Farsi.

We thank the court for providing an interpreter on such short notice.

Thank you.

Sir.

Thank you.

Sir, you'll understand I have to confirm your lawyer's claims.

We're seeing a high number of claims

due to discrimination based on sexual orientation.

As everyone knows, Canada is a country of asylum

for LGBTQ+ persons from around the world,

but our capacity is limited.

So, Mr. Mohammadi...

unfortunately, we have no material evidence,

no photos, no witnesses corroborating the claims made by your...

Sit down.

...your lawyer concerning your sexual orientation.

Tell me.

When were your first homosexual experiences?

No, answer.

Did you get pleasure from looking at other boys?

Good.

Now, tell me,

when did you first have sexual relations with a man?

Answer, Mr. Mohammadi.

Why is he asking these kinds of questions?

I was 14, maybe 12 years old.

I don't remember the year.

I can't say his name. It could put him in danger.

I understand.

In that case, tell me,

how would you describe the sexual encounter?

I can't say these things in front of everyone.

I can't say it.

I'd like to be clear.

I have six claims to hear today.

I don't have much time for hesitations.

I'll ask everyone to leave.

Except for you and your client, Counselor.

You stay here.

What's going on?

No idea, but you have to leave.

Mr. Mohammadi was married in Iran.

He abandoned his wife.

He never said he was married in Iran.

You lied.

I'm sorry.

Mr. Reza Mohammadi, come with us.

We have a deportation warrant.

What did he do, sir?

Is it OK?

You don't need it.

Our first date in high society.

You OK?

Yeah, I'm OK.

Thank you.

Marc!

See you later.

It's beautiful.

- Hello. - Hi.

Looking good, Saad.

Thank you. You look nice too, Jeanne.

Oh, it's an old dress.

Never compliment a woman, here in Quebec. It's dangerous.

Excuse me.

The Minister is here. I'll introduce you.

Madam Minister, meet my friend Saad.

Saad. Is that your first or last name?

His first name.

What's your last name again?

Idrissa.

Saad Idrissa.

- Idrissa... North African? - Yes, Madam.

From which country?

Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco?

Madam, I have to tell you something.

It's very important.

I'm listening.

It's...

Saad.

Your dress is so beautiful.

Thank you.

That was the important thing you had to tell me?

Yes, because they say it's dangerous to compliment a woman here.

Excuse me.

Saad?

- You OK? - Yes, don't worry.

I'm going home.

- What? - It's fine. You stay.

You're doing everything you can?

Are you OK?

I'm giving you your suit back.

What? At this hour?

I have to see your boss again.

What?

I'm sorry, I embarrassed you.

Wait, what do you want from the Minister?

I don't want her to think I'm taking advantage of you.

Why would she think that?

Because I'm waiting for permanent residency.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO ERASE FINGERPRINTS WITHOUT AMPUTATING FINGERS?

UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS IN QUEBEC

SEVEN UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS FOUND IN A PORT OF MONTREAL CONTAINER

Yes.

I'm calling to confirm the Minister's attendance at the benefit.

Yes.

Yes, she's thrilled to attend.

Yes, I have all the details.

See you soon?

Thanks, see you soon.

Jeanne?

I'm listening.

Come see.

That man is Reza Mohammadi...

a 23-year-old Iranian man who managed to escape Iran.

He evaded deportation six weeks ago.

I know we don't deport to Iran, but...

he lied to the Commissioner.

And you don't lie to a Commissioner.

He arrived in Montreal by boat with a boyfriend.

He...

is the boyfriend.

No one in North Africa fits the description of Saad Idrissa.

He has no fingerprints, so he can invent any name or story.

We don't know where he's from or who he is,

so we have to keep him.

I don't know what he wants from you, but...

he wants something.

I'm sorry.

Hey. How are you?

Yeah, I'm good.

I'm glad you wanted to see me.

There's no more tea.

- Excuse me. - Yes?

- Can we have some tea? - Of course.

Fatima told me you're Moroccan.

Thank you.

Who?

My cleaning lady.

Yes. But why are you talking about this?

Because my cleaning lady knows more about you than I do.

I was born and raised in Gatineau. My dad teaches at the college there.

My mom is a civil servant. I have two sisters.

I don't know anything about you.

That's not true.

Where are you from?

What do your parents do in life?

What do you want to do in life?

I'm a taxi driver now.

A taxi driver. That's what you want to be?

Why so serious? Did I do something wrong?

I don't get it.

Who are you?

It's fine. I gotta go.

Hi, Jeanne.

Go ahead, but I want to be there.

OK.

Saad Idrissa.

This way.

Hi, Saad.

Can you tell me what's going on?

Reza Mohammadi.

Yes.

A year and a half ago, you arrived at the Port of Montreal together.

You can leave us.

You have no authority here.

Two minutes.

It was all...

All for him?

You were at his asylum hearing?

Reza's lawyer confirmed it.

Why didn't you ask for anything?

Ask for what? Seriously.

Was I supposed to ask when you got into my taxi?

"Hi, sir. I saw you with the minister.

Can you save Reza?"

Can you imagine?

How would that have looked? Desperate.

You would have politely said you couldn't do anything and left.

Or should I have asked the first time we had sex?

"Did you cum, Laurent? Yeah?

Can you save Reza now?"

Tell me, what was I supposed to do?

Laurent, now,

now I'm asking you to let me meet the Minister again.

Because if we don't do anything, after they give Reza a nice whipping,

they'll hang him from a crane and leave him to die.

Public hanging so everyone knows it's wrong for boys to sleep with boys.

That's what will happen.

I'll lose my job.

I'm telling you someone will die, and you're talking about your fucking job?

We're nothing to you, huh?

Nothing at all.

Everything OK?

Reza wants to be a chemist.

His wife told us that too.

What are you saying?

We reached her in Iran.

What wife?

You didn't know Reza had a wife?

What?

Her name is Ava.

Do you know where we can find Reza?

Can I go?

We can accuse you of being complicit.

Sure.

You can hang me from a crane too.

That'll make two of us.

We were happy.

No, Jeanne. No, it's not personal.

We can't send him off to be hung in Iran. It's crazy!

Listen, forget it.

Yes, Gilbert?

It's Laurent Gauthier.

Yes. I have something for you.

You have to publish it online as soon as possible.

An anonymous source claims

immigration agents entered a Montreal church this afternoon.

They arrested a young homosexual man who will be deported to Iran.

Immigration Canada has violated what many believe to be a sacred sanctuary

for refugees.

Got it?

You wrote it all down?

Tell as many people as possible.

The Minister has a public event tonight inaugurating a center for immigrants.

Yeah.

I'll send you the details.

Yeah.

I just created a huge crisis to manage.

Yes, I know.

No. No, Madam Minister.

I have no idea who leaked the information.

I know. It's all over social media.

It was just on the news.

Perfect.

I'll wait for your response.

Thank you.

Take a shower.

Why?

Yes?

No comment from the Minister yet. I'll get back to you.

Perfect.

Take your shower and put this on.

I don't understand.

Reza will be deported tonight.

Wait, what are you talking about?

Hurry. I'll explain.

Yes.

Great, thanks.

MIGRANTS MATTER HOMOSEXUALITY IS A CRIME IN 69 COUNTRIES

Shit.

Madam Minister, your opinion.

The Minister will not take any questions regarding Reza Mohammadi's case.

Will he be deported?

That'll be all, thank you.

They expected a pardon.

Good evening.

Good evening. Welcome to our problems, Mr. Idrissa.

What are you doing? You'll lose everything.

- Madam Minister... - It'll be OK.

...community allies, generous donors,

ladies and gentlemen, welcome to our fundraiser

to build a new center for the integration of immigrants.

The center will allow...

Reza is on the way to the airport.

...and refugees looked after by the state...

Please welcome the Honorable Gloria Price,

Minister of Immigration and MP for the Ville-Marie riding.

Madam Minister.

Go, now.

Madam, I need to talk to you. Now.

- It's not the time. - It's urgent.

I want you to grant Reza Mohammadi clemency.

Let me give my speech, and then we'll talk.

No, right away! Now!

This is Reza and I.

In our first winter outfits.

This is Reza and I in Rawdon.

The woman who took the photo runs the food truck.

She told us we were welcome.

And Reza had a huge smile on his face.

I don't have enough photos to show you, but Reza is a good man.

Really. He'll be a great chemist someday.

Saad, please.

I'm not Saad.

I...

I'm Karim Berrada.

My father is Sajda Berrada.

I was born in the Tiznit area, in the Valley of Roses in Morocco.

I...

I have two sisters and a brother.

And I just want to save Reza.

So please help me. Save him.

If he goes back to his country, they'll hang him, Madam.

They'll hang him. Please, Madam.

Please. No, please.

Saad, please.

Please...

ADR. The ADR program.

Get me the name of the commissioner who decided to deport him.

Ladies and gentlemen, people from around the globe...

I was going to welcome you

and thank you,

but Mr. Berrada stepped in and spoke from the heart.

This man is living proof

of the long road each and every one of you have taken.

I'd like to use this speech

to announce that I've decided to use the privilege granted by my position

to appeal the decision to deport Mr. Reza Mohammadi

through the ADR,

the Administrative Deferral of Removals for humanitarian reasons.

Thank you.

I don't know how to thank you.

It wouldn't have happened without you.

We saved him. Do you realize?

What happened between us was real.

Believe me.

Karim Berrada,

you're under arrest for using a false identity

and making false declarations to Immigration Canada.

Reza Mohammadi, welcome to Canada.

Dear Habibi...

this is the first time I write to you in French.

A friend corrected my letter.

I think about you every day,

but I still can't make sense of all the sacrifices you made for me.

I have to tell you I'm doing well.

My chemistry studies were recognized.

I'm happy,

and I'll always love you.

Your Reza.

Translation by Elisabeth Gillies

Subtitles by MELS