Original subtitles

JOURNEY TO ARMENIA

Well?

Well?

You need to see a surgeon. I'll set up an appointment.

A surgeon?

I don't need a surgeon!

Actually, you do. It's your heart, Barsam.

If it's my heart, I'll decide.

Stop calling me Barsam. I'm your father!

I'll put it differently then, Dad.

You need an operation.

I'll see to the hospital and doctors.

We'll pick a rest home together.

My daughter knows what's what.

She's studied. She knows the mechanics.

She knows what the body and heart need.

Hold on! Don't talk to me like that.

Where do you get this bossy attitude of yours from?

Not from Mum, that's clear.

Not with the way you never left her any room.

You don't know about your mother and me.

You've never understood.

That's life, not mechanics.

It's a pity, I'd have liked to teach you something before...

before going.

He hasn't answered for three days.

He's angry because we argued. He's sulking to punish me.

You're worried?

I'm not worried...

But I'm responsible. He's my father.

Responsible for your father?

For your daughter, up to a certain age,

but your father...

He can't have gone back!

He was only there for three years in the early 1950s.

His life's here. His family's here.

Why is he doing this to me?

He's a pain.

He's such a pain.

He wants you to go.

Exactly. The selfish old fool has won again!

Listen, Anna, I lost my dad when I was 25.

I never told him I loved him.

I still miss those words now.

You love your father too.

He's selfish, he's a pain, he made your mother unhappy...

But go there now.

Go and tell him that he's a pain if you want.

Go, do it for your sake.

Hello.

Anna...

It's Anna, Barsam's daughter. The doctor.

Hello, my dear.

We haven't seen you in ages.

Not since your communion.

You haven't changed that much.

Sit down and let's have a look at you.

What brings you here like this?

It's about Dad.

What's he done now?

He's left. For Armenia.

I was wondering if you knew

where I could find him.

I have to see him. He's sick.

I have my ticket. I'm going to find him.

If ever he told you anything,

it would make things easier for me.

The thing is, he told us nothing.

Just leave him be. He'll know how to find you if he needs you.

Anna!

That's a nice car.

A Mercedes! That's good.

The thing is, my nephew is leaving for Armenia on Monday.

The businessman.

Maybe he'll be able to help you there. Call him.

His name is Sarkis...

Mrs Alexandrian?

Delamain. Anna Delamain. Sarkis?

Sarkis Arabian. The nephew. I'll escort your wife to Yerevan.

Your daughter? - Jeannette.

Not coming to Armenia?

Going to wait for Mummy?

We'll land at one in the morning.

Don't worry, I'll have a car waiting.

I'll give you my number.

If there's any problem, call me.

Leave a message if necessary.

It's nothing...

What's going on?

I have to take this to her family in Yerevan.

There's money in here, with photos and a letter.

We all fill in for Western Union.

It's more reliable between Armenians.

And there's no fee.

You think you're in a nightclub? Turn it down, you idiot!

Sorry. It's always the same.

Whenever I turn my back, it's chaos.

That's why my family is in France.

Life's safer and better.

The spirit's not good here. It's a young country.

All these people who sit around waiting for the state to feed them

can't see you need to work to get a car like this.

Know what's wrong about Communism?

It makes people jealous.

They're not just lazy, they're not just devoid of ambition,

they're envious too. They hate success.

They don't like change.

But they all agree when it comes to complaining.

And they'll never take any risks.

If an American gets rich, it's progress. Here, it's a sin.

I want to spare my kids that.

I'd have chosen America if it was closer.

But I don't want to spend my life on planes.

When my family left Turkey, it settled in France.

All right, France will do.

Not too far, not too communist...

I was a communist. A militant one. For twenty years.

But your husband wasn't.

Because he owns his business?

He was. Maybe still is.

The thing about communists

is you've never lived under them in France

It doesn't cost you much to dream.

You never got the consequences.

I'd have been a communist too, if I'd been rich enough.

I speak both French and English.

I'll pick you up at ten to go to the French embassy.

Maybe they'll know something.

You're lucky. My cousin works there.

Her name is Gayane Arabian. Arabian like me.

This is her number. 91 is her mobile.

- Good night. - Thank you.

See you tomorrow.

You never understood your mother and me.

You know nothing.

It's a pity, I'd have liked to teach you something before...

before going.

Good morning.

Ararat.

Yes, Mount Ararat.

Has anyone called for me? For Mrs Delamain?

Sorry, no calls for you.

He's offering to take you for a short drive.

One hour or so, then he'll bring you back here.

Why not?

The driver doesn't speak French.

So?

Give me a piece of paper, please. And a pen.

It's for Mr Arabian, if he bothers to turn up.

After all, he can wait for me too.

No, keep it.

It's good.

Car.

I'm Anna. And you?

Hairdresser. Hair.

For your daughter, up to a certain age,

but your father...

Go to his place.

You have the keys. Use them for once.

Mount Ararat.

Gayane Arabian?

Your cousin Sarkis told me to call you.

He told you?

Yes, it's about my father.

The embassy closes at three?

This evening? Not before? But I only have a week.

All right, this evening. That's very kind of you.

See you later.

Hello, Lala! How are you?

Mrs Delamain is here from France. I'm her driver.

She doesn't speak Armenian.

She says I speak French.

She says I did studies. But I've stopped now.

She says your husband will be pleased.

Your husband or your friend.

Perhaps you have a friend in Yerevan. We don't know.

No, I don't have a friend here.

But I have a husband in France.

How about you? Do you have a friend? A boyfriend?

First, I want to leave Armenia. I want to make my living.

After, when I come back, then I look for a husband.

But I don't want to marry here now,

with a boy who wants to spend his life here.

What can we do here? Nothing.

We work. We're poor. We have no opportunities.

You think you can find them elsewhere? Where?

In America. In Germany. In France.

Opportunities are better in France, you know that.

What's your name?

Schake.

I can do everything and I work hard.

Housework, children hair, color jobs...

I dance too.

If you give me work in France, you don't regret it.

What about your marriage?

After, I come back here and I marry.

But perhaps I meet a French boy and I stay in France.

Who can say?

You want coffee? I'm going to make coffee.

Yes, not too strong, please.

We do a good French manicure here.

The nails are beautiful. I do it.

No, thank you. I'll get used to this new hair-do first.

It could be too risky, all at once.

That's much better!

A beautiful woman is a well-groomed woman!

Wonderful.

Cut flower vendors.

They have stalls outside houses, lit up at night. It's pretty.

Yes, Sarkis is guiding me. You could say that.

Yes, me too. Me too.

Gayane?

- Hasmik. - How do you do.

Hayk.

Are you a doctor?

Yes. Why?

You know, I know a French doctor

who works from a bus used as a dispensary.

It's easy to find. Just ask for Yervanth's dispensary.

His name's Yervanth?

No, his name's Simon. Yervanth is his boss.

Eat, eat.

About your father...

The embassy can't do much to find him.

He's an adult, free to do as he wants.

Don't you know his friends here?

I have a recent photo of him.

And...

this old photo of a group, taken in Armenia.

The man in the middle is Martin Hovanessian.

Who's that?

A world famous Armenian musician.

We'll go to see him tomorrow.

You were right to come, Anna.

To Anna

who has come to seek her father in his country

and to all Armenian daughters

who should follow her example

and take care of their aging fathers like her.

Translate!

He says you're a good daughter and that your father is lucky.

Not every father dreams of a daughter like me.

To all of you, for welcoming me like a daughter.

No message from Sarkis Arabian?

No, no messages.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Good morning.

No, I'm going out on my own today.

On foot.

On foot. Walking.

The Russians didn't dare destroy this church.

They built buildings all around it.

The times were like that.

It's beautiful.

Very beautiful.

Thank you, Manouk.

He's the one you need to thank.

You don't turn your back on the Lord.

You mustn't show him your behind. Understand?

I understand.

We'll go to the hair salon.

We have time to kill. Let's do it with people we know.

Again?

Yes. Again.

For the job that you find me in France,

I write my address and here's my photo.

You keep it and you think about my job.

I can't promise.

I know. You promise nothing.

You keep the address. You look for me. You don't forget.

Eight thousand drams.

Are you pleased?

Not here!

I don't want that kind of thing in my salon!

You help people out too.

Why you and not me?

She's old. She always shouts.

I help people, that's all. And she shouts.

Sarkis Arabian's car... Did you see his car?

Sarkis Arabian! The big car! Did you see it?

I don't watch the street, I read my paper.

Anna...

We can't see Martin Hovanessian.

He was performing in New York and just got back. He's tired.

He can see you tomorrow afternoon.

Is that okay?

If I have no choice.

I fly home in seven days.

That's good. Seven days is enough.

God took seven days and did everything.

He even rested on the seventh.

That's how it is. We can make many things go faster but not time.

Yes, I know that.

Is that new?

Brand new.

It's pretty-

It's Armenian. I'm fitting in.

He's a selfish old man.

A pain in the ass too.

Yes, he made your mother unhappy.

Now go there.

God took seven days and did everything.

You can't make time go faster...

I know a French doctor who works in a bus.

Simon. Yervanth's his boss.

Doctor. French doctor.

Don't be scared. It isn't serious.

Dr Anna Delamain.

Simon Melkonian.

Want to help me?

There.

There too.

Do you want to feel?

Kids are the most susceptible.

And we can't do much.

Until they put an end to the mess, we won't be much use at all.

The nuclear dump, the rubber factory,

the cement works...

Even if they accept the health risk of pollution,

no one will stop working. This isn't Germany.

But the guidelines?

They have them.

In documents, in a drawer.

All neatly filed. It's an old habit here.

Anaemia.

Here's what we'll do.

I'll draw up a prescription. Send them to the hospital.

They may have some iron left there. All right?

The worst part is the lack of medication.

I can't get far with my stock.

They don't have medicine?

Not enough.

There's no welfare here.

You pay, making medicine a trade too. It's depressing.

So why?

- Why what? - Why here?

Why not here? Why elsewhere?

My name's Melkonian. A local name, right?

It could just as easily have been Lagos or Ulan Bator.

But I had to choose somehow, so I went with my name.

Tomorrow...

What a day!

Meet Yervanth. Yervanth is...

our manager... our logistician...

The salvation of this place and this doctor's boss.

Yeah, right.

Meet Anna. Anna is a doctor, a French doctor.

A volunteer. She's earned dinner, if you have time.

I'm the accountant and the bank. I'll buy the nurse dinner too.

I'm a doctor. A cardiologist.

Sorry, doctor. I was just kidding

Good bye.

The Marseilles skyline.

Simon!

Loucinee...

Loucinee, how are you?

- Fine. And you? - I'm okay.

Loucinee is a great pianist.

In a small country.

You can't make a living as a pianist here.

But, since she's an excellent cook,

she's opened this musical restaurant.

We're lucky. I'm not sure about her.

We'll see. Please go in.

Let's go.

That's General Yervanth.

I talk too much. It's dangerous in Armenia

I see you've handled one before.

Not at all. No, not at all.

That's when I left Marseilles.

If I'd stayed, I'd have got life.

It wasn't the bank. Banks are used to it.

The trouble was, I opened fire.

I didn't kill anyone but the gun bothered them.

Stealing to eat, fine, but not for the revolution.

You couldn't give ideas to people who had none.

- When was that? - A long time ago.

The Asala?

The Asala. The doc knows a thing or two!

For me, it was logical. Commitment led to resistance.

I took off before they got their hands on me.

I came home to a country I didn't know.

And since I knew the armed struggle, I helped found their army.

You're speaking to a general. A hero of the Karabakh war.

With medals. That knocks you out, huh?

You tell that story often. I know it.

You don't believe me.

You've never gone back?

To be locked up?

I step off the plane and it's jail without passing go.

As for Marseilles, my life's here now.

I've left the army. I wasn't cut out for it.

At least no one can say I profited from the war.

They found me a nice wife. I'm married now, with two kids.

I have a fancy nightclub, partners...

I'm the new Armenia.

The new Armenia is being built with old bricks.

I'm kidding. You're not bad for your age.

You're not wrong.

The new citizens aren't spring chickens.

How about you?

He worked day and night.

He and my mother didn't get on.

She was Italian.

I make excellent pasta thanks to her.

He never told me anything.

Perhaps he still has family here But what does it matter?

Sorry, I have no sense of identity. It doesn't interest me.

I'm here to find him.

The trouble is, he has a weak heart.

If he isn't careful, he could die any day.

I have his test results and an operation set up.

I felt it was my duty to tell him.

It's silly.

But he's my father.

"It's silly but he's my father." That's good.

It almost sounds Armenian.

To Anna, Armenian now thanks to her father.

Too bad for her.

To Loucinee...

The soul and honor of this country.

And for Anna.

I have to go. I have work to do.

See Anna back.

And don't dawdle.

Yes, boss!

Boss. I like that.

I didn't dare say so earlier but...

I don't know much about Karabakh.

Karabakh...

Well, let's say...

You don't hound a people from its native land.

Years later, it blows up in your face.

Stalin gave Karabakh to Azerbaijan, not Armenia.

The Karabakh Armenians declared their independence.

The Azeris launched pogroms. One genocide is enough.

So Karabakh became the Armenian resistance's grail.

Have you got a minute?

I hate this! Why bring me here?

Simple. So you'd hate it.

Hello. Any messages for me?

Yes, ma'am. From your husband.

Anna...

What do you want?

I dance, Anna. That's all.

I know you dance. I saw you.

I don't stay for the night. I just dance and go home.

I don't go with men.

Do what you want. It's no big deal.

You don't like me any more.

Before you answer, come with me.

I'll show you my house and my family.

I want you to meet them.

Follow me.

I wanted a coffee.

I can make coffee for you.

My jacket.

Let's go.

Why show her this neighbourhood?

This neighborhoods a dump

It's not good for foreigners.

She wants to see my grandmother.

She likes Armenian people.

Turn left here.

You think I'm stupid?

This is it!

I'm not getting out.

Manage without me.

Sit down.

Grandma looks after children and house.

She makes meals.

Come...

This way?

The bed where I sleep.

Just there, grandmother and children.

And your parents? You have no family left?

I'm the family. I'm the one who works.

I do everything to have money. I do manicures for money.

I dance for money. I go to France to have money.

I send it to Yerevan.

Grandmother finds good house. The children go to the good school.

One day, I am rich, I come back and...

I buy a car.

Find a job in France, Anna. Find a job for me.

Think of me in France.

I'll think of you, don't worry.

You manage pretty well.

In fact, it's going to be hard to forget you.

- You have children? - Yes.

A daughter. Your age.

She dances too. Armenian dances.

So I'm your daughter in Armenia.

No one knows that I dance.

Not my grandmother. Not the hair salon boss.

I won't say anything. Don't worry.

And the driver who comes? That's a secret too?

But that's nothing. That's just helping.

Helping Sarkis Arabian?

I don't know Sarkis Arabian.

That was his car though.

I don't know. Maybe.

Do you believe me now?

I have a surprise.

Come with me and by tonight you'll adore Armenia.

I'm seeing Martin Hovanessian. I can't waste time.

I'm here to find my father.

We'll be at Hovanessian's on time. We're not going far.

You don't get to see your country from this high up every day.

I'll tell you something, so you understand.

When God made the Earth,

on the second day, if you remember,

he sifted the soil to make it good.

That's why France has good soil for grain.

After, like all good workmen, he emptied the sieve.

But he didn't pay attention.

He dumped all the stones in one go.

And they all landed in the same place. Here.

That's Armenia. The land of stones.

The bottom of the sieve.

I wanted you to see this.

What this country has built, what it believes in.

Look at these buttresses.

They've seen it all: Persians, the Soviets and even earthquakes.

And the church is still here. Even capitalism won't destroy it.

Don't you feel a bit Armenian here?

A Romanesque church, a Mayan temple,

a Syrian mosque

or a Cambodian pagoda have the same effect on me.

You think France is the oldest daughter of the Church.

But Armenia was the first Christian country.

The world's first. In 300 AD, before Rome.

What were the Gauls up to in 300 AD? I'll tell you what.

Making human sacrifices.

Drinking blood from skulls.

I'm not saying this to upset you

but Armenia, baby Jesus, 300 AD... What's it to do with me?

You dare to say that. The way you look...

Your origins are obvious. You're provoking me.

Well, yes. A little.

I hate being forced.

If I felt Armenian, I probably wouldn't tell you.

I show you the most precious thing I know.

Are all doctors like that?

Self-assured? Above it all?

I'm sorry.

It's wonderful being here.

I've said it. It's wonderful.

About time! I knew you'd like it.

You can tell me. I'll keep it to myself.

Don't you feel a bit Armenian here?

I'll tell you the truth and I want you to forget it.

I feel good.

I have the feeling...

that I lived here long ago, in another lifetime.

He lives here?

Yes. Are you surprised?

Well, he's a famous, popular musician...

It's a change from New York!

He's a patriot. He has always refused to change his lifestyle.

All the money he makes goes to the Music Academy.

A true communist then.

I don't know.

A true musician in any case.

Yes, that's my father.

Will he be happy to see you?

I don't know.

I just came here to give him his test results.

Just to give him his results?

No, but...

Has he tried to contact you?

She knows what she wants.

She's a good girl.

A good Armenian.

He can tell you one thing. The name of a village.

The people there can help you.

What people?

You're very curious today...

Gayane Arabian!

It wouldn't be the same elsewhere.

People can see I'm Armenian.

I'd never look Vietnamese in Hanoi.

I'm from here. I sense it.

That's a mean thing to say!

They don't care if I'm rich or French.

They like me because I'm like them.

Yes, I'm like them.

The men and women, the same dark eyebrows.

Okay, goodbye.

More.

This is it.

I was told to bring you here, not to go in.

He invited you too.

I know this place.

I have a big day tomorrow.

- Please... - No, really.

You needn't stay all night.

Yervanth doesn't know when to stop.

Just set a limit with him. He won't be offended.

It's been a pleasure. Good night.

Mrs Alexandrian, have you found your dad?

Without your help.

What? No one helped you?

- Gayane didn't help? - She did.

It's the same. Succeeding is what counts.

I can't be everywhere.

I'll take you to the village. I promised your husband.

We'll go tomorrow.

Can I count on you?

Just a second. Haven't you met Armenians?

Haven't you found the village?

Don't get so upset. Everyone wants to help you.

I saw your car outside the hair salon yesterday.

During my manicure. I was touched.

I thought you'd come to apologize.

I was at the office all day.

It was your car.

It's a popular model.

Maybe, but it was your driver. I recognized him.

My driver...

He only stopped for 30 seconds to pick up a packet from the girl.

Shampoo maybe?

I can't watch it all day.

He uses it to run errands then.

Exactly.

It doesn't matter. Forget it.

This girl... Who is she?

An apprentice. Schake. She's cute.

- Looking for Yervanth? - Yes.

Come with me.

The guy in the pink jacket wants to buy a plane.

A plane?

Yes, a plane.

That costs a lot.

The price isn't the problem. Yervanth won't budge.

Look at them. It'll take all night.

Can Yervanth buy a plane?

Anything! He knows everybody. And their price.

Why not sell then?

He's Yervanth. The Armenian hero.

He decides what's right and what's wrong.

The plane is wrong.

That slob should have known.

He's come a cropper before.

Trying to buy what?

A submarine?

No, he was doing business then.

It's all a mystery to you.

All imports and exports are business.

Weapons, machinery, medicine, food, everything.

It's all business.

No one knows who owns what. So we share it out.

We do business.

It's not your culture. It's oriental.

It's dirty! And dirt is international.

Calm down. It's trade.

What does Yervanth do?

Yervanth sticks his nose in everywhere.

That's part of the problem.

It'll last as long as it lasts.

Yervanth isn't immortal.

The answer for the plane is niet.

Right...

I'm going back.

Anna, leaving already?

I'll drive her back.

No, she's my guest.

Look after her or your friends will.

A lovely evening, I must say.

I made her laugh with the emergent economy.

Sarkis has his own theories.

Fortunately, they're easy to understand.

Money, money, money.

Hey, we're talking, we're having fun...

Now you've found each other, I'll grab a drink.

I'm going back.

I'll drive you back in five minutes.

No, I'm going back. Right now.

Okay, let's go.

I need to see Sarkis. He's taking me to the village.

Don't worry. I'll remind him.

Those men...

For the plane. Are they your friends?

You were talking. You do deals.

Business.

Sarkis may be dumb but at least he's frank.

- Business is good. - Stop, you're talking crap.

We're just getting over the Soviets.

Look what we have left.

Industry's decaying, the factories are wastelands,

people don't work, the borders are a joke...

We're starting again from scratch.

The capital comes from abroad.

You can look down on that

but I help the economy. I provide jobs. I keep money moving

Sarkis keeps money moving too.

Tell that to the dispensary. They can't even afford medicine!

That dispensary's run on my money. I'm the one who pays Simon.

Charity work, that's brilliant!

That wasn't our goal in the 80s.

1980? Why not in 1812? Or 1530?

You haven't budged an inch!

Red flags over Marseilles? Know what they wanted here in 1980?

Not the men you were talking to!

Why do you care what happens here anyway?

You don't give a damn about Armenia!

Let us deal with this shit and go home to your patients.

You still have welfare there?

Just because I don't work in Yerevan...

Precisely. You don't work in Yerevan.

You know nothing about it.

Screw this! My head aches.

You and your shitty country!

Are you sure there's no reply?

Yes, ma'am. Mr Sarkis isn't answering.

Try this one. Ask for Gayane Arabian.

All right.

Where's Manouk?

- He's waiting. - Manouk!

There's no reply either.

Tell him we're going to the country.

We'll fetch Schake to be my interpreter. Go on, translate.

Schake isn't a decent girl. She's not interesting.

She's my interpreter! I'll decide who's interesting or not!

But he's dead.

Schake! Come with me!

Freeze!

Get in the car! Get in!

Shit...

Jesus fucking Christ! What's going on?

Do you know? Huh? Do you?

Can you stop crying?

Get out.

Get out!

- Where are we going? - How should I know?

Let's walk. We'll try to think.

What kind of shit is this stupid cow in?

They killed that guy. They'll come after her too.

And me too. They'll kill me.

What a fucking nightmare! Why the hell did I come here?

Who can get me out of this?

Simon...

We're going to the dispensary. Where is it?

Fucking answer me! Where's the dispensary?

That way.

Two kebabs and a coffee.

They can't stay forever...

I have an idea.

Translate. The French doctor is my friend.

Today's his birthday. I've come to surprise him.

He has to fetch him.

Say a customer has fainted. He'll come. Translate.

Can't you go?

He knows me. It would spoil the surprise.

French women...

This is the way French women are.

I'll fetch him for you. Get ready.

That's the surprise? She was supposed to faint...

French women are discreet.

I had no choice but to shoot.

One in the arm, one in the knee and one in the foot.

Now, there are two new ones outside your place.

Look. Sitting on their car.

What has she done?

- What have you done? - Nothing.

Sure.

Tell him, Anna. I've done nothing wrong.

I have no idea.

Who can help? ls there a French ambassador here?

He'll go straight to the cops. It's not a good idea.

You have a better one?

We'll call the boss.

A knee, an arm, a foot... Bloody hell!

A real sharpshooter.

- The girl shot them? - No. I did.

- You? - Yes, me.

They were holding her. They'd killed one guy.

I took his gun and opened fire.

We took the car. And here we are.

- So who is she? - The manicurist.

They beat manicurists up now?

She dances in a club too.

She dances? Naked?

No, not naked!

Cut the crap! You dance naked, okay!

A hooker now.

All this shit over some hooker.

Weird, Sarkis doesn't work hookers.

What have you done, you idiot? Tell us!

Nothing.

- I danced that's all. - We'll deal with this later.

Let's split. We'll leave things to calm clown.

I'll call Sarkis later.

What is it now?

My father... I was supposed to go and see him.

Cracking up, doc?

You wipe out half Yerevan, then start crying for Daddy?

Yervanth will sort this out.

You bet. I'll sort this out.

Then we'll see to your dad. We're out of here.

I spoke to Sarkis.

And?

She's stringing you along. It's not the club.

She was doing deals with the guy they killed.

She was doing deals?

What kind of deals?

Meds.

She steals meds at the hospital and sells them. Freelance.

They kill for that?

You bet they do.

Meds are someone's turf, you know.

That trade's controlled like any other.

The minor dealers can ruin the monopoly.

I get away with humanitarian work.

No one touches Yervanth. Not for now anyhow.

There's a lot of money in meds. A lot of money.

- He'll come tomorrow. - Who?

Sarkis.

He needs to talk. I need to talk to him too.

Yervanth, you know you're at home here.

Cheers.

No one can say that you profited from it.

From what?

The war.

You've seen them,

going into politics, business,

building villas, buying cars...

You're a hero.

A true Armenian hero.

Even the army could have kept you.

Positions came free.

And good ones too.

It's not the army that I love.

Personally...

I love the land.

Land, I have that.

I go out... I look around me.

I live here. This is my home.

The last earthquake...

This is where the earth opened.

Luckily, there wasn't a village here.

Looks like centuries ago.

The eyes see nothing. You need someone to explain.

You never miss a chance to lecture me.

The truth annoys you, that's all.

Are you crying, Schake?

Schake? You're crying?

What's the matter?

You're moved?

You lost people here?

My mother,

my father, my sister,

my grandfather.

That was before.

A long time ago.

You see,

the grass has soon covered the fault lines.

But it's different for people.

For people, things never mend.

Don't cry.

It was to go away with.

The money to go away.

The salon money is for my grandmother

but I could keep that.

He offered, so I said yes.

It was easy.

I put the white coat on, I go into the hospital, and that's all.

There's no life here for me.

You have to help me, Anna. You have to help me.

You think France will be any better? Huh?

You think everyone dances naked?

You think you'll find money lying around?

Didn't you listen to Vanig?

He fought to give you a country

and you want to run away from it!

You get on my nerves

Go to bed or I'll belt you one!

The girl's asleep.

They're lucky at that age. They go out like a light.

Good night, Yervanthgian.

Why are you doing this?

Fetching us, bringing us here, hiding us, negotiating...

It's for Marseilles.

I like the Armenians but I get bored.

This is a beautiful country but it's a tiny country.

You're a pain in the ass at times,

but there's never a dull moment.

It's ages since I argued with a Marseilles lass.

A communist on the run, to boot.

Sure you want to find your dad?

It's too late now anyway.

I came for him. I want to see him.

Think I'll find him?

What is it you think?

You'll track him down alone, like a big girl?

Everyone knows where he is. We've marked the path out for you.

Why didn't anyone tell me?

We did. We all told you.

But gently. Without being too obvious.

That's why I asked if you're sure.

Don't you want to leave him in peace?

No, I want to see him.

I'm his daughter. The only one he has.

No son?

No son.

Right...

We'll see tomorrow.

Sleep well.

You too.

It still works?

It works.

Let's see.

Can you shoot with this too?

I told you: I was in a gun club.

Let's teach you to shoot.

First of all...

you load it.

Then place the butt against your shoulder, nice and steady.

Go on, Schake!

Well done, Schake!

For Armenia!

Here's to the fatherland!

Here's to Schake, a true daughter of Armenia!

This was the House of Culture.

Here's the library,

the theater and the cinema.

Why's the French woman here?

She shouldn't be here.

What are you playing at, Yervanth?

Why are you meddling in my business?

First of all,

I don't like your attitude, Sarkis Arabian.

This isn't Los Angeles.

You beat up guys on the street in movies.

Not here.

It's not your problem.

It is my problem because this country is my home.

People aren't shot on the street in my country.

Plus, as you know,

meds happen to be my territory in a manner of speaking.

I'm not too keen on the idea

of someone making money off people's lives.

But that's okay.

I don't have to know.

I'm willing to turn a blind eye.

I'm willing to plug my nose.

In return,

I don't want any more hassle.

I have three men wounded.

That's not my fault.

You should have kept an eye on them.

You have a dead man too.

No one's talking about the dead man.

I'm not either.

I keep quiet. You keep quiet.

We wind the clock back.

We wind the clock back?

Okay, I accept.

But you're showing your age, Yervanth.

All this for a French woman...

That's how it is, Sarkis.

Not everyone's like you.

We weren't all born in Turkey.

I'll fetch my aunt.

Let's go and take a walk together.

That's me.

I'm Takoui.

I'm Anna. I'm Barsam's daughter.

You've come from your country. All this way...

Barsam is ill.

I have his test results. He must come back to France.

He knows he's ill.

You didn't think he knew?

Go to see him. He's waiting for you.

Pretty...

You choose your shoes well.

That's one thing I taught you.

Shoes, that's rig ht.

You've come all this way.

That's good. You don't give in.

As a son, what would you have been?

I don't know.

A doctor?

A Nobel Prize winner.

You found me on your own?

Yes, on my own, with fifty Armenians.

- You could've said. - So you could stop me?

You didn't think of us?

I told Jeannette. She didn't say?

Jeannette?

The little devil...

Are you here because of her?

Takoui?

Going to live with her?

You'd like me to leave her?

And Mum?

She's dead. It's been five years now, Anna.

And I'm alive.

You've come all this way to tell me I'm ill?

- You need an operation. - We knew that.

I have the surgeon and the date. What do we do?

The answer's no.

Look around you.

I should leave this?

To croak on an operating table in Marseilles?

Pain in the ass.

Is she Barsam's daughter?

Think he's talking politics to her?

A true patriot never misses an opportunity.

Aram, are you telling the girl about Armenia?

Ignore them! They're jealous.

Instead of preparing dinner,

they want to be young and beautiful to charm a young man.

Why didn't you ever teach me a word of Armenian?

You wanted to know Armenian? You never asked.

I preferred you to study medicine.

Your mother was Italian. She didn't speak Armenian.

You have a mother tongue. No one talks about a father tongue.

What's wrong? Are you crying?

I want to tell you something but you mustn't be angry.

I'm scared you'll be angry.

I won't be.

Have you screwed up again?

I'm sorry, I don't want to come to France with you any more.

I'm going to stay here. With my country.

Are you angry?

Barsam. My father.

Yervanth, my...

Guide, driver... No one knows how to introduce me.

My friend.

My Armenian friend.

You can have more than one country. More than one friend.

More than one family.

Unfortunately, they don't clash but exist side by side.

Who can bear that?

Armenia was born here.

Gregory the Illuminator was thrown into this dungeon.

He stayed here for 14 years.

Until he was brought up to care for King Tiridates.

That guy thought he was a boar.

How many countries still have their birthplace?

Wait...

My dear Armenian fiance,

I want to marry you

in the birthplace of your land and mine.

I want to marry my husband here before God.

I want Gregory to bless us,

along with all the children we may have.

May he bless us, my dear fiancee.

And Pierre?

He's fine.

And Jeannette?

Fine. You know that better than I do.

That's good.

Do you miss them?

As you get old, there are always people you miss.

More and more as you go.

Do you miss me?

Yes, I miss you.

But I can't miss you for long.

Well?

Living, Anna, is...

wanting those who are there, not clinging to those you miss.

Says the old man or the exile?

The old man, the exile...

ls there any difference, doctor?

I could take you across the world

but the airport's too tough. I hate seeing planes leave.

So this is where we say goodbye?

Good bye.

You'll look after the youngsters?

You know you can trust me. Don't stay away too long.

Good bye.

Don't be scared. It isn't serious.

You see it?

Mount Ararat.

You understand Armenian now.

What is a man without a dream?

Is he even a man?

My dream is that mountain.

You'll see, the Turks will give it back to us one day.

It means nothing to them.

There's nothing there anyway.

There's no iron, there's no gold...

There's not even any grass for goats.

You think the Turks aren't men like us

because of what they've done.

But that's not true.

The Turks will give it back to us

because they know it's our dream.

They will feel better after.

That day, Anna, when Mount Ararat belongs to Armenia again,

I'll go and sit on the stone,

I'll light a cigarette

and I'll smoke in peace.

You understand?