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LANGUEDOC 12TH CENTURY

Joseph, my son! Take your mother and go!

"By order of the Holy Church of Languedoc,

"the Tribunal of the Inquisition sentences the heretic Gerard Breuil

"to be burnt at the stake, along with all his writings,

"for straying from the way of Our Lord

"and translating the work of the heretic Averroes."

DESTINY

Joseph, your mother is dead.

Calm down. Go. I'll take care of everything.

ANDALUSIA 12TH CENTURY

- Long live Caliph Mansur! - Long live Caliph Mansur!

- Long live Caliph Mansur! - Long live Caliph Mansur!

- Long live Caliph Mansur! - Long live Caliph Mansur!

- Long live the victor of Alarcos! - Long live the victor of Alarcos!

You praise him, like these infidels?

I have orders - "Flatter him until he bursts."

- We are your soldiers, Mansur! - We are your soldiers, Mansur!

We are your soldiers, Mansur!

Join in!

- Long live Caliph Mansur! - Long live Caliph Mansur!

- Long live the victor of Alarcos! - Long live the victor of Alarcos!

- We are your soldiers, Mansur! - We are your soldiers, Mansur!

- Long live the nation of believers! - Long live the nation of believers!

- I'll give you five dinars. - What?

Are you joking? That book comes all the way from Baghdad!

The caliph would pay 100 dinars for it!

You think the caliph would bargain with a wretch like you?

I'll buy it.

If I don't buy it for the caliph's library, he'll kill me.

I need it for my studies. I can barely afford it as it is.

For your studies? Then take it. It's yours.

Give me!

I'll let you have it, for seven dinars.

I only have five.

You've earned it, wretch.

Where can I find Averroes, the High Judge?

He's my teacher. I'll take you to him.

Wasting such blue eyes on a boy... How unfair!

Eat! You're skin and bones!

There's enough here for an army!

She complains that I'm stingy,

but she'd feed the whole neighborhood if I let her.

If it weren't for me, you'd all look like Joseph here!

Our eyes would turn blue?

Don't take another bite!

Manuela will put a curse on anyone who doesn't taste her biscuits.

She's challenging me again? Go get my date bread.

Just one bite and she'll turn green with envy.

- Take this to her. - I'm no delivery boy!

- I'm the son of the caliph! - And as modest as his father.

- Tell on me then, Uncle! - If I were your father, I'd disown you!

I'm going dancing!

Unbelievable! The caliph's son wants to be a dancer!

We call this culture?

At his age, I could dance for three days straight!

Come to the inn, Blue Eyes, or they'll stuff you till you burst.

I should stay.

I'm warning you, they go to bed when the sun sets.

Abdallah, you forgot these.

Gracias, senorita.

I'll lock you in a dungeon filled with books!

- Finally! - Is Your Highness sick?

Do I have to be sick to see you? Let's play.

- At this hour? - I can't sleep.

I've been back from the war for four days.

- Where were you? - What's wrong?

It's my sons, Nasser and Abdallah. They're failures.

So, you're finally thinking about them!

They can stand up to any enemy.

What do you expect of them?

What do you want them to be, men who think for themselves or yes-men?

I've run circles around the Spaniards.

- We're talking about your sons. - You're obsessed!

You're the one who's worried!

All that interests Nasser is horses and girls.

And Abdallah is beyond all hope.

If I lock him in his room, he escapes.

I threaten him... I even beat him, but it's hopeless.

- He slips away. - So give him real responsibilities.

You treat him like he's a mere servant.

- All he's good for is gypsy dancing. - But if you saw how he danced...

Dancing? My son, a dancer!

And what if he's happy dancing?

When my little daughter disagrees with me, she just blurts it out, "You're wrong!"

Instead of being our children's enemies,

let's try to persuade them to do what we wish.

Childish soul-searching pales in comparison

with the reality of conquest!

Checkmate.

- All the better! - You see? I'm unbeatable!

- Goodnight. - Stay and learn how to play.

If I don't get to bed, I'll collapse.

- You're just like Abdallah! - Yes, we both love life!

Don't. I'm scared.

No. We want each other.

It's simple.

Get dressed. Help me stay chaste.

That's ridiculous.

I'm hiding our relationship from Manuela.

Lying to my own sister!

Have you told anyone?

I want to tell the whole world!

Abdallah loves Sarah. He's crazy about her.

- Too bad Sarah doesn't... - No, I love you too. Terribly.

I love you terribly. Terribly.

Those are just words.

If Manuela found out, she'd kill me.

- Manuela trusts me. - And you're betraying her.

It's not my fault. It's the Devil.

He's a naughty boy, a dirty little rascal.

Every time we meet, I feel like it's going to be our last.

The son of the caliph and a poor gypsy girl...

You may think I'm strange, but that's just the way I am.

Soad!

At your service.

They keep staring at Abdallah.

When you're the son of a caliph, people stare at you.

You worry about him, just as if he were your own son.

I'd take a son like him any day, faults and all!

He's sulking. He won't speak to anyone.

Get him to dance. He's dying to.

The son of the caliph? You're out of your minds!

He's had too much to drink. Look.

Quiet, please!

I have a poem.

"Loving you is a slow death. My heart grieves.

"And when my torment becomes unbearable,

"I invoke my woeful heart and shout,

"'Why pine for someone who ignores you?

"'Why care for so uncaring a creature?'

"You, prisoner of pride and vanity."

- Such depth in so few words. - It's by Abu Nawas.

It was amazing!

You're so young... and already a genius!

Stay with us for a while. Share your learning with us.

"Prisoner of pride," what does it mean?

It's sort of what happens when your heart is sort of...

It comes from deep inside. Sort of.

I'm overwhelmed. I'll never attain your level of insight.

Only a true thinker can appreciate such verse.

You're a born poet.

- Every word you say is like... - A pearl!

A string of pearls! A caliph's son mixing with commoners!

You're modesty itself! People like you are rare.

God keep you for your people.

If only you could spend all night with us...

The night is still young.

We can wait.

♪ Hear me, lovers of life

♪ Hearts are ablaze in the bonfire of love

♪ If the moon hid itself

♪ A thousand other moons Would light up the night

♪ Hearts are ablaze in the bonfire of love

♪ If the moon hid itself

♪ A thousand other moons Would light up the night

♪ They'd open the way

♪ For a thousand paths to the impossible

♪ They'd open the way For a thousand paths to the impossible

♪ Even if you're late, rosy sunrise

♪ Source of life, we know you'll come back

♪ You'll dazzle our eyes And brighten our souls

♪ And you'll make us masters of our destiny

♪ We'll dance as we please

♪ And our dreams will dance Deep in our hearts... ♪

Jezebel!

♪ We defy life with song

♪ We defy life with song

♪ We defy life with song

♪ Our hearts keep the beat

♪ Our voices sing the tune

♪ Our feet stomp to the rhythm

♪ Make haste

♪ The road we must travel is long

♪ And we have no other

♪ Every step we take is a burning torch

♪ Guiding us on our way

♪ We will not go astray

♪ Dawn comes, lighting our way

♪ To a shimmering day

♪ Dawn comes, lighting our way To a shimmering day

♪ And if attacked, our dreams fight back

♪ Resist! Fight! And vanquish!

♪ We must remain masters of our destiny. ♪

- Let's go. - Not without him.

- The caliph's son? - I have orders.

They told me not to come back without him.

- He'll slip away. - You think so?

Here he comes.

Poet!

- Will you join us? - Why not?

You won't be disappointed.

Say you're sorry! Say it!

How can I? You're gagging me!

♪ Hearts are ablaze. ♪

Let's go and pray

so that God might forgive us for last night's excesses.

What excesses?

Dancing? I love dancing.

Of course. Dancing is wonderful.

You sway your head, invoking the name of the Lord.

Your soul follows the rhythm.

♪ Oh God, you command us And condemn us to silence

♪ Let us be content With whatever you bestow upon us

♪ He who joins us

♪ Will attain bliss and obtain redemption

♪ He who spurns us will be forever damned

♪ Obeying our emir is our supreme desire

♪ Obeying our emir is our supreme desire. ♪

Bless us! Bless us!

Emir, bless us!

- Is something wrong? - No, I'm fine.

A lazy fool learns two verses of the Qur'an and passes himself off

as a purveyor of divine truth. Is this man pious?

A true understanding of these texts

requires years of reflection, research and labor.

If we believe these self-proclaimed geniuses,

we disregard this Qur'anic verse -

"In the name of Allah the merciful.

The ignorant man, whose vain words lead him astray from the way of God

and take it in mockery, will be met by a humbling chastisement.

True is the word of Almighty God."

No one can claim to know the whole truth.

Not even Caliph Mansur?

The Imam Malek said when pointing to the Prophet's tomb,

"Every man can be questioned except for him who lies here."

The Imam El Chafei said,

"A true opinion can seem false and a false opinion, true."

- May peace be upon him. - May peace be upon him.

Averroes outsmarted him.

- Borhan is inept. - Be patient.

Borhan is craftier than you think. You'll see.

The Qur'an is clear. Are you inciting us to doubt it?

The Prophet said,

"If your quest leads to truth, you will have two rewards.

If it leads to error, then one reward. All quests are rewarded."

"Lord, increase me in knowledge."

Knowledge? What about faith?

Are you contesting God?

He outsmarted him again!

Averroes said, "Revelation can be interpreted only by study."

He should have answered, "The Text allows no interpretation."

If you're so clever, answer him yourself and get your own flock of admirers.

We have to silence Averroes.

We must force the caliph into forbidding him to teach.

There's no use bickering.

We'll take whatever measures are necessary.

"Be patient as the Messengers possessed of constancy."

They leave the mosque one by one, pretending your lesson bores them.

It's just a plot some invidious mind has come up with.

I should "plot" a little song for them.

Careful. Such a song could cost you your life.

♪ Don't let them beat you Don't let them break you

♪ Don't let them scare you Our hearts keep the beat

♪ Our feet stomp to the rhythm. ♪

- What happened? - Not now. Not now.

Everyone out!

What's a pretty girl like you doing taking care of laundry?

Should I take care of you instead?

I'm ready and willing to help you discover the pleasures of this world.

The nerve of you!

Son of a caliph or not, if you keep at it, I'll slap you!

I'll throw you in jail and tickle you to death.

Brute!

He'll be on his feet again in a week or so.

In the meantime, he needs to rest.

You did well, Nasser.

Removing the knife would have killed him.

Did you see who attacked him?

He was about 20, with this crazed look in his eyes.

- Why didn't you go after him? - And leave Marwan?

He did right!

There's something else. My horse kicked one of them in the face.

I'd recognize the hoof-print.

You must do something otherwise every philosopher here will perish.

Marwan, a philosopher? His songs belittle my father.

It's your father's fault. He's giving the fanatics free rein.

If I were in charge, I'd show you what needs to be done!

I could easily imagine you on the throne.

Sit over there. Get off my "throne".

Marwan!

Shut the gates.

Marwan!

Because...

I'm looking after my husband now! Understand?

The security of the Almohad dynasty has never been under greater threat.

Where have you been, High Judge Averroes?

And you, Governor of Cordoba? And you, Crown Prince?

- The country is foundering. - People are...

After all we've done, who still dares protest?

People are exploiting religion, and you're letting them.

They're the only ones we hear in the mosques.

You'd be heard too if you were as eloquent as these... men of faith.

Merchants of faith, if you ask me.

Whether they're ranting about Arab victories

or about religion, they're only defending their own interests.

Stop philosophizing. We're talking about one man.

- It's not... - Nasser!

Find the assailant and have him executed.

It's not one man, it's a movement which is gnawing away at your authority.

No movement in the world can undermine my throne.

These barbarians are jeopardizing our culture.

What are you waiting for? See that the sentence is carried out.

Have the assailant interrogated. He may tell us what's ailing our country.

The country isn't ailing. It's in fine shape.

The danger is real.

They're a menace to the whole realm, not just Andalusia.

They've indoctrinated thousands of young people.

By magic?

I think the assailant was manipulated by conspirators.

Let the law decide.

Show in the commander of the cavalry.

- In my opinion... - What? You have opinions now?

Opinions, positions...

Convictions, too. A lot more than you think.

Why not take my throne from me? Turn my people into a dance troupe!

If my ideas bore you, I'll go elsewhere.

Find a mosque and talk till your heart's content!

Why not? I have a mouth after all.

That's right, you do. It's a brain you lack.

God help you.

- What was that? - I said, God bless you.

High Judge! High Judge!

Does he deserve to die?

The whims of our caliph's moods have replaced our laws.

Go kill the boy. Obey your father's orders!

His Highness demands blind allegiance.

- Maybe I should... - You decide what to do.

But if I were you, I'd think it over.

Think hard.

This is only the beginning!

My son! My son! My son!

My child!

My son! My son! My son!

Why arrest him? Anyone could have done it!

Where are you taking him?

Did you attack Marwan because of his poems?

- I've never read them. - Why then?

If God lets me live, I'll stab him again.

He's the enemy of God.

- You didn't dress your wound. - It's a sin.

Who told you that Marwan is an enemy of God?

Good Muslims don't sing.

He's stark-raving mad.

He repeats phrases like a parrot without understanding the words.

How do they kill kindness and decency in these boys

and turn them into criminals?

He has a brother who escaped from the sect.

He tried to kill him too.

I'd like to meet the brother.

- I'll bring him to you. - No. Let's go to his house.

They made my head spin with flattery. I believed them.

"You're so smart. You're unique.

"Every word you speak is a pearl. Show us the way.

"Let's go spend a few days in the desert.

"If we meditate together, we'll be as one.

"Nothing will ever tear us apart."

Then they started to wear us down.

Praying until dawn, marching through the desert...

on and on in the burning sun.

Not knowing where we were going, or why.

Our feet burnt by the sand.

"It purifies the soul and strengthens the will."

In truth, it broke our will.

We became slaves to the will of the emir.

I was instructed to tell people

that they had become impious,

that they had to regain the path to Truth.

♪ Oh God, you command us And condemn us to silence

♪ Let us be content With whatever you bestow upon us

♪ He who joins us will attain bliss And obtain redemption

♪ He who spurns us will be forever damned

♪ Obeying our emir is our supreme desire

♪ Obeying our emir is our supreme desire... ♪

Follow my advice and you'll see the way.

Just like our emir, who sees all,

the past, the present and the future.

One day, he saw me steal from my mother and stick my finger in her eye.

He shouted, "You shall deliver the world from the enemies of God!"

He guides the weapon in my hands.

Every throat I cut...

takes me one step closer to Paradise.

Yesterday...

he had a vision. I was dressed in white...

on my way to Paradise.

Everything I'd ever longed for was laid out before me.

That can only mean...

that I'm very close...

to my deliverance.

What about me?

We chose you, didn't we? I shouldn't tell you this, but...

the emir had a vision of you ruling Andalusia

with all of us at your feet.

We are your true family.

Flee those who are in the clutches of the Devil.

Open your heart and tell me all about yourself.

All right?

All right.

- What does your son do? - He does nothing at all!

- Everyone says he's a good-for-nothing! - He should find a job!

So you find him one! You know lots of people.

- You're an important man. - What can he do?

He never liked studying. He likes giving orders.

Make a soldier out of him!

Someone told him, "Learn a few verses and you can order people around."

Who wants to be a good-for-nothing all their life?

Does murder make you good for something?

- Answer me. - Stop harassing him!

Has he lost his tongue?

He's been silent for a month. When he does talk, he says,

"I'll make you rich, you and all the neighbors!"

Then he goes back to bed and he sleeps. And sleeps. And sleeps!

Once thoroughly exhausted, you're ready to obey any order.

If they say, "Kill your father," you do it.

And if you get caught, they're the first to turn on you.

What do you think, Sheik Riad?

Can someone regain his dignity by stabbing a poet?

The only right way is the way of the Lord.

Had Marwan lost his way?

Marwan is old enough to know right from wrong.

"Evil is self-evident."

Can these three children tell good from evil?

That's up to the High Judge to decide.

God says, "He who smites shall be smitten."

If they are executed, they'll say they're martyrs on the way to Paradise.

It's better that they enjoy their lives on earth!

"For this world, act as if you were eternal,

for the next, as if you must die tomorrow."

He's just a child!

What does he know at his age about death and eternity?

Quiet! Listen to the judgement.

Revelation is only destined to those endowed with Reason.

That is, mankind.

Divine law combines Revelation and Reason.

It consists of determining causes and effects, means and ends.

Revelation encompasses Reason and Reason encompasses Revelation.

Certain children confuse religion and ignorance.

Certain adults turn ignorance into a religion.

Our young defendants were led into perdition.

Without realizing it, they were forced astray.

In its great equity, Islam refuses to condemn an unsound mind.

The High Court rejects capital punishment in this case

and sentences the accused to five years in prison.

"God shall not be questioned, but they shall be questioned."

He deserved to die.

Is our house so terrible? There's plenty to eat and drink.

We all help each other.

But no. He wants everyone to obey him and call him "Emir".

My son, the frog, wants to be a prince.

Where's the joy in giving orders?

The judge won't change his mind, will he?

I trust Averroes.

From your mouth to God's ears! Long live Averroes!

May God illuminate your way with His heavenly light!

You're madmen talking about reason!

What more do you want? The boys confessed.

You flouted my authority by sparing him.

This country is going to the dogs!

Didn't I order his death?

Listen to me, brother. The boy is only eighteen.

Fate saved Marwan by averting his knife.

- Marwan has forgiven him. - Marwan?

Since when is Marwan a judge?

How can I protect you?

They weren't responsible for their acts.

Sheik Riad says otherwise. So does the Council of Theologians.

I decide what is in the country's interest.

Not Sheik Riad. Not you. Me.

You refuse all advice?

The Council agrees with me.

They're very unhappy with your verdict.

- The Sheik is plotting! - The same old delusions.

Maybe.

As long as I'm Judge, my conscience will guide me.

Even if it means me losing face?

Brother, your dignity is not in question.

You have always been merciful. Think of the lives at stake.

I won't go back on my word.

This time, tragedy struck the sons of your citizens.

Next time, it may strike your own sons.

- I can protect them. - Lucky for them.

Don't forget. Your citizens are your sons too.

- Where is Saad? - The brother?

I found him a job.

If you can't hide him, I will.

How beautiful!

Our city must be...

the envy of the whole world.

Why did that idiot emir of yours send Borhan to my house?

One more blunder like that and I'll cut off his funding.

Better yet, his head.

- I have a request. - I have already paid you.

Three "suicides." I've had to shut some mouths up.

I have a favor to ask. I can be of use to you.

What is it? Ask.

I want to become a judge again and recover my lost honor.

- Averroes branded me a common thief. - You were stupid.

He caught you accepting bribes. He's alert to that kind of thing.

I'm not after his position.

I just want to be a judge again.

Why are you aiming so low?

You could take his place.

You have a pretty face.

Your beard is reason enough for me to give you his job.

By resigning, you accuse my father.

He's your best friend.

You refuse him the benefit of the doubt you allow criminals.

How can your father ignore what's going on?

Those boys were bound hand and foot

and hanged in nooses made of their own clothes.

It's their custom!

When they're caught, they commit suicide!

No, they were suicided so they couldn't talk!

The sect is everywhere.

It's not in my courts! That would spell the death of Andalusia.

The caliph is not above the law. He too is accountable for his acts.

Decadence is gnawing away at kingdoms everywhere.

Lies and corruption have replaced justice and morality.

There's more at stake here than a few dead boys.

Our culture, whose source is Islam, is threatened.

My father is protecting it!

He built you a library!

He had you analyze Aristotle!

You wrote your commentaries thanks to him!

And thanks to him, my mother had me! Say it!

Here's my resignation.

I'm not through with this yet.

I knew it. Averroes would never abandon us and leave Sheik Riad to do as he pleases.

He expected you to hand down the death sentence.

It was in his interest. And you outfoxed him.

- Three boys died! - Every cloud has a silver lining.

What do you mean?

Forget about my father. We should be keeping an eye on Sheik Riad.

Get up.

Get up and pray.

There's the east.

Get up!

Die, but at least die pure.

Marwan asked you here because he loves you.

He's been waiting all week for you to come.

- Why didn't you come? - My only duty is to avoid the Demon.

Who is the Demon? Me? Marwan? Or his assailant?

If you were pure, you'd know who attacked him.

Thank God there are serene people who see clearly.

And what do these geniuses say?

The true culprit is in the palace.

Your father? The caliph doesn't need to use mercenaries.

Are you crazy? Your father?

- "Darkness swallows up stray souls." - Your father?

"Abandon all Evil and you shall be saved."

God keep you.

Abdallah!

Manuela, you're the only person I still love.

Don't make me hate you.

What's got into him?

He's running away from me.

I'm pregnant.

With Abdallah's child?

The caliph's son? Woe betide us!

Sarah's carrying Abdallah's child.

That explains his behavior.

When his father learns a gypsy will inherit the throne,

he'll slit the baby's throat!

If he came back, then he loves you. That's all that matters.

He's crazy. She'd best forget him.

I'll never be able to forget him! Never!

Neither will I. We're the ones to blame.

We brought them together. It's not Sarah's fault.

Or Abdallah's.

I'll raise the child myself. No one will know a thing!

Are you moving, Joseph?

I'm looking for a safe hiding place. You never know...

This is his life's work.

The house of the High Judge isn't safe enough?

You must have a special place where you keep your valuables.

You mean my jewels? I've never had any!

Averroes is poor?

He spends everything on his books and students.

Come here. You can put them in the cellar. Hide them behind the sacks of flour.

Take this.

ARISTOTLE'S EXPLANATIONS

Aristotle!

Even without gallows...

You're driving me crazy with your gallows!

One more word about criminals or executioners

and I'll send this lamb next door!

- I'll let you starve! - Let's talk about happiness instead.

Come sit next to me.

Come here, my love. Come here.

What is happiness?

At daybreak, after I have prepared your tea,

I go back to bed and the rest of the world can go to hell.

It's pure bliss.

What else?

When Salma was born, she didn't cry. I thought I'd die!

Then she started gurgling. I looked at her. She was so pretty.

Gorgeous!

Salma, here we are! I've brought Marwan!

- Salma. - It's been ages!

Marwan's back!

I'm fine, thank God. It's good to see you all again!

- You're back on your feet. - Yes!

Manuela is so grateful for everything you did for me.

How is my queen doing?

Nasser, you behaved like a true hero.

♪ Sing your song to your heart's content

♪ For we can still sing! Still sing! Still sing! Still sing!

♪ And we'll keep on singing

♪ Day in, day out For the rest of our lives

- ♪ And we'll keep on singing... ♪ - What is that?

No, come back!

Can someone save the books?

Leave it! What are doing? Come on!

Help me!

Relax.

- Come on. - What a catastrophe!

- Take shelter! - All my books! Destroyed!

All your books are here. None are missing.

They're all here.

Your Commentary on Aristotle...

A little dirty, but intact.

My Aristotle... I can't believe it.

You're the best, Joseph!!

Joseph, how did you know?

Son of a witch!

All this for a beanpole who saved some books!

I save his life and what thanks do I get? None!

- A book is worth a hundred lives. - You think?

Maybe not for me, but for Averroes, yes.

- This is getting serious. - Maybe Joseph forgot a lamp.

No, this is Sheik Riad's doing.

Before, he just wanted to distract us.

Now he'll use arson and murder to silence us.

Come, surely not.

A pure man like you can never imagine that others could stoop so low.

You're pure too.

Even I have a hard time believing it.

Sheik Riad craves power for power's sake.

If my suspicions are correct, he should hang six times.

He's the richest man in the land. What more could he want?

Power.

He'd do anything for it. He's driven by a hunger for it.

- Does my father know? - I sincerely hope so.

Sheik Riad is loyal. Don't be ridiculous.

He has always stood faithfully by my side.

And you gave him a lot of land in return for that loyalty.

- Does he want all Andalusia? - I need him.

People respect him. Leave me to rule my own country.

So you'd get rid of Averroes?

Sheik Riad, the man you accuse,

opposes the fatwa the Council is demanding.

They want to burn Averroes' books.

This one most of all. Read it.

The Incoherence of Incoherence. I've read it.

So you will understand their dismay.

So that's why they set fire to his library.

They all seem to agree with Ghazali.

He's a great thinker, yet Averroes says he's wrong.

What if Averroes is right?

He's too sure of himself. He lacks modesty.

He insists on calling me "brother".

Where did he get that from? Are we related now?

I had no idea. Your uncle is his latest dupe.

My uncle loves him.

That may be our downfall.

Do you realize what a fatwa means?

The complete destruction of Averroes' work.

It would be as if he never existed.

- What are you making? - A basket.

So Sheik Riad is protecting me? From which fatwa?

The one he recommended to the Council.

- You knew about it? - Of course.

And you didn't tell us?

It's a sword hanging over our heads.

- My father will intervene. - No, he won't.

This is all so sad.

The two of you were so close.

Sheik Riad has put an end to that.

This is the logical consequence of my behavior.

I have to accept it.

This fatwa threatens more than just your books.

- Your life is in danger. - We all have to die someday.

I'd rather die in bed, surrounded by weeping women.

Lots of flowers and a stately funeral...

But really, what's the difference to me if I die in the street?

That's suicide!

- What's wrong with him? - Nothing!

He confronts hardships that would topple a mountain!

Only I understand him.

Get back to your work.

How many students has he had?

He's educated at least one son in every family.

He's taught a great number and given them so much.

With 100 students, we can copy his work in two weeks.

Two copies of each book.

Nasser... are there rumors in the palace?

- Let's make... - Three copies of each!

Why just two?

Manuela, Sarah and I can work day and night.

Manuela? This is supposed to be a secret!

Manuela? Manuela outrivals you and your ancestors!

She's educated! She can swear in five different languages!

I'll take a copy to France.

- It's too dangerous! - It will save my uncle's work.

I was thinking that...

Is Blue Eyes predicting the future again?

Forget France! I'll take them to Marrakesh.

Everyone's a relative there.

Joseph just wants to help and you give him a hard time!

Enough of this. I'm starting now.

I know his work by heart. I'll dictate.

I'll do these with Manuela and Sarah.

If you so much as blink at that, I'll hang you from the minaret.

Understood?

Uncle, Averroes must know nothing of our journeys.

From me? My lips are sealed.

Wisdom guides the virtuous theologian in his study of what we call "syllogism."

And divine law guides the philosopher in his study of what we call "reason."

Reason is the study of divine law. Philosophy is the study of wisdom.

Everything that has been deduced

from divine law is subject to interpretation.

No devout Muslim can doubt this.

Reason is the sister of divine law.

The supposed conflict between them is a malicious invention.

- Peace be upon you. - And upon you.

Taste this.

Why are you wearing all that? Have you caught a cold?

Aunt Zeinab, I want you to know...

that you're like a mother to me.

Not now. Taste this.

Your blue eyes tell me you're leaving.

You're going home?

My heart tells me you'll soon be back.

I'll put a jar of dates aside for you.

I'll be back... I promise.

It's safer to travel by night.

No. It's best if I hide myself amongst the crowd.

If my father had done that, he'd still be alive.

I love you like a brother.

But... I'm in love with someone else.

With Nasser.

My country is full of ignorance and misery, but I love it.

I have to go back there and pass on to them all what I've learned here.

Come what may?

You really do love Averroes.

I'm not the only one.

This is a letter for him.

That's his most important book. Have a safe journey.

Tell your people that what we Arabs respect most is loyalty.

And tell your people that what we Christians respect most...

is honesty.

The best moments of my life were those I spent with you.

But what can be better than saving books that will enlighten mankind?

Your benevolence and kindness has overwhelmed me.

After everything I've learned, I couldn't risk you forbidding me leaving.

This decision comes from deep within me. It is entirely mine.

If you can't forgive me, at least indulge me in this.

You said, "Wherever we are, knowledge is our homeland

"and ignorance, a foreign place."

I promise to return one day to the land of humanism

and of love. Your son, Joseph.

Manuela thinks that Abdallah has joined a sect.

They've been stalking him. They got hold of him at the inn.

He kept going to the desert and coming back covered in sand.

He told me to mind my own business. Now he's gone again.

Does Marwan know?

Marwan was lying half-dead in his bed and Abdallah just told him to pray.

He said to me, "The real culprit is in the palace."

I said, "Your father? You're crazy!"

And you said nothing about this?

I thought he was avoiding Sarah, because...

Because what? What a load of fools!

Marwan, I need to see you.

- Did you know what Joseph was planning? - Yes, I did.

He can save your books if he wants. We all can.

Stay seated.

What would a member of the sect learn in his third week of training?

- How to handle arms. - Where would that happen?

Wait! Wait for the water to settle!

- What are you doing? - The more water, the more you see.

If he knew how you were improving his invention,

Alhazen would be turning in his grave.

I'm here to find Abdallah. That's all.

It won't be easy for us to get in there.

If you see him there, come tell me, Manuela.

Get some rest. We'll keep watch.

Are you crazy? Here?

Instead of sitting around... let's make a baby.

If we were able to, Abdallah would worry us less.

So then, let's just make love.

Say yes and I'll get Abdallah back.

It'll help me concentrate.

You filthy brute! You're worse than the gypsies!

You're obsessed.

Hands off or I'll scratch out your eyes.

And I'll pull out your hair...

Get it?

Now you try.

Wait until you hear someone shout "His Grace!"

Then get a good look.

He only shows his face once a year.

Marwan, get up!

Abdallah's there! I saw him! Get up!

His Grace!

An angel.

There are so many of them.

Protect the emir!

Have them get back!

Get back!

I want him on my horse.

Can't you hear? Get him on the horse!

Abdallah!

Tie his hands behind his back.

Go join the others.

You too.

Get up!

- I have to... - Get the horses!

I will kill you the first chance I get.

We're respecting our agreement with Sheik Riad.

We attack in two weeks. We expect Cordoba to be ready.

No fighting. No resistance.

Everything is in place.

Sheik Riad will appear the perfect patriot.

I trust him implicitly.

Why would he risk losing what he's strived for all these years?

The battle will allow us to eliminate Mansur.

- And his heirs? - His sons?

One babbles with the philosophers, the other eats out of our hands.

And the philosophers?

By the time they're understood, we'll already be in power.

- You're well-informed. - With all due modesty...

Smuggling books. What decadence!

Where were you? The whole palace is out looking for you!

The infidels and blasphemers will burn in Hell.

Then to hell with all of us!

Why were you with those fanatics?

Do you want to ruin your life?

- You have no right to question me. - And yet I am!

Answer me!

You want to kill Marwan?

Why not kill me?

Or our father?

Kill him.

They will suffer shame in this world and a mighty chastisement in the next.

Out of my house, you lout!

- Madwoman! - Go away!

He's the crown prince!

Does that give him the right to hit his brother?

This is my house! I pay the tithe. So get out!

- Who is he? - Just the crown prince.

Welcome to our humble home.

- He's not welcome. At all! - Why not?

He's a brute who hits his brother!

- Your brother hits you all the time. - He's a brute too!

- Your father does it too. Look. - Mother, not now.

Stay put or you're dead!

He'll stay here until he's back to normal.

You may be like a son to me, but none of your tricks.

Be a good boy. I'll make you some saffron rice.

We'll celebrate. He'll sing and dance like before.

Averroes was right. Things are never as simple as they seem.

Your assailants were just like him. He's a criminal now too.

- He must be punished. - He's your brother.

Where was he hiding all this hate?

Those lunatics just found a way to unleash it!

They're experts at harnessing hate.

Go ask Averroes.

He knows their methods now.

And does he say to fight hate with hate?

The Christians are pushing us into the sea.

You're busy playing with the gypsies

while I'm here all by myself,

building the greatest fleet in history.

- This time, it's serious. - No more than any other time!

Your lack of foresight makes you an unworthy prince

and an unworthy human being.

And you consider yourself a worthy father?

I'll forgive you for that. They're not your words.

Averroes has managed to turn you against me.

They kidnapped Abdallah and broke down his will.

You told me he joined them willingly.

At least they might make a man of him.

- They'll make a criminal of him. - All right! Keep him under guard.

What else can I do for you?

Take us seriously.

I don't eat the food of sinners.

You've become too skinny.

- Your heart... - My heart is my business.

Stomp on it, if you want. But be careful... I'm in it.

God alone is in my heart.

But God is love.

- Our emir eats only a date a day. - But you said he was an angel.

You and I are mortals. Or have you too become an angel?

Eat. You're skin and bone. Eat.

To withstand God's ordeals is a virtue.

Your brother is right. They've hardened your heart.

Enjoy!

♪ Sing your song to your heart's content

♪ For we can still sing

♪ And we'll keep on singing

♪ Day in, day out For the rest of our lives

♪ Sing your song to your heart's content

♪ For we can still sing

♪ Sing your song to your heart's content

♪ For we can still sing

♪ And if ever one day they try to break you

♪ Stand up tall like the proud palm tree

♪ Reaching up to the sky

♪ Don't let them beat you Don't let them break you

♪ Don't let them beat you Don't let them break you

♪ Don't let them scare you

♪ Be like a dream, blossoming in the desert

♪ Sing your song to your heart's content

♪ For we can still sing... ♪

Only dancing can bring him back to us.

♪ Your song, resounding amongst mankind

♪ Will make the night's heart beat with joy

♪ And heal the wounds of the innocent

♪ Your song, resounding amongst mankind

♪ Will make the night's heart beat with joy

♪ And heal the wounds of the innocent

♪ Will you dance?

♪ I will too Despite myself, I'll dance too

♪ Despite myself, despite myself I'll dance too

♪ Until your dream is entwined with mine

♪ Despite myself, I'll dance too

♪ Will you dance?

♪ I will too Despite myself, I'll dance too

♪ Until your dream is entwined with mine

♪ Despite myself, I'll dance too

♪ Don't let them beat you Don't let them break you

♪ Don't let them beat you Don't let them break you

♪ Don't let them scare you

♪ Be like a dream, blossoming in the desert

♪ Sing your song to your heart's content

♪ For we can still sing. ♪

Soon enough, you'll be dancing in hell!

Maybe. But look at you.

You've made your hell on earth!

Get off your horse.

Kneel and beg for mercy.

Perfect.

Marwan! Marwan!

All infidels will meet the same fate.

We shall purge society of the vile Mansur.

The country will now live according to the precepts of God, his Prophet,

and his successor.

You're faced with the choice of a lifetime.

If you want to...

take my horse and follow them.

I wish it had been you who had delivered the mortal blow.

To die by your hand...

what bliss...

He's dead! He's dead! Murderer!

I'm to blame for Marwan's death.

How presumptuous!

He alone decided to die.

For him, saving you was a duty.

- I never thought that... - Thought?

You let others do the thinking for you.

Listen.

If you want a shoulder to cry on, a word of warning -

I'm not Marwan or your father.

- Marwan wasn't my father. - He chose to be.

That's far more noble than the giving of life.

Marwan taught you to love life.

And he paid the price.

My real father never cared about me.

Every man has his limitations.

Your father couldn't give what he hasn't got.

You're no longer a child. You're responsible for the choices you make.

You're too old to whine, "Mother hit me, Father neglected me.

"He preferred my brother.

"I hate the whole world so I'll accuse it of being impious."

That's too easy.

It's too easy to justify the laziness, hatred, and jealousy

you carry within yourself by blaming it on others.

Do you aspire to greatness?

You'll achieve it by doing something for others.

What's impious is reveling in your hatred.

- That's heresy! - I want to spread God's word.

Whose do I spread? The Devil's?

You?

Spread God's word?

How presumptuous.

You're so hollow, you repeat whatever nonsense you're told.

Learn a poem and a Qur'anic verse and you're a poet and a scholar?

What do you know about medicine and astronomy,

about mathematics and chemistry...

about philosophy?

Do you know enough about love...

about truth...

about justice...

to claim to be able to spread God's word?

Answer me! Answer me.

Why do I keep on writing?

My ideas don't reach anyone anymore!

Why should I wait for them to burn my books?

I'll burn them myself!

It's every man for himself!

Let them burn! Let them burn!

- Keep out of it! - I'm not an animal!

Animals have more heart than you and your sect!

Do you understand?

Zeinab! Zeinab!

Zeinab!

I treated him more harshly than they did. God forgive me.

- You kicked me out of your house... - And I'll do it again.

Do you want me to leave?

Nasser was Marwan's best friend. He's come to console you.

You were all so handsome.

Three suns which merged into one...

Nasser...

Joseph...

and Marwan.

I've come to thank you for the joy you gave him.

Thanks to you, not only Marwan, but we too,

learned about the joy of life.

Still here? You're not with your "friends"?

- Marwan had to die? - Nasser!

How can you have him here?

Marwan looked after Abdallah, like a son.

Can't we forget? Can't we forgive?

Console him. He's lost his father... Marwan.

♪ Sing your song to your heart's content

♪ For we can still sing

♪ Sing your song to your heart's content

♪ For we can still sing

♪ Sing your song to your heart's content

♪ For we can still sing

♪ Sing your song to your heart's content

♪ For we can still sing. ♪

Nasser!

Don't let yourself be blinded by hate.

Saving this one book was worth all the risks.

Read me something from it, Joseph.

I'm going back.

You're resigning, like a lowly employee?

Go, if you want to. No one is indispensable to me.

I can find ten others just like you.

It was my father who appointed you. I inherited you from him.

- In that case, I will go. - You will not!

You're a commoner now. You're subject to my whims.

Dismissed!

All this fuss over the death of a cockroach?

They have claimed responsibility for Marwan's death,

and threaten their enemies with the same fate.

They are undermining justice and your authority.

Riad rules the streets.

Are you sure it's Sheik Riad who rules the streets?

Or is it you?

- Why not? - I'm not interested in power.

But you are interested in glory. In immortality.

Living on in posterity.

Don't worry. Sheik Riad knows the limits of his power.

Let's hope so.

Show me a man who is not a slave to his pride.

His place is in my heart.

You hate me.

I hate ignorance and vanity.

- You think I'm vain? - I think Sheik Riad is.

No need to fear. I'm smarter than he is.

Sit down.

Such is politics.

Politics without morality is doomed to fail.

Don't you see? The political situation decides for us.

Our conscience should decide.

If I didn't owe you some respect, I'd destroy you.

Destroy me rather than yourself and the country.

I won't write anymore.

Then they've won. They've broken you and separated you from Mansur.

Had I stayed with Mansur, I'd have ended up hating him or myself.

If you could hate him, you wouldn't be grieving.

A friend who is spurned seeks revenge.

He despises himself for the love he once gave.

It's just me and you.

I esteem neither your politics nor your company.

I'm not thrilled about yours either.

Go console your friend in his fall.

- Providence is on his side. - And not on mine?

I thought no one was indispensable to you.

Can we really expect...

Can we expect a man to be a great strategist,

a great leader and a good and loving father?

We ask nothing of your father.

He is what he is. We must make our own way.

My way is... to Egypt.

- Tomorrow at dawn. - Now, that's a decision!

You better stick to it.

- You agree? - I agree if the decision is yours,

if you put your father behind you, if you forgive Abdallah

and if you say you love me as I love you.

You're in love with Joseph.

Before he left, I saw you gazing into his eyes.

My mother likes his blue eyes too. Is she in love with him?

I saw you kiss him!

He's the one who kissed me.

Before you leave, I'll gaze into your eyes too.

Will you? Swear! Swear to God that you'll marry me.

- Another decision! - I have to tell your father.

- He knows I love you. - You told him?

- My mother did. - She knows?

Everyone knows, everyone but you.

Go. When you come back, my trousseau will be ready.

I'll go faster than my own shadow.

Father will refuse your trip and our marriage.

- I demand both. - Or nothing at all.

We'll stand up to him. The two of us... together.

What are you waiting for?

Someone's permission? Joseph would have...

Let them burn my books! Someone else can write them!

Great thinkers don't grow on trees!

Too bad. Such is my destiny and that of the nation.

I'm scared too, but I'm letting him go.

You write books to incite people, to rouse them, to make them think!

We have a right to take a stand and share the risks!

She sounds just like her father!

Thank God she looks like her mother, or it would've been a disaster!

Quiet! My husband is very handsome!

Uncle. I have to take responsibility for my decisions.

- Exactly. - Besides, I'm the caliph's son.

I'll make myself respected.

- Exactly. - No one will be able to stop me.

He's already proved his worth.

- Salma and I support it. - We are against it.

- No, no, no. Are we? - What about me?

Salma and Nasser are for. You and Abu Yehia are against.

I've always played fair.

I'm with them. That makes three against two.

Isn't that right?

You're always right, my love.

Go. No one should deprive the world of wisdom. God keep you.

I'll do our children proud.

As soon as we have some.

Where are they?

Here and here. They're approaching Guadalquivir.

They're but a stone's throw away. Where did we go wrong?

After Alarcos, we wasted our fighting forces in pointless battles.

- Our army suffered. - Nothing I do is pointless.

Sire...

The enemy is here and all we do is jabber away.

How about the enemies within? They're undermining your power.

Your friend Averroes warned you.

If you mention his name again, I'll throw you in jail!

Go ahead. You're the caliph.

People bow, even when you fart!

It's Averroes who has divided the nation!

He just happens to resign right before the enemy attacks?

He just happens to send my son God knows where?

And the enemy just happens to read his books!

Do they contain military secrets?

Ideas belong to all of mankind. Our kingdom was born out of an idea.

Ideas will live on long after you and I fall into oblivion.

I'll win this battle. It's his ideas that will perish.

Ideas have wings. No one can stop their flight.

I can!

I'll have all his books burnt! I'll banish him!

It'll be the end of Almohad culture and all of Andalusia!

I am Andalusia!

Not him!

Open the doors!

Show Sheik Riad in.

- Can you rally the people? - Of course.

How long will it take?

A day... a moment. They're waiting for you.

Ever since our glorious Saladin, God bless his soul,

set Jerusalem free, unifying Arab people the world over,

Christians have sought revenge.

Their one wish is to destroy our empire,

an empire which has enlightened the world for over six centuries.

They want Andalusia to sink back into misery and ignorance.

They'll burn our homes, kill our children.

They want our blood!

Can we let...

the enemy take back the land

which our forefathers turned into a paragon of civilization?

Can we?

God has given us a leader even more glorious than Saladin!

Our mentor is pure.

He is courageous and inspired.

Mansur the Victorious!

Commander of the believers of Andalusia!

- We are your soldiers, Victorious One! - We are your soldiers, Victorious One!

- We are your soldiers, Victorious One! - We are your soldiers, Victorious One!

- We are your soldiers, Victorious One! - We are your soldiers, Victorious One!

Glorious believers...

- God is great! - God is great!

The world will soon know that Paradise is for the pure of heart...

What happened, Sheik Riad?

You left during my speech.

It is you who inspires the people. You and you alone.

Whatever you say enthuses them.

They hung on your every word.

There's no need to talk about land and honor.

Just tell them it's God's will. Every one of them will obey.

You're a true saint. And a clever one at that.

For sinking in the ocean of illusion

and obscuring the people's judgement,

the caliph forbids the following people from teaching

in schools and mosques.

Furthermore, the caliph orders that their books be burnt in public

and that they be banished.

It's Averroes!

Could someone help him stand up?

Are you hurt?

Al-Razi, this can only be entrusted to you.

I don't always agree with everything Averroes says,

but under such circumstances it is my duty to save these books.

My father has great respect for Averroes, but...

He ordered these books burnt and their author banished.

It will soon take effect.

- I learned of it yesterday. - Sheik Riad has won.

Run back to Averroes.

If he sees his books burn

without knowing they've been saved, he'll die!

COMMENTARY ON ARISTOTLE BY AVERROES OF ANDALUSIA

THE INCOHERENCE OF INCOHERENCE

Subjective and conflicting interpretations of divine law...

THE DECISIVE TREATISE BY ANDALUSIAN IBN RUSHD

...which assert their veracity above all others

have torn the country apart.

We are all to be held responsible for these rifts, for these schisms.

- Tell her she's wrong! - No, your mother is right.

No, no.

Everything stays but the bench.

Why don't you take the cupboards while you're at it?

Remember?

Life is so cruel to us. Having to leave everything...

We've been through worse.

As long as we're together, we'll pull through.

Tell me...

Do you remember this bench?

Of course I do. I thought you'd forgotten.

Our first night...

On the bench... God forgive you!

- Come back, Ibn Rushd. - Goodbye, Ibn Rushd.

Thank God, you're safe.

Nasser's back.

I want him obedient...

or I want him dead.

Meeting like this is a true blessing.

Indeed.

I'm going to betray one of Sheik Riad's secrets.

- The Spaniards want peace. - Who wouldn't?

"If they incline to peace, incline to it."

They want us to reduce the army and give out some gifts

to pacify the people and make them amenable.

Trade will thrive. We all stand to profit from it.

What does the Caliph of Andalusia think?

My father is the Caliph of Andalusia. Al-Mansur.

He's given enough. He deserves a long rest.

God is great!

I've been trained to kill you.

From behind?

Go ahead.

Will your hand not obey? Do it.

I could have, if they'd reached my heart.

But they only played with my mind.

Who's "they"?

Those you wish to please by burning his books.

Justice is done!

- Justice is done! - Justice is done!

- Justice is done! - Justice is done!

Too late.

- God is great! - God is great!

- God is the Greatest! - God is the Greatest!

You should know your books are safe in Egypt.

Of course.

Abdallah nearly killed me.

Sheik Riad has allied with the Spaniards.

I was offered your throne.

I refused.

I'm ready to fight now.

So am I.

Heaven has answered your prayers, Sheik Riad. Enter.

Failing to thwart Averroes' plans would have been disastrous.

He can do us no more harm.

Now that we are united, we can confront the enemy together.

You and your sect will form the front line.

As a shield.

An example for those willing to die in the name of Islam.

Victory or death... both lead to Paradise.

- I'm not a warrior. - Come, now!

Your eloquence alone gets the masses marching!

Have you nothing to say, Sheik Riad?

Who'll run the country?

No one. It will run itself.

The philosophers can do no more harm.

I'm an old man.

Don't underestimate yourself! You're in fine health!

I know my dream will come true.

I saw you leading the army, charging with the troops,

dressed in white, a sword held in your hand.

- I've never even held a weapon. - Now's your chance!

The mettle of a warrior is apparent only in battle.

- Sword against sword. - Take mine.

We know that the enemy is gathering near Jaen.

Get your men ready. We attack at daybreak.

We're attacking them at Jaen?

That's what our new "general" will tell them.

- We'll attack at Alarcos. - Perfect.

Sire...

Averroes' books are safe.

I took a copy of each to Egypt.

Thank God.

- That was a wise thing to do. Thank you. - May I tell him?

- We set off in an hour. - I won't be long.

Will you restore him his honors?

I accused him of treason. Should I contradict myself now?

What made you fall into your own trap?

Vanity.

Sarah! Manuela!

The books! They're safe!

Sarah, Manuela, his books are safe in Egypt!

That's Aunt Zeinab!

Get out of the way! We have to congratulate him!

- I'll marry you when I come back. - No, now!

Wait!

I'll be back.

I'll be back. Just a moment.

Thank you.

Thank you. A thousand thanks. Thank you.

A thousand thanks. A thousand thanks. Thank you.

IDEAS HAVE WINGS. NO ONE CAN STOP THEIR FLIGHT.

CHAHINE

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