All language subtitles for Desert.Dancer.2014.720p.1080p.BluRay.x264.DTS-iFT

My name is Afshin Ghaffarian.

I am a citizen of Iran.

And I'm a dancer.

Afshin! Afshin!

Afshin! Afshin! Afshin!

Afshin! Afshin!

Afshin! Af...

Afshin, give me your hand.

Give me your hand.

Afshin, what did you do?

I danced in class.

The teacher hit me.

You see those men over there?

They are the Basij,

the morality police.

If they catch you dancing,

they will do worse than this.

But why?

Because they say
dancing is forbidden.

So if you're going to do it,
you do it somewhere safe.

They are afraid
of no one, Afshin.

And if they ever come for you,

you run.

Afshin Ghaffarian.

Sir.

Sit down.

So...

You like dancing?

Have you ever heard
of the Saba?

It's an art center,
here in Mashhad.

It's not like
any other normal school.

It's a very well-kept secret.

I think you'll like it there.

It's run

by a charming man.

Tomorrow, 4:00.

Be there.

Today, I want you... Afshin!

Welcome to the Saba.

Please, do come in.

Take a seat.

Here, you call me Mehdi.

There are things you need
to understand, Afshin.

Our country is like

two parallel worlds
running alongside each other.

There is the one
you see outside,

and there's this one,

this world,
behind closed doors.

Outside there are laws,

commandments and sin.

In here, we are free.

Here.

Here's your Saba
membership card.

You've got a lot to learn.

But that's a great thing.

All right, everybody, concentrate.
I want you all to listen

to this piece
of music, carefully.

It's from a faraway land.

Written by
an incredible artist.

It's about life, about passion,

creation.

Let it speak to you. Let it stir
the emotions in your heart.

Ooh!

You don't understand.

I coulda had class.

I coulda been a contender.

Mehdi,

why do they hate us?

Girls and boys
sitting in the same room,

studying the arts,
that's a sin in their eyes.

- Will they be back?
- Oh, yes.

So,

what do we do?

Get new windows.

That, Afshin,

is Rudolf Nureyev.

He was Russian.

He fled to Paris because they
were trying to imprison him.

It reminds me of Rumi's poem.

"In your light,
I learned how to love."

"In your beauty,."

"I found poetry."

"You dance inside my heart,"

"where no one else
can see you."

Watch it some more.

I'll be back.

Mousavi! Mousavi!

Mousavi! Mousavi!
Mousavi! Mousavi!

Mousavi! Mousavi!

Rallies are
taking place all over Iran

for the upcoming elections.

The main challenger to the
current president, Ahmadinejad,

is Mir-Hossein Mousavi.

Ringing across
the streets of Tehran.

Okay. Nice to see
some new faces.

It's a shame.

I thought it was pretty good.

Yeah.

Yeah. It's always the same,
you know,

I put it up, they tear it down.
I paint it on the wall,

and they, uh, cover it up.

Uh, expression repression.

It's our little game.

But I've got plenty more paint.

Uh, I'm Afshin.

Ardi.

- Sorry.
- It's okay. It's fine.

- It's your second day, huh?
First year. -Yeah.

Where are you from? Tehran?

No, I'm from Mashhad.

Mashdi.

- What? -Wow, you're a
long way from home, huh?

Yeah.

Well, uh, you're gonna need
to know some ground rules.

Like what?

Well, even in university,
you have to be careful.

Look. You see?

- Student Basij.
- Basij?

- Here?
- Yeah, look.

What is he doing? Is he
confiscating her book?

It must be illegal.

But we have to make a stand.

- You stay here. Stay.
- What?

- Stay here.
- Ar... Ardi, wait. No, Ardi.

Hey! What the hell
are you doing?

- Ardi! -Hey, man. How are you?
Sorry I'm late.

Thanks for waiting. Hey, I want
you to meet my new friend.

Afshin! Afshin, come here.

Afshin, this is
my friend Mehran.

- Hi.
- Yeah, this is Afshin, Mona.

- Hi.
- Mona, Afshin.

I hope he hasn't
corrupted you yet.

- Give him time. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Very funny.

Actually, what time is it?

Come on. We're gonna be late.

Hey, so, are you
coming tonight?

Yeah. Actually, Mashdi,
you're coming, too.

Meet us here, outside
the gates, 10:00.

Okay? Bye.

Come on, let's go.

So, nice to meet you.

- Yeah, you, too.
- See you later.

- This traffic is crazy.

So I keep on seeing Mehran

in my drama class,

but he doesn't look like
someone who studies drama.

So I find out
his big secret, okay,

and it turns out that he
is an engineering student

who keeps on sneaking
into my class.

- I mean, that's pretty cool.
- That's not exactly true.

That is exactly true.

Where are we going?

Hey, guys.

Afshin, welcome to the
Ayatollah's worst nightmare.

That's her boyfriend. Naser.

He's a... Actually,
he's a student director.

He's taking a theater trip
to Paris next year.

Lucky bastard's getting out.

What are they smoking?

Heroin.

The regime is, um...

They're flooding the streets
with the shit, you know?

They want...
They want to numb us.

Okay, come on,
let's forget them.

Let's go have some fun, eh?
Let's party. Come on.

Cyrus. How are you?
Good to see you.

Ah, Beluga Vodka.

Oh, fancy.
You guys want a drink?

Wait, you can get YouTube?

What about the firewall?

Proxy server.

Here, Afshin.
I think you'll like this.

Broadcast in
stealth from Washington, D.C.,

this is the unofficial, true
voice of the Persian Youth.

Pretty cool, huh?

The voice, the regime
doesn't want you to hear.

Hey, guys.

Come on. Food's ready.

Yeah, all right.
We're coming now.

Do you mind if I...

No, man. Knock yourself out.

Come on!

All right!

Afshin.

You watch too much
YouTube, my friend.

He's good, huh?

Hey, Afshin.

Show me that, man. I've always...
I've always wanted to do that.

Which one?

That was it, the moonwalk.

- The moonwalk?
- Yeah.

So, show me how? Okay.
So, you weight this leg.

- Yeah.
- Then, switch.

And then push back. Switch.

- Okay, switch. You're going
to spoil your appetite.

Hey, guys. Time to eat.
Come on.

Time to eat.

Afshin, come get some food.

You know, guys,
I've been thinking.

I want to start a dance group.

What?

- I want to start a dance group.
- Yeah.

Start one in the canteen.

Dance on the tables...

- Look, Mehran, I'm serious.
- ...with the professors.

Who are you... Who are you gonna
find to be in a dance group?

Look, it's illegal, right?

- Dance is illegal. -It's
not illegal, technically.

- It's forbidden.
- Yeah, okay, forbidden.

But totally forbidden.

Come on, Naser. So's vodka.

Wait, so you want us
to start a dance group?

No, I want us to take
control of our lives.

You know,
have somewhere that's ours,

where we can create.

"Somewhere that's ours."

Yeah,

with no rules.

No rules, huh?

I'd love to dance.

- Mona.
- What?

You guys are crazy.

So, how would we do it?

Well, we'd have to
keep it a secret.

- Who's going to teach us?
- YouTube.

YouTube? Cyrus is right.
You are crazy.

- Just because you can't dance.
- Look, this isn't a joke, Mona.

You get caught dancing,
you go to prison.

You know what happened
to my friend.

Just a few months in Evin,
and his hair was white.

We hear you, Naser.

Yeah, come on,
Naser, no one wants that.

You know, when I dance,

I feel free.

You know, it's like
no one can take that away.

It's... It's limitless.

So you really want this?

I do.

Mehran, what do you think?

It's different.

An underground dance company.

No, I think it's a great idea.

We need somewhere to rehearse.

There's nowhere
in the university.

What about your cousin?

She owns that
old building, right?

- The printing factory?
- Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

That's empty. Maybe there's
somewhere there.

No one would know.

- Except the Basij. -In a
disused printing factory?

Tell her,
it's for extra studies.

Yeah, just say it's for

theater studies,
something like that.

We just need one quiet room.

Something out of sight.

It's perfect.

Yes!

Yeah, no, of course, of course.
As long as it's safe.

Let's start tomorrow.

Are we sure it's going to be secure?
Is it going to be safe?

- What if we're found out?
- We'll be fine.

I'm more worried about
cleaning that room.

We'll travel separately.
Hide the key outside.

It just feels like it
should be harder somehow.

It will be.
You've seen Ardi dance.

Uh...

I'm amazing.

- Okay, ready?
- Yeah.

Let's go.

Ardi, come on, set the curve.

Okay, so there are some movements
that I think you should try.

Um, what do you think?

- Um...

Yeah, okay. So, um...

You start with the leg.

Are we going to be
doing it like...

So, this is the dance group.

- How did you... -If
you want to be smart,

maybe the last one should
take the key with them.

Relax.

I overheard you.

No one else knows.

If anybody else had,

I wouldn't have come.

So, can I audition?

Have we met before?

No.

I'm Elaheh.

Guys, who is this girl?

Okay.

So?

Uh...

Okay, sure.

Okay. Let's start.

- Hey.
- Hey.

So, uh, what do you think?

You have commitment.

But you need to work
on technique.

A lot.

Without that, you have nothing.

Who taught you?

My mother.

Before the revolution, she was
in the Iranian National Ballet.

In Tehran?

Of course.

Back then, they were
the stars of their day.

Even Nureyev and Fonteyn came
and taught them Le Corsaire.

Wait. Rudolf Nureyev was here?

Doesn't seem real, does it?

Tell me more.

There were about 50 dancers.

Mainly from Iran and Europe.

Some Americans.

Then dance became
the great big sin,

and it all came to an end.

Okay?

See you tomorrow.

You know, there's this video
I found online.

It's, uh... It's about Fosse.

It's, uh... It's interesting. I thought
maybe we should watch it together.

Afshin, are you asking me out?

I don't know.
What... What if you said no?

Can you cook?

Uh, I make Ghormeh sabzi.
It's pretty good.

- Says who?
- Maman.

- Hey.
- Hey.

How's it going?

My TV's down.

It's the election debate.
Everyone's watching.

Mousavi's on.

He's promising to disband
the morality police.

Man, I am telling you,
the president is history.

As the race for Iran's
presidential election heats up...

Brother.

- How's Maman? -Is that
why you think I'm here?

I don't know why you're here.

It's been a while, brother.

I feel like
you've been avoiding me.

- Sorry. -It's okay. You
have to work hard.

Are you making friends?

I keep my head down.

Good.

Okay, you got me. I admit it.

I've come to ask for a favor.

People are making trouble
at the elections.

Enemies of our president.

This university is
full of them.

The Basij needs eyes
on the inside.

Will you help me, brother?

My exams are in two months.

I can't.

I have to focus. I'm sorry.

My brother,

the engineer.

It's okay. I respect that.

Enjoy the food.

Hey, guys!

Hey. Stay here.

The rally is starting.
Everyone... Everyone's here.

What? Come over,
show a little support.

Yeah, it's not going
to change anything.

That's where you're wrong.

Come on.

Good. Come on.

- Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!

Mousavi! Mousavi! Mousavi!

Mousavi! Mousavi! Mousavi!

How are the rehearsals going?

Uh, yeah, they're going okay.

It's a little hard for everyone to
concentrate with the elections going on.

Yeah. Well, you'll
be going to Paris,

a freer man.

Yeah.

Salaam. Salaam. How are you?

Salaam.

You have come
from the rally, yes?

Look, we're just
on our way home.

Do you plan on voting
for Mousavi?

Yes.

That makes you a non-believer.

We're going home.

So you are married?

How long has it been?

- Please don't. -I'm
not talking to you.

Do you kiss her?

Tell me, how does she taste?

- Hey.
- No, whoa, whoa, whoa. Whoa.

Look, we'll go. We'll go.

No. You will stay.

You look so innocent.

How much does a whore
like you charge, huh?

Tell me, is she worth it?

- Naser!

- Naser!
- Naser!

Naser! No!

Guys, guys...

- Naser?
- Naser!

How is he?

He's going to be okay.

He just got out of surgery,
and they say

he's going to be okay.

What did you do?

What did we do?

What did we do?
What did they do?

But why would they do this?

Because they're animals,
Mehran.

We need to be more careful.

We are careful.

Mmm, you have it.

Just let it go.

Try not to think
about what happened.

Elaheh.

- Elaheh, come with me.
- No.

Elaheh, come with me.

- Elaheh.
- No!

Look, it's okay.
I'm her friend, so...

I'm her friend, too.

Naser's fine, by the way.

You know you're the best
dancer in the group.

Nothing changes that.

But you can't dance
if you're on heroin.

What are you,
the morality police?

I don't care if
it's right or wrong.

All I care about is the group.

What's the point?

We both know
this isn't going anywhere.

- That's not true.
- Then where is it going?

Tell me, Afshin.

What's the big plan?

This isn't enough.

We should perform,

to an audience.

Look, it's one thing for us to practice
in here, but what's the point?

You know, why dance
if no one can see us?

Because it's safe in here.

Who'd want to see us?

Anyone who wants to come.

We'll find an audience.

Anyone who wants
to be arrested.

All right, all right.

So where would we put on
a performance?

There's nowhere. We can't.

- Why not?
- It's too dangerous.

What about somewhere
out of the city?

Where?

When I first left
my family and came to Tehran,

I drove through the desert.

Look. See?

We can dance in the desert.

Where there's no regime.

Where no one can find us.

Yes.

You're absolutely right.

You okay?

Yeah. I'm fine.

Don't worry about
your technique.

You don't have
to think about it.

Of course I do.
I mean, you taught me that.

Afshin,

you can spend your whole life
trying to perfect your technique,

but you only make a difference

when you find your own
secret language.

That's when you start
communicating.

Connecting.

Dance can be anything.

Just waving goodbye

or kneeling down to pray.

Or raising your fist in the air

because you believe
in something.

You taught me that.

Uh, come in.

Hmm.

You made this?

- Yeah

I'm sorry.

They closed the Ballet
after the revolution.

Dance was my mother's life.

You know, she was part of
the company for 10 years.

This was her oxygen.

She couldn't breathe
without it.

And just like that,
she had to stop.

The only way she could
keep going was to...

Was to teach me.

At home.

Behind closed curtains.

Oh, she was very hard.

Very hard. She pushed
me all the way.

But it wasn't enough for her.

I mean,
I wasn't enough for her.

So she got high.

I just thought she was tired.

I thought she was disappointed.

But I didn't want that.

I wanted to be like her.

So I carried on and I...

And I taught myself
on the days she wouldn't.

Do you know, she...

She always told me
that it was her dream

to see me dance on a stage.

Again and again.

Even when she could
hardly speak.

Then when I was 13...

she took too much.

After her funeral,
I went through her things

and I... And I found her wraps.

It stopped the pain.

It still stops the pain.

I don't want to be awake.

We'll do this together.

Elaheh.

Afshin Ghaffarian.

Back from the dead.

How's things?

So, Cyrus,
he told us about her.

Yeah, well,
she's clean now, so...

I don't care.

Ardi, don't lose sight
of why we're doing this.

Don't you dare tell me that.

We haven't seen you for weeks.
Have you been to see Naser?

Afshin, you've forgotten
who your friends are.

The last time we saw you,

you had this great idea,

and we believed in you.

Don't make this about her.

I am here today

to talk to you

about something very
important for our country.

Thirty years ago,

this country was in chaos.

A corrupt leader.

A government oblivious
to the needs of its people.

Then the revolution came.

The whole country rose up.

And we were one.

And we changed history.

You were right what you said.

- But the fight goes on.
- I'm sorry.

And now our enemy
comes from within.

- In these elections... -Let's
get out of here, shall we?

There are people who
want to divide us...

Hey, come on.

Weaken us.

This is what we fight against.

Okay, so we
only ask people that we trust?

Who do we trust?

That's up to us.

Wow, this is where things

get really dangerous, isn't it?

Do you realize what will happen
if we get caught doing this?

- Of course we do, Mona.
- Really?

Because if you did,
you'd be scared.

And I don't hear any
fear in your voice.

We're all scared.

- We talked about this.
- Yes, but doing this in here

is one thing,
putting on a performance

- out there is...
- She's backing out.

Shut up.

You're too high to have
any idea what's going on.

No, you don't know
anything about me.

- This isn't about you!
- Don't talk to me like that.

Look, do you...

Do you have any idea

- what she's been through
the last three weeks? Ardi.

What it means for her
to be in this room...

Guys, can we just...

Look, let's just
start the rehearsal.

No!

Look what they did to Naser.

It's going to be worse for us.

We can't do this.

I can't.

- I'm sorry. I have to go.
- Please, Mona.

Mona.

Mona, please.

Please don't.

This is a big deal for her.

Ardi, enough. Enough.

- Enough.
- What did I say?

What's wrong with you?
- I was just being honest.

You did say something.
- I was just being honest.

Come on, let's start.

- What?
- Let's start the rehearsal.

We started this because we
wanted to take control,

you know, feel free.

Now look at us.

The regime, you know, the
Basij, they're strangling us.

And we're suffocating.

You know, we can go
out to the desert.

We can feel what it's like
to breathe.

You know, just for a few hours.
Just for a moment even.

That's all I want.

And that's what
the story is about.

Those people...

They are your friends?

Yes.

They look like trouble.

I thought I'd come and help
you with your coursework.

Now...

I'm no engineer, but, uh...

I'm pretty sure this isn't how
you build a bridge.

Okay.

We've got 20 people
signed up to come.

That's 20 people outside
this room that know.

So, this is how
we keep it safe.

Only I will know the exact
location of the dance.

Ardi, when you
pick up the audience,

I'll tell you where it is an hour
into your drive south on the freeway.

This is ours.

If we stop, if we hide,

if we change...

They win.

It's just up over there.

Where are we, about a hundred
kilometers south of Tehran?

Yeah.
Think it's far enough away?

Should be.

Get in.

Let's do it.

- Okay, let's go.

You shouldn't be so nervous.

It's going to be great.

Of course. Hey...

Thanks.

Elaheh.

Afshin.

Afshin.

Afshin.

Afshin, please.

Hey!

Afshin!

Guys, sit down. Sit down.

I promise you it's worth it.

I promise.
I hope you like the show.

These have been
amazing times in Iran.

The government
has just announced that.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

has been reelected
with 62.6% of the vote.

The challenger, Mir-Hossein
Mousavi, got 33.7%.

That seems strange.

In fact, it is my own sense that the
vote appears to have been rigged.

Mousavi had been
drawing huge crowds,

generating greater
and greater enthusiasm,

and getting bolder and bolder
in his criticism

of Ahmadinejad and the regime.

Where is our vote?

Where is our vote? Where is our vote?
Where is our vote?

Where is our vote?
Where is our vote?

Where is our vote?
Where is our vote?

Where is our vote?

Where is our vote? Where is our vote?
Where is our vote?

Where is our vote? Where is our vote?
Where is our vote?

Where is our vote?

What happened?

Uh, I'm going home.

My family wants me back.

Hey, who did this to you?

My brother is Basij.

He wanted me to betray you.

But I couldn't.

We were free

in the desert,
just for that moment.

I couldn't destroy that.

And I'll always have it.

Mousavi! Mousavi!

Mousavi! Mousavi!
Mousavi! Mousavi!

Mousavi! Mousavi!

Mir-Hossein! Ya Hossein!

Mir-Hossein! Ya Hossein!

Mir-Hossein! Ya Hossein!

Mir-Hossein! Ya Hossein!

Ya Hossein! Mir-Hossein!

Ya Hossein! Mir-Hossein!
Ya Hossein! Mir-Hossein!

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!

Afshin! Afshin!

- Afshin!
- Ardi!

Ardi!

Hey! Hey!

Him.

I did nothing!

- I'm sorry! -You want to know
where your vote is, huh?

I'm sorry!

Here is your vote.

Get me their wallets.

The Saba Art Center.

Who is Afshin Ghaffarian?

Afshin Ghaffarian.

If Afshin Ghaffarian does
not make himself known,

we will go to Mashhad
and find his family.

I'm Afshin.

So you are an artist.

Beat him... artistically.

Get him up.

Our Islamic Republic
is a shining sun,

and you

threw dust towards the sun.

But the dust

will now return to your eyes.

Hey! Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!

Hey!

Stay here with these!

We will find you,
Afshin Ghaffarian!

You are a dead man!

Elaheh.

- What are you gonna do?

By tomorrow, there will be
checkpoints on every corner.

Lie low.

For how long?

As long as it takes.

Afshin, if they know your
name, they will find you.

I know, Naser!

Hey.

You can't sleep, either, huh?

Oh, I, uh...

Haven't really been able
to sleep since the attack.

I keep getting
these nightmares.

If their plan was to scare the
shit out of me, it worked.

Hey, Mona told me
about the dance.

I'm really glad you did it.

Thanks.

And it's good
you're acting again, too.

I don't want to go, Afshin.

To Paris.

I can't leave Mona. Not now.

Not while this is happening.

I love her.

You could go.

What?

Take my part in the play.

You're the director, Naser.

They'd never let me go
instead of you.

No, I mean, you go as me.

My passport can be fixed.

Afshin, you can't stay here,
they'll kill you.

- You're not thinking straight.
- Look, I mean it, Afshin. Go.

And don't come back.

There's just no way.

You know, I can't.

Why, Afshin?

Why can't you go?

You're a beautiful dancer,
you know that?

Don't ever give it up.

Don't let anyone stop you.

Not even me.

Go to Paris, Afshin.

For both of us.

You know, when I first
saw a piece of ballet...

I didn't understand it.
You know, I couldn't see

how it worked.

Then a friend of mine
told me a line from a poem.

It was by Rumi.

"In your light,
I learned how to love."

"In your beauty,
I found poetry."

"You danced inside my heart,"

"where no one else
can see you."

Just go.

What was the name
of that play again?

Uh, The Tempest.

And you're sure this can work?

Uh, yeah. Yeah, I'm sure.

And I've already spoken
to the other actors.

They're coming over tonight.

How come?

Rehearsal.

Afshin's taking
Naser's place in Paris.

He's leaving.

I was just, uh, coming around
to get some stuff for the...

Stuff for the rally.

Ardi.

You know, I know
you've got to go.

See you around, Afshin.

- Hey.
- Salaam.

- Salaam.
- Salaam.

You have your passport?

Yeah.

Your ticket.

While you're on this trip,

you are representing The Islamic
Republic of Iran. You understand?

Of course. We all do.

Good.

Babysitters from
the Ministry of Culture.

Don't mind them... Naser.

Naser Javadi.

Where are you going?

To Paris.

What is the purpose
of your trip?

It's a theater festival, um,
arranged by the university.

You're a drama student?

Yeah, I'm the student director.

What is your date of birth?

Uh, the 23rd of August, 1985.

Yeah. Okay.

Drink water, not a drop before.

Therefore, drink to me.

- Yes?
- Yes, and then,

"They say... They say there's
five upon this isle,

- "we are three of them."
Servant-monster, drink to me.

The folly...

The folly of this island...

Afshin?

Afshin?

Mehdi?

Ah, it's you.

What are you doing here?

I live here.

Why? I mean, what happened?

They shut down the Saba.
Life wasn't the same for me.

It was better for me to leave.

Besides, where did Nureyev go
when he fled Russia?

Yeah, Paris.

- Exactly.

Mehdi...

I'm in a lot of trouble.

Drink, servant-monster,
when I bid thee.

Thy eyes are
almost in thy head.

Where should they be set else?

He were a brave monster indeed,
if they were set in his tail.

My man-monster hath drowned
his tongue in sack.

For my part, the sea
cannot drown me.

I swam, ere I could
recover the shore,

five-and-thirty leagues...

Off and on.

By this light, thou shalt be my
lieutenant, monster, or my standard.

Uh, your lieutenant,
if you list.

He's no standard.

We'll not run...

Monster, I say speak.

My name is Afshin Ghaffarian.

I'm a citizen of Iran.

I'm a dancer,

and my government won't
let its people be free.

In my country,
even dance is forbidden.

I want my rights.

I want my freedom.

Thou liest,
most ignorant mon...

My name is Afshin Ghaffarian!

I'm...

Afshin, dance can be anything,

even raising your fist
in the air

because you believe
in something.

My name is Afshin Ghaffarian,

and I'm a...

I'm a dancer.

But my government
won't let its people be...

free.

Hey!

Hey!

Hey!

Please, please, please.

Shut it down.

You are dead.

Let's go.