Waiting for Happiness
No one came by. The radio should still be here.
- Makan, is it your beautiful radio? - Yes.
Don't worry. I'll find it.
Makan...
Let's have tea.
The radio isn't lost. It's buried.
I think it misfired.
Misfired?
Yes, misfired. That happens to a car
when spark plugs get wet or gas is cut.
Sometimes it goes click and tap, tap.
Little bird that sings
its love of its native country...
I will choose things for you to eat
Khatra!
And bring them to you.
How many times have I told you not to sing that song?
Don't you listen?
How many times have I told you to be careful?
And you still walk around the roofs?
If you fall off you'll kill yourself!
You keep saying to me: "You're going to die... "
I'm not afraid of dying.
You're the one who's afraid of death.
Go on, take that cable and plug it in.
Not that one,
the other one!
Maata, don't plug it in yet. I could electrocute myself!
So which one of us is afraid of dying?
Little bird that sings
its love of its native country...
Hi.
Would you like some veils?
A nice cheerful one, the "Beijing" design.
Excellent dye. The latest fashions.
Or the "Swiss" design?
Thank you.
Mama, come back tonight. Go on!
Abdallah!
Throw that cigarette away.
That's not good for you!
Before, you didn't smoke. And now you smoke!
But I don't smoke much.
If you don't smoke much, then it's better to stop.
Cigarettes aren't good for you. Leave them!
How many souls have you satisfied with your songs?
Your voice is unique...
And nothing, nothing can match it.
Your drink.
Mouth.
Nose.
Eyes.
Eyebrow.
Throat.
Throat!
Hello.
Diallo, how are you? Is my boubou ready?
Number 104?
Yes, it's ready...
Little bone.
Little.
Hello.
- Hello. - The electricians are here.
- How are you? - Fine.
Fine, thanks to God.
Is this the room without electricity?
Do your neighbors have electricity?
- Yes. - It's the same equipment?
- Yes. - No problem.
No problem. I'll just extend a wire through this room.
Do you have the key to the other room?
Yes, I have it.
We can go to work now.
Khatra!
Bring me a 40-Watt light bulb.
It doesn't cost 50. It's 60.
Go on, and hurry up!
He just sits alone.
He thinks all the time. He doesn't mix with others.
I told him to make friends...
To dress like people here...
To go out...
To wear traditional dress...
He doesn't understand what we say to him.
I hope he'll change when we have electricity.
I'd also like him to have his passport.
I went to see one of his uncles.
But he's traveling all the time.
I told you I'd take care of the passport.
I went to the passport service twice...
Nothing can be done.
Khatra!
Is it working?
No, not at all!
It's not working.
Strange...
The connections are OK.
The light bulb isn't burnt out.
It must be from Taiwan.
Still doesn't work!
Hello everyone and welcome. We're happy to have Patrick
for his third match...
You work in the same company as Patrick.
We'll see a match between postmen.
In the head offices of the Auxerre Post Office.
So you live in Auxerre?
And it seems you do quite a bit of running?
Mostly on the weekends.
Mostly for fun.
And to stay in shape?
I do 15 km and half-marathons.
Great!
But it's really just for fun.
Take it back to Mohammed to be checked out.
Hello.
We plugged this light bulb in twice.
I tried it myself, it's not working!
- And how are you? - I'm fine.
It works!
- Mohammed? - Yes.
You promised to give me those overalls...
Mine?
When you grow up, I will. God willing.
Maata!
Mohammed tried it two or three times. And it works.
Khatra.
This light bulb will never work here.
Don't bother.
Maata.
It's going to work, I promise.
Maata, it's going to work.
My God, what's that?
Nothing. It's nothing.
You see... That's what you call...
an electrical accident.
It's a present for you. To wish you a good trip.
Thank you very much.
I will leave soon.
A present for you.
In life nothing is more tragic than to lose one's freedom.
In life nothing is more painful
than to lose one's friends and loved ones.
Without a shining and moving voice, I am full of sincerity.
On this beautiful evening
I am going to sing this song straight from my heart
for my friends and loved ones.
In front of the ironclad window,
I raise my eyes to contemplate the twinkling stars
that look like my mother's eyes
and make me lower my head, devoured by guilt.
Doors of iron, windows of iron, chains of iron,
through the bars, I look outside
where life is so beautiful.
When will I go home?
When will I be able to go home again?
Makan.
You know, I work in electricity now.
Don't people really need it? They don't pay well.
Here, I think of the sea.
Its wonders, but also its problems.
I think of my boats. I can't forget all that.
Hello.
We were laughing when you came in.
That's never very nice.
It wasn't about you.
But someone here is burning with love.
- To that point? - Even more than that!
May I have a cigarette?
Of course.
Here's a lighter.
Not his lighter!
My cigarettes only burn with my lighter.
Take your lighter back.
His lighter's not as good. Mine lights faster!
And do you need a light?
- Why not! - Here it is.
- Let's see. - Here.
Followed by a poem.
We're listening.
That evening you appeared, irresistible.
Satan you did not please.
To the devil with him...
Every evening the same.
Very beautiful.
Where did that story take them?
To the depths of their souls.
That's my daughter Sonia.
Vincent gave her that name.
It's because of Sonia that I went to Europe
the first time.
Some things can only be said face to face.
So I decided to go and see him
over there in Europe.
He didn't want me to.
But I went anyway.
I passed through Spain
and arrived in Perpignan.
I called him from the station.
He came to get me.
I told him that our little girl
was struck by a high fever.
She didn't make it through.
He said:
"Why did you come?"
He took me to a hotel.
He paid for a week.
I loved Vincent a lot then.
Omar, my friend,
let Michael leave when he gets back!
Michael, hurry up. This isn't Hollywood!
- Who's there? - It's Abdallah.
Makan, what's the date today?
It's the 20th.
Michael should be arriving in Tangiers.
He should be already in Spain.
He left here two weeks ago.
No, he's in Tangiers.
He's in Spain.
Michael's in Tangiers.
Hello.
- Is my meat ready? - Yes.
Abdallah!
Come back.
Tell me another story of your life.
I'm tired.
Please Maata...
Come on, tell me one of your stories.
Just one, please.
Alright.
One night, at sea,
we went out to get our fishing nets.
Just before getting there our propeller broke.
You know, the propeller is like a fan.
It's what makes the motor turn.
So, the propeller disappeared into the water.
The sea was pushing us away from our fishing nets.
We didn't know what to do.
What was there to do?
The sea was pushing us farther and farther.
We ended up in an area with lots of boats.
Our little boat was impossible to control.
I got some gas, poured it on a rag and set it on fire.
There was a big explosion!
Boats are afraid of fire
because they're full of fuel and gas.
They moved away, and we stayed there.
Then we moved our boat away.
Maata, were you afraid of dying?
Not at all. Death is natural.
It doesn't scare me.
Go to bed.
Good night.
Maata.
What happens when we die?
We die one after another. Everyone dies.
Put him on the stretcher.
Ahmed, go with Taleb to interrogate the man who was over there.
You, search the body.
Date of birth?
Around 1968.
- Where? - Laandi.
3 km from Heremakono.
Cunya district.
Marital status?
Single.
Did you recognize the drowned person?
No.
I don't like to look at things like that.
Is it the first time the sea washes up a body?
Yes.
Only one body?
One day I found a tire.
Where is it?
It's not here anymore.
What are these jugs?
The big one is 60 liters.
It lasts two weeks. It's for cooking.
The other one is 25 litters.
Seven and a half days.
And the other 25 litters.
Seven and a half days.
The smallest, 8 litters.
It's for tea.
3 days.
OK, thank you Makan.
Sign the report please.
Thank you.
Thanks again. Goodbye.
Did you identify the drowned person?
Not yet.
I don't know anyone here.
Nana!
Come here.
Here's my friend Ahmed.
- Hello. - Madam.
How are you?
- I'm Nana. - Nice to meet you.
He wants to get to know you.
Diallo is like a brother.
Welcome.
If you have time, we can have tea.
I'd enjoy that.
I never refuse tea!
Come in, I'll make some.
Watch...
Abdallah,
go and see your uncle.
I was there the night before.
You can go everyday. He's your uncle.
I'll be right back.
What do you want?
Khatra!
Yeah!
What are you doing over there?
I lost something!
Come here.
Where are you?
Sit down!
Give me that.
But it's my money.
Give me that money.
That's money.
How many times have I warned you?
How many times?
What would you become without me?
What would you become?
Electrician.
Go to your room!
Here's Abdallah. I want him to know you before he leaves.
- How are you? - I'm well.
He doesn't speak Hassanya very well.
I'm leaving. I have things to do.
Make some tea. Make yourself at home.
I'll be right back.
Noura, make some tea.
I made it this morning. I'm tired.
- Do it! - I'm tired.
I made it this morning.
Do it. What's wrong with you?
Don't embarrass our guest.
So how are you?
I'm well.
You're well?
Believe him. He says he's well.
How long have you been here?
I don't understand.
How long have you been here?
A long time.
And you still don't speak Hassanya?
Little by little...
This little by little is really little by little.
Say a few words.
Mouth.
Not bad... Good God!
Nose.
Why not? That's good.
Who's teaching you?
I have a little friend who comes over sometimes.
He taught you well.
Very good! You're very good.
Especially with his mouth here and his nose underneath.
That's cute. I have to have this boy.
I'm going to buy cigarettes.
- But we have some here. - No, don't worry!
If we plug this cord in here
will the meter start to turn?
Of course.
So who will pay?
You're getting on my nerves. You talk too much!
I'm going home to Heremakono.
The trip to Spain has been cancelled.
It's not a money issue.
You can go.
And come back.
Leave.
Omar...
If I leave
I won't come back.
I know it.
Makan, what's wrong with your friend?
It's the trip.
It's true.
He's not himself today.
Maata, what's wrong?
Nothing, thank God.
No. I know you.
Nothing, thank God.
I don't like travel stories.
I don't like traveling.
I don't like seeing someone leaving.
One day
a friend came to see me.
His name was Ethmane.
He asked: "Maata, are you free?"
I told him: "Yes, I'm free. "
He pulled out 2 plane tickets.
"One for you, one for me. Come on, let's leave. "
I told him: "I'm not leaving. "
He begged me to go.
I told him: "Ethmane...
"you're my friend, my good friend.
"You are fair and you want to please me. Me, too.
"But I don't want to leave.
"And I don't want you to leave either. "
This Ethmane...
Today...
I don't know where he is.
I still think of him.
Maybe that's what weighs on my heart.
Maata!
Maata! What's wrong?
What's wrong?
Maata, speak to me.
Maata, tell me to stop singing.
You know how I feel sorry for you.
You, source of my torment.
You are upset now.
And do you know why you are upset?
It comes from me.
Because I haven't changed towards you.
In the name of God.
God, put us on the right path.
On the path of those you have blessed
and covered with your generosity.
God be with you. I give you up to him.
What are you doing?
And you?
I learn music!
Then go learn and leave me alone!
Can I look?
Yes. Come and look.
Here.
One, two,
three, four...
Give it back!
Wait.
Six, seven...
Give it back!
Hello.
Subtitles: Sherri Aldis-Gaouad
Processed by C.M.C. - Paris
Ripped by: SkyFury