Wake up, Chand.
Let me sleep, ma.
Soon your father and brothers will be up.
I 'll have no time with you alone.
Are you listening?
Yes I am.
A long time ago Saint Gulab Singh
was going on a pilgrimage to Hemkunth Sahib...
...and on his way, he met a Cobra.
I've heard this story a hundred times.
Now that you're up,
come with me.
If you're so smart,
tell me the moral of the story.
If you're a snake, never obey your Guru!
This girl will never grow up.
You can protect yourself without hurting anyone.
What?
That's what the saint said to the snake.
To hiss and not to bite.
The moral of your story, ma.
All lives are precious.
By the grace of God, may you never have need to...
Don't joke all the time.
We all have our strengths.
Use yours, if you have to.
Besides, the family you are marrying into,
is known to your uncle.
Have faith.
Don't be nervous.
She's here!
She's here.
Baldev get her trolley.
Live long.
Keep happy.
Look what came for Rocky from India.
She's even prettier than her picture.
Aman, Rocky's sister.
From tomorrow your sister-in-law.
Kabir son, touch her feet.
Baldev, my husband.
Greetings.
Rocky, why are you blushing like a girl?
Loveleen, she's so pretty, no?
Yes, she is.
All well at home, your mom, your dad?
Yes.
Stop it. Stupid.
Kabir son, is your seatbelt on?
A beauty arrives
Swinging from the clouds
A beauty arrives
O beautiful one lift your veil
And behold your garden
It's about to blossom
Count twenty thousand dollars. From Chand's father.
Coke? Beer?
Now you have Chand. Let her.
Come.
Washroom.
Yours and Rocky's.
Your shirt is crumpled
Who have you been embracing
That your shirt is so crumpled
Sardarji?
Wake up!
What is it?
Nothing.
Great God!
Braise the chicken properly.
Use clarified butter.
How are you guys?
Why are you sitting like dead folk? He's the one who has to die tomorrow.
Why are you late?
I was busy.
What are we doing next?
Tonight you'll sleep at our house.
Whatever!
Tomorrow he'll have his Chand.
You should have seen him at the airport, shy like a girl.
See, he's blushing
Look!
Your groom is here!
Great God!
A silver border on the veil
Around your face
Makes it shine like the moon
Our blessings to the newlyweds
Today, night shift for sure.
Rocky. Why don't you feed Chand?
Take it.
What is it, Mummyji?
Nothing.
Son?
I was thinking of the day you were born.
Today you're married.
Don't worry,
You'll always be my first priority.
If only your brothers were here
to share your load.
I'll get them here.
You were impatient for his marriage.
Now you regret it.
Don't say that.
Nobody will steal your son.
Go to sleep.
We won't be doing anything tonight.
The bouquet was beautiful.
Wasn't it?
Waste of money.
Are you upset with me?
No.
I'm tired.
You must be as well.
Can I call my mother?
Tomorrow.
Where are we going?
Honeymoon.
Do you know what that is?
Are you cold?
No.
Are you hungry?
No.
Can we take a photograph?
Only tourists take photos.
Let's go.
Take your clothes off.
You're still dressed?
First turn the lights off.
Don't make a fuss.
What are your hobbies?
Hobbies?
Cricket... many years ago.
I like to read.
Really?
Novels, magazines, plays.
Can I phone India?
Tomorrow.
Now get undressed.
Please open the door.
I dreamt.
You had an accident.
She insisted that I bring her.
I tried to call.
My cell's off.
I'm perfectly fine.
Thank God a million times.
You have your mother's blessings.
Live long.
Come Baldev, let's go.
No.
You sleep here.
Baldev and I will sleep in the car.
You rest.
Maybe we can rent another room?
Who asked you?
Take care of Mummyji.
Come and sit down.
My legs won't stop aching.
At home Aman massages them.
Should I?
Only if you wish.
Look at the tub, it's so pretty
The shape of a Banyan leaf
and red like the finery of a bride.
My! Oh my!
My first time in a hotel.
Don't cry child.
This is normal in married life.
What a fuck up.
Go to sleep.
Okay.
A young woman asks the Water,
"Where are you going?"
The Water answers, "beyond the Seven seas to the 8th land.
" In that 8th land,
" blooms a magical garden.
" In that garden, is a tree made of gold
"guarded by a Cobra.
"Waiting under the tree
is your loving mother."
The woman asks the Water,
" Please take me to the land
where my mother waits for me."
I'm finding it difficult to breathe.
Baldev doesn't have a job.
You're lucky, the supervisor is Rocky's friend.
Come, sit Chand.
Eat.
Lunch break will be over soon.
I'm a graduate.
So?
I have a certificate,
maybe I can get another job.
Can I phone home?
Why not?
Do you have make-up foundation?
Don't mind Rocky, he's a nice boy.
Just has a short fuse.
What's the matter?
I feel shy.
You want me to burst into song?
Everyone can hear us.
Do you have another woman?
No.
One is enough.
Your father called today.
When?
Did you speak to my mother?
Didn't she want to speak to me?
No.
Just spoke with your father.
He wants me to sponsor your brother here.
Oh.
Greetings, sir.
What do you want?
Speak up for God's sake.
My name is Chand.
My husband's name is Rocky Dhillon.
Yeah, sure I know him.
What is my pay and when do I get it?
$8.45 an hour.
It goes directly to your husband.
As I was instructed.
Anything else?
No.
What a square-cut!
He should keep the ball at the stumps.
Mississauga property taxes are increasing.
So? We're buying no house.
Didn't you learn to make rotis?
Say something.
Are you dumb and deaf?
Maji, it was an accident!
She pushed me!
Then take the rolling pin and break her legs.
She's your wife.
Enough, Rocky.
That's enough.
Happy now?
Chand's mother hugs her and starts to cry.
Then she oils Chand's hair, combs it
and braids it with golden skein.
She kisses her forehead and says,
" Don't be scared, my daughter,
sleep with me tonight."
Should I beat you?
Get a job first.
Sleep here.
Oh Lord how can I express
the pain of the distance between us
Stop it, let us sleep.
Rocky, why are you sulking? Want me to sing you a lullaby?
O Lord how can I express
the pain of the distance between us
Here, take two Tylenols.
You should say sorry to Maji.
Forgive me.
It's alright, everybody makes mistakes.
Where is your brother?
I don't know.
Night shift maybe?
Are you ready?
Why can't you get ready on time?
Are you listening to me?
Aren't you ready?
I'm ready.
But I can't find my dentures.
Have you seen them?
Why don't you look for them, instead of grumbling?
You're breathless, don't exercise.
You're not going to get younger.
We're inside the whole day.
Exercise helps my digestion.
If it weren't for the tenants...
Stop talking about them.
We kept them, because we wanted to.
Talk softly, someone will hear.
Move your arm.
I have to knit some more.
Don't I have enough sweaters?
Never mind. It helps me pass the time.
Grandpa?
Found your dentures?
I'm still hungry.
Be patient.
Grandma put less oil.
Fight and die for all I care.
Brother-in-law didn't come for dinner?
Late for dinner.
But in time for bed.
Control your kids!
Stop it!
Sit quietly.
Can't you ever stop fighting?
What are you doing?
Giving him milk.
Isn't he strong enough?
What's this?
Milk.
I don't drink milk.
Give it to Papji.
Please.
My son!
Someone call a doctor
- He 's okay, he's okay - What do you know?
Help him up.
Water?
Did you give me poison?
Turn off the lamp.
When the power fails
Chand lights a candle.
She begins to embroider her phulkari.
First, she takes a golden thread
then an orange one.
She...
She becomes so intent on embroidering
and doesn't notice
the needle has pierced her finger.
Drops of her blood become a part of the tapestry.
Mother says, "Chand, this is a good omen.
"Your blood will make the phulkari soar
and fly you home to me."
Who wants black people as friends,
you tell me?
Maji and Papaji,
why do they go to the shopping centre?
You are really dumb.
Part of the week tenants sleep in their bed.
It's called a shopping mall not centre.
I haven't seen them.
Who?
The tenants.
They work nights and come after we leave.
You know why Rosa stinks of perfume?
Blacks never bathe.
Where do they go for the rest of the week?
Who?
The tenants.
How should I know?
I'll give a $5 offering if Baldev gets a job.
- Is the food ready? - Yes.
Towel.
Where's Chand?
Don't know.
Perhaps spraying on perfume.
What's this?
Scent.
Rosa put some Lavender scent on me.
Somalians are taking over the country,
and you let them spray perfume on you.
Rosa is Jamaican.
What did you say?
You don't like me.
Can I help you?
No, you can't.
Nobody can.
The Demon locks Chand up in his castle.
It starts to rain for seven days and seven nights.
The sea rises and enters the castle
breaking down the castle door.
The water carries with it a black Cobra.
The snake has a golden crown on his head.
The snake says to Chand,
"Come Chand,
I'll take you home to your mother" .
Hand me the milk from the fridge.
What are you doing?
Nothing. See what Maji wants.
Son, Loveleen saw a snake in the backyard.
Nonsense.
There are no snakes in Brampton.
I saw it too, underneath the tree.
I think it was a Cobra.
Great God.
Get back in bed
Or I'll break your legs.
There is a snake. His pit must be close by.
I wounded him on his back.
Keep the doors and windows tightly shut.
I'm going, night shift.
Kabir, go shut the windows.
This boy never listens.
Dreaming?
You really want to know?
I think it was a dream.
My mother holds my hand,
and we walk,
for miles and miles.
In a great desert.
Mother says...
You must miss your parents.
It must be so difficult without them.
Don't cry.
I can't bear to see you cry.
What's wrong?
Nothing.
Let me see.
I have a balm.
Where did it go?
Chand?
When I looked in the mirror,
instead of you I saw...
sitting there.
A Cobra?
Don't take his name.
If you do he comes in the house.
Suppose he does, then what?
Even the thought makes me tremble.
With all this talk, I forgot to put the balm on you.
How did you get this wound?
Who hit you?
A fool.
They say that if a Cobra looks at a...
You said it!
Now that you've taken his name,
he's bound to come inside.
If he does, let him.
If you're with me, I'm not afraid.
They say,
when a bird looks at a snake
the bird is hypnotized.
The bird stares and stares,
but cannot move.
Then the snake approaches the bird
and absorbs it within himself.
Where is it?
I saw it here last night.
Here it is, it's pit.
Probably a chipmunk's.
Or a Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake.
Canada's only deadly snake.
Burn some incense and stick it into the hole.
Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake
really gets scared by Indian black magic.
Aman is waiting for you.
Is your wound still hurting?
What wound?
The wound on your back, I put balm on it.
You've gone mad.
You're not dressed for work.
I'm not feeling well.
Have a Tylenol.
My body is aching. I won't be able to work.
They'll dock your pay.
Suit yourself.
The tenants will be here at 1 1,
lock yourself in the bedroom.
Hello, brother.
It's Chand from Canada, is mother there?
Not in Ludhiana?
Yes.
He said after Gurpreet's sponsorship, he'll sponsor you.
Why do you want to come here?
There's nothing here.
Send me a ticket.
So I can come home.
No, I'm not being childish.
Please tell mother to call me.
As far as the eye can see,
there are signs of spring.
Golden kites fly in the sky.
Then there is a loud snap.
The string of Chand's kite breaks
and it floats away.
From afar Chand sees her kite,
a tiny stain in the sky.
Mourn the fate of daughters, O Lord.
Mourn their fate O Lord.
I was going to bathe.
It's too bad,
the boat can't take you home.
My brother doesn't want me back.
He needs you to get him here.
It's very simple.
What are you doing here?
I can't keep away from you.
I heard you weren't well.
Either I'm going mad or you are.
Nobody's going mad.
You have a very long lifeline.
You know palmistry?
See this line?
That's your head line.
I feel I'm dreaming even now.
I'm real, Chand.
I won't bite, I promise.
Maybe it's better I leave.
Please don't.
Tell me more.
Two children.
One Chand and one Rocky.
The tenants have come.
Shouldn't I greet them?
Didn't you play hide and seek as a child?
Is anybody inside?
Mrs. Rocky inside, I'm not well.
Do you need anything?
Thank you, my husband is here with me.
Feeling fit and fine now?
How is this possible?
To scowl one minute and laugh the next.
To scold one minute and...
Who are you?
Aren't I...
...who you desire?
I'd like a sweet.
Can I have this barfi?
One for you?
And this one too.
Back of the line.
Back.
Fucking kids.
Born here and think they're white.
Stop that.
Do you know you're my favourite uncle?
One for you, son?
Papji?
I'll take it.
I need new teeth.
You'll get new teeth when Gurpreet comes and earns money.
I'm trying to find a job.
Don't forget Baldev sponsored all of you here.
Stop your nonsense.
Come back, finish your food.
In this country, everything is upside down.
What are you trying to say?
Back home, after marriage, daughters don't live off parents.
Better to go hungry,
than to lose faith.
Better hell, than a heaven with no dignity.
- Where did you get this? - In the backyard.
I thought I'd taken care of it.
No worries.
Stupid! Nothing can hurt a Cobra.
It can take any form it likes.
A man dependent on his in-laws is worse than a dog.
I'll call pest control tomorrow.
Don't hurt me.
Why would I hurt you?
I just want you to talk to me.
Tell me everything about yourself.
What you like, what you don't.
The games you played as a child.
What your mother is like?
How your brothers teased you,
and your sisters-in-law envied you.
What your favourite colour is.
Everything.
I need your jewellery...
...for Gurpreet.
Alright.
I need some money.
For what?
Ajacket and stamps.
Take Aman's jacket.
Please don't be this way.
Which way?
As if you don't care for me.
What do you all want from me?
See that young singer, he's so good.
Our Baldev can't even sing.
He's so useless.
That's not your concern.
You listen to the hymns, and take God's name.
Stop nagging.
How can I chew meat?
We'll find your teeth.
Pay attention to the hymns...
Not while I'm eating chicken.
Give uncle your chair.
It's very tasty.
Gurpreet's papers have come through.
- What? - Swear to me!
Gurpreet is coming to Canada.
Grandma,
Gurpreet Uncle, where will he sleep?
In your bed.
What did you say?
Gurpreet uncle, where will he sleep?
I told you, in your bed.
With your mother and father.
Mind your language.
Your brother is coming.
Yes, Mummyji.
Greetings.
Our tenants called.
They asked about your health.
Very kind of them.
They were happy to know that...
I was with you...
the day you were not well.
Which day?
The day you didn't go to work.
Oh, yes.
But I wasn't with you that day.
Was I?
But you were.
Try and remember you read my palm, said we'd have two children.
Look at our girl, she looks so pretty.
Just like a bride.
This girl is always crying.
Come here, child.
Don't cry.
Here, take this.
Grandma...
Grandpa's dentures?
Found them?
That's typical of you!
What did he say?
He threw your teeth in the toilet.
Tell me,
who did you take your clothes off for?
Sit down, son.
Hear what your nephew did?
Why don't you sit?
The tenants called.
She told them I was with her, that day.
The day she didn't go to work.
But you weren't at home.
Maybe you came back.
You keep quiet!
I didn't come back.
Another man was with her that day,
in our bedroom.
Are you badly hurt?
Why do you beat me?
If anything happened to you...
I want to go home.
You can't go home.
The family knows, they'll sit in judgement.
Why don't you tell them,
your wife is not a whore.
I wish I could,
but it's too late now.
When you face the family...
...tell them you'll take the snake ordeal.
Snake ordeal? What's that?
There is a pit under the tree.
A Cobra lives in it.
Pull the Cobra from it's pit
and take an oath by him.
You've gone mad.
I can't do it.
There is no other way.
Won't the Cobra bite me,
the moment I touch it?
If you tell the truth, he won't bite you.
What truth?
Say anything, but it must be the truth.
Dear God!
Suppose what I think is true is a lie?
In cases like this,
the guilty party must prove their innocence.
An old test back home,
was for them to take an oath
while holding a red hot iron rod.
But Chand insists on taking the oath by the Cobra.
So, let her put her hand in the snake pit.
Shut your mouth.
All of you be quiet!
The snake will bite her and it will be over.
Where are you running off to?
What if the Cobra bites me?
Please, help me!
Only your lover can help you now,
the palm reader.
You were the one who read my palm.
Child, if you're afraid, don't do it.
Papji is right Chand.
Admit your guilt and be done with it.
But I haven't done anything wrong.
We've been very patient with your dramas.
You chose the snake ordeal.
Now, get on with it.
Since coming to Canada,
I've only touched two males.
Did you hear that?
She admits it!
Two, she says.
Who are these two?
- One is my husband. - And the second?
And the second, this Cobra.
If I am lying...
...let this Cobra bite me.
Can our desires be so powerful...
...that they take on human form...
...and walk right into our lives?
Can this be possible?
If you want it to be.
Open the door.
I'm leaving.
I'll come with you, Chand.
God protect you.
Who were you talking to?
Not to you.
DVD Subtitling: CNST, Montreal