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 Averroës."
DESTINY
Joseph...
your mother is dead.
Calm down.
Go... I'll take care of everything.
Andalusia - 1 2th century
Long live Caliph Mansur!
Long live the victor of Alarcos!
You praise him, like these infidels?
I have orders: flatter him until he bursts.
Join in!
I'll give you 5 dinars.
Are you joking? This book comes from Baghdad!
The Caliph would pay 1 00 dinars for it!
He'd bargain with a wretch like you?
I'll buy it.
If I don't buy it for the Caliph's library, he'll slay me.
I need it for my studies. I can barely
afford it.
For your studies?
Then take it. It's yours.
I'll let you have it for 7 dinars.
All I have is five.
You've earned it, wretch.
Where can I find Averroës, 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 all skin and bones!
There's enough for an army!
She complains that I'm stingy
but she feeds the whole neighborhood.
If it weren't for me, you'd all look like him!
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 it to her. - I'm no delivery boy!
I'm the son of the Caliph!
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.
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.
You're finally thinking about them!
They're vulnerable.
What do you expect of them?
What do you want them to be: thinking men or lackeys?
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.
Give him real responsibilities.
You treat him like a mere servant.
All he's good for is gypsy dancing.
If you saw how he danced...
Dancing!
My son, a dancer!
And what if he's happy dancing?
When my daughter disagrees with me,
she just blurts out: "You're wrong!"
Instead of being our children's enemies,
let's try to persuade them.
Childish soul-searching pales in comparison
with the reality of Conquest!
Checkmate.
All the better!
You see? I'm unbeatable!
Goodnight.
Stay and learn to play.
If I don't get to bed, I'll collapse.
- You're like Abdallah! - We both love life!
Don't... I'm scared.
No... We want each other.
It's simple...
Get dressed. Help me to stay chaste.
That's ridiculous.
I'm hiding our relationship from Manuela.
Lying to my own sister!
Did you tell anyone?
I want to tell the whole world!
Abdallah loves Sarah. He's wild about her.
Too bad she doesn't...
No, I love you too.
Terribly...
Mere words...
If Manuela finds out, she'll kill me.
- She 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
it's going to be the 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're staring at Abdallah.
When you're a Caliph's son, people stare.
You're worried sick, 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 all out of your minds!
He's had too much to drink.
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 away 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's amazing!
You're so young...
and already a genius!
Stay with us a while.
Share your learning with us.
What does "prisoner of pride" 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.
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.
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 said: "Don't 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 pray
so God will 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...
O God, you command us and condemn us to silence.
Let us be content with whatever you bestow on 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!
Emir, bless us!
Is anything wrong?
No, I'm fine.
A lazy fool learns two verses of the Koran 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 Koranic verse:
"In the name of Allah the merciful:
"The ignorant man, whose vain words lead 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, 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."
Averroës outsmarted him.
Borhan is inept.
Be patient.
Borhan is craftier than you think. You'll see.
The Koran is clear. Are you inciting us to doubt it?
The Prophet said:
"If your quest leads to truth, you will have two parts.
"If it leads to error, one part. All quests are rewarded."
"Lord, increase me in knowledge."
Knowledge? What about faith?
Are you contesting God?
He outsmarted him again!
Averroës said: "Revelation can be interpreted only by study."
We 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 Averroës.
We must coerce the Caliph into forbidding him to teach.
There's no use bickering.
We'll take the necessary measures.
"Be patient as the Messengers possessed of constancy."
They leave the mosque one by one,
pretending your lesson bores them.
It's surely a ruse plotted by an invidious mind.
I should "plot" a little song for them...
Careful. Your song could cost you your life.
What happened?
Not now...
Everyone, out!
A pretty girl like you taking care of the laundry.
And not of you?
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 in a week or so.
For the time being, he needs to rest.
Good going, Nasser.
Removing the knife would have killed him.
Did you see who attacked him?
He was about twenty... with a crazed look in his eyes.
- Why didn't you catch him? - And leave Marwan?
Smart thinking!
My horse kicked one of them in the face.
I'd recognize the hoof-print.
Do something or every philosopher 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!
I can just see you on the throne.
Over there. Get off my "throne".
Marwan!
Shut the gates.
I'm looking after my husband now! Understand?
The security of the Almohad dynasty has never been so threatened.
Where have you been, High Judge Averroës?
And you, governor of Cordoba? And you, the crown prince?
The country is foundering.
After all we've done, who would dare protest?
People are exploiting religion
and you're letting them.
They're the only ones we hear in the mosques.
You'd be heard if you were as eloquent as these
men of faith.
Merchants of faith, if you ask me.
Whether they rant on about Arab victories
or about religion, they're only defending their interests.
Stop philosophizing. We're talking about one man.
- It's not... - Nasser!
Find the assailant and have him executed.
It's not a man, but a movement gnawing away at your authority.
No movement in the world can shake my throne.
These barbarians are jeopardizing our culture.
What are you waiting for? Go execute my sentence.
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...
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 speak your heart out!
Why not? I have a mouth...
You do. It's a brain you don't have.
God help you.
- What? - God bless you.
High Judge!
Does he deserve to die?
The 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.
If I were you, I'd think it over.
Think hard.
This is only the beginning!
My son!
My child!
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 Marwan is an enemy of God?
Good Muslims don't sing.
He's stark-raving mad.
He repeats like a parrot without understanding.
How do they kill all feelings 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 get him.
No... let's go to his house.
They made my head spin with flattery. I believed them...
"You're so smart... so 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 began to wear us down.
Praying until dawn, marching through the desert...
endlessly...
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 fact, it shattered our wills.
We became slaves to the Emir's will.
I was instructed to tell people
that they had become impious,
that they had to regain the path to Truth.
Follow my advice and you'll see the way.
Just like our Emir, who sees all,
past, present and 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 my weapon.
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 being delivered.
How about me?
We chose you, didn't we?
I shouldn't tell you this...
The Emir had a vision of you ruling over 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?
Nothing at all! Everyone says he's a good-for-nothing!
He should find a job!
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 keep on being a good-for-nothing?
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!
Once thoroughly exhausted,
you're ready to obey any orders. 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?
It'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 a child!
What does he know
about death and eternity?
Quiet! Listen to the judgement.
Revelation is destined only to those endowed with Reason.
That is, mankind.
Divine law combines Revelation and Reason.
It consists in 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 abstains from capital punishment
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.
What's the joy in giving orders?
The judge won't change his mind, will he?
I trust Averroës.
From your mouth to God's ears! Long live Averroës!
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.
The country is going to the dogs!
Didn't I order him to be killed?
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's 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 scheming...
The same old hallucinations...
Maybe.
As long as I'm Judge, my conscience will guide me.
Even if I lose face?
Brother, your dignity is not in question.
You've 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.
But 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 and I'll cut off his funding.
Better yet... his head.
- I have a request. - I paid you.
Three "suicides"... I've had to shut some mouths.
I have a favor to ask. I can be of use to you.
Speak.
I want to become a judge again and regain my lost honor.
Averroës branded me a common thief.
You were stupid.
He caught you accepting bribes. He's alert.
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 give to criminals.
How can your father ignore what's going on?
Those boys were bound hand and foot
and hanged in nooses made of their clothes.
It's their custom!
When they're caught, they commit suicide!
No, they were "suicided" so they can't talk!
The sects are all over.
Not in my courts!
That would be 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 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.
You're not through with me yet.
I knew it. Averroës would never abandon us
and leave Sheik Riad to do as he pleases.
He expected a death sentence from you.
It was in his interest.
And you outfoxed him.
- Three boys were killed! - Every cloud has a silver lining.
What do you mean?
Forget my father. Let's keep an eye on Sheik Riad.
Get up.
Get up and pray.
There's the east.
Get up!
Die, but die pure.
Marwan asked you here because he loves you.
He's been waiting for you all week.
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.
What do these geniuses say?
The true culprit is in the palace.
Your father? The Caliph doesn't need 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 gotten into him?
He's running away from me.
Because 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 counts.
He's crazy. She'd best forget him.
I'll never be able to forget him!
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!
Averroës is poor?
He spends everything on his books and students.
Come here... Put them in the cellar.
Put them behind the sacks of flour.
Take this.
Aristotle!
Even without gallows...
You're driving me crazy with your gallows!
One more word about criminals and executioners
and I'll send the lamb next door!
- I'll let you starve! - Let's talk about happiness.
Come sit next to me.
Come here, my love...
What is happiness?
At daybreak, after I prepare 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 even 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!
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...
Manuela is grateful for all you've done.
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.
And we'll keep on singing
day in, day out, for the rest of our lives...
No, come back!
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 messy, but intact.
My "Aristotle"... I can't believe it.
You're the best!
How did you guess?
Son of a witch!
All this for a bean-pole who saves some books!
I save his life and what do I get? Nothing!
A book is worth a hundred lives.
Maybe not for me... but for Averroës.
- 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.
How evil!
A pure man like you cannot imagine that others can 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 founded, he should hang ten 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 hunger...
Does my father know?
I sincerely hope so.
Sheik Riad is loyal. Don't be ridiculous.
He has always stood by my side.
You gave him a lot of land in return.
Does he want all Andalusia?
I need him.
People respect him. Let me rule my country.
And get rid of Averroës?
Sheik Riad, the man you accuse,
opposes the fatwa that the Council demands.
They want to burn all of Averroës' books.
This one above all.
"The Incoherence of Incoherence." I've read it.
You 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 and Averroës says he's wrong.
What if Averroës 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 annihilation of all of Averroës' works.
As if he never existed.
What are you making?
A basket.
So Sheik Riad's 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 spoiled that now.
This is the logical consequence of my acts.
I have to accept it.
This fatwa threatens more than your books.
Your life is 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 what's the difference if I die in a street?
That's suicide!
- What's wrong with him? - Nothing!
He confronts hardships that would topple a mountain!
Only I can 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 lot and given much.
With one hundred students, we can recopy his work in two weeks.
Two copies of each book.
Nasser... are there rumors in the palace?
- Let's make... - Three copies of each!
Manuela, Sarah and I will work day and night.
Manuela? This is supposed to be a secret!
Manuela outrivals you and your ancestors!
She's educated! She swears in 5 languages!
I'll take a copy to France.
- It's too dangerous! - It's to 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 wants to help and you give him a hard time!
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, I'll hang you from the minaret.
Understood?
Uncle, Averroës must know nothing of our voyages.
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.
Taste this.
Why are you wearing all that?
Have you caught cold?
Aunt Zeinab, I want you to know...
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 aside a jar of dates for you.
I'll be back... I promise.
It's safer if you travel by night.
It's best if I mix with the crowds.
If my father had done that, he'd still be alive.
You're 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 pass on to them what I've learned here.
Come what may?
You really do love Averroës.
I'm not the only one...
This is a letter for him.
That's his most important book. Have a safe trip.
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 have overwhelmed me.
After everything I've learned,
I couldn't risk your forbidding me to go.
This decision comes from deep within me. It is entirely mine.
If you won't forgive me,
at least be indulgent.
You said: "Wherever we are, knowledge is a homeland
and ignorance, a foreign place."
I promise to return 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 nabbed him at the inn.
He kept going to the desert and coming back covered with sand.
He told me to mind my own business. Now he's gone again.
Does Marwan know?
Marwan was half-dead and Abdallah told him to pray.
He told me: "The real culprit is in the palace."
I said: "Your father? You're crazy!"
And you kept quiet?
I thought he was avoiding Sarah.
What for? What a bunch of idiots!
Marwan, I need to see you.
Did you know about Joseph?
Yes, I did.
He can save your books if he wants. We all can.
Stay seated.
What would a member of a sect be learning
in his third week of training?
How to handle arms.
Where would that happen?
Wait for the water to settle!
What are you doing?
The more water, the more you see.
If he knew you were improving his invention,
Alhazen would roll over in his grave.
I'm here to find Abdallah.
That's all.
It won't be easy to get in there.
If you see him there, come tell me.
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!
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!
His Grace!
An angel...
There are a lot of them.
Protect the Emir!
Have them move 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.
Stand up!
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 seem 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 be in power.
- You're well-informed. - With all due modesty...
Smuggling books... What decadence!
Where were you? The whole palace is looking for you!
"The infidels and blasphemers will burn in Hell."
Then to hell with all of us!
Why were you with those fanatics?
You've made a mess of your life.
- You have no right to question me. - But I am.
Answer me!
You want to kill Marwan?
Why not kill me?
Or our father?
Kill him.
"They'll 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 allow him 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!
- Even your father. Look. - Mother, not now.
Stay put or you're dead!
He'll stay here until he's back in shape.
You may be 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.
Averroës was right.
Things are never as simple as they seem.
Your assailants were like him.
He's a criminal too.
He should be punished.
He's your brother.
Where was he hiding all this hate?
Those lunatics unleashed it!
They're experts at instilling hate.
Go ask Averroës.
He knows their methods now.
And he says 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. They're not your words.
Averroës has managed to turn you against me.
They kidnapped Abdallah and shattered his will.
You told me he joined them willingly.
They'll make a man of him.
- They'll make a criminal of him. - 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 become an angel?
Eat. You're skin and bones.
"To withstand God's ordeals is a virtue."
Your brother is right.
They've hardened your heart.
Bon appétit!
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.
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 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.
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.
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 down and beg for mercy.
Perfect.
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, follow them.
I wish it had been you who delivered the mortal blow.
To die by your hand...
what bliss...
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'd never have thought... - Thought?
You let others do the thinking for you.
If you want a shoulder to cry on, a word of warning:
I'm neither Marwan, nor your father.
- Marwan wasn't my father. - He chose to be.
That's far more noble than giving life.
He taught you to love life.
And he paid the price.
My real father never cared about me.
Every man has his limits.
Your father can't give what he hasn't got.
You're no longer a child.
You're responsible for your choices.
You're too old to whine: "Mother hit me, Father neglected me
"and he preferred my brother.
"I hate the whole world so I'll accuse it of being impious."
That's too easy.
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 reach 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?
Spreading God's word?
How presumptuous.
You're so hollow, you repeat whatever nonsense you're told.
Learn a poem and a Koranic verse and you're a poet and 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!
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!
Keep out of it!
I'm not an animal!
Animals have more heart
than you and your sect!
Do you understand?
Zeinab!
I was worse with him than they were.
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 all of us
learned about the joy of life.
Still here?
You're not with your "friends"?
Marwan had to die?
- Nasser! - How can you allow him here?
Marwan always 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.
Nasser!
Don't let yourself be blinded by hate.
Saving this one book was worth all the risks.
Read me something from it.
I'm going back.
You're resigning, like a lowly employee?
Go, if you want to.
No one is indispensable to me.
I'll find ten others like you.
It's my father who appointed you.
I inherited you from him.
In that case, I may go...
You may not!
You're a commoner now. You're subject to my whims.
Dismissed!
All this fuss over the death of a cockroach.
They claim responsibility for Marwan's death
and menace their enemies with the same.
They undermine 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're interested in glory. In immortality.
Living on for posterity.
Don't worry. Sheik Riad knows his limits.
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 more clever than he is.
Sit down.
Such is politics.
Politics without morality is doomed to failure.
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 both yourself and the country.
I won't write anymore.
Then they've won. They've broken you
and severed you from Mansur.
Had I stayed with him, 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, 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.
The day he left, you stared into his eyes from the roof.
My mother likes his blue eyes too.
I saw you kiss him!
He's the one who kissed me.
When you leave, I'll go to the roof and stare at you.
Will you?
Swear to God that you'll marry me.
- Another decision! - I'll tell your father.
- He knows I love you. - You told him?
- My mother did. - She knows?
Everyone knows but you.
Go. When you come back, my trousseau will be ready.
I'll go faster than my 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, 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!
Quiet! My husband is gorgeous!
I have to take responsibility for my decisions.
Exactly.
Besides, I'm the Caliph's son.
I'll make myself respected.
No one will be able to stop me.
He's already proved his worth.
Salma and I are for.
He and I are against.
Are we?
How 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 can 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 there. They're approaching Guadalquivir.
They're a stone's throw away. Where did we go wrong?
After Alarcos, we wasted our fighting forces
in futile battles. Our army has suffered.
Nothing I do is futile.
Sire...
The enemy is here and we jabber away.
How about the enemies within? They're undermining your power.
Your friend Averroës 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 Averroës who divided the nation!
He just happens to resign when the enemy attacks.
He just happens to send my son God knows where.
And the enemy happens to read his books!
Do they contain military secrets?
Ideas belong to all of mankind.
Our kingdom was born 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
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!
Glorious believers...
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 arouses their enthusiasm.
They hung upon your every word.
There's no use talking about land and honor.
Just tell them
it's God's will. Every one of them will obey.
You're a real saint. And a clever one at that.
For foundering 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 Averroës!
Are you hurt?
Al-Razi, only you can be entrusted with this.
I don't always agree with what Averroës says,
but under such circumstances
it is my duty to save these books.
My father has great respect for Averroës, but...
He ordered these books burnt and their author banished.
It will soon take effect.
I learned of this yesterday.
Sheik Riad has won.
Run back to Averroës.
If he sees his books burn
without knowing they've been saved,
he'd die.
"Commentary on Aristotle by Averroës of Andalusia"
"The Incoherence of Incoherence"
Subjective, conflicting interpretations of divine law
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.
Everything stays but the bench.
Take the cupboard while you're at it!
Remember?
Life is so cruel with us.
Leaving 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!
Thank God, you're safe.
Nasser's back.
I want him docile
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.
I've been trained to kill you.
From behind?
Go ahead...
Won't your hand 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!
Too late.
I know your books are safe in Egypt.
Of course...
Abdallah almost killed me.
Sheik Riad has sided with the Spaniards.
I was offered your throne.
They lost.
I'm ready to fight now.
So am I.
Heaven has answered your prayers, Sheik Riad. Enter.
Not thwarting Averroës' plans
would have been disastrous.
He can do us no more harm.
Now that we are unified, we can confront the enemy together.
You and your sects will go to 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 in hand.
- I've never 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...
Averroës' 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. Shall I contradict myself now?
What made you fall into your own trap?
Vanity.
The books! They're safe!
Sarah, Manuela, his books are safe in Egypt!
That's Aunt Zeinab!
Move away! We have to congratulate him!
- I'll marry you when I come back. - No, now!
Wait.
I'll be back.
Just a moment.
Thank you.
A thousand thanks...
Ideas have wings. No one can stop their flight.