[radio announcer] ...Promised land.
But for the many who are welcoming to the soil,
there are those who influence or gained entrance into the country
and can offer nothing.
...resounds to 100 strange tongues.
[Ari voice-over] They tell you that God is dead, but man,
they still want you to have a purpose.
They say look at your parents,
hard-working migrants. Worked two jobs.
Struggle all your life, buy your kids a house.
There, that's purpose.
They tell you to be a doctor, a teacher.
Be creative, do something, believe in something.
Believe in family and the future.
Save the world.
Believe in love.
But fuck it.
I'm no scholar.
I'm no worker, I'm no poet.
- Show us your cunt!
- Fuck you, dick face.
- Hey, Ari. Where are you going?
["You Sexy Thing" by Hot Chocolate plays]
[man] Yeah, OK.
- [Peter] Ma, he's fine, Ma.
- Your mother's going to kill you.
- He just got drunk and stayed over.
- Hi.
- Ari, this is Sean,
he just moved in. - Hi.
# Makin' love to me #
# I believe in miracles... #
- Making coffee, sis? - I'm not your sister.
[Mouths silently] - No.
- He's not up yet.
Mama, I am home.
Lunch?
- With Janet? [Mouths silently]
No, look, we can't today, Mama.
[Peter] - We've got to go and study at the library.
Yeah, OK.
Yes, OK, bye.
Mum's going to kill you.
- You want to eat? - Yeah.
- Let him get his own food.
- Hey, he's my brother. - Yeah.
[Chuckles]
# Every day needing love and satisfaction #
# Now you're lying next to me #
# Giving it to me... #
- # I believe in miracles #
# Where you from? #
# You sexy thing, you sexy thing. # - Fuck off.
- You want some?
- No, I gotta go.
[chuckles] Fuck, everyone owns a Madonna record.
- Yeah.
Yeah, well, nobody plays them anymore.
Like the Stones.
- I still play the Stones.
- So do I.
Keep it.
[Ari chuckles] She was the first one to flash off her cunt though, wasn't she?
Like she was really proud of it.
What's wrong?
- You remind me of someone.
- Who?
- [Sean] I don't know.
[Chuckles] I don't know, someone.
How come you Greeks always bullshit to your parents?
You know, "I'm sorry, Mrs Vouliss,
I know it's midnight, but Peter's still studying at the library.
- You have to lie.
- Why?
- Because if you tell a wog the truth, they use it against you.
- Why don't you move out of home?
- No money.
- Get a job. - Get fucked.
What job?
You all right?
What'd I do to her?
- Maybe she likes you.
- Yeah, most Anglo women can't stand the sight of us.
They don't like the way we smell.
They look at us and all they see is a hairy back.
- Man, you're paranoid.
- Have a nice day.
There, did you see that?
- Peter's taking me to some Greek club tonight.
The Steki.
Do you ever go?
- Yeah, sometimes.
- You be there tonight?
- I'm going out with some friends.
Maybe we'll come later.
- Sure.
- Thanks for walking me.
- That's cool.
Hey Ari.
I know you remind me of.
That guy from The Grifters, you know, what's his name?
- John Cusack. - That's it.
I love that fucking film.
["I Wanna Leave You Far Behind" by Lunatic Calm plays]
# Wanna tell you that I'm feeling closer #
- I was with Panagiotis.
Asshole.
- Where have you been?
Why didn't you ring?
- I was with Panagiotis. He rang first thing.
- That was hours ago, Ari, my god.
- I love you, Mum.
[Ari] What are you grabbing me for? [Sophia] He never comes home.
- Leave me alone.
Let go of me.
Let go of me!
- Don't bang on the door like that.
Leave him.
Ari, please.
You should have phoned.
- I'm sorry, Mama.
- [Sophia] Ari, I fought with your papu,
but I always respected him.
["I Wanna Leave You Far Behind" by Lunatic Calm plays]
# Wanna push it right over the line #
# I wanna push it right over the line #
# The line that you draw when you draw me near #
# I want, I want, I want, I want, I want #
# I want to leave you far behind #
# I want, I want, I want, I want, I want #
# I want to leave you far behind #
# I wanna take you on a roller coaster #
# I wanna tell you that I'm feeling closer #
# I wanna push you right over the line #
# I wanna push it right over the line #
# The line that you draw when you draw me near #
# I want, I want, I want, I want #
# I want to leave you far behind #
[man] The touchstone of modern democracy.
For liberty, for equality, for eternity.
# Windows on the greenhouse #
# They're painted yellow like the doors #
# See the child who sits in wonder #
# At this brightly colored scene. #
- Hey Joe, it's me.
Yeah, I got it.
Easy.
Yeah, I'm on my way, bye.
["I Wanna Leave You Far Behind" by Lunatic Calm plays]
- Shit.
- Fuck.
- Can you lend me some money?
You got any left?
Come on, I'm hot.
- That's all I've got till payday.
Toula's being taken out tonight.
My boss's brother-in-law.
[Ari] Is he Croat as well?
- Yeah, a draper.
Hairy all over, big muscles.
- Maybe he's big all over. [Laughs]
[both] Ooh!
[Chuckles] I'm going to get a coffee, all right?
- Hey, Costa.
[Background chatter]
- He's still trying to convince the comrades
that Mark predicted the shit fights in the Balkans.
- [Costa] What about you, Ari?
Still surplus labour?
[Laughs]
[Costa] What's the matter?
[All speaking in foreign language]
- Hey, Joe.
- How much?
- Personal delivery. - Ari.
How much?
- Great expense to the management, 60 bucks.
- You're ripping me off, man. - No way, man.
Hey, you know where we should go tonight?
- I'm not going back to that poofter place.
- What's the matter, mate? You scared some guy's gonna hit on you?
- Fuck off, fuck off. Fuck.
What about Steki?
We haven't been there in ages.
- Come on, we're going to Chaser's.
- It's full of dumb fuck wogs.
- So is Steki.
- Hey, come on, mate, that bouzouki player there's great.
- I don't know, Ari.
Dina really wants to go to Chaser's.
- Fuck Joe, since when did Dina start making decisions?
[woman] Ari.
- Sophia.
- Flying high, Ari?
- Where's Betty?
- Mmm. Yum.
- Employee of the month.
- That's great, Tia.
- Slow down, you'll burn your mouth.
- Here, read mine first.
- Like your priorities, sis.
[Alex] You're giving me the shits.
- I can see a snake being trodden on by someone.
- Hey, that's a good sign.
- What's the job, Mum? Garbage collector? [Laughs]
- There's no one, Tia. [Joe] Nah, Ari, I know the one.
We met her last week, what's her name?
The one with the hair.
- Stella, that's it. - Stella?
- There's no Stella, Tia, he's kidding.
- No, no, no, Ari man, I reckon she could...
- That's enough, get out, both of you.
Something's troubling you.
- I'm moving out.
I'm serious, Tia.
- You're too young. Get a job.
Wait until you have money of your own. [Sighs]
The cups don't lie.
I saw the face.
- I'm not.
- Find a girl. Get married.
- What do you think?
- You look gorgeous.
# I believe it to the day I die #
# She could always make me cry #
# Singing her sweet lullabies #
# And all that I could see #
# Lights on the brimming sea #
# Sad, so sad #
# I'll make my life there #
# So long #
# Gonna come out #
# See you later #
# There's lots going on inside. #
- How many guys you reckon you fucked?
- I don't know.
Hundreds, I suppose.
- You ever been in love?
- Every time, sugar.
- No, I mean really in love.
- Love is a beautiful thing, Ari.
# It's the way I live #
# Dancing in the sky #
# Sign of water #
# I'm your daughter #
# Lots of feathers, fluffy and pink... #
- You know sometimes...
when you're in the middle of a fuck,
you look into that person's eyes.
I've seen things, you know. I've felt things.
Nice things.
But then I blow and that's it.
No more nice things, I just wanna get the fuck out of there.
- You're such a slut.
Come out with me tonight.
I'll get rid of the crier.
Let's go dancing.
- No.
I'm going to the Steki.
- Who with?
- Joe and his girlfriend.
- Why do you still hang around with that malaka?
[Door opens] [man] Johnny.
- What?
Ari.
- Shit, Johnny.
- Hey. - Yes.
You got a job yet?
- No, you?
- No.
No job.
Fucked up country, Ari.
Fucked up country.
- He's good.
I will.
Thanks, Tia.
- Go fuck yourself, you drunk as fuck animal.
Just get used to it.
- Hey.
You fuck a few girls for me tonight, huh?
- Hey.
We'll go out tomorrow night.
OK?
[Alex] It's me.
[Chuckles]
- Hey, you look sexy.
- Where you going? - I'm seeing Charlie.
Can you drop me off?
- Does Mum know? - I told her I was going out with you.
We're gonna fuck tonight.
You don't like him, do you?
- I don't trust him.
- Why? [Sophia] Dinner's ready.
- I'm not hungry.
- I'm not gonna tell you what to do.
- Good.
- Does this mean I get my vibrator back?
# Gonna see tonight #
# Wanna tell you she's out of sight... #
- I couldn't remember when this song came out.
- You always say that.
As if we care, you didn't even write the bloody song.
Mama.
Want a whisky?
# Doo doo doo doo doo #
# I'm walking home #
# To you. #
[Speaks Greek]
[music stops]
- I think I can feel a Greek record coming on.
- In the good old days with Vassilli, eh?
He sends his regards to you.
He'd really like to see you, Dad.
It's not his fault.
Johnny's got a right to live his life.
Because he's my friend.
- Ari, you still going dancing with Joe and Dina tonight?
- Probably.
No way.
No way, I got the right to do what I want.
Bullshit, bullshit!
- Where are you going tonight?
- I told you.
- You're too young to be going out.
- I don't want a lecture. - Alex.
- This house feels like a prison.
- I've worked hard all my life for you kids
and you have all let me down.
- Mum, live your own life.
For Christ's sake, stop living it through us.
- Mama.
- What, Ari? What?
Ari.
- Yes, Mama?
- It's your job to look after your sister.
Please.
For me.
Look after her tonight.
- Sure.
- Tell them, Joe.
Go on, tell them.
Joe and I are getting engaged.
- When did this happen?
- Couple of days ago. - We only just decided.
[Chuckles] Cool.
- We're not going to rush into getting married or anything, but you know.
- That's great.
Congratulations, eh?
- Thanks.
- What'd you take that one off for?
- Be friendly, Ari, huh?
- You think I'm a dumb fuck wog, don't you?
- Never said that.
- Yeah, but that's what you think.
- Yeah, OK, so you're a wog.
- Oh my god, how embarrassing.
I like this song.
- You really know what you want, Dina? - What's there to know, Ari?
- Don't you want to have new experiences?
- Well, when Joe and I get married
I'd like to go to Greece.
- Why don't you go now?
- I can't go now. - Why wait?
- I can't go on my own.
Mm-mm.
- Go on.
Go on.
Don't you want to be free?
- No, Ari.
I just want to muck around.
Have fun, enjoy my friends, that's all.
- Sometimes I feel like screaming, like singing.
Do you ever feel like that?
[Chuckles] I can't sing.
Oh no, ask Joe. I cannot sing.
- Why do you want to marry Joe?
- I love him.
I guess.
[Alex] You guys must be right off your face.
- The fuck you doing smoking inside? This place stinks.
- Do you want some speed?
# I said if I'm in luck I just might get picked up #
# I said I'm fishin' trick and you can call it what you want then #
# I said I'm wigglin' my fanny #
# I want you dancing I'm movin' it, movin' it... #
- You seen that film, The Grifters?
- Yeah, Anjelica Huston was so cool.
- You reckon I look like John Cusack?
- No.
# Say you will, say you will #
# Oh if I'm walking like I should maybe you might pick me up #
# If I'm looking real good maybe you might pick me up #
# Or if I know what to say maybe you might pick me up #
# If I met you tonight babe maybe you might pick me up #
# Take me home, take me home with you #
# Take me home #
# Baby please take me home #
# Take me home with you, take me home #
# I said if I'm in luck maybe you might pick me up #
# All I wanna do is just love you a little bit #
# So come on, say you will, say you will #
# Baby say you will #
# Take me home, take me home #
# Will you take me home #
# All I wanna do is just love you a little bit #
# I said if I'm in luck maybe you might pick me up #
# Come on, take me home #
# Take me home #
# Take me home, take me home with you #
# Take me home... #
# Say you will, say you will #
# If I'm in luck maybe you might pick me up #
# Take me home, take me home with you #
# Oh, if I'm in luck maybe you might pick me up #
# Say you will, say you will, say you will baby #
# Take me home, take me home with you #
# Take me home. #
- Would you rather I was John Cusack?
- No.
Maybe.
[Ari] Dyke. Lezzo.
Chill out, will you? Chill out.
- Poofter, poofter.
[Laughs]
- Poofter, poofter. - Chill out.
Chill out.
- Poofter, poofter.
Poofter, poofter, poofter.
Poofter.
Poofter, poofter.
I'm glad you don't act like a faggot, Ari.
- I'm a man.
And I take it up the ass.
[Chuckles] Of course you do, you're Greek.
We all take it up the ass.
Oh, fuck! Fuck, fuck!
Fucking life.
[Betty] - I hate this fucking life! I hate this fucking life!
Fucking hate it.
- [Sophia] Ari.
What did you tell Tasia?
- What, nothing.
- Why did you tell her you're leaving home?
- I didn't.
- Don't lie to me.
- It's no big deal, Mama.
Yeah, well that's his problem.
- But I won't be able to see you.
- What if I went to Greece?
Mum, there's no work here. Maybe I could get work in Greece.
- Ari, please don't say that.
I couldn't stop worrying if you were in Greece forever.
- It wouldn't be forever, just for a year or so.
- Excuse me, Tia.
- Congratulations.
- Thanks.
- Actually we're getting engaged.
- Thanks, thanks. - Thanks.
- Ari, turn it on.
Turn it back on.
- Don't like her friends.
- Fuck, this place is full of Arabs.
- Hmm! Youth of the north.
- Face it, motherfuckers.
- What the fuck are you doing? - Stop it, Ari.
- You're not in Europe anymore. This isn't Asia, motherfuckers.
This isn't Africa. Pray, pray to God, pray to Allah,
pray to Buddha, pray the fuck to whatever, it doesn't matter.
Pray day and night, 'cause nothing's gonna save your kids now.
- Nothing! - You tell 'em, Ari.
- Fucking wogs.
Fucking wogs.
- Whoo!
- Come on, I'll walk you over.
All right, you come to Steki later. We'll be there until late, all right?
- Mm-hmm. - You and Charlie.
- Charlie. - Ari.
[Charlie] Hey everybody, this is Ari, Alex's big brother.
How are you, Alex?
- I'm going to get a drink.
- Go and find a table.
Don't tell Dina about the speed.
She thinks we cut everything but dope.
- Yeah, sure.
- Do you want to go do some now?
- Maybe later.
[Ari] Pint and a whisky.
[Peter] How are you?
[Ari] Where's Janet?
- Look, I don't care. Mandela's still a hero.
- With friends. She hates wog crowds.
- When it comes to power, color does not matter.
- They intimidate her.
Hey everyone, this is Ari, my little brother.
- Hi.
- Aw, agree with me for once, you pig.
[Peter] Sit.
[Sean] You made it.
Ari, this is Ariadne.
- Pleased to meet you, Ari.
[Sean] Anyway, there shouldn't be any barriers.
The idea of a nation state's a thing of the past.
[Man] But immigration should be cut back.
It's an ecological argument.
- That bullshit feeds into racism, George.
- George, you're sounding like an anally retentive skip, mate.
It's too late, they've already let us in.
The barbarians are inside the gates. [Laughter]
- That's what wrong with this country.
Everyone hates everyone.
The skips hate the wogs.
The wogs hate the Asians.
- And everyone hates the blacks.
- Yeah, exactly.
- You don't even know any Kooris.
- What's that got to do with it?
I fight racism wherever I see it.
- Whether it's the Greeks, the Italians. - Fuck the wogs.
- The Vietnamese. - Fuck the gooks.
- Or the Kooris. - Fuck the boongs.
- What's your problem?
What are you, Ari?
Some kind of wanker?
- Hey, maybe I'm a barbarian.
[Peter] Bravo, a Greek barbarian.
- Oh. So fuck everyone else.
But you're proud to be Greek.
- Proud to be Greek?
I had nothing to do with it.
- Where have you been?
We're meant to be celebrating.
Joe won't dance with me.
- Joe doesn't do Greek dancing.
- You should learn.
- Don't drink so much.
- Fuck, Ari.
- Sit down, you're pissed. I told you not to have another one.
Fuck.
- Give me a kiss.
[Joe] What the fuck are you doing?
- You all right? What are you doing here?
[Dina] Let go of me.
[Betty] Stop asking me questions.
- Don't touch me.
- Got some quick?
- I love you, Betty.
[Joe] Betty? [Woman] Fuck off, you moron.
- Betty. - Fuck off!
- Fuck off and leave us alone. - What are you doing?
- Get out! Just get out, you prick.
Fuck you, Joe.
- What the fuck are you giving her drugs for?
She skitzes out!
- Jesus, Joe, fucking relax.
You know, you're turning into a real dickhead.
- You better fucking apologize.
Grow up, Ari.
- Get a job. - Ah yes sir, no sir,
can I have a raise, sir? Can I have a day off, sir?
My wife's having a baby, sir.
They've offered you a house, haven't they?
Hey?
Given you a big, fat, juicy deposit, haven't they, Joe?
Marriage all arranged, is it?
You think they're going to let you walk down the aisle of a Greek church
with your little crew cut in a fucking Greek church?
No fucking way, mate.
- I want to marry Dina.
- Yeah, since when?
- I'm embarrassed to be seen with you.
- What did you say to me?
What did you say?
- Pull me.
- Fuck politics, let's dance.
- You dance well.
- Sugar.
[Johnny] You're so beautiful when you dance.
- What the fuck are you doing here?
- Play.
Play something.
I want to dance.
[Man] Hey mate, who's your girlfriend? [Woman howls]
- Ari.
Wait.
Where are you going?
Ari.
I'm sorry.
- There's nothing for you to be sorry about.
- Yes there is.
- Where's Ariadne? - Inside.
- She's very beautiful.
- So are you.
[Toula] Ari.
They loved me.
They wanted more.
- You're crazy, Johnny.
- Johnny's not here. It's the girl's night out.
- It's too much.
It's too much!
- Never ever say anything is too much.
It's Toula, honey.
- Hi.
Pleased to meet you, Toula. I'm Sean.
- It was my mother's name.
And you've met Persephone.
- Johnny.
[Johnny] You know the story of Persephone, don't you?
She spends half her time in hell and the other half in the real world.
Trouble is, she doesn't know what's real anymore.
- She doesn't know where she belongs. [Speaks Greek]
- What do you expect me to do, huh? Dress like a putana?
- Apologize to Toula.
Never get involved with a Greek.
We're all mad. Totally fucked up.
Crazy, hey Ari?
Let's go to the poofters.
Let's go dancing.
- You want to come? - Sure, where?
- Three Faces, honey.
Come on, hop in.
- I'll meet you there, OK?
- You can get out at the corner. You're not coming with me.
- Don't be mad, Ari.
Mama's arranged everything.
- Where are we going?
- Three Faces, Commercial Road, thanks.
- Fuck. - What?
[Toula and cab driver chatting indistinctly]
[cab driver] You have boyfriend? - No, I don't. [Chuckles]
[cab driver] No? A pretty girl like you? [Laughs]
[woman] Who is it? - Hi, sorry to wake you.
My name is Ari, I'm Alex's brother.
- What you doing here?
- Is Charlie's home, with my sister?
- Charlie's not home.
It's very late. Why you come here?
- Do you know where he is or where they went?
- They don't tell me nothing.
They could be anywhere.
Why you don't look after your sister?
- Alex is a good girl.
- You not happy she go with Lebanese.
- I'm sorry.
Shit.
You wait here.
- Fuck.
Let go of me, man.
Let go, get your hands off me.
- Fuck off! [Ari] Piece of shit.
[Alex] Stop it. - Get out of the car, piece of shit.
- [Charlie] Fuck off. - [Ari] Get out of the car.
[Alex] Leave it! You're worse than Dad, just stop it.
Ari, I'm OK.
- Fucking crazy man, what the fuck's wrong with you?
[Alex] Leave him, Ari.
Leave him. I'm OK, OK?
Everything's cool.
OK?
- Sure you're all right?
- Come on, Ari.
Lover boy's waiting.
- Please, Ari, just go.
- Can you hurry up please?
- He'll be there.
- You Greek?
- Sure are.
Just two Greek girls looking for a good night out.
- What are you? - Turkish.
- Your great-grandfather raped my great-grandmother.
- You like Greek music?
[screams] - I love this song.
It's so fucking cute.
- You don't even know what this song's about.
- You know this song?
The road has its own story.
There is one word painted on the wall.
- Freedom.
- They say the story was written by the youth.
- That's very romantic.
- It's important to remember.
Those students struggled.
They gave up their lives.
- Polytechnic is history.
It happened a long time ago.
[Cab driver] It was not so long ago.
- It's a pity they all forgot what the struggle was for.
- Freedom. [Yawns]
Some people talk about it. Some people live it.
- [Johnny] You Turks are just like the Greeks.
One life and it's all politics.
[Sirens]
- [taxi driver] Shit.
What have I taken?
- A cocktail, sugar.
Something to make you fly.
- Don't say anything, Johnny.
- You realize you just went through a red light, driver?
- Really?
- I need to see your driver's license, please.
[Cab driver] Yes sir.
- Excuse me, is there a problem, officer?
- Fuck, this room is white.
- What about the chairs?
Have you ever seen chairs this color?
- Carpet used to be this color.
- They had no right to look in a girl's handbag.
It's private.
You're Greek, aren't you?
- You realize the possession of drugs is a serious offense.
Take it you're Toula.
Hey Chris, isn't that your wife's name?
- We got the right to talk to a lawyer. - Shut your mouth.
- The hash is mine. He doesn't know anything about it.
- You hear that?
Your girlfriend wants to take the rap.
- I'm not his girlfriend.
We're family, sugar.
- Don't "sugar" me, cunt.
Give a fuck what you are.
Stand up.
You working tonight, Toula?
- I'm not a prostitute.
- Where'd you get the money for the hash?
- I won it in a card game.
- You can't keep us here.
- [police officer] How'd you like me to stick a knife in your hand, cunt,
and tell the coroner you pulled it on me?
- Move to the center of the room.
Do it now!
Remove your clothes.
Now!
Your underwear.
I said your underwear.
- You better help her along.
Seeing she knows you.
Come on, cunt, come on.
That's right, shit stick.
Relax.
You're going to enjoy this.
[Chris] Remove the rest of your underwear.
- Just do it!
- Get up!
You fucking whore.
Piece of shit.
Putana, putana!
You're a fucking whore. Look at you.
[Toula whimpering] - You're a disgrace.
[Blows landing] [officer yelling in Greek]
Piece of shit. You're scum.
Putana!
Whore, whore!
You fucking whore!
- Should have kept quiet, Johnny.
For once in your fucking life, you should have just kept your mouth shut.
- Haven't we always said
what we hate about the wogs is that they're gutless?
- What are you doing?
- Get down.
Every time you keep your mouth shut,
every time you keep quiet, that's where you'll stay.
- My truth is my own.
- You have to stand up against all the shit and all the hypocrisy.
It's the only way to make a difference.
- Get away from me.
I'm coming home with you.
- Toula can look after herself. - I want to come.
What could I do?
- Drive.
[Ari] What could I do?
[muffled man's voice] Putana!
Putana!
- Not here, Ari.
- Do me now.
Do it now.
- Come with me.
I think I'm falling in love with you, Ari.
Ari, fuck!
[Punch lands] [Sean cries out]
- [Sean] Fuck, you fucking freak.
Come on, you fucker.
Think you're tough? You think you're tough?
You look at me.
Look at me!
Fucking piece of shit.
Get out.
[softly] I'm sorry.
[Breath shaking]
I'm sorry.
[Crying] I'm sorry.
[Ari voice-over] I'm a whore, a dog, and a cunt.
My father's insults make me strong.
I accept them all.
I'm sliding toward the sewer.
I'm not struggling.
I can smell the shit.
But I'm still breathing.
I'm gonna live my life.
I'm not gonna make a difference.
I'm not gonna change a thing.
No one's gonna remember me when I'm dead.
I'm a sailor...
and a whore.
And I will be until the end of the world.
["Loaded" by Primal Scream plays] # I don't wanna lose your love #
[man] We want to be free to do what we want to do.
[Song continues]
# Ah yeah #
- [man] We want to be free to do what we want to do.
[Song continues]
# I don't wanna lose your love #
[man] Just what is it that you want to do?
[Man] We want to get loaded and we want to have a good time.