THE DAY I BECAME A WOMAN
Script: Mohsen Makhmalbaf
Editing:, Shahrzad Poya Maysam Makhmalbaf
Theme music: Mohammad Reza Darvishi
Starring: Fatema Cheragh-Akhar, Shabnam Tolou'i, Azizeh Sadiqui
Director: Marziyeh Meshkini
First tale:
Hava
Hava, let's go for some ice cream.
Hava...
Hava, darling.
Hava... wake up, dear.
It's 1 0:30. You're late for school.
- I want Hava. - Go away, now.
-Where is she? - I don't know.
You should go and play with boys.
- I'm not leaving. - Hava is now a woman.
She's no longer a girl.
It's your birthday, sweetie.
Come down. I'm buying you a beautiful gift.
Come down, now.
- What? - Come down, Grandma will tell you.
Why don't you tell me?
Come down first.
Come on.
What are you going to buy me?
Grandma will let you know. I'm off now.
Why did your mother kick me out?
Wait a minute for me, please.
I'll get some money, then we can go together.
OK, but hurry up.
I really want an ice cream.
Don't go without me. I want one, too.
Hava, come on down.
You're a woman now. You can't go on the roof.
You can't play with boys any longer.
Listen to your gran. Come down.
Hava, get permission to come out.
It's too windy to be up there. You'll fall.
How come she was allowed to play yesterday?
Mum, gran says I'm a woman now. Am l?
Hasan, you can go in and play with Hava.
Mum, gran doesn't let me play.
You mustn't play with Hasan or any boy.
You're all grown up now.
You have to cover up your hair from now on.
Look, gran. I bought a veil for Hava.
Let me see.
May I go and play?
It's very pretty. Well done.
Hava, let's measure you up for your new veil.
Come here, sweetie.
Hava, come over here. I need to measure you.
Mum, let me go play with Hasan.
Come here. I've got to measure you.
Please, Mum.
Ice-cream is waiting.
Hava, just sneak out.
Come here, daughter.
Please, Mum, he'll go without me.
Let me measure your veil.
Let me cut the veil. You'll ruin it.
Good girl. Come over here.
Hava, go and get the needle.
- Mum, I'm begging you. - Get the needle first.
- Is it good quality, Mum? - Excellent quality.
- What do we need to do? - We'll stitch it here.
Let's go.
Let's go, Hava.
Let's buy an ice-cream.
It's getting late.
Hava, where's the needle?
I couldn't find it.
Time for you to come inside, now.
Come inside.
Hava, I'll wait for you outside the mosque.
Don't forget, outside the mosque.
Come inside.
I won't.
Come inside.
- Congratulations. - Thanks, gran.
Hava, it's ready. Come over here.
Now, let's see...
Anyway, no-one goes out at noon.
Maybe we should let her go out for the last time.
I remember when she was born.
She was born at noon.
I asked if it was a boy or a girl. They said, "A girl!"
I already know all this. I gave birth to her, after all.
You were distracted then.
But, gran, if I were born at noon, I'm not a woman yet!
But it is noon.
No. it's still morning.
Let me play with Hasan until noon. Please, gran.
Will you let me?
Go and check the time first.
Make sure it isn't noon yet.
- I'll go check. - OK.
She never stays still.
Look, gran.
It's only... it's only eleven.
It's not noon yet.
I still have an hour.
If I don't go, Hasan will think I'm sulking.
Will you promise to be back by noon?
- I promise. - God won't forgive you if you lie.
- Don't be late. - I promise.
How will you know it's noon?
I'll take the clock with me. Can I go now?
- You promise? - Gran, a minute just went by.
- I'm losing time here. -You've to be back by noon?
How will you know the time?
I'll take it with me. Look, time is flying by.
I'll show you how to measure time.
Come over here. Sit down.
When the stick casts a shadow, when the stick casts a shadow...
it means it's morning.
When there's no shadow, you'll know it's noon.
Put this scarf on. God be with you.
When the stick casts a shadow, it's morning.
When there's no shadow, you'll know it's noon.
You have to be back at noon. OK, dear?.
Hey, kids...
Khaled...
Khaled, have you seen Hasan?
- Which Hasan? - Hasan, the orphan.
His sister took him.
- Hello. - Hello to you, too.
- Can you call Hasan? - He has homework.
Please call him.
How come your gran always throws him out?
He can't come.
Hasan, don't come out until you've finished your homework.
Hasan, open up. It's me.
I'm over here, Hava.
- There you are. - Hi. What are you up to?
- Come out and play. - I have to do my homework.
It'll be too late by then.
Can you not come out?
Teacher won't like it.
- How many exercises? - Four.
Do you see this stick?
When its shadow is gone, I have to be home.
Do you have to do your homework?
- Hava... - Look, Hasan.
It's shadow is getting smaller.
When the shadow is gone, I have to be back home.
Can't you give the homework a miss?
Teacher will spank me.
Not if I teach you a neat trick. Bring your notebook.
It's a real nice trick.
Bring an eraser too.
See where he marked yesterday's homework?
Rub out his remarks. Pretend this is all new stuff.
- He'll know. - No, he won't.
Tell him you wrote it today.
OK, I'll rub it out later.
- Hasan, finish your work first. - My sister is back.
- I'll wait here. - No, you'd better leave.
Where should I wait for you?
- Wait for me at the seaside. - Promise you'll come?
I promise.
Can you give me a hand?
What do you want me to do?
Come grab the other side.
Straighten this side up.
What's that?
This? It's a stick.
A stick? What's that?
This here... this is its shadow.
What does it mean?
When the shadow is gone, I have to be home.
It's tiny now, but before it used to be this long.
Now it's really small.
Would... would a cloth this big be enough?
-Yes. -Wait a second.
Hi. Do you want to sail with us?
- No. -It'll be fun.
I'm waiting for Hasan.
Sure? We'll sail over there.
- Over there. - I don't want to.
I'm waiting for Hasan.
I've got something to show you.
Won't you come?
No.
Leave my stick alone.
I have to be home when the shadow is gone.
We need you to rescue us...
in case the sail... the sail comes unstuck.
Come, let's go.
It's so pretty.
Do you want it?
- It has such a pretty tail. - It's cute.
How about a swap? Your scarf for the toy.
Hasan, where are you?
Only this much is left of the shadow. I have to be back soon.
I'm really angry with you.
All I wanted to do was say goodbye.
When I left home it was this long, now it's tiny.
Tiny.
If you're not coming, say so. I'll go and play with someone else.
Take this money and buy some ice-cream.
Hasan, hurry up. I'm late.
Hasan, get a move on.
Did you buy the ice-cream?
They'd run out. I bought sweets instead.
Let's eat.
Hand it through the bars.
It's sour.
Let's eat it together. Then I'll have to say goodbye.
Come out.
It's really sour.
Give me some of the lolly.
Do you want more?
Do you want some more?
Lollipop.
It's almost shadowless. Hurry.
Do you want some more?
Reach...
Hava...
It's the last one.
Hasan, the shadow's gone. Goodbye.
Second tale: Ahoo
Ahoo...
Didn't I give you a final warning?
You're cycling again despite your bad leg?
Ahoo, didn't I warn you?
Ahoo... get down.
Stop riding now.
I'm talking to you.
Why are you cycling?
Don't you have husbands?
If you don't get off, I'll sort you out right here and now.
- Won't you get down? - No.
Ahoo, you'll regret this.
Ahoo, I brought Mullah Osman.
Ahoo, why have you become rebellious?
Have you had too much sun?
Get off that! What you're riding is not a bicycle. It's devil's work!
Get off that bike, dear. You really shouldn't be riding it.
Have you told her the whole story?
Remember when your hand was asked for...
...with a handful of gifts?
Why do you want to ruin your life?
Come back to your life.
Neither God nor I approve of this.
You're at the edge of an abyss.
Get down off that bike, dear. Your husband needs you.
If she won't listen, end the marriage.
Do you agree to a divorce, dear?
Yes or no?
Yes... I concede.
Make it official.
Shall I recite the verse?
Our marriage is annulled.
Her husband chased her on a horse...
Do you have any water?
Ahoo, stop! Get down!
Return to your life.
Ahoo, don't run away.
Hello.
Ahoo, your husband is a good man. He still loves you.
Your old grandad is here to help.
Get off... get off that bike!
Ahoo...
I'll give you a count of 7.
Ahoo... one!
Two!
Three!
The devil's got into you!
Four!
Get off right now!
Five!
Six!
Last chance.
Seven!
Ahoo, dearest. We'll drag you off that thing if we have to.
Your brothers are on their way.
You've insulted our honour.
Your husband has divorced you. What are we to do?
For God's sake, daughter. Return.
Shame on you. I curse you.
You didn't listen to your grandad. At least heed your father.
Fear your brothers.
Ahoo, return home now.
Third tale:
Hoora
Where to, madam?
To the market. I want to buy some things for the house.
Tell me exactly what you need, madam.
Then I'll take you to the right place.
Household goods, you know. Household goods.
Top priority is a fridge which I've never had.
All my life I wanted cold water.
Now which one was it? Ah, this one was the fridge.
Let's buy that first.
What's next on your shopping list?
Ironing board... bath tub... samavar...
Bedroom lamp shade...
Who are you buying all this for?
For myself.
I want to buy everything I've never had.
Don't forget I also need a gas oven.
I tied a knot for the oven... Ah, that's the one.
Which one was the washing machine?
For that we need the other market.
I've inherited some money.
Loads of money!
- How do you plan to carry all this? - I'll manage.
Lord, why can't I remember this last one?
Do you know somewhere I can lay out my things...
...to see what's missing?
My memory is not what it used to be.
I even forgot to feed the rooster before leaving home.
I hope it doesn't die.
I have a feeling I'll never remember this one.
Bring the new pot here for a cup of tea.
It'll be just what we need.
Right away.
I can hardly walk any more.
Madam, a refreshing cup of tea coming up.
Well done, son.
I'll find a match for the oven.
Tell the kids to gather everything in one place.
I've seen the large salt cellar...
...but not the little one.
Tell them to be careful with my make-up kit. It's important.
How come this tea-pot is so... naked?
It has no shame!
It has no shame.
It's not my fault.
After searching the entire market, you came up with a naked pot?
It's completely transparent.
They didn't have any other type.
I would be ashamed to use it. Let's take it back.
Put it back in its box.
OK, let's go return them.
Hey, guys. The old woman's gone.
She's gone.
I told you they wouldn't accept it.
To hell with them. My own pot is better.
It's full of memories.
If that lousy bastard had married me,
I would have a son like you.
You remind me of him.
Since I have everything now, will you become my son?
Thanks, but I have a mother.
That's a pity.
Two things are bothering me.
First, the rooster I left at home without food.
And the second thing is this...
We bought the rice-cooker and the cutlery...
...but I can't find the small flowerpots.
The old lady is here. Put everything back.
Because the tide is low, ships won't come any closer.
Some of the lads have small boats.
We'll carry your stuff to the ship.
I'm out of breath and my legs are killing me.
Put the kettle on, dear.
- And sort out my shopping, please. - Leave everything to me.
We'll go fetch the boats and the floats...
Lads, let's fetch the boats and take her things to the ship.
Let's go.
One or two should stay behind.
- He should stay. - Me? Me?
The one wearing an Afghan outfit.
The white one.
You stay behind and make a cup of tea.
What did I buy all this for?
I wish I had a son like you.
You're very sweet.
White and beautiful. Will you let me adopt you?
I already have a mum and dad.
But I have so many things now. Won't you reconsider?
Can't you choose one of the black kids?
But you're prettier. You have blond hair and white skin.
You're the one I want.
- Come back with me. - Like I said, I have parents.
- Hello, madam. - Hello.
What's the story with all these things?
Are they yours?
Yes, mine.
We were amazed to see all this stuff on the beach.
The kids are fetching boats to carry the stuff out there...
...to the ship.
At your age, what do need all this for?
If it was all ours, we could get married and start a new life.
I have never owned any of these goods before.
Every single item has sentimental value for me.
When I was poor, no-one cared to help me out.
Take tea with me.
Lad. Put the kettle on, please.
- What are you doing here? -We were cycling.
We were left behind.
Then you have time for tea.
The floats are here.
Load the stuff while we have tea.
As long as we leave before the tide gets any lower.
OK. What do you do again?
We were in a cycling race.
There was a girl there whose husband
tried to stop her from cycling. She disobeyed him.
A horseback preacher divorced her on the spot.
Her brothers, uncles and father all pleaded with her to stop.
Finally, her brothers carried the bicycle home on horseback.
Did you win the race?
No, but she borrowed a bike and continued the race.
- No, she was left behind. - No, she finished the race.
- Left behind. - She finished the race.
I came over to buy household goods.
I had tied a knot on every finger for various items.
I bought everything save this last one.
I can't remember this one...
...no matter how hard I try.
Make sure you tie them tightly!
Can you think of anything I might have left out?
Let's have a look.
It's getting late. Let's go.
I have to leave now.
But you promised us tea.
It was not destined.
Don't leave anything behind.
The last item, was it a sewing machine?
No!
May be a rice-cooker?
Mirror and candelabra?
By the way, madam. What was your name?
Hoora.
Produced By: Makhmalbaf Film House
Director: Marziyeh Meshkini 2000