As I Open My Eyes Page #2

with the kids' clubs this summer.

Exactly. We're just keeping the kids.

The rest is too much energy, movement...

The kids don't have cigarettes.

It's Ramadan soon. Where will we go?

I've been told the bands have to go.

I'm just following the rules.

Sh*t, the same problems all the time.

Go and do the bedroom.

I prefer not to talk here.

I'm not sure I should

have come personally.

In these cases,

someone goes to talk to the parents.

Farah is hanging out with people

known to the police.

If she carries on like them,

she'll be in trouble.

You mean the people in her band?

Don't you have anything better to do?

- You don't know them.

- I know my daughter.

So you know, she was drunk in town

yesterday. In a men's bar.

She sang as well.

A song about our country.

Hayet, you need

to look out for your daughter...

She reminds me of you at her age.

What I'm telling you...

is for her own good.

You should have sent someone else.

Now leave my house.

See this gentleman out.

What's the matter, Hayet?

- Farah went out yesterday?

- I don't know.

You're lying.

She was asleep. I wanted to see Khalouda.

Stop lying. Khalouda.

Leave this house. You no longer work here.

- Go on.

- Please.

Leave. Good-bye.

Here she is...

Can you ask her?

Ins, from school.

Bohrne, her brother, the songwriter.

Ali, the manager.

Ska, drums. Sami, the bass player.

Get in.

Can we drop Ali off near our house?

We're not going home. Get in.

What's the matter?

Mom, what is it?

So you drink and sing in bars now?

- Where were you yesterday?

- Did Ahlem say that?

Ahlem's fired and that band is over.

Over? Meaning?

- Over.

- But the gig's tonight.

Forget that.

- What do you mean?

- You're not going! Now stop!

Don't do this to me.

They're counting on me. I have to go.

To shame me again?

Everything's bad and forbidden

and shames you!

I'm sick of this. You're driving me nuts.

Don't talk to me like that!

I'm going.

It's your problem if you don't like it.

- My problem?

- Yep.

Mom, what are you doing?

What are you doing?

I'm sick of your dealings.

Let's both of us finish with all that.

Please, Mom.

- Promise you won't go.

- Okay. Stop.

Promise.

Okay, I promise. Please, stop.

- Swear?

- I swear.

Stop!

Farah, what are you doing?

Where are you going?

- I'm going home.

- Where? Come on.

The gig's hardly started.

I'm going home.

I have to go home.

- Why?

- I've got worries.

We all have worries.

Why else would we play music?

No, I can't.

But you're not a wimp.

I'm sorry.

Okay. Go home.

But forget the band.

And forget me.

That has nothing to do with it.

My country

Oh, my country

Land of dust

Your gates are closed

and bring misfortune

Turn up

Turn up the volume

My country, land of dust

Your gates are closed

and bring misfortune

The starving are eating insults

Your dogs' teeth are made of gold

But the gums of the poor are toothless

Turn up the volume

The thirsty beg to the good lord

Tomorrow,

they'll be exiled if destiny so wishes

Thank you, that was Joujma.

Mom, don't be mad. Nothing happened to me.

Forgive me.

Please, talk to me.

Do what you want.

Don't speak to me anymore.

Don't come near me.

If you need anything, ask your dad.

Consider me dead.

ONE MONTH LATER:

- All right?

- What do you mean all right?

It's Ramadan. We're fasting with no money.

- Your telephone's switched off.

- No.

There's been no bonus.

The bonus will be paid before Eid.

Hey, ass-licker, shut up.

Shut up. Let me talk to him.

You'll get your bonus before Eid.

Go home.

Go, go.

Get back to work.

You sold out.

If you're on your way home,

bon apptit for the last time,

for this year's Ramadan.

Tonight is the night of doubt.

The authorities will announce

according to the moon

if tomorrow is Eid...

I missed you.

Listen, everyone.

I've got some great news.

Farah's gotten into medical school.

A doctor in the family at last.

Here's the perfect gift.

You want me to feel guilty

because I'm in Gafsa?

No.

Medical school is serious.

What's musicology?

I missed you.

What are you doing?

Checking you out.

Stop it.

Hey, stop.

What? I've never seen a guy naked before.

I'm shy.

Shy?

Why are you so far away? Come here.

Can I come and live at yours?

I'd like to see you every morning...

I can't take any more of her.

We'll end up killing each other.

Like the bird of the night

I endured tests for toxicology

In a trance, they said

This bird bears no fruit

Out of the community

Heading straight for madness

He will never

Be clean

Like the bird of the night

I lit the fuse

You'll blind yourself they said

Do you think so? I answered

Perhaps it's a blessing

To see

Without hearing

Like the bird of the night

Generation after generation

I dream of a spark

Which reddens the sky

Of a day

Which no one has ever seen

Like the bird of the night

The tears of my heart are flowing

I've seen a world destroyed

And deadly situations

And so many hearts

Hearts that have been extinguished

Like the bird of the night

Fleeing the inevitable

Their guns are loaded

Their dogs are enraged

We wonder

What they want to unleash

Ska was great. And Farah too.

Thanks to my effects.

I want you just like that on stage.

The same energy.

You gotta make people cry.

I was nearly crying myself.

Go for it even more.

Even more.

But we're dropping "My Country."

- Really?

- Why?

It works great on stage.

Too much of a hassle.

What's the problem?

It went down okay once,

but it won't a second time.

But people loved it.

Bohrne, you know what I mean.

Ska, check the door.

It's all right.

Are we censoring ourselves?

Censoring ourselves

rather than being stupid.

Ali knows his job.

We should listen to him.

Nothing's happened. Why change?

It makes no sense.

- Cool it, Farah.

- It's ass-licking.

But why? No.

You say nothing's happened.

You've been away a month. It's our music.

Why are you on my back?

Is Farah your boss or what?

No one's my boss.

Our music is about our country's problems

and we're trying to convey a message.

We agree on that.

We don't agree.

So we just stay stuck in this garage?

For how long?

So what's the point of our music?

"Our country's problems."

I know you're militants,

you're great and strong.

But you know very well how hard it is

to get gigs and advances.

People are starting to know our music.

It's gonna make problems for venue owners.

And for us,

it will be the end of everything.

Hang on, just a minute.

Who could that be? Don't move.

She slept over at a girlfriend's.

I'll get back to you.

At least say sorry.

- What?

- Say sorry.

Who do you think you are?

You're in the way.

It's our fault.

I can't go on living with Mom.

I've got to find a place to live.

- You're not moving.

- I can't go on.

We're not discussing it. Do you hear?

Listen to me.

I'll talk to her about the band.

You'll study medicine for a year.

What do you mean?

You know I can't force myself.

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