Harragas

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Mostaganem, small harbor in Algeria

only 200km off the Spanish coast

My name is Rachid

No, these are not my feet

that you see

It's Omar's feet

my best friend.

Almost my brother...

He decided to leave us.

Just like that. No warning.

That was a tragedy for us.

This guy in a hurry

is not me either

This is Nasser,

my other best friend

We grew up in the

same neighborhood

Nasser is the playboy of the hood

Omar, Nasser, and myself,

we all decided to "burn".

"Burn".

Go in exile

Leave, away from this country

erase the past

Like so many have before us

and so many will do after us...

Imne...

My dear sister.

This is it.

At last, I'm leaving.

Three times they caught me.

This time they won't catch me.

Writing these words,

I have a strange feeling.

I don't know how it got in my head.

My country has become a black spot...

that grew and took over my brain.

My dear sister!

You remember what I said when you

stopped me from leaving

If I leave I'll die...

If I don't leave, I'll die.

Now I leave without leaving

and I die anyway

It's easier this way.

Rachid!

What's up?

Your friend Omar...

What? What's up then?

He's dead.

What?

We buried Omar next to his father,

facing the sea.

Omar's death deeply affected us.

After that we often visited his grave

thinking about leaving.

"We have to keep in touch"

as Omar used to say

"Keep in touch".

That's 'seasick' Hassan, a former sailor

He travelled the world around

Now he smuggles people into Spain.

And his business is booming!

He's from the same neighborhood, too,

but he charges us his usual rate.

When it's about money

he has no friends

He would even charge his own mother!

What made Omar do a thing like that?

It's beyond belief.

Hassan gave us two days to pay the rest.

Otherwise he would take us off the list.

He had others ready to take our place.

This day was really cold in Mostaganem

There even was snow!

This snow was a bad omen.

I'll never forget Omar's death

And the snow.

Hello how's it going?

As we agreed. Exactly.

Okay, bye.

Recently it had become very hard

to find a boat to "burn",

you had to have the right network

But 'seasick' Hassan knew some folks

A real mover and shaker,

Chubby with everyone

with his big smile.

A real a**hole indeed!

Hey, were you taking a nap or what?

How's it going?

Come in.

Rachid!

Keep an eye on the door.

Here's the beauty!

I found a really good engine!

A Suzuki 30 hp

A really good bargain.

This boat needs more fixing!

What? The bottom?

I fixed that, it's fine.

When can I pick it up?

In a week.

No way! I have people waiting.

Still have to check it over,

test the engine...

But the engine, if it starts, it's fine.

They have to leave in two days.

Hassan, let me tell you something...

You are the one who pays!

You will answer before God!

Preaching like an Imam, huh?

This is my neighborhood.

The place for those that life left behind.

Neighborhood of boredom...

poverty, unemployment...

trafficking.

Every day sees people be born and die.

The dreams that will remain dreams

If you would do a poll here,

90% will answer they want to leave.

Imne is like an older sister to me.

She has the best school grades in the hood.

I remember how she laughed

when I had to cough while smoking

my first cigarette.

I was ten.

She was twelve.

When she decided to do something,

she does it. Nobody can stop her.

She's really strong minded.

But the truth is...

she was always there for us

when we mess up.

And your mother, she's all right?

None of us can believe it.

Nasser...

He didn't say anything?

No. Nothing.

He was acting normal, preparing

for our journey, like us.

We talked about nothing else.

He got us the GPS.

Stop now, Imne.

I'm here.

Yes.

But not for long.

I want to go with you.

Are you serious?

I want to leave.

But, Imne...

This is not what we planned.

Now things are different.

I can't stay behind, after you leave.

Here in the poverty, in the misery.

I understand your anger,

but it's not possible.

We'll see about that.

While Imne was telling Nasser

that she wanted to burn with us,

Seasick Hassan was busy

with other clients

preparing for the same journey.

Guys who had been betrayed by life

like us.

It was to be exactly ten of us,

who would share everything.

Share the costs, the danger, the fear...

and the bliss when we reach goal.

Hassan had hidden them in the forest

feeding them nothing but spaghetti.

What's wrong? Is he sick?

Yes he's sick! We've been here

already a week

he got the flu in this wet forest,

of course!

That's the risk you take.

I tried to get the keys for this cabin,

but I can't find the owner.

We're fed up with this bloody forest!

We want to leave now!

I told you right from the start

you have to be patient

when the sea will be calm,

you will leave!

The sea?

What's wrong with the sea?

It's calm.

Listen now

If you don't trust me,

take your cash and get lost!

I'm not doing this for fun.

Find the keys for the cabin,

or we burn it, and the boat too.

We didn't travel 700km for nothing!

Got that?

You guys are a pain the ass

Come, Mounir!

Bloody n*ggers!

Mounir, drink!

Uncle Hassan is paying!

The next one is on Hassan,

the King of business!

That bold guy

I didn't know him

Doesn't he remind you of someone?

For me he looked just like Blaki

the bad guy in the Grendizer-series

Poor Nasser, he was suffering

like the hero in an Egyptian sitcom

He'd run out of ideas to keep

Imne from joining us.

It was a heavy responsibility.

I admit,

I did not envy his position.

Why don't you answer my calls?

Leave me alone or I'll scream!

I've run out of patience.

Calm down. I'll burn, find some work

- You finish your degree...

- To hell with my degree!

I'll arrange a visa for you

to come over...

the normal way!

It won't be easy, for sure

If you leave without me, I kill you

I find you and I kill you

I join the islamists,

and I become a suicide bomber.

This is Fat Hakim

He is burning with us.

He's from our neighborhood

but me and him don't get along,

because of some old story.

- What's the news, Hassan?

- We're settled.

What do you mean, "settled"?

If I say 'settled' I mean 'settled'...

I will confirm tomorrow.

Be ready!

Hakim!

What?

Can't you wear something else?

Stay out of it Hassan...

What I wear is my business.

Oh well f*** it.

I never understood

why he wanted to burn

We didn't like the idea

of sharing a boat with him.

But it was not up to us:

he paid, he could come.

Departure is very soon.

Don't lose patience, Sheikh!

Yes.. yes..

Listen.

There's no problem.

As soon as I arrive,

I'll be in touch.

Don't lose patience.

Listen Sheikh!

Everything will be fine.

Inch Allah, everything will be fine.

Hakim!

Is it true what we heard...

Don't touch me.

You, stay out of it!

Calm down, Hakim!

Don't you talk to me.

You have my respect,

but that's all.

You see that?

They brainwashed him.

This evening, Nasser gave me

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