Leave to Remain

1

This film contains strong language and some

scenes which some viewers may find upsetting

I was 14 years old. I live in a

tiny farming area called Nuristan.

The men came to our house.

They grab my brother by the hair

and drag him onto the street.

I hold my sisters back and

try and cover their eyes.

They tie my brother's hands

behind his back and to his feet,

like we do with goats for slaughter.

My father, he just... cries.

I only see my brother's head pulled back

so his neck looks white and soft.

CAMERAS CLICK:

They say it is me next.

When we all leave for

the border in Turkey...

...we are shot at by the guards.

Some people are injured or die.

On the boat to Italy, I

remember counting the people.

There are 19 left.

We started with 31.

Finally, I end up in Oxford.

I thought this was centre of England

because this is where

your words come from...

- LAUGHTER.

- ..Well, dictionary.

That is my story. Thank you.

'My story.

'I tell it over and over again,

'until its meaning is lost.

'It's all that stops me

'from being sent back to a

place worse than hell.'

That story, ladies and gentlemen,

was not believed.

And so now Omar faces removal

if his appeal fails next week.

Thank you.

'We are all in this together...

'..but not all of us will be believed.'

BOYS CHA - Hey! - Hey, Omar! - Are you OK?

- Yeah, I'm fine. Come in! - Good, good.

- You all right?

- Hi, Chloe.

- Hiya!

- Come on.

Hey, man, you OK?

- Morning.

- Hello, Mr Nigel. - Morning.

- Morning, Mr Nigel.

- Morning.

- Morning. - Hello.

- Good morning.

- Good morning, sir.

- Good morning.

- Good morning. - Good morning, Mr Nigel.

- Good morning, Alpha.

Good morning, Omar.

Omar, here's your book.

Hey, bro, you got a pen on you?

Thanks, man.

Five Names. Is this you? Is this you?

OK, OK.

- So, welcome, everybody. Good morning.

- Good morning.

This morning, we have a few new faces.

- Faces.

- Faces.

- LAUGHTER.

Right, er...

Those glasses make you look like Malcolm X.

Thank you, Mr Nigel.

These glasses use a holographic film

- that creates an effect like a dispersive prism.

- Ah! Thank you, Alpha.

So, some of the new faces.

Who have we got? Ah, Umi.

Umi? Am I saying that right?

Umi, where are you from?

Which country are you from?

Which country?

No?

What's your name?

Name?

My name is Nigel.

Nigel. What's your name?

- Zizidi.

- And where are you from, Zizidi? Nigeria?

No, no, no, not Nigeria.

- Guinea.

- Guinea. You don't like Nigeria?

SHE SPEAKS IN HER OWN LANGUAGE

She says that Nigerians think

they're kings of Africa.

SHE SPEAKS IN HER OWN LANGUAGE

She says that we have more cows, more gold

and the most beautiful women.

More beautiful women.

More beautiful women, you hear that, Umi?

Not in Nigeria. Is that true?

OK, so, Omar, why don't you tell us

about what you did in the break?

Well, Mr Nigel, Five Names and me

went skiing on the Costa Brava,

then flew off in a private jet

to the Riviera for a spot of wine-tasting.

- Wine-tasting?

- Mm-hm.

Then on our way back, all chilled,

they came out of nowhere - the Feds.

Then they handcuffed us

and dragged us away.

DOOR OPENS:

Ah! Welcome, welcome. Another new addition.

You must be Abdul?

Abdul, yes? Yes?

Where are you from, Abdul?

Where are you from?

He says he's from Nigeria.

- LAUGHTER.

- Thank you.

Well, I'm going to take a lucky guess

and say you're from Afghanistan.

OK, so can you show me where

Afghanistan is on the map?

If you look at the map, can you

tell me where Afghanistan is?

He doesn't know where Afghanistan

is on the map, Uncle.

He's a farmer's boy, never seen a

map of the world, probably. - OK, OK.

So, Abdul, can you write your name?

Follow me.

Here's the board. Can you

write your name? Your name.

HE SPEAKS IN HIS OWN LANGUAGE

- I will help, Mr Nigel.

- Thank you, Omar.

OK, so while they do that,

I'd like everyone to take

their workbooks out, please,

and today, we will look

at the subject of tenses.

Tenses - the past, the

present and the future.

The past, the present and the future.

Today, we're going to look at

the past so find a seat, Abdul.

OMAR SPEAKS TO ABDUL IN HIS OWN LANGUAGE

OK, so the past, the present and future.

What defines the past?

- You cannot get rid of it, Mr Nigel.

- You cannot get rid of it. Good!

It's part of you.

Part of your history.

Yes, the past is all the

actions that have happened.

I tell you what, this war

carries on much longer,

we'll have to get a bigger map!

Maybe.

Other way up. Other way up.

Like that. Thank you.

Stare into the camera for me, please.

No smiling.

Stand straight, no smiling.

No smiling. Stand straight, no smiling.

FGM is recognised as persecution

under human rights law

so we've got a pretty strong case.

Where are you from?

INTERPRETER TRANSLATES

- Nuristan.

- Microphone, please.

INTERPRETER TRANSLATES

- Nuristan.

- Erm, he says that he's from Nuristan in Afghanistan,

but I think he could be from Pakistan.

I see that, as a minor, you have

been placed in a foster home.

Is that right?

Please answer clearly so

that I can make a note.

You do understand the

purpose of this interview

- is to establish your right to asylum, don't you?

- Yes.

What problems did you experience in Guinea?

I experience sexual abuse,

forced marriage, circumcision...

...miscarriage and beating.

SHE COUGHS:

Can you be more precise?

I was raped by three people in the house.

Ruba...

...his brother...

and another man who came to

the house to learn the Koran.

SHE COUGHS:

How old were you at that time?

I was 12.

Did you tell anyone about this abuse?

- Would you like to take a break?

- No!

Moist hands.

No eye contact.

Stand up. INTERPRETER TRANSLATES.

Stand next to him.

About 5' 7 ", 5' 8".

You'll receive a letter with an

appointment to see Social Services.

They will carry out an age assessment.

INTERPRETER TRANSLATES

Here is a list of solicitors

and a map of how to get here.

We're done. You can leave.

INTERPRETER TRANSLATES.

DANCE MUSIC BLARES

- Rafi, man? - Rafi?

- Come on, we thought it might be good for you, you know.

- Go down the park, have a few laughs.

- I don't come! - Oh, Rafi!

The Feds won't recognise you, man.

Dress how you like.

We are going Bollywood-style,

man, your favourite.

You go as a gangster, innit? The

bad boy all the girls love.

- Do not say to me. I don't come.

- Oh, Rafi, please.

Rafi, it's good, you will like it.

I don't come, that's it.

Rafi!

Rafi, of course it's safe!

I'll look after you.

Another raghead.

Assalaamu Alaikum.

You guys know each other from back home?

You are all my brothers, eh? Mmm?

DOOR OPENS:

I will come. THEY CHEER.

- Rafi...

- Rafi? Where's he going?

Omar.

MUSIC SEEPS FROM HEADPHONES

Stinks in here.

Sorry?

Div!

DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES

RECEDING FOOTSTEPS

I suffer you in my arms

Ooh-ooh-ooh...

- Hey, Chloe!

- LAUGHTER.

Take a picture for back home.

- Alpha! - Wait, what? - Move over.

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