Under the Bombs

August 2006.

For 33 days Lebanon has suffered

heavy Israeli air strikes.

On the 34th day, a ceasefire

was declared, controlled by the UN.

Lebanon was in ruins.

There were 1189 dead

and almost a million refugees...

If you're called,

take your luggage.

To Damascus?

- They're all here?

- Except numbers 75, 76, 77.

All the others are here.

UNDER THE BOMBS:

To Damascus?

I want to go to the South.

- Anyone going south?

- No.

Tyre, Saida...

The South! Kherbet Selm?

- Going to the South?

- Tyre, Saida, Kherbet Selm.

Damascus...

at the Syrian-Lebanese border...

South?

- No one will take you there.

- No one?

No one will take you there.

To Damascus no problem.

Anyone going south?

Please,

a taxi for the South!

- No one will go.

- Too dangerous.

The road's blocked.

No one will go.

- Where to?

- Saida, Tyre, Kherbet Selm...

- In the South?

- Yes.

- I'll take you.

- You'll take me?

OK, I'll take her.

How long?

Who knows! An hour,

two hours, a day, two days...

- Or never.

- I must get there.

Mind your hand.

How much?

- Let's get there first. Then we'll see.

- I need to know.

Any idea what it's like

in the South?

The war might be over,

but hell could start again anytime.

How much?

For those...

For those beautiful eyes...

Lady, I'm not risking

my life for nothing.

Find someone else.

Khalil...

What's your name?

Tony.

OK Tony, let's make a deal.

I'll pay you half now,

and half when we get there.

To whom do I have the pleasure?

Delighted!

The 8 o'clock News

on Radio Lebanon.

Thank you for listening.

The headlines -

Thousands of refugees are returning

following the ceasefire.

Israel says the situation

in the area is fragile

and is keeping control

of the port and airport.

People are advised

to look out for booby-traps.

So you're from the South, Madam?

You don't look it.

And what do southerners look like?

- I didn't mean...

- Rita?

- I just got here.

- Poor damaged South!

I didn't want to disturb you.

I took a taxi.

Via Turkey.

The Israeli blockade, it's hell.

No.

He's still in Hong-Kong.

Yes, for his stupid shopping centre.

If she calls

let me know straight away.

Of course, I'll keep trying.

Yes, yes. Me too.

Hopefully.

You came through Turkey?

You're always that nosy?

We're in the same car.

It's normal.

Anyway, if I can be of help

let me know.

I know everyone here.

My son.

I've had no news from him

for a week.

My sister told me

they'd be in Saida or Tyre.

Saida? I know it

like the back of my hand!

Let's start with the schools.

The refugees are there.

We'll find them.

Don't worry, Madam.

There's another road.

It's further, but we'll get there.

I have an errand to run.

I'll be back soon.

Their names aren't on the list.

Doesn't prove anything, though.

Things change all the time.

They might be here,

without being listed.

- They could've gone back?

- Sure.

Let's try asking people

from the same village.

A boy who looks like you.

His name's Karim.

- He's six. Have you seen him?

- No.

I've come from Dubai.

I'm looking for my son and sister.

They were in Kherbet Selm.

They put people up in the schools.

- In Saida?

- Yes.

At the hospital in Tebnine, too.

Or near Rmeich.

They took the border people there.

Good morning.

I'm looking for my sister and son.

From Kherbet Selm.

Have you heard of them?

I wish we did.

I'm looking for my children too.

We've heard nothing.

- Why are you crying?

- My son and his wife...

They're dead.

I want to see my children.

One of them at least,

to tell me where the others are.

Good morning!

What's all this?

Aid for the South?

Yes, we're taking it there.

You're going to fill up the truck?

Aid parcels only?

- What's your son's name?

- Omar.

God bless your son, Abou Omar.

My cousin has two daughters.

One is dead...

In the fighting?

The other lost a leg...

They have no medicine in the South.

Can you give me some?

The Foundation will give you some.

I'm in a hurry.

We could put

a couple of boxes in the boot.

- Aren't you in charge?

- Exactly. To make sure it all gets there.

- It's your lorry?

- Yes.

So you could give me two boxes?

It's for helpless refugees.

- Abou Omar... Come on!

- Impossible.

COURT OF JUSTICE

I'm Zeina Noureddine.

Is there a Maha Noureddine

on the list and a boy, Karim?

- Yes, there is.

- They're here?

They say that my sister Maha

from Kherbet Selm was here?

I did see a redhead,

she was downstairs.

Yes, that's right, curly red hair!

- Where?

- Downstairs, with a small boy.

- A small boy?

- I saw her, she was downstairs.

- When?

- Since we first got here.

- She's like this?

- No, that's not her.

I must find them.

It's my son and sister.

He's very young!

- Can anyone help me?

- No one can.

You can even forget

your own children.

I left mine behind to get into a van.

We were 15.

I took two kids

and left the others in a garage.

- You left them behind?

- Yes!

When we went back to the village,

they were all dead.

Under the rubble,

we found my husband, his brother,

his wife and four children.

My cousin, shot down outside.

Eleven people.

That's life.

That's what Israel wants.

They were aiming at people.

Women, children...

Anywhere with civilians.

My cousin, they blew her up

on her doorstep. She left a daughter.

Taghrid told her,

"Maryam, you're dying?"

She said, "The 150 thousand pounds

in my pocket,

"give them to my daughter. "

She was dying, poor thing.

She said, "The money's

for my daughter", then she died.

What do we get out of it?

The houses, we can rebuild,

but all the lost souls?

They don't come back.

God bless you.

God willing,

you'll find them safe and sound.

You're back?

No, not yet.

I'm looking everywhere in vain.

My sister,

her phone's been dead for a week.

How would you get here?

It's been a nightmare.

You mean, "You want to be

with your son, not with me. "

Well, I have to go. Bye.

That's your "small errand"?

- I've looked for you everywhere...

- Where were you?

- Did you find them?

- Why did you disappear?

What do you want to do?

They told me about a convent,

with refugees.

- Where is that convent?

- In Marjeyoun.

According to the Israeli Army,

Hezbollah fighters launched about

ten rockets today

on Israeli positions in the South.

There are no casualties...

You're singing?

How can you sing and laugh?

I have to get there!

We'll get there, Madam.

- Calm down!

- Hands off!

I'm warning you,

if something's happened to them...

God help you!

We'll get there, Madam,

trust me.

Do you know Marjeyoun?

It's not exactly next door.

I thought we were sticking

to the coast road.

It was clear.

But if we have

to go up to Marjeyoun, why not?

What do you mean?

I know the area well.

I come from there.

Winding roads, potholes...

And the war hasn't improved things.

More petrol, more time...

It's not that simple!

We made a deal for a day.

Yes, for Saida and Tyre.

Not for other places.

I'm telling you in case I need...

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