Hold on, hold on
We don't want to go in
Slowly, slowly
Hi!
- How are you Madam Aida? - How are you Hadeel!
You are missed!
Same here!
I'll call you!
Thanks so much, Hadeel!
Oh come here...
Oh my darling
You really made me laugh
I'm going to speak like my mother as well
By the way, I saw the pictures I’m sad to have missed it
How did it go?
I really miss you so much and...
Here, the audience applauds
and their desynchronized applause
soon becomes a single pulse
as everyone begins to clap in unison
Who initiated this synchronization?
In fact, no one
Not this man here
Nor that woman
In the forest, cicadas sing in sync
and some fireflies flash together in the dark
Neurons in our brains fire together, and wire together
to operate our bodies and minds
and pacemaker cells synch up in our hearts
to generate the beat
‘The Galaxy’ magazine
Page 23
July 1968 Edition
Have you been here long?
A week or so
I arrived this afternoon
And who told you that I was coming?
The little birdy
Do you know it?
Your plane was delayed?
Alone?
Yes alone, of course
Just asking if you prefer to be alone
Honestly, I didn't want to bother you
And after our last phone call, I thought...
I thought that maybe....
That what, Walid?
Alright, I’m a bit tired
I'll go sleep in Nadine's room
There’s a picture on the kitchen table
where Walid is carrying Aida on his shoulders
on New Years’s eve
It was 1991
So the war had just ended in Lebanon
It’s taken with a flash
and its corners are darker
but there’s happiness and colors in it
Aida is sitting on his shoulders
Cheering and laughing
On its back, is written:
The proposal of Walid
‘the doctor’
crossed out
‘the engineer’
crossed out
Below, he continues:
‘the clown’
‘the storyteller’
‘the enamoured’
... asking Aida to marry him
And a small heart
Aida...
Where is Punto? Did you leave him in Beirut?
Say again?
Punto. Where is Punto?
Punto...
He died
around 3 months ago
What do you mean ‘He died’?
I don’t know, honestly. I woke up
... entered the kitchen
Saw him dead
And you didn’t tell me about it?
At the time, we were not talking
and you didn’t want anyone to bother you
so I didn’t want to bother you
What happened to him? How did he die?
I don’t know
Maybe...
maybe he ate something bad
No clue. Maybe he got poisoned
‘Maybe he got poisoned...’
Are you saying you’re not sure? You don’t know?
Explain it to me, so I can...
What did you say, Walid?
No, I mean, I’m asking... What did he eat? Homemade food?
How did he get poisoned? I don’t get it...
I already told you
No I want to understand!
You’re not explaining it to me
Just like that, he was in the kitchen and he dropped dead?
What did the dog eat, to get poisoned?
What do you want Walid?
Something in our house? Something you fed him?
And what did you do next?
Where did you put him? What happened?...
You know what...
I’m really very tired
I’m done
and I want to sleep
I want to go out. Can you give me the car keys please?
Where do you want to go?
Aida, I feel like going out
If you don’t mind, give me the keys
After you
Go on, go ahead
No heater?
Not working
Did you speak with Nadine lately?
Yes I did speak with her
Did she tell you that her exams are coming up?
Yes she said so
And how did you find her?
Fine!
You felt she was fine?
I didn’t feel she was fine at all when I spoke to her
Every time I call her, I find her at home
She doesn't go out, doesn't see her friends
She doesn't do anything...
and her grades
are not good
She’s my daughter and I know her. She’s not fine, Nadine
She needs to come back
Staying over there alone in the cold
is not good for her
Nadine needs to come back, Walid
I don’t want her to stay over there
See if you'd told me
I would have come to bury him
Come closer
Guys! Up there!
Hi there
Good morning
Who’s in charge here?
How can I help you?
How shall I put it... I have a dog
Yes
I was abroad
and he passed
The dog passed?
Yes, the dog passed
God rest his soul
and my wife buried him at your place, here
Here?
I’m the one in charge here
no one can bring in a thing
Mahmoud, Mahmoud
...I’d appreciate it
Of course. You’re most welcome
Mahmoud, Mahmoud
Mahmoud did you see someone at night
carrying a dead dog
They dumped it here, they buried it somewhere
Did you see anyone?
Say again, Sir...
A dog, a dead dog. They brought it at night
A woman brought it... They dumped it, buried it
I don’t know where
No no, I didn't see anything
Are you sure you didn’t see anything?
Yes, I’m sure
He didn’t see anything
You’re welcome
Thank you, bless you
Dearest. Goodbye!
Is this place suitable for a dog?
... a rocky ground
... his wife
Here, park it yourself
When did you get electricity today?
We get it for 3 to 4 hours
Three hours?...
Yeah from 4 to 7 in the evening
Well we get it at night, from 3 to 6 am
Yesterday we got it from 6 to 9 am
Imad, how are you?
Hi Aida, how are you?
So you're among us today
... Not too cold for you?
A little...
In this box
there’s a letter that Aida received from Walid
It had a picture of the sunset in Senegal
He had emigrated a month earlier to work in an NGO over there
It was the year 2000
Lebanon was getting rebuilt after the war
and everyone had hopes in new beginnings
...except for Walid
He insisted that Aida and Nadine travel with him
but Aida didn’t want to leave the country
so he left alone
He called her everyday for 4 weeks
but Aida didn’t answer
and he stayed without news from her and Nadine
so he sent her a letter
In the box, there are other papers
The registration papers of the mountain house
that Walid had inherited from his parents
Companies’ paperwork... Some that got registered, others not
A translation company
A Lebanese restaurant
A clothing store
Loans, debts and bank warnings
And the lawyer’s bill
Hi Ameen, I’ve been trying to call you for a week
I’d like to know if you have news
from the client
so please get back to me as soon as possible
for me to know where I stand
I’m waiting to hear from you. Thank you
...the contract signing that we spoke about
That was my question, yes
I'm at your disposal...
Thank you! Bye
In this notebook
there are doodles
Birds
Trees
Houses
and there are words translated with a BIC pen
Among them, the word 'Pine'
In Arabic, it became 'to yearn'
And underneath it, a sentence:
‘They pined for each other when they were apart’
Karim!
Is the water delivery guy here?
I’m out of running water, I’m waiting for him
I'm waiting for him downstairs, Karim
I'm waiting for him. I’m out of running water
Please tell me when to meet him downstairs
before he starts knocking on my neighbors doors
Yesterday I called you
to tell you ‘I miss you’
then when I heard your voice
I forgot what to tell you
Your parents used to love this song
Your hands are freezing cold
When is your flight?
After tomorrow
Look at me
The electricity is gone again
Are you sure you know what you’re doing?
Do you want to cut them yourself ? Here.
No, I trust you
Really...
You know how to sweet talk now
And you enjoy teasing me
Maybe
And you like to hide things from me, I know it
I didn’t know that
Of course you do
Look at me
Beautiful!
It’s in your eyes that I’m beautiful
Remember the song that your father used to sing?
What was it called again?
You know what I’m talking about
Walid, what are you doing?
I’m watering the plants
Can you see this beautiful flower?
Yes, it's gorgeous
It’s actually a...
...Magnolia!
Magnolia...
I planted it for you
What do you think of this Jasmine here?
Ah! I love their smell
It’s so very pretty, Walid
They need a bit of water
It has a lovely smell
See how beautiful it is?
See how beautiful this one is?
Water it
Do you remember that ...
...hotel we used to go to?
Would you like to go have dinner there?
Sure, that’s a great idea
(Audio of football match)
Were the toilets clean?
Wine?
Thank you
Was there a long wait?
There’s no one
Cheers
It's delicious
See, I ordered red wine
I see that
Please go ahead
You go first
Why don’t you want to eat?
Do you want to get rid of me?
So you’re thinking what I'm thinking
Yeah
Okay then...
I’ll go first
Stop it, stop it. Don’t be silly
Walid
You’re so silly
You can safely eat now
Would you pour me some water?
That’s it?
Water is expensive these days
Is red still your favorite color?
It still is...
And Mulukhiyah, your best dish?
My mom’s
Are you planning on asking me questions for long?
Fine, I have a nice question now
A precise one
You will like it
What’s your worst nightmare?
Why are you taking me there?
Just like that. I think it’s a nice question
So do you mean...
... in reality or in a dream?
Whatever you want
I’m going to tell you something
that I’ve never told anyone
Do you want to know?
I remember, I was...
I was napping in the afternoon
and I was starting to fall asleep
I found myself in a magnificent house
I was an architect
It turned out I had built it
and there was the team I was working with
I was giving them instructions
and I remember as well
that we were in Mexico or Colombia...
Something like that... South America
I had 3 children
I didn’t picture them
but I could see them running and laughing
I was married to someone
I think a foreigner
We were working together
and...
I also didn’t see him, but I heard his voice
and I remember very well what I felt
I felt something very warm
I felt I was safe
and I felt a happiness
that I had never felt before
But that’s not a nightmare...
I don’t know. I don’t know
Suddenly, I realized that...
time had passed
that I could have made other life choices
but time was over
As we say ‘It’s too late’
It’s alright
Am I boring you?
Not, not at all
I don’t know. I’m talking nonsense
... but that’s how I felt at the time
I like this place
It brings back nice memories
You never asked me if I’m seeing someone
I prefer not to know
It’s cold
Come closer
Come
Closer
Come...
Let's go back home
I’m telling you to go play outside
I don’t want to
Yes you do! Go play outside
It’s none of your business!
You’re not allowed to come here anymore
...where are his parents!
Out. Hurry!
I don’t want to
Stop it already
Go play in your own house
...that’s my house
No, it’s my house!
Go to the tree, that’s your house
Go back to sleep!
This house here is mine!
Give me that ball
I’m gonna take it
In the pocket of a black sweater
that Walid had lost a long time ago
There’s a letter to Julia
from 2007
so 5 years after he emigrated
Dear Julia,
We’ve known each other for almost a year now
and I think I love you
It came to me as a revelation a few minutes ago
as I was walking home in the cold
It’s been another tough day at work
In your arms
I am at peace
and your support means a lot
I’m fascinated by how calm and orderly your life is
The crazy stories of the country I come from
do not impress you
Wars and eccentric things like that
and my silly jokes do not make you laugh
I’ve often wondered what it is you like in me
For the first time
I want to have an ordinary life
Perhaps, there’s even someone else I can be
Anyway
It’s been a while
Shall we meet tomorrow?
On the letter itself
Julia replies
Dear Walid
I am sorry to not be able to see you any longer
I’m going back to Germany
and my husband awaits me
Walid is something wrong with you?
No
Do you feel anything weird?
No
Like what?
I don't know. Like...
Is your health Ok?
All is good
That's great
Do you feel depressed?
No
Anxious?
Not at all
Nothing?
Nothing
All good, thank goodness
Trouble at work?
I didn't hear you...
Your work. Is it going well?
You’re worried about yourself, right?
Walid, have you ever asked me how I was doing?
Aida...
How are you doing today?
‘The Galaxy’ magazine
Page 55
December 1970 edition
Under the advertisement of a local cheese
picturing a Dutch cow
on green grass
the following text:
Astronomers have identified
the biggest pair of black holes ever spotted
as the couple jointly weighs
the equivalent of 28 billion suns
However
despite their exceptional proximity to one another
they refuse categorically to collide and merge
These two giants got stuck in an orbital dance
that they’ve been repeating for the past 3 billion years
and the scientists
still don’t know if they will keep the status quo
facing each other
or if they will surrender
and merge in a giant collision
Hello Abu Fouad, how are you?
How are you dear
Good and you
Where's Walid
Walid?
Walid!
Of course he’s hiding!
Tell him that if this buyer dares to come here
I'll break his legs
I'll be waiting with my gun
I'll blow his brains out, is that clear?
Selling the house to a foreigner!
What would your parents say... if they were still alive
Come out
You coward! Come out!
Would you like a glass of water, Abu Fouad?
No, I don't want water
I don't want water
It's like a bucket of water spilled on my head!
Ice cold water
Shame on him
What are you doing?
What do you mean ‘what are doing’?
(complaints continue)
What’s happening here is unaceptable
Abu Dany, I want to speak to you
Show me your muscles, dirtbag
You dare bring a stranger to the village?
I’ll break your legs if you do
Let me see...
Put your head back
Give it to me
I'm exhausted Walid...
Exhausted
He didn’t answer me. The sale fell through
There's blood on your sweater
Give it to me
Just give it to me
I'm tired Walid... You're wearing me out
I don’t know what's going on with you
I don’t know what your plans are
The dreadful mess you keep getting into...
I want a divorce, Walid
I want a divorce
I want to take all my stuff and leave
Or you know what...
I don't want to take anything
You take everything
You’re not taking me seriously
In this particular picture
all looks fine
There’s a birthday table
and 16 candles on the cake
and ‘Bonjus’ juice
There are 3 chairs
On the fourth one, there are bags and jackets
and there’s no one
There’s a sort of calmness in this picture
One would say that it’s the picture of a family
that’s loving and harmonious
The dog, Punto
is under the table
and his tail is showing
That’s all we see in this picture
We can’t tell anything else about it
Aida what's wrong
Aida enough, just come inside
What's gotten into you
Move
Walid, I’m telling you to move from here
Move Walid
Move
Walid, move
Nadine’s bedroom is humid. Can I sleep here?
You can sleep here
Did you speak with Nadine?
Yes
Do you know that she’s sleeping at her boyfriend’s?
I know
And do you know her boyfriend?
I know him
Can you tell me who he is?
If she wants to, she’ll tell you
Come on, tell me. I’m her father
Good night Walid
No one ever tells me anything
Good night
I forgot that your feet get cold
When did you stop loving me?
Here, a movie recorded on a VHS tape from the 80’s
and Arabic subtitles cover half the screen
A woman and a man
are running by the sea
towards the horizon
in summer clothes
The tape is damaged
and plays in slow motion
In real life
the actors were running fast
and in the film itself
the characters were running at the same speed
but on this slowed down tape
the two persons disconnected themselves
and entered a parallel dimension
and they stopped responding to anyone
Over there
It’s unclear when one wave ends
and when another one...
...starts
Aida
Hello
Walid?
Hello
Have you seen my green pullover?
I’m looking for it
No I didn’t see it
I cleaned out the fridge
I thought this would be better
That way I’m ready
Ah. I didn’t hear you
I’m saying that it’s better this way
I’ll be ready
Okay then... Bye
Bye
Sit, sit baby, sit
Well done darling
Good boy
Khalil! Khalil!
...turn on the power generator? I want to watch the football match
Please. It’s already 12 PM!
I’d be grateful. I’m waiting!