MARRIAGE OF THE BLESSED
Directed by: MOHSEN MAKHMALBAF
1st explosion wave victim: Holly Martyrs!
2nd e.w.v.: Hello! We are in a critical situation. Send Angels.
1st Combatant: Hello! We are in a critical situation. Send angels.
Nurse: Mr. Haji Pakdel.
Male nurse: That is him.
Nurse: You may leave the hospital.
Doctor: Many victims of explosion wave have recovered completely. All he need is a suitable surrounding. Are you a relative of the patient?
Shabun: He is betrothed to my daughter.
Doctor: and you?
Mehrdad: I am his friend and partner. We run a studio together.
Doctor: Make him go back to his job. Give him one of these pills whenever he gets restless.
Sekineh: Please give your instructions to his fiancée. I may forget.
Doctor: Marriage is highly recommended. Take him back to life with gaiety. He should forget his past sorrow.
Mehrdad: Hello, Haji. How are you doing?
Shabun: How do you feel?
Sekineh: Oh my darling boy! What has happened to you?
Doctor: He has had an injection. Bring the key.
Shabun: Take them straight to their own house, Mirza.
Mehri: Don’t let them go home tonight, father. If he relapses, his mother cannot take care of him.
Shabun: Turn right, Mirza.
*The mottos on the walls:
Volunteer combatant, a lion in battle fields, a victim in town. (Hizbollah)
The country belongs to the shanty dwellers. (Imam Khomeini)
THE MARRIAGE OF THE BLESSED
Directed by: MOHSEN MAKHMALBAF
*The mottos on the walls:
We will drag all capitalists to the court of justice. (Imam Khomeini)
The crop always belongs to the farmer. (Imam Jafar Sadegh)
Shabun: Nayereh!
Nayereh: Shabun Khan? Did you call me?
Shabun: Nayereh! I can’t find my pajamas.
Nayereh: Mamali!
Nayereh: Mamali, Come over here.
Shabun: Go and find out what they are doing in that room. Tell his mother the marriage is to be cancelled.
Nayereh: You shouldn’t be too harsh on him. Soon Mehri will see his insanity and gets tired of him. Then you call him to the store and settle things once and for all.
Mehri: Have you touched the soap again?
Sekineh: No, but my hands are itching again.
Mehri: Who is this?
Haji: It is you.
Mehri: And this one?
Haji: That is me.
Mehri: So you have always been thinking of me? Can you tell me who this is?
Haji: Did everybody find out she used to do peoples laundry for a living?
Mehri: You spoilt it.
Mehri: Tell me who this is?
Haji: Are you testing my memory?
Mehri: I want to review remembrances of our earlier life together. I am nearly forgetting when you first asked me to marry you.
Nayereh: What are you doing in there, Mehri.
Mehri: We are watching film.
Mehri: You did not like people to photograph girls. So you bought the film form him and gave it to me.
Mehri: These films are not good for you anymore.
Mehri: Doctor said: “You can get rid of the plaster cast in a week.”
Haji: The oppressors are coming back.
Mehri: when do you think we can get married?
Haji: This is from before the revolution.
Mehri: We will arrange a simple feast.
Haji: They are starving.
Mehri: Let me turn it off, Haji. I have covered this room with cheerful pictures for you. Watching this sort of films is not good for you. Stop thinking about the victims of war. Why should you care about what goes on in Lebanon? Or if the African are starving? You are torturing yourself with these films. You are not responsible for the whole world. Why you should be worried about the return of the oppressors? Why you care so much. You think there is no one else to be worried about these problems.
Nayereh: Are you home, Zanagha? It is me, Nayereh. You are very good at charms. I need your help again.
Shabun: Sort out the bill before I get back.
Mirza: Hello!
Shabun: You are late. Where are the watermelons?
Mirza: He wants a single contract for his entire crop.
Mirza: I checked the watermelons. They were fresh but to buy cheaper I acted like they are almost rotten.
Shabun: They have to go to the warehouse. The commodity has to be unloaded at night so people won’t catch sight of it. How are you young man?
Nayereh: I am worried about Mehri. The girl has fallen in love with a doddering nitwit. I want a charm that would make her forget him. It is just my bad luck.
Nayereh: Sit down, Mamali. They have bewitched my daughter.
Zanagha: Pour this spell-dispelling water on the door way. Then pour an immature boy’s urine twice. she will soon forget the boy.
Nayereh: She has a very rich suitor. He pays ten millions in marriage portion. Give me a charm to make her love him.
Policeman: Get moving.
Woman: Don’t take him away, please.
Haji: Smuggling?
Sekineh: Theft, their heydays are over.
Haji: Do you like the colour?
Sekineh: I like whatever you do.
Haji: Why did you touch the soap again?
Woman: My Children have no father any more. Take his children too. What a life is this, God? How am I supposed to feed them now?
Sekineh: Leave her alone, Mehri.
Mehri: Good morning!
Haji: Good morning!
Mehri: My mother was suspicious. She tried to keep me busy at home.
Haji: You are late.
Mehri: I am scheduling us to have a photo exhibition on women. Before or after our wedding?
Haji: I need money for my wedding.
Mehrdad: But your father-in-law is very rich.
Haji: I could sell my share of the studio to you.
Mehrdad: You think you’ve a fortune here. All we have is a camera and a few accessories. But I will raise money for your wedding. Would you tend to the customer?
Haji: Come in, please.
Boy: Where is Mehrdad? Hello, Mehrdad.
Mehrdad: Haji will take your picture.
Haji: No, that is your job.
Mehrdad: Then you retouch.
Male nurse: Hold your breath, please.
Male nurse: Hold your breath, please.
Mehri: We want to register our marriage.
Typist: Don’t disturb. You should join the queue first.
1st broker: the proprietor has just returned from abroad. The property which had been confiscated is now to be restored to him.
Mehri: Do you register marriages here?
Typist: Yes, we do. But you have to wait for your turn.
1st broke: He is selling a 40 million property for only 20 million. He is going to leave the country again. I just wanted to arrange it for you, provided you don’t forget my commission.
Buyer: I want the land, but not at that price.
2nd broker: There is a plot of land that belongs to an ex-colonel. It is a whole village. But it is called a garden so people won’t say it is feudal’s property. Would you like me to arrange a deal?
Buyer: Yes, but only if the price is acceptable.
2nd broker: All right.
Mehri: For God’s sake, this brother is not felling well. We want to register our marriage.
Typist: You married your brother?!
Mehri: No, This brother is my husband. We are married according to the religious rules. We want to make it official. Do we need my father’s consent for registration?
Typist: Religious rules and civil laws are two different matters. Father is the second party and his consent is necessary. Otherwise it is impossible…
Haji: Lie down! The Iraqis are coming.
Haji: Take shelter. Shoot...! The Iraqis
Mehri: For God’s sake, do something.
Mehri: For God’s sake…
Mehri: Do something..
Mehri: You must not leave the house.
Haji: I feel so depressed. Why didn’t you take me home?
Mehri: I didn’t want to upset your mother.
Haji: I am no good for you. I’ll be a disgrace to you. You have a bright future. Do not waste your life on me.
Mehri: You have a brighter future.
Haji: I will never recover. I will turn your life into hell. You will never be happy with me.
Mehri: You are from paradise, you can’t stand the purgatory. We will be happy together.
Haji: We will be observed in earthly life.
Mehri: We will not let that happen. We could live in a single room.
Haji: Could we live in a simple diet?
Mehri: We could lead a frugal life.
Haji: Like the first Imam and the holy Fatima! Isn’t it only a dream?
Mehri: We will manage somehow. We don’t need ideals.
Haji: But these are all what I have.
Sekineh: Let’s go dear. Why are you painting?
Haji: Where are you taking the child, Madam?
Sekineh: Never mind, dear. He was not talking to you. Don’t interfere in other peoples troubles.
Haji: Where does she take the kid every day?
Sekineh: I cannot bear you getting sick. Let’s go.
Mamaly: I found another photograph.
Nayereh: To avoid misunderstandings let us be quiet frank. We have to settle the matter once and for all.
Uncle Ramazan: You mean there are reasons to cancel the marriage contract.
Nayareh: There is no lack of eligible young girls.
Shabun: Stop sidetracking. We just don’t want to marry our daughter.
Uncle: He has all the rights to decide about his property.
Sekineh: Who? You are talking about Haji?
Shabun: I love Haji like my own son. But he does not have a decent job. And Haji can’t go back to his job at the newspaper. Then there is the question of his health. We cannot hide our son-in-law forever in a closet.
Mamaly: Look at daddy!
Nayereh: Don’t look at them. There are intimate pictures among them.
Mehrdad: I can get Haji back to his job at the newspaper, if that solves the problem.
Haji: Hello! Let us go.
Youngman: I corrected that sentence.
Editor: We are through with the layout.
Youngman: But you had objection to “The American type of Islam.”
Editor: The lay-out has been down.
Youngman: How can we express our ideas then?
Editor: Hello,Haji.
Mehrdad: Hello!
Editor: Hello, Mehrdad.
Editor: How are you feeling?
Haji: Much better, thanks God.
Editor: Your photographs of the front line were excellent. Did you see them in print.
Haji: No.
Editor: News agencies were fighting each other over your photos of Lebonan. I heard you are back to your photography studio?
Maehrdad: He is not a dark room photographer. He likes political subjects.
Haji: I have to work for Islam, for society.
Mehrdad: Don’t recite slogans.
Editor: When are you returning to the front line?
Mehrdad: Not soon. You will be hearing the good news, soon.
Editor: Well, I hope I will get invited.
Mehrdad: Give him an assignment in town. He needs money for the event.
Editor: All right. But remember, photography in town is much more complex than it is at the front line. It requires a special knack. It is not like the frontline where you point your camera on the enemy and shoot. Focus on short-coming, but preserve a balanced view.
Man: Stop taking pictures.
2nd man: Take my picture; I managed to buy two cans of dried milk.
3rd man: Drug? Cannabis?
Crowd: Down with the U.S.A.
Thief: Clear off, boys.
Thief: Go away.
Haji: why do you steal?
Thief: Don’t make me hit you. Go away.
1st boy: My family is starving. My mother is sick.
1st Policeman: What are you doing here?
Haji: Hello officer. I am doing a photographic reportage.
1st Police: Reportage? At night?
Haji: We are preparing documentary photographs for newspaper.
1st Police: And who is the lady?
Haji: She is my wife and colleague.
2nd Police: What are they doing back there?
Director: We are making a film.
2nd Police: What film?
Director: “Marriage of the blessed”.
In-charge-of-continuity: Do we need clapper board, now?
Director: No, we don’t want a clapper board. Clear out everybody.
Woman: Shall we carry on Mr. Makhmalbaf?
Director: I will explain everything.
2nd Policeman: Who is responsible here?
Director: I am.
2nd Police: Do you have authorization?
Director: keep shooting, Ali. Yes, we have authorization.
1st Police: Can I see it?
Director: Please get out. Shoot, Ali.
Ali Photographer: Where are you going?
Director: Nowhere. Start shooting, Ali.
Photographer: Start the travelling.
2nd Policeman: What do you mean by documentary?
Director: I mean recording whatever there is.
2nd Policeman: There is nothing here!
2nd Policeman: You and the lady follow me.
Haji: All right.
Nayereh: Hello!
Shabun: Hello!
Police officer: Hello!
Police officer: Do you know this man?
Nayereh: Don’t create a scandal.
Police Officer: Is he related to her?
Nayereh: Yes, they are married, but they are not registered yet.
Police officer: Are you the girl’s father?
Nayereh: Yes, he is.
Officer: You can go now.
Nayereh: Come home early, Mehri. Your father wants to talk to you.
Officer: You may go.
Haji: Is that all of our film rolls?
Policeman: Where are you going?
2nd Policeman: They are free to go. They had authorization.
Haji: Take this, Mehri.
3rd Policeman: Taking pictures is prohibited.
Haji: Can’t I take pictures of a flower? Wait till it sits down.
Editor: Well, he is stubborn. He is still here behind my room. He didn’t finish the assignment on time. It is already outdated.
Haji: Hello!
Editor: Let us see what you have got for us. Hello, I swear you are a wonder. What are theses photos? No, I am talking to you. What are you trying to prove with them? You can’t solve social problems with a couple of photographs. Yes, I am talking to you. You have to propose a solution. Get in touch later. Well, when is the wedding due?
Haji: Soon. My wife.
Editor: How do you do?
Mehri: How do you do?
Mehri: Haji talks a lot about you.
Haji: Who is this?
Youngman: Hi, Haji.
Haji: Who is this?
Haji: Yusof?
Editor: It is me. Didn’t you recognize.
Haji: Yusof!
Mehri: I must go to the exhibition. Goodbye.
Haji: All right. Goodbye.
Haji: Has he published them?
Haji: Has he published them?
Mehrdad: He has only printed the sunflower.
Haji: Let it go to hell!
Woman beggar: Give alms, sir.
Man beggar: Alms protect you.
Mehrdad: Let me do the driving. You are not feeling well, Haji. Let me drive. Stop it. You are not OK, Haji.
Reporter: Could you explain your motivation for holding this exhibition?
Mehri: I don’t know.
Reporter: Please.
Mehri: I tried to explain my motivation with my images.
Reporter: Well, good luck.
1st woman: Aren’t you Mrs. Nayereh’s daughter?
Mehri: And who are you?
Haji: Let us go, Mehri.
1st woman: I am a friend of your mother.
Mehri: Excuse me. I am coming.
1st woman: Her mouth doesn’t stink.
2nd woman: See if she is not bold?
Reporter: How does it feel to visit a female artist exhibition, as a woman?
2nd woman: Are you talking to me?
Reporter: Yes.
2nd woman: My husband do not allow me to talk.
1st woman: What do you want from her? We are friends of Miss Mehri.
Reporter: Why only men visit an exhibition on the theme of “Woman”?
1st woman: I am in a hurry. My baby is alone at home.
Reporter: What did you try to express in this image?
Mehri: I don’t know what to say.
Reporter: Thanks and goodbye.
Shabun: The girl hasn’t show up for 3 nights. And just now you are telling me. Where has she been staying? with Haji!
Uncle: You should arrange a wedding and put an end to all the gossips. Give them a dowry & send them to live at the seaside villa.
Nayereh: The change of climate may help the boy recover.
Uncle: You have not got much of a choice.
Shabun: Is that what you think?
Uncle: Your daughter is a concluded bargain. Let the buyer worry about the profit & loss. Stop dilly-dallying.
Uncle: Welcome. Come in.
Nayereh: You haven’t had your hair done. At least put on your wedding dress.
Shabun: What if he does not show up. We are having only a very simple ceremony.
Uncle: Don’t worry! I told Mehrdad to bring him along.
Uncle: And here is the happy groom.
Woman: Put on your Chadors. The groom is coming to do the photos.
Uncle: He s getting disturbed. He has a screw loose.
Mirza: Shall I take the camera from him?
Mehrdad: The groom shouldn’t be walking all the time.
Young Man: Brother Haji’s camera is the anxious eye of the revolution. He has a passionate mind and a sorrowful heart. Let us hear the remembrances of this sorrowful heart.
2nd Young Man: Come to the microphone, Haji.
Uncle: This is a wedding feast, sing and be merry.
Haji: Guests with mismatched sucks are welcome.
Haji: Guests with mismatched cars are welcome.
Man: The groom is a nice chap.
Haji: Guests with mismatched wives are welcome.
A guest: He means you.
Haji: Eat the food robbed from the poor. Robbed food is delicious.
Haji: Robbed food is delicious.
Haji: We overcharged our watermelons to provide for our daughter’s dowry.
Shabun: Turn off that microphone, and bring that lunatic down.
Haji: Welcome to my son’s funeral.
Nayereh: Haji!
Haji: Listen, sister. Listen to me. One night I heard a voice. I went near the tents. I saw the accused Omar Saad setting fire to the tents. Everybody say: fire, fire!
Haji: Fire, fire…
Mamali: Fire, fire…
Shabun: Come down!
Mehri: How are you feeling?
Haji: How are my mother’s hands? Does no one care about her? Will she recover in Paradise? What are you waiting for? Say goodbye. I won’t be seeing you anymore.
Mehri: Soon you will recover.
Haji: Don’t wait for me. I am a goner.
Mehri: You enjoy acting the martyr.
Haji: Did you go back to your father’s house?
Mehri: I had to. I couldn’t stay in that house all by myself. In spite of our differences, our fates are interwoven.
Haji: How is your father? He must be mad at me.
Mehri: He is choking with rage.
Haji: He is hit with the explosion of watermelons.
Mehri: Let us not slander.
Haji: Slander is no sin regarding the profiteers.
Mehri: My father was worried about you.
Haji: He will defeat the revolution from inside.
Haji: Don’t take pictures.
Mamaly: Hello! Bank Melli, here.
Nayereh: You naughty boy! Hello, who do you want to talk to?
Haji: Mehri.
Nayereh: Mehri! It’s Haji.
Haji: I left the hospital.
Mehri: When? But I met you yesterday. where are you now?
Haji: I wanted to say goodbye.
Mehri: You left on your own?
Haji: Forgive me!
Mehri: I want to see you. where are you now? Hello? Listen to me.
Haji: I am listening.
Mehri: Listen to me. I want to see you. Where are you now? Hello? Haji?
