Thank you.
Why? We paid for the flights.
What do you mean? I'm not...
It's inappropriate.
Why is it inappropriate?
Put Kleenex on the toilet seat.
Okay.
- I don't want any. - Mmm.
Shalom.
Come in.
Welcome home.
It's yours.
Finally.
Enjoy it.
Peace. No more fighting.
- Peace. - Peace.
- Bye! - Be well!
Peace, my friend.
Goodbye!
Ooh.
Oh, that's a great idea.
Isn't it fantastic?
Yeah, it is.
It's amazing what you can do when you change your mind.
You can create all sorts of happy things.
Yeah, that's nice.
No more guns.
No more war.
I'm in my happy place.
And if you're ever in trouble, just ask for a key.
That's right. A key.
A key.
Ladies and gentlemen, we have begun our descent into Tel Aviv.
Flight attendants, please prepare for arrival.
Oh, Mama, this photo.
Remember this video camera?
- Yes. - I wonder what happened to it.
I have no idea, mama.
It was a long time ago.
- Hamoodi. - Huh?
Are you sure you dropped off Crystal's Meow Munch?
Yes, Meow Munch, your 20-page instructional--
It's 18 pages. Don't exaggerate.
Okay, 18 pages.
Maria has it all.
You mean my sister-in-law?
I don't know why you calling her that?
Because it's true.
Look, we need to go over the security again.
Yes. Yes.
Now, when they come and ask me,
"Are you a terrorist?"
- Shh. - Okay.
I will say, "No. I'm not."
This is very serious.
Did you delete your WhatsApp?
I did it in front of you.
Yeah, but did you download it again?
No.
Look, I'm just doing what Uncle asked me to do.
Be polite and relax,
but don't relax too much.
All right?
Maintain eye contact.
Good posture.
Never cross your legs.
And then don't forget, smile.
- Okay. - That's too much, Mama.
- That's too much. What are you doing? - Like this?
- That's not a smile. - No, no, mama.
No, look at me. Like this. You look.
Mama, you don't ever smile like that. You look constipated.
You know what? Just try not to frown.
Okay? No frowning.
Just regular face.
Okay.
You get your green card, and immediately come to Israel.
- Why? - To visit my family.
- Your parents were born here? - Yes.
- What was your father's name? - Mustafa Al-Najjar.
- And his father? - Abdullah.
And your great-grandfather, what was his name?
No?
Ibrahim.
That was his name.
Great-grandfather's name is Ibrahim?
Give me your bag.
- What is this shit? - It's a keffiyeh.
- How old are you? - Forty.
I need your phone.
What's your code?
I don't have a code, because I have nothing to hide.
- Do you wear this? - I didn't mean to pack that.
- Why do you have this? - I like to go birdwatching.
What is your occupation?
You said "occupation."
You trying to be funny?
I work in telecom.
But who employs you, the company?
- Houston Mobile. - What is that, a cell phone shop?
You sell phone cases, screen protectors, things like that?
Way more than that. Import, export, LCD screens,
different parts for different phones. It's a wide variety.
I understand. You want to sound like a big deal.
This is temporary. I'm bringing my business back.
Okay, and what business is that?
Olive oil.
I have one question.
Where are you from?
I'm Israeli.
No, I mean, where did your grandparents came from?
My grandparents are from Spain.
Spain.
I was born here. My family was born here.
Yet, you're questioning me.
What is your point?
Point was made.
This partition wall is monstrous. It just goes for miles.
Look at the artistry of Palestinians.
This is all resistance.
It's struggle and pain.
They just want to be free of this war.
Yeah. "Make Hummus Not Walls."
Mama, why do those houses have red rooftops?
Those, habibi, are almustawtanat. Settlements.
This is our country. See how beautiful it is!
It's gorgeous.
Look at the olive trees.
What's happening?
Looks like we're pulling up to the checkpoint.
Hey, how come we don't have to go in that lane?
Because we have Israeli plate numbers on the car, ya mama.
Hey.
This is too much.
I'm already sick of these checkpoints, and we just got here.
Ah, I'm just glad we're almost there.
I can't wait to go to Grandpa and Grandma's house.
Me too.
Look around.
This is all my childhood memories here.
They've arrived! They've arrived!
Allah!
Thank God for your safe arrival.
Hello! Hello!
Welcome home, dear.
My beloved, thank God you're safe!
Come, come!
Please.
Kids, come help me!
- No, Mohammed. - No, let me carry.
- You had a long journey. - It's no big deal.
Did you prepare my three favorite dishes?
Bless your hands for this feast, Aunties. We tired you out.
Stuffed zucchini, grape leaves, and chicken, God bless.
Enjoy, my dear.
- So, Uncle, did you cook anything? - My contribution is eating.
He asked if he did anything!
Actually, I have to take you to try this burger spot.
It's the most delicious burger in Burin.
- Hamoodi. - Yes, Auntie?
See everything we're eating?
These are your grandmother's recipes.
- Really? - Yes.
We have all these recipes in a book with her original handwriting.
What do you think of that?
You have to protect it,
because I know someone that'd be happy to steal that.
- With pleasure. - Hamooda, my dear.
Why is your wife not here with us?
Lameece...
She doesn't like us?
- What is it? - Lameece!
What? What did I say?
Fake marriage.
No. According to the US government, it's real, yeah.
Yeah. He lied to the US Government.
- So I can get the green card. - Oh, just for that. But it's legal.
Oh!
And the government never lies.
I know that's right. You get me.
How's Nadia? You haven't told me.
She's doing great. She misses you all and wanted to come.
But her son, Osama, has school.
- So she couldn't make it. - We miss her a lot.
Hopefully, next year she can make it.
But really, we're glad you're here.
We need all the help we can get this year with the harvest.
But in all honesty, I was thinking about something, Uncle.
If we get the olive oil from Burin and imported it to Houston,
we can bottle it and sell it there.
My dear, we're forbidden from our land,
except for two days a year to harvest the olives.
Why?
We need to have a permit.
Without a permit, we can't even get to our land.
What? Why?
Why?
The army claims it's to protect us from the settlers.
Meanwhile, the settlers move freely on our land, and we can't even get to it.
It's our land, though.
Hmm.
I was thinking we could all go to Jerusalem and pray together.
They are not allowed to go to Jerusalem.
What?
Maybe in the past we were able to get permits,
but today it's impossible.
Not even for a day?
Not even for a half hour, dear.
If you want to go anywhere, don't go by yourself.
Especially if you want to go to Huwara. The situation is exceptionally dangerous.
Just the other day, mobs of settlers burned cars and homes in Huwara.
Two days ago, they took over and occupied another home.
Imagine being in your house,
and can't move freely between your bedroom and living room.
Except with the permission of a soldier.
What kind of life is this?
Come on, Father. They just arrived.
Why you are afraiding them?
No, nothing happens. Nothing.
When I go out by myself, nothing happens.
If I see a settler, I yell, "What are you looking at? Run away."
"Go, run away from my face. Don't get close to me!"
Then you see them all run away.
You scared me! You scared me!
Take Sameer to Grandpa's house and leave us a minute.
Let's go, Sameer.
Look, dear.
- What's up, Uncle? - See all this?
- See that hill over there? - Yes.
That side is your Aunt Halima's house.
The other side is your Aunt Lameece's house.
And next to it is our house.
See the houses with the red roofs on the hilltop?
Settlements, yeah?
Yes, a settlement.
Down there...
Down there is the mosque.
The mosque where your father used to pray,
and your grandfather and great-great grandfather.
All the way back to the prophet Adam.
Peace be upon him.
I can't wait to pray in the same mosque.
- See all that land there? - Mm-hmm.
We inherited it from your grandfather.
Your mother's share, and your share, and your children's share is there.
Why is the land undeveloped?
We can't do anything with it.
You need a permit to do anything,
if you want to build a house, an office, a factory, or anything.
They reject 95% of the permits.
They brag about this in the Knesset,
that they reject 95% of the permits.
There is no power or strength except with God.
It's humiliating.
Okay, Uncle.
I can't bear it anymore.
Let's go, my dear.
Is this how you take care of our parents' house? It's full of dust.
No one lives here. What do you expect? Of course it's dusty!
It wouldn't be if you cleaned it once in a while!
Run away like usual!
- Hey, Nephew. - Yes, Uncle?
- So you like the room? - Yes, a lot.
This was our room when we were young.
When we were little, we would jump and play on this bed.
You wanna jump on it now?
No jumping!
- Ali, I need to show you something. - What is it?
Oh my God.
- Remember this bed? - Yes, of course.
You and Halima would sleep here, and I'd sleep on the floor.
And when Lameece was born, where did you go?
Ooh, I went to the roof of course!
Older boys aren't supposed to sleep in the same room as girls.
Why is the room like this, filled with so many cobwebs?
Mama.
- Enough about the dust! - I'm kidding!
Come, let me show you.
- Let's go, let's go. - What do you want to show me?
Come. We found something really interesting.
What is this?
Impossible.
"British passport Palestine."
Grandpa.
I saw this in my dream.
Mama, look what I found!
Uh, Sameer.
Where did you find that key?
It was on the wall.
This is the key to Grandpa and Grandma's home in Haifa
before they were forced out.
- I've dreamt about this key. - This key?
This key looks like all the keys of the days of The Catastrophe.
No.
Uh, it's this key.
I've been having dreams with Grandma and Grandpa for the last year.
Maybe, ya mama, they're watching over you.
Their spirits are flying around you.
Let me have the passport and key.
What?
The passport and the key.
I'll look after them in America.
No way.
These are here, and they will remain here.
Can I at least take a picture?
The old picture of my grandparents.
- Take it. - Thank you. We got it done.
Tell you what, let's go pick the olives.
Let's go.
♪ Fair Del'ona, Fair Del'ona ♪
♪ My country's olives Are the most delicious ♪
♪ Nothing compares ♪
♪ Fair Del'ona, Fair Del'ona ♪
♪ My country's olives Are the most delicious ♪
♪ Nothing compares ♪
♪ My country's olives And the green almonds ♪
♪ The sage, and don't forget the za'atar ♪
♪ And the omelette gets cooked ♪
♪ Tastier when you add our olive oil ♪
♪ Fair Del'ona, Fair Del'ona ♪
♪ My country's olives Are the most delicious ♪
♪ Nothing compares... ♪
Is your back hurting you?
Come. Come.
Where are you taking me?
What are you talking about? I wanna listen too!
- I'm tired too. - Come take a break.
Praise be to God.
Who's a pretty horse?
Who's a beautiful horse?
Do you remember Sabiha?
Our neighbor's horse, Sabiha, that we rode when we were young?
- Yes. - This one is from her lineage.
- You're kidding. - Do you want to ride him?
No, I don't think I can.
What, you forgot? Impossible.
Come on. Get on. Try it.
Fine, but I'm blaming you if I fall.
You won't fall. Come on.
- Let's go. - Let's go.
Why do you wanna do this?
What do you mean, why?
You live in America. You can do anything there.
- So why just sell olive oil? - It's not like that, okay?
You need real capital to do anything in America.
Mohammed, compared to here.
Okay, fair point.
What would you do if you were in America?
- What would you do? - Uber.
- Uber? - I hear they put a great tip.
You wanna go all the way to America so you can be a taxi?
Yeah, man. Here... Here, they don't tip.
I... I saw... saw on the video that they are really good with tips.
Hey, is that Mama?
- So what? - What do you mean so what?
I've never seen her ride a horse. I didn't know she rode.
I... I thought everyone in Texas rides horses.
- Come on, man. - What?
- It's not like that. - Shh.
Wait. Can you hear that?
Yeah, what is that? What is that?
Shh. Shh.
Hey! Get out!
What are you doing? What are you doing?
My grandfather planted these trees!
- They're armed! - What are you doing?
Fuck yourself!
Get out of here, you dumb terrorist!
Are you okay?
Mohammed! Are you okay?
Are you okay?
Do I look okay?
Mohammed!
My feelings hurt more than my actual eyes.
To be honest...
I can't believe I got pepper-sprayed.
Oh yeah, that's good.
Donkey.
I'm proud of you.
It makes me so happy to see you happy, Mama.
When I saw you riding on that horse, I couldn't believe my eyes.
I said, "That's my mom."
Why didn't you tell me?
I never told you a lot of things.
Did Dad know you rode horses?
Of course.
He saw me riding a horse like a princess,
and he fell in love with me.
- Really? - No. Of course...
It was arranged.
Well...
- Mama. - Hmm.
You know, at the airport, when they asked me
Dad's grandfather's name, and...
And I didn't know it.
It's okay, mama.
It's not okay. You should know where you come from.
It's okay, ya mama.
He's inside here.
Love you, Mama.
Allah.
Ibrahim, I want to introduce you to my aunt's son, Mohammed.
From Texas, originally from Burin.
Welcome home. How are you?
All good, praise be to God. Pleasure to meet you.
It's time for prayer. Mohammed will do the call to prayer.
No way.
- You're our guest, you must. - You're joking.
Go with God. Go with God.
Why are you scared?
You're in God's domain.
Look, Mohammed, if God is with you, who can be against you?
If God's against you, then who's with you? What's the issue, man?
It's a call from God.
Answer it.
Come on.
Bismillah.
♪ God is great God is great ♪
♪ God is great ♪
♪ I bear witness There is no god except the One God ♪
♪ I bear witness Muhammad is the messenger of God ♪
♪ Hurry to prayer ♪
♪ Hurry to salvation ♪
♪ God is great God is great ♪
♪ I bear witness There is no god except the One God ♪
God bless you.
Habibi, Mohammed, habibi.
- Ibrahim. - You did great.
Be honest, be honest. How was he?
- Honestly, he was really good. - Who called the prayer?
- Mohammed. - Mohammed, he did it.
- What? You did it. - You guys told me to.
You did the call to prayer ten minutes early.
Well, but the clock...
That clock is ten minutes ahead.
- I told him. - You did not. Don't lie.
He's lying.
- They're lying. - Who are you?
I've lived in Burin my whole life, and I've never seen you before.
Mohammed, my name is Mohammed Najjar.
Who is your father?
My father is Mustafa Najjar.
You're Mustafa Najjar's son?
Yes.
Why didn't you say that at the beginning?
I didn't know what to say.
- You knew my father? - God bless. God bless.
Your father, Mustafa,
opened the first electronics store here in Burin.
- Really? - Yes, he used to fix televisions, radios--
Washing machines?
- Telephones. - Washing machines.
He was an engineer. An engineer!
He repaired telephones and electronics.
Do you know who installed the sound system and microphone in this mosque?
- No. Who? - Also your father.
My father installed this?
Before your father, no one knew anything about electronics here.
We would plant antennas and water them.
He graduated and came back with his degrees.
And he taught us how to use these things.
His success was our success.
Everyone in Burin was proud of him.
May God have mercy on his soul.
But you should be the proudest.
Because he's your father.
That's right. May God have mercy on his soul.
Of course, that's my father.
I just need a minute.
God bless you.
Did my father install anything in this mosque?
Your father is great at playing cards only.
Mohammed.
Yeah.
I'll be right there.
♪ Mother, sing to the wind ♪
♪ Mother, sing ♪
♪ A dagger's stab is better ♪
♪ Than being ruled by a scoundrel ♪
Habibi.
How are you, Uncle?
Look, Nephew.
If we want to export our oil, we have to first get an export permit.
That's IF we get it.
- Okay. - Okay?
Then we need to
move the oil in our cars to the checkpoints.
After the checkpoint, we need a second set of cars
with yellow plates, so that we can get to the Israeli side
to the airport or port.
Understand?
Understood.
What a mess!
Have you seen Sameer? I can't find him anywhere!
No, I haven't.
Have you seen him?
I'm going to look for him.
Let's go see.
We're coming.
What's going on, Mama?
I couldn't find him.
Don't worry. It's normal.
He doesn't know where he's going.
- He doesn't know the area. - Don't worry. We'll find him.
Isn't that him?
Sameer, where were you? You worried us!
I saw a Palestinian sunbird!
Where did you find this child?
Oh, him? He just started following me.
- This is a problem. - We're going to prison.
Sameer, come sit over here with the kid.
This is four life sentences. This is definitely four life sentences.
I know this kid. He doesn't speak.
His family is from New York. They live on the settlement.
He's from the settlement. I'll take him back.
What do you mean? You crazy? They'll shoot you!
Should we call the army? The police?
If we call the army or the cops, that is the fastest way to go to prison!
Ali, you know how this goes.
- You know what happens. - What can we do?
- I'll take him back! - You'll get pepper-sprayed again.
What are you going to do, huh?
I have an American accent.
I'll just be like a super American guy, like...
"I was just walking around and I saw your son."
"He was just wandering off, and..."
"Does he belong to anybody here, by chance, you know?"
And I'm wearing an Astros hat. It's gonna be believable.
Of course. Of course. Astros hat equals two-state solution.
- What is wrong with him? - Shut your mouth!
Enough!
What other plan we have? Tell me.
First of all, they know you.
They don't know me.
It's the only way to cover you, right?
Fine.
Go up very slowly.
Don't run.
If you hear gunshots, stop.
Oh, my heart.
Halima!
Take him to the settlement.
Leave him by the gate, and they'll come get him.
Is that clear?
Yes, it's clear.
Be careful, my dear.
Do exactly as he said.
Don't you live on top of that hill there?
It'd be really great if you just walked yourself in, you know?
A kid like you with a guy like me is a bad look here.
I didn't want it that way, but it is.
Where are you, Zvika?
Zvika?
Zvika!
Zvika. Is... is that you? Zvika?
Hey! Hey! Zvika! Come here, Zvika!
Hey, man.
- Whoa. - Hey!
- Hey. - Hey.
Tell me what you're doing with my son!
I'm just trying to help, okay. I'm unarmed.
Tell me or I'll blow your fucking head off!
I didn't do anything! I was bringing him back, dude.
Don't lie to me!
If you're in trouble, ask for a key. A key, ask for a key!
A key! A key!
- How'd you know my name? - What?
It's Akiva. How'd you know?
Your name's...
Your name's Akiva?
Yeah.
Uh...
Your son told me.
My son doesn't talk.
- Don't you fucking lie to me. - Whoa! Whoa!
I am lying! You're right! I've been having dreams about a key.
And if you get into any trouble, ask for a key!
And that's why I said that, that's it! So I just used it!
He followed my brother to my aunt's house. I'm just bringing him back!
My son, here...
he wanders.
You're welcome.
All right.
Bye, Zvika.
All of a sudden, his dad came out of nowhere with a machine gun.
"What are you doing with my son?"
And I grabbed the barrel of the gun like this,
and I said, "Nobody has to die today."
I looked him in his eyes. I said,
"Akiva, we're not going to do this. We're not going to do this, Akiva."
He was like, "My name is Akiva! How'd you know?"
And I said, "It just popped up, like it was A Beautiful Mind.
It just showed itself."
Stop the bullshit!
This lie is bigger than my ambitions!
You scared!
I was so scared! It was so scary!
- You scared. - I was terrified.
- You scared. - He did have a gun.
He did have a gun on me, though.
Whoa. Uncle, what is this?
This is for you.
No way.
This is your father's camera.
He sent it to me before he left Kuwait.
Mama... That's the picture I was showing Mama on the plane.
Yup.
It's the same camcorder.
It still works.
Hold on.
Play.
What is it?
- Michael Jackson. - Michael Jackson?
Here, take this one.
Wait.
It's our house. Wait, wait, wait.
Eh!
Wait...
Wait a second.
That's him! That's Dad!
- Dad. - Really?
Yes!
Mama!
Look, look at Mama.
Is that a pompadour?
She looked beautiful...
I have shoulder pads like the Grendizer.
You can use them like floaties.
Who are they?
These were our neighbors in Kuwait.
That group on the side were his friends from work.
How beautiful were those days?
Mama, wait, wait. Here, watch, watch.
Here's Dad. Here's Dad.
♪ Oh, beautiful ♪
♪ Oh, companion ♪
♪ You are the one who burns me ♪
♪ With the fire of abandonment ♪
♪ Fill the cup ♪
♪ Oh beautiful And give it to me to drink... ♪
May God have mercy on his soul.
Should we watch Michael Jackson?
Ah, those were the days.
You're still watching?
What's the matter, habibi?
I don't know. I just thought things would be different.
Instead, I'm back at the job that I got fired from, Mama.
I mean, Dad was a telecommunications engineer.
He was innovative, he worked on wireless communication.
I mean, he was ahead of his time.
If he saw where technology is today,
he would just lose his mind.
God.
Instead, I'm selling phone cases, Mama.
Listen, mama.
Your father had a degree, it's true.
But his degree, when he came to America,
meant nothing,
because he had to start all over again and open the 99 Cents Store.
Your father is like you.
He saw himself through the world's eyes.
And in the world's eyes,
he was a simple man with a small shop.
And I believe that's what killed his soul.
Because he was too proud.
Just like you.
But it was never true.
Because his worth, our worth,
came from Allah.
Do you think Allah cares what degree you have or what passport you carry?
Come on.
Hamoodi...
The world will always try to tear us down.
And when they do, we smile.
Because we know who we are.
- Right? - Right.
- Come give me a kiss. - You're amazing, Mama.
Look, look, look.
Watch. Watch.
That's my favorite.
God be pleased with you.
Your father, if he was alive, he would be very proud of you.
Look at that.
♪ Oh, where are you leaving to? Your soul and my soul are one ♪
♪ Oh, the clothes on your body Bring my soul back to life ♪
♪ Oh, I promise to carve your name And hang it on my mantel ♪
♪ Oh, I will hang it in the wind To cry and weep... ♪
Call us when you land. Don't forget, okay?
May God protect you, my loves.
May God grant you safe travels, my dears.
Take care of each other.
We just bought a house in Haifa.
It's small, but it's nice by the water.
Thank God.
Next.
- Good evening, sir. - Sorry. Hey.
- Excuse me. - Passports.
Yes.
It's... to Houston.
Thank you.
- What's going on? - One moment.
Please send security.
Put your clothes on.
Easy.
What is this, huh?
It's an old video camera from the '80s.
What's the matter, huh?
Is your phone too easy to use?
My uncle gave it to me. It used to belong to my father.
So it's your father's old junk, huh?
What's on this, huh?
It's an old family video.
My mom and dad are on that, all right?
Hey! Hey, hey, hey, don't do this.
It's the only video of my dad.
Don't do this, please.
Please don't do this.
Oops.
The world will always try to tear us down.
And when they do,
we smile,
because we know who we are.
♪ I wish I knew how It would feel to be free ♪
♪ I wish I could break... ♪
They're singing. That's cute. They're doing karaoke at my house.
My dad's taking pictures like it's a wedding.
♪ I wish I could say All the things that I should say ♪
♪ Say 'em loud, say 'em clear ♪
♪ For the whole round world to hear ♪
♪ I wish I could share All the love that's in my heart ♪
♪ Remove all the bars ♪
♪ That keep us apart ♪
♪ I wish you could know What it means to be me ♪
♪ Then you'd see and agree ♪
♪ That every man should be free... ♪