Lost Boys, The (2023)

[bunniefuu]

I don't remember much

from when I was a kid.

I remember walking by the lake

with my mother.

We'd go up to the ice

and walk on it

when the water was frozen solid.

In the middle of the lake

we'd sometimes see fish

trapped in the ice,

Elo?

lined up beside one another.

Like a family.

Your mother's on the phone.

When I was a kid I thought

they hibernated, like bears.

I thought they spent winter there,

then woke up in the spring.

I thought they came back to life

and breathed again, like before.

Like before winter.

But now I know:

a fish caught in the ice

never comes back to life.

It dies.

PARADISE

A FILM BY ZENO GRATON

Thanks.

- Awesome!

- What did we just say? Sit down!

- Did he go far?

- Yep.

Just to check on girls!

Now I have to write a report

to your judge

so you'd better answer me.

What have you been taught here?

- Accountability.

- Good.

What else?

Empathy for victims.

And?

- I don't know.

- Think, you do know!

To tell the truth.

Your hearing is in three weeks, Joe.

Don't you want to get out?

Yes.

You're lying.

You stay in your room all day.

You'll get out for dinner.

Write up four pages

about when you ran away.

I want them before lights out.

So where did you go?

Come on, cut it out!

It's his third time, he's screwed.

So where did you go? Come on, spill.

Sit down and shut up, Csar.

- Where did he go, ma'am?

- Fahd!

- Joe, where'd you go?

- Csar!

Eat.

If I run away no one's catching me.

Hey, Fahd, don't say those things.

You could never run away,

you can't even get out of bed.

- I could run away whenever I like.

- Shut up!

- I'm here because I wanted to stay.

- Sure.

We told you to shut up.

We don't need you, Yanis.

What's wrong with you?

- You were told to shut up.

- Not tonight, boys!

- He's winding me up!

- Be quiet!

That's better.

- What was that?

- Nothing, ma'am.

Are you kidding me?

It was friendly, it's cool.

No visits this weekend.

That's nothing too.

What?

We talk to each other here,

we're not animals. We don't do that.

We've talked about this.

Never hit each other!

I wasn't hitting.

Don't touch each other.

- But my visit...

- You've lost it.

Stop answering back! Shut up!

There's no point talking, I got it.

No point? Are you sure?

So what did you get?

So where did you go?

To the sea.

OK, good.

Now I want you to write

a letter of apology to the judge.

Get down and beg

and say you're sorry, Joe.

I want it by tomorrow, OK?

Can I get my radio back?

No.

Guys, what's going on here?

Tom, go to your room.

Come on, Csar.

- Fahd, where are you going?

- I'll grab a drink.

He stabbed a guy.

How do you know?

We were at the Castle together.

When did he get here?

Last night.

Fahd, hurry up.

I only just woke up, sir.

Here.

Hey, what is that?

Medication!

William?

- This is your level.

- Squares?

Squares, yes.

We looked at them together.

- They must think we're idiots.

- No.

It's your level, guys.

"Is the shelf horizontal?"

You know whether or not it is.

Is that respectful?

Sure, no one's saying you're a moron.

Csar, you told the judge

you liked the look of that course.

She said you'd need

to sit this exam first.

Tom, do the corner.

We need to make sure

no light gets in at the top.

- Can you reach the top?

- Of course!

What a lame joke, I don't get it.

Come on, Yanis!

Hey, move it.

It's dangerous, sir.

My mother said a flame in the dark

summons evil spirits.

Are you scared?

Not even.

You are!

You don't mess with that stuff.

Crazy! That's boy scout stuff.

Hands off!

Guys!

Seriously, you're like

a bunch of kids. Sit down!

I'll get you started in a moment.

- So that's what's outside, sir?

- Only upside down.

Let your eye get used to

the darkness, then to the light.

I can see a little bit.

Hey, I can see it.

I can't see anything.

Of course not, like I said,

give it a moment.

There's a triangle there.

Yeah!

Right here.

Pretty cool.

Beautiful.

The clouds are moving,

I don't know if you can make it out.

Check it out.

Between a film and a photograph.

See it, Tom?

Yeah.

Like a... what's it called?

Chinese theater?

It's beautiful.

Great.

OK, Tom?

Sir?

- I'm done.

- You are?

Let me see.

When you've finished your box,

make a hole in the top with a needle

to let a single ray of light through.

Go ahead.

That's it,

now put the photographic paper

at the bottom of the box, then

you go outside and take it slowly.

Take the time to choose your subject,

and then the time

to take your photograph.

It's very important that

when you take the photo,

you keep perfectly

still for ten seconds.

Guys, come here, we'll take a photo.

Listen guys, we'll do a g*ng pose.

With the headphones.

Keep still, don't move.

May I?

Is it true you were at the Castle?

Yeah.

What's it like?

The same.

What did you do when you left?

Just enjoyed it.

Was it good?

It was short.

- How come you've got so many tattoos?

- How come you haven't got any?

Did you do them?

Some of them.

Don't move.

Stay where you are.

Look at me.

Give it to me.

Here.

It's yours till I take it off you.

Look after your things.

Come on, let's go, guys!

Hey, Fahd, what's wrong?

You think it's easy?

Pull hard on your arms

when you lift your knees.

Fahd!

What's the matter, Fahd?

Cramp? Let go of your leg.

Step back.

Keep back. Tom!

Calm down.

- What's wrong?

- It bit me!

- What did?

- The b*stard!

Come on, get up!

What the hell is that?

Is he crazy?!

Let go! William!

William, put it down.

Gently, put it in the grass.

It's alive.

Are you deaf?

What is he doing?

Drop it!

Come with me.

Independence is still what you want?

Yes.

Can you tell me why?

Because...

I can't live at home anymore.

At home? Meaning what?

I can't live at my mother's.

Your mother's? All right.

Anyway you won't be entirely alone.

We'll be there to help you

with admin:

sorting paperwork out,

opening a bank account,

helping with your apprenticeship.

Welding, is that it?

We'll also help you organize

your shopping, bills, budget, etc.

We'll see each other twice a week

but we're not there

to keep an eye on you.

Your judge won't be called

every other day

but you'll need to be on time

for appointments.

It's my only family, it's all I know.

Play!

I think about her every day.

I miss everything in her life.

Like her birthday.

It's this weekend. I'll miss it.

Hide your cards.

He's right, sir, we're cut off here.

Cut off from love.

Cut in two.

I miss her a lot, sir.

- You think she's waiting for you?

- Sure!

Got a little chick somewhere, sir?

Little chick?

Or a big one!

A girlfriend, a wife, whatever.

And you, ma'am? Have you got anyone?

You'd like to know, right?

We all would.

We live together, you have to share.

You know all about us.

We know your name's Sophie,

that's all.

Don't you want to share anything?

Promise we won't be jealous!

No one wants you, not even an animal.

Hey, I can have whoever I like,

whenever I like.

How will you manage in life, bro?

I think about someone every day.

How do you cope?

I'm just fine.

- You're all alone.

- Yanis!

- I'm not alone!

- You are, bro.

Hey, Csar, calm down!

You're a loser.

I'm talking about love.

It's serious.

Love?! You mean a cage!

You're trapped like a dog!

Yanis, leave the table.

Excuse me?

At least I know what I eat.

I don't eat fat like you.

I eat things that are good for me.

Joe, stay at the table.

Tiago, clear up.

Only failures Even my heart bleeds

I'm a man, these tears I need to dry

No idea where they are

Living only on salt

Let me taste the girl

Who gags men and their hate

I don't really know love

At the back of the class I'm gloomy

Behind my mask I hide in the crowd

Call me mad, I don't care

I know you feel my pain

Whatever I sow

I hope it grows

Grows!

Hey, boys!

Show a bit of respect for his effort.

That was good, Yanis. Really.

Being in love is beautiful.

- I'm just kidding.

- Hey!

Sorry... sorry.

Csar!

- It was good.

- No, I'm not having this.

But "I hope it grows"...

Calm down.

Very good.

But you have to stand by your words.

Don't be afraid

of saying what you think and feel.

Your emotions are beautiful.

Speak proudly.

Tom!

I don't know.

Maybe next time

you could write a line.

I want to hear you too, OK?

So who's next?

Joe?

Every day I wake up

with the same question

No answer to the same question

What am I doing here?

What am I doing here?

My head is starting to flip bigtime

It just comes out, I scream

What am I doing here?

What am I doing here?

What's normal? Normal is what?

At home, Ma tells me she's tired,

working all day

That's what she says

Don't address her or she'll flip

"Shitty kid, just like his dad"

She don't have time for my feelings

A dog's life, b*tch's life

My Ma's is sad

What's normal anyway? The cage

Just walking makes you a suspect

ID check every 300 feet

Remember me? My papers?

Yeah, an Arab, born here

Don't know who I am, where I'm going

But I'm mad

You inspect me, suspect me,

I want you to respect me

You test me, detest me, so I contest

It's growing in my chest

like a big balloon

Getting bigger, bigger, bigger

One day it will explode

Don't look surprised

Freaks you out too

Think I'd get f*cked over?

I remember it all

Scum! Arab! Parasite! Savage!

Scum! Arab! Parasite! Savage!

Flames outside

But I'm burning inside, feeling alive

And it feels good, man!

A car, another

Then a third, a fourth

Can't even count anymore

Yeah, it feels good, man!

Back home, Ma looks at me

Her eyes all red

She doesn't say a word

I'm exploded

I walk past her, straight to bed

We never talked much anyway

We're not about to start

I escaped the cage

Escaped the protocol

Out of the fire, the fire, I swear

Nothing to lose

Because I never had a thing

I don't want much

Just to not feel left out

Just fire... a word... a glance...

That was wild!

Gunned it!

Are we all hot in here or what?

Really powerful.

See, guys, that's political rap.

Where will you go afterwards?

Back to my parents I guess.

They don't visit anymore.

We never call each other.

They weren't even at my hearing.

How about you?

Where will you go?

I don't know.

If you could choose,

where would you go?

The Far North.

Why?

For the sunshine.

Up there it never goes down

for six months a year.

Constant light.

Even at night.

And the other six months?

You make a fire.

Stay indoors, enjoy it.

You learn to see in the dark.

One...

One-two...

One-one-two...

One...

One-one-two...

One-two-three.

Come on, lads, more intense!

"Accepting a youth freshly released

from a juvenile detention center

"is not a decision

to be taken lightly.

"At a meeting on Wednesday,

teaching staff recommended against

"taking Fahd into

our residential school.

"With our limited staff,

"the need to keep an eye

on one demanding pupil

"would undermine the supervision

of all the others.

"While the situation may change,

"past experience shows that

we do not have the human resources

"to supervise

youths leaving detention.

"We fear we will be unable to offer

appropriate guidance.

"After careful consideration,

"I must regretfully inform you

of our decision

"so that another solution

may be found for Fahd."

I knew it.

The educators warned me.

They said not to tell them

I was from here.

I'm no good at lying, bro.

They asked me straight out,

so I told them.

You've got two months.

You'll find something.

I did everything right.

f*ck.

Come on, bro, don't cry.

Some other place will take you,

it'll be fine.

Why wouldn't they? A hunk like you!

Don't worry.

Beautiful.

Fahd!

Pass!

There!

Yanis!

Pass!

Tom!

What we did looks great.

It's true. Even him!

No, it's a bit messed up.

It's your feminine features.

But Uncle Jawad is cute!

We look different.

You're blue-eyed, I'm pure Moroccan.

You haven't got

my Oriental good looks.

The style is kind of Egyptian guy,

Egyptian girl.

You're fresh. A fresh chick.

Bullshit.

You know who you look like?

Uncle Jawad.

See who I mean? Uncle Jawad!

Kind of Aunt Jamila.

Lengthen your stride, go!

To the right!

We're all here, open the gate!

Open.

Why doesn't he open?

The gate!

Never mind.

Never mind!

Hey, missy! Careful where you step.

- Don't I deserve a kiss?

- Hey!

Calm down.

Without me you'd be going...

A transit apartment

is a stop-off point.

You'll stay there for a few months.

You can try out independent living

and look for somewhere else

to move into long-term.

Your very own place.

Don't worry, we'll help you find

a place at the end of your stay.

That's our job.

Any questions?

No.

Welcome to your own home.

How's it going, Yanis?

This one. I really like it.

The Dragon of the North.

The gods were afraid of its power

and tossed it into the sea.

So people would forget it.

But the serpent grew in the sea.

Its body kept growing bigger,

growing stronger.

It grew so big that it wrapped itself

around the world to protect us.

Nothing could cross it.

The Vikings called it

the Royal Enclosure.

Paradise.

Can you hear me?

Yes.

I'll leave you to it,

I'm here if you need me.

This is a good one, right?

Coconut curry.

It's easy. And inexpensive.

See if you like any recipes,

we'll photocopy them.

Definitely.

Have you put up a list

of stuff you need?

Not yet, no.

What are you waiting for, Joe?

The educators need to see

what you need help with.

Is the bed all right?

You said you could fix yourself up

with a fridge?

You've got furniture

and kitchen utensils?

What are you missing?

The bum is out in two days

and he isn't ready.

Fahd!

He'll never get out.

He's nearly 18. Still a bum though.

Fahd, what did I say?

You messed up the cutting. Stop it!

- You told me to do it.

- Put it down and hand me a board.

No, it's you.

Hey...

William?

William...

William.

William.

Get off him.

Hey, what's wrong?

Wait...

Stop it!

What's wrong?

You know what divestiture is?

It's when a juvenile judge declines

jurisdiction of a minor aged 16 plus

believing the court has exhausted

every possible avenue.

The case is sent to the court

of common law.

That's how a minor land in jail.

It happens.

Often.

Think about it.

Csar, I gave you a list of courses

a month ago. How's it going?

I don't know.

You don't know?

Are you going to study for your exam

or fail it again?

Tom.

That's good.

But you need to be more involved, OK?

I didn't hear you, Tom.

Yes, sir.

Good.

William.

You'll have to calm down

if you want to stay here.

Where do you think that attitude

will get you outside?

Constantly rebelling

against everything is time-consuming,

believe me.

Will it be a lifelong thing?

Think about it.

Yanis, you've lost visiting rights.

I hope that makes you think.

Fahd.

Fahd.

Positive but the same as for Yanis.

Visits have to be earned,

so be careful.

Joe, you know full well

you're walking a tightrope.

If you don't straighten out,

you're heading for a fall.

It's up to you.

Go on.

Which one are you going for?

No, hit it here.

I didn't tell you

because I was scared.

When are you leaving?

Tomorrow.

Is that sport?

Soccer, now that's sport, right?

When you're out...

do you want to come and live with me?

Yes.

You've done well, Joe.

You've been at the center

for six months

and learned the necessary skills.

Vandalism, rebellion, offending...

You've acknowledged it

and weighed up the consequences,

not only for yourself

but for your victims.

You want to live independently.

The project is underway,

your education is back on track.

But there's still one thing.

Learning to protect yourself.

Whenever you run away,

steal a scooter,

drive without a license,

you expose yourself to danger.

But that's what becoming an adult,

becoming a man, is all about.

Being able to protect yourself.

Right now you're not ready.

I'm prolonging your placement

for a further three months

so you can complete this work.

When we met here three months ago,

what did we talk about?

Do you remember?

What was it we talked about?

Freedom?

Exactly.

What did we say about freedom?

What did we say it was, Joe?

A paradox.

Why?

Because freedom is also about rules.

Taking on board those rules,

understanding them.

I asked you to promise me one thing.

What was it?

What was it, Joe?

Never to run away again.

Sir, what happened?

Back to your rooms!

- We'll talk about it tomorrow, OK?

- What is he doing here?

Do you hear me, boys?

We'll talk about it tomorrow!

Why was he extended?

Go back to your room, Fahd.

Just tell us why he's been extended.

He's been here six months.

I know, Fahd.

What do you know?

Dial it down!

You tell us to find a project,

a home, a club, a school.

But what's the point?

We belong to you, right?

Screwing up has consequences.

We're never going to make it out.

Just calm down.

Answer me. Will we or won't we?

You'll make it out.

Why is he still here?

I don't decide.

Can't you say anything?

You're useless!

You just take notes

on what we eat and drink,

how we sleep and act!

You even watch us sleeping!

- Fahd.

- I don't sleep now.

I'm tired.

Don't touch me!

Calm down, Fahd.

Get your hands off me!

I'm ready to snap.

Don't tell me to calm down!

- I'm dying here!

- Calm down.

Let go of him!

You come there.

- Let go of him!

- Calm down! Stop!

Now back off!

All of you!

Yanis, go to your room.

Tom.

To your room.

What happened?

I got another three months.

That's not so long.

Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom...

Guys! Put him down, please.

What the hell are you doing?

Stop it!

Joe, let go of him. Joe...

Let go of him. Joe!

Let go of him.

Joe, come on.

Calm down, take deep breaths.

Calm down. Look at me.

Feeling better?

You'll be OK.

This isn't the place for that.

Outside, sure.

But not here.

You need to be patient.

You want to walk a little?

Yeah.

Come on.

He doesn't remember much

from when he was a kid.

But he remembers

walking by the lake with his mother.

When the lake was frozen solid,

she'd take him out to the middle

to see the fish trapped in the ice,

lined up next to one another.

Like a family.

When he was a kid,

he thought fish hibernated.

Like bears.

He thought they spent winter there,

then woke up in the spring.

He thought they came back to life

and breathed again.

Like before.

Like before winter.

But now he knows.

A fish caught in the ice

doesn't come alive again.

It dies.

Come on, guys!

Out! Out!

Come on, let's go!

Stand back.

Come on!

Stand back.

Stand back. Come on, Joe.

Csar, you too.

Back off!

William!

William!

William!

Stop!

Police!

Joe?

Don't let them get away!

Joe!

It's over now!

Freeze!

Got him?

Hold him.

Take the top bunk.

Go on.

PARADISE