Destiny (1997)

[bunniefuu]

Languedoc - 12th century

Joseph, my son!
Take your mother and go!

"By order of the Holy Church
of Languedoc,

the Tribunal of the lnquistion

sentences the heretic
Gerard Breuil

to be burnt at the stake,
along with all his writings,

for straying from the way
of Our Lord

and translating the work
of the heretic Averroes"

D E S T l N Y

Joseph...

your mother is dead

Calm down

Go.. l'll take care
of everything

Andalusia - 12th century

Long live Caliph Mansur!

Long live Caliph Mansur!

Long live the victor
of Alarcos!

You praise him,
like these infidels?

l have orders:
flatter him until he bursts

Join in!

l'll give you 5 dinars

Are you joking?
This book comes from Baghdad!

The Caliph would pay

l'll buy it

lf l don't buy it for the Caliph'
library, he'll slay me

l need it for my studies.
l can barely

afford it

For your studies?

Then take it. lt's yours

l'll let you have it
for 7 dinars

All l have is five

You've earned it, wretch

Where can l find Averroes,
the High Judge?

He's my teacher.
l'll take you to him

Wasting such blue eyes
on a boy..

how unfair!

Eat! You're all skin
and bones!

There's enough for an army!

She complains that l'm stingy

but she feeds the whole
neighborhood

lf it weren't for me,
you'd all look like him!

Our eyes would turn blue?

Don't take another bite.
Manuela will put a curse

on anyone who doesn't taste
her biscuits

She's challenging me again?
Go get my date bread

Just one bite and she'll
turn green with envy

- Take it to her
- l'm no delivery boy!

l'm the son of the Caliph!

As modest as his father

Tell on me then, Uncle!

lf l were your father,
l'd disown you!

l'm going dancing!

Unbelievable! The Caliph's son
wants to be a dancer!

We call this culture?

At his age, l could dance
for three days straight!

Come to the inn, Blue Eyes, or
they'll stuff you till you burst

l should stay

l'm warning you..

they go to bed
when the sun sets

Abdallah, you forgot these

l'll lock you in a dungeon
filled with books!

Finally...

ls Your Highness sick?

Do l have to be sick
to see you?

Let's play

- At this hour?
- l can't sleep

l've been back from the w*r
for four days

Where were you?

What's wrong?

lt's my sons,
Nasser and Abdallah

They're failures

You're finally thinking
about them!

They're vulnerable

What do you expect of them?

What do you want them to be:
thinking men or lackeys?

l've run circles around
the Spaniards

- We're talking about your sons
- You're obsessed!

You're the one who's worried!

All that interests Nasser
is horses and girls

And Abdallah is beyond
all hope

lf l lock him in his room,
he escapes

l threaten him..

l even beat him,
but it's hopeless

He slips away

Give him real responsibilities

You treat him
like a mere servant

All he's good for..

is gypsy dancing

lf you saw how he danced..

Dancing!

My son, a dancer!

And what if he's happy dancing?

When my daughter disagrees
with me,

she just blurts out:
"You're wrong!"

lnstead of being
our children's enemies,

let's try to persuade them

Childish soul-searching
pales in comparison

with the reality of Conquest!

Checkmate

All the better!

You see? l'm unbeatable!

Goodnight

Stay and learn to play

lf l don't get to bed,
l'll collapse

- You're like Abdallah!
- We both love life!

Don't ... l'm scared

No. We want each other

lt's simple

Get dressed.
Help me to stay chaste

That's ridiculous

l'm hiding our relationship
from Manuela

Lying to my own sister!

Did you tell anyone?

l want to tell the whole world!

Abdallah loves Sarah.
He's wild about her

Too bad she doesn't ..

No, l love you too

Terribly

Mere words

lf Manuela finds out,
she'll k*ll me

- She trusts me
- And you're betraying her

lt's not my fault.
lt's the Devil

He's a naughty boy..
a dirty little rascal

Every time we meet, l feel

it's going to be the last

The son of the Caliph
and a poor gypsy girl..

You may think l'm strange

but that's just the way l am

Soad!

At your service

They're staring at Abdallah

When you're a Caliph's son,
people stare

You're worried sick,
as if he were your own son

l'd take a son like him
any day, faults and all!

He's sulking

He won't speak to anyone

Get him to dance.
He's dying to...

The son of the Caliph?

You're all out of your minds!

He's had too much to drink

Quiet, please!

l have a poem

Loving you is a slow death.
My heart grieves

And when my torment
becomes unbearable,

l invoke my woeful heart
and shout:

"Why pine away for someone
who ignores you?

"Why care for so uncaring
a creature?

"You, prisoner of pride
and vanity"

Such depth in so few words

lt's by Abu Nawas

lt's amazing!

You're so young

and already a genius!

Stay with us a while

Share your learning with us

What does "prisoner of pride"
mean?

lt's sort of what happens
when your heart is sort of...

lt comes from deep inside.
Sort of

l'm overwhelmed

l'll never attain
your level of insight

Only a true thinker

can appreciate such verse

You're a born poet

Every word you say is like...

A pearl!

A string of pearls!

A Caliph's son mixing with
commoners!

You're modesty itself!
People like you are rare

God keep you for your people

lf only you could spend
all night with us..

The night is still young

We can wait

#Hear me, lovers of life

#Hearts are ablaze

#in the bonfire of love

#lf the moon hid itself,

#a thousand other moons

#would light up the night

#They'd open the way

#for a thousand paths
to the impossible

#Even if you're late,
rosy sunrise,

#source of life,
we know you'll come back

#You'll dazzle our eyes and
brighten our souls,

#and you'll make us
masters of our destiny

#We'll dance as we please

#And our dreams will dance
deep in our hearts

#Jezebel!

#We defy life with song

#We defy life with song

#Our hearts keep the beat

#Our voices sing the tune

#Our feet

#stomp to the rhythm

#Make haste

#The road we must travel
is long

#and we have no other

#Every step we take
is a burning torch

#guiding us on our way

#We will not go astray

#Dawn comes, lighting our way

#to a shimmering day

#Dawn comes, lighting our way

#to a shimmering day

#And if attacked,

#our dreams fight back

#Resist! Fight!

#And vanquish!

#We must remain
masters of our destiny

- Let's go
- Not without him

The Caliph's son?

l have orders

They said: "Don't come back
without him"

- He'll slip away
- You think so?

Here he comes

Poet!

- Will you join us?
- Why not?

You won't be disappointed

Say you're sorry! Say it!

How can l?
You're gagging me!

Hearts are ablaze

Let's go pray

so God will forgive us
for last night's excesses

What excesses?

Dancing? l love dancing

Of course. Dancing is wonderful

You sway your head

invoking the name of the Lord

Your soul follows the rhythm

#O God, you command us and
condemn us to silence

#Let us be content with
whatever you bestow on us

#He who joins us

#will attain bliss and
obtain redemption

#He who spurns us

#will be forever damned

#Obeying our Emir

#is our supreme desire

#Obeying our Emir

#is our supreme desire

Bless us!

Emir, bless us!

ls anything wrong?

No, l'm fine

A lazy fool learns two verses
of the Koran and passes himself off

as a purveyor of divine truth.
ls this man pious?

A true understanding of
these texts

requires years of reflection,
research and labor

lf we believe these
self-proclaimed geniuses,

we disregard this Koranic verse:

"ln the name of Allah
the Merciful

"The ignorant man, whose vain words
lead astray from the way of God

"and take it in mockery will be met
by a humbling chastisement

"True is the word of
Almighty God"

No one can claim to know
the whole truth

Not even Caliph Mansur?

The lmam Malek said,
pointing to the Prophet's tomb:

"Every man can be questioned
except for him who lies here"

The lmam El-Chafei said:

"A true opinion can seem false

and a false opinion, true"

Averroes outsmarted him

Borhan is inept

Be patient

Borhan is craftier than you think.
You'll see

The Koran is clear. Are you
inciting us to doubt it?

The Prophet said:

"lf your quest leads to truth,
you will have two parts

"lf it leads to error, one part.
All quests are rewarded"

"Lord, increase me in knowledge"

Knowledge? What about faith?

Are you contesting God?

He outsmarted him again!

Averroes said: "Revelation can be
interpreted only by study"

We should have answered:

"The Text allows no interpretation"

lf you're so clever,
answer him yourself

and get your own flock
of admirers

We have to silence Averroes

We must coerce the Caliph
into forbidding him to teach

There's no use bickering

We'll take the necessary
measures

"Be patient as the Messengers
possessed of constancy"

They leave the mosque
one by one,

pretending your lesson
bores them

lt's surely a ruse plotted by
an invidious mind

l should "plot" a little song
for them

Careful. Your song could
cost you your life

What happened?

Not now

Everyone, out!

A pretty girl like you
taking care of the laundry

And not of you?

l'm ready and willing
to help you discover

the pleasures of this world

The nerve of you!

Son of a Caliph or not,
if you keep at it, l'll slap you!

l'll throw you in jail
and tickle you to death

Brute!

He'll be on his feet
in a week or so

For the time being,
he needs to rest

Good going, Nasser

Removing the knife
would have k*lled him

Did you see who attacked him?

He was about twenty.. with
a crazed look in his eyes

- Why didn't you catch him?
- And leave Marwan?

Smart thinking!

My horse kicked one of them
in the face

l'd recognize the hoof-print

Do something or every
philosopher will perish

Marwan, a philosopher?

His songs belittle my father

lt's your father's fault.
He's giving the fanatics free rein

lf l were in charge,
l'd show you!

l can just see you
on the throne

Over there.
Get off my "throne"

Marwan!

Shut the gates

l'm looking after my husband
now! Understand?

The security of the Almohad dynasty
has never been so threatened

Where have you been,
High Judge Averroes?

And you, governor of Cordoba?
And you, the crown prince?

The country is foundering

After all we've done,
who would dare protest?

People are exploiting religion

and you're letting them

They're the only ones we hear
in the mosques

You'd be heard if you were
as eloquent as these

men of faith

Merchants of faith,
if you ask me

Whether they rant on
about Arab victories

or about religion, they're only
defending their interests

Stop philosophizing.
We're talking about one man

- lt's not...
- Nasser!

Find the assailant
and have him ex*cuted

lt's not a man, but a movement
gnawing away at your authority

No movement in the world
can shake my throne

These barbarians are
jeopardizing our culture

What are you waiting for?
Go execute my sentence

Have the assailant interrogated

He may tell us what's ailing
our country

The country isn't ailing.
lt's in fine shape

The danger is real

They're a menace to the whole realm,
not just Andalusia

They've indoctrinated..

thousands of young people

By magic?

l think the assailant was
manipulated by conspirators

Let the law decide

Show in the commander
of the cavalry

ln my opinion..

You have opinions now?

Opinions, positions..

Convictions, too.
A lot more than you think

Why not take my throne
from me?

Turn my people into a dance
troupe!

lf my ideas bore you,
l'll go elsewhere

Find a mosque and
speak your heart out!

Why not? l have a mouth

You do. lt's a brain
you don't have

God help you

- What?
- God bless you

High Judge!

Does he deserve to die?

The Caliph's moods
have replaced our laws

Go k*ll the boy.
Obey your father's orders!

His Highness demands blind
allegiance

- Maybe l should...
- You decide

lf l were you,
l'd think it over

Think hard

This is only the beginning!

My son!

My child!

Why arrest him?
Anyone could have done it!

Where are you taking him?

Did you attack Marwan
because of his poems?

- l've never read them
- Why then?

lf God lets me live,
l'll stab him again

He's the enemy of God

- You didn't dress your wound
- lt's a sin

Who told you Marwan is
an enemy of God?

Good Muslims don't sing

He's stark-raving mad

He repeats like a parrot
without understanding

How do they k*ll all feelings
in these boys

and turn them into criminals?

He has a brother who
escaped from the sect

He tried to k*ll him too

l'd like to meet the brother

l'll get him

No.. let's go to his house

They made my head spin with
flattery. l believed them

"You're so smart.. so unique..

"Every word you speak is a pearl.
Show us the way..

"Let's go spend a few days
in the desert

"lf we meditate together,
we'll be as one

"Nothing will ever tear us apart"

Then they began to wear us down

Praying until dawn,
marching through the desert..

endlessly..

in the burning sun

Not knowing where we were
going, or why..

Our feet burnt by the sand

"lt purifies the soul
and strengthens the will"

ln fact, it shattered our wills

We became sl*ves to the
Emir's will

l was instructed to tell people

that they had become impious,

that they had to regain
the path to Truth

Follow my advice and
you'll see the way

Just like our Emir,
who sees all,

past, present and future

One day, he saw me steal
from my mother

and stick my finger in her eye

He shouted: "You shall deliver
the world

from the enemies of God"

He guides my weapon

Every throat l cut

takes me one step closer
to Paradise

Yesterday

he had a vision:
l was dressed in white,

on my way to Paradise

Everything l'd ever longed for

was laid out before me

That can only mean

that l'm very close

to being delivered

How about me?

We chose you, didn't we?

l shouldn't tell you this

The Emir had a vision of you
ruling over Andalusia

with all of us at your feet

We are your true family

Flee those who are in the
clutches of the Devil

Open your heart and tell me
all about yourself

All right?

All right

What does your son do?

Nothing at all! Everyone says
he's a good-for-nothing!

He should find a job!

You find him one!
You know lots of people

You're an important man

What can he do?

He never liked studying.
He likes giving orders

Make a soldier out of him!

Someone told him:
"Learn a few verses

and you can order people
around"

Who wants to keep on being
a good-for-nothing?

Does m*rder make you
good for something?

- Answer me
- Stop harassing him!

Has he lost his tongue?

He's been silent for a month.
When he does talk, he says:

"l'll make you rich,
you and all the neighbors!"

Then he goes back to bed
and he sleeps. And sleeps!

Once thoroughly exhausted,

you're ready to obey any orders.
lf they say

"k*ll your father,"
you do it

And if you get caught,
they're the first to turn on you

What do you think, Sheik Riad?

Can someone regain his dignity
by stabbing a poet?

The only right way
is the way of the Lord

Had Marwan lost his way?

Marwan is old enough to know
right from wrong

"Evil is self-evident"

Can these three children
tell good from evil?

lt's up to the High Judge
to decide

God says: "He who smites
shall be smitten"

lf they are ex*cuted,
they'll say they're martyrs

on the way to Paradise

lt's better that they enjoy
their lives on earth!

"For this world,
act as if you were eternal,

for the next, as if you must
die tomorrow"

He's a child!

What does he know

about death and eternity?

Quiet! Listen to the judgement

Revelation is destined only to
those endowed with Reason

That is, mankind

Divine law combines
Revelation and Reason

lt consists in determining
causes and effects,

mean and ends

Revelation encompasses Reason
and Reason encompasses Revelation

Certain children confuse
religion and ignorance

Certain adults turn ignorance
into a religion

Our young defendants
were led into perdition

Without realizing it,
they were forced astray

ln its great equity,
lslam refuses

to condemn an unsound mind

The High Court abstains
from capital punishment

and sentences the accused
to five years in prison

"God shall not be questioned,
but they shall be questioned"

He deserved to die

ls our house so terrible?

There's plenty to eat and drink

We all help each other

But no. He wants everyone
to obey him and call him "Emir"

My son, the frog,
wants to be a prince

What's the joy in giving orders?

The judge won't change his mind,
will he?

l trust Averroes

From your mouth to God's ears!
Long live Averroes!

May God illuminate your way
with His heavenly light!

You're madmen talking about reason!

What more do you want?
The boys confessed

You flouted my authority
by sparing him

The country is going to the dogs!

Didn't l order him to be k*lled?

Listen to me, brother.
The boy is only eighteen

Fate saved Marwan
by averting his knife

Marwan has forgiven him

Marwan?

Since when is Marwan a judge?

How can l protect you?

They weren't responsible for
their acts

Sheik Riad says otherwise.
So does the Council of Theologians

l decide what's in the
country's interest

Not Sheik Riad. Not you. Me

You refuse all advice?

The Council agrees with me

They're very unhappy
with your verdict

The Sheik is scheming..

The same old hallucinations

Maybe

As long as l'm Judge,
my conscience will guide me

Even if l lose face?

Brother, your dignity is
not in question

You've always been merciful.
Think of the lives at stake

l won't go back on my word

This time, tragedy struck
the sons of your citizens

Next time, it may strike
your own sons

- l can protect them
- Lucky for them

But don't forget: Your citizens
are your sons too

- Where is Saad?
- The brother?

l found him a job

lf you can't hide him, l will

How beautiful!

Our city must be

the envy of the whole world

Why did that idiot Emir of yours
send Borhan to my house?

One more blunder and l'll cut off
his funding

Better yet.. his head

- l have a request
- l paid you

Three " suicides" .
l've had to shut some mouths

l have a favor to ask.
l can be of use to you

Speak

l want to become a judge again
and regain my lost honor

Averroes branded me a common thief

You were stupid

He caught you accepting bribes.
He's alert

l'm not after his position

l just want to be a judge again

You could take his place

You have a pretty face

Your beard is reason enough
for me to give you his job

By resigning,
you accuse my father

He's your best friend

You refuse him the benefit of
the doubt you give to criminals

How can your father ignore
what's going on?

Those boys were bound
hand and foot

and hanged in nooses
made of their clothes

lt's their custom!

When they're caught,
they commit suicide!

No, they were "suicided"
so they can't talk!

The sects are all over

Not in my courts!

That would be the death
of Andalusia

The Caliph is not above the law

He too is accountable
for his acts

Decadence is gnawing away
at kingdoms everywhere

Lies and corruption have replaced
justice and morality

There's more at stake
than a few dead boys

Our culture, whose source
is lslam, is threatened

My father is protecting it!

He built you a library!

He had you analyze Aristotle!

You wrote your commentaries
thanks to him!

And thanks to him, my mother
had me! Say it!

Here's my resignation

You're not through with me yet

l knew it. Averroes would never
abandon us

and leave Sheik Riad
to do as he pleases

He expected a death sentence
from you

lt was in his interest

And you outfoxed him

- Three boys were k*lled!
- Every cloud has a silver lining

What do you mean?

Forget my father.
Let's keep an eye on Sheik Riad

Get up

Get up and pray

There's the east

Get up!

Die, but die pure

Marwan asked you here
because he loves you

He's been waiting for you
all week

Why didn't you come?

My only duty is to avoid
the Demon

Who is the Demon? Me?
Marwan?

Or his assailant?

lf you were pure,
you'd know who attacked him

Thank God, there are serene people
who see clearly

What do these geniuses say?

The true culprit is in the palace

Your father? The Caliph doesn't
need mercenaries

Are you crazy? Your father!

"Darkness swallows up stray souls"

Your father?

" Abandon all Evil
and you shall be saved"

God keep you

Abdallah!

Manuela, you're the only person
l still love

Don't make me hate you

What's gotten into him?

He's running away from me

Because l'm pregnant

With Abdallah's child?

The Caliph's son? Woe betide us!

Sarah's carrying Abdallah's child

That explains his behavior

When his father learns a gypsy
will inherit the throne

he'll slit the baby's throat!

lf he came back, then he loves you.
That's all that counts

He's crazy. She'd best forget him

l'll never be able to forget him!

Neither will l.
We're the ones to blame

We brought them together.
lt's not Sarah's fault

Or Abdallah's

l'll raise the child myself.
No one will know a thing!

Are you moving, Joseph?

l'm looking for a safe hiding
place. You never know..

This is his life's work

The house of the High Judge
isn't safe enough?

You must have a special place
where you keep your valuables

You mean my jewels?
l've never had any!

Averroes is poor?

He spends everything
on his books and students

Come here.
Put them in the cellar

Put them behind the sacks
of flour

Take this

Aristotle!

Even without gallows

You're driving me crazy
with your gallows!

One more word about criminals
and executioners

and l'll send the lamb
next door!

- l'll let you starve!
- Let's talk about happiness

Come sit next to me

Come here, my love

What is happiness?

At daybreak, after l prepare
your tea,

l go back to bed and the rest
of the world can go to hell

lt's pure bliss

What else?

When Salma was born, she didn't
even cry. l thought l'd die!

Then she started gurgling.
l looked at her. She was so pretty

Gorgeous!

Salma, here we are!
l've brought Marwan!

lt's been ages!

Marwan's back!

l'm fine, thank God.
lt's good to see you all again!

You're back on your feet

Manuela is grateful
for all you've done

How is my queen doing?

Nasser, you behaved like
a true hero

Sing your song to your
heart's content

for we can still sing

And we'll keep on singing

day in, day out,
for the rest of our lives

No, come back!

Come on

What a catastrophe!

- Take shelter!
- All my books.. destroyed!

All your books are here.
None are missing

They're all here

"Commentary on Aristotle"

A little messy, but intact

My "Aristotle" ..
l can't believe it

You're the best!

How did you guess?

Son of a witch!

All this for a bean-pole
who saves some books!

l save his life and what do l get?
Nothing!

A book is worth a hundred lives

Maybe not for me..
but for Averroes

- This is getting serious
- Maybe Joseph forgot a lamp

No, this is Sheik Riad's doing

Before, he just wanted to
distract us

Now he'll use arson and m*rder
to silence us

How evil!

A pure man like you cannot imagine
that others can stood so low

You're pure too

Even l have a hard time
believing it

Sheik Riad craves power
for power's sake

lf my suspicions are founded,
he should hang six times

He's the richest man in the land.
What more could he want?

Power

He'd do anything for it.
He's driven by hunger

Does my father know?

l sincerely hope so

Sheik Riad is loyal.
Don't be ridiculous

He has always stood by my side

You gave him a lot of land
in return

Does he want all Andalusia?

l need him

People respect him.
Let me rule my country

And get rid of Averroes?

Sheik Riad, the man you accuse,

opposes the fatwa
that the Council demands

They want to burn
all of Averroes' books

This one above all

"The lncoherence of lncoherence"
l've read it

You understand their dismay

So that's why they set fire
to his library

They all seem to agree
with Ghazali

He's a great thinker
and Averroes says he's wrong

What if Averroes is right?

He's too sure of himself

He lacks modesty

He insists on calling me
"brother"

Where did he get that from?

Are we related now?

l had no idea. Your uncle
is his latest dupe

My uncle loves him

That may be our downfall

Do you realize
what a fatwa means?

The annihilation of all of
Averroes' works

As if he never existed

What are you making?

A basket

So Sheik Riad's protecting me?

From which fatwa?

The one he recommended
to the Council

- You knew about it?
- Of course

And you didn't tell us?

lt's a sword hanging over
our heads

- My father will intervene
- No, he won't

This is all so sad

The two of you were so close

Sheik Riad has spoiled that now

This is the logical consequence
of my acts

l have to accept it

This fatwa threatens
more than your books

Your life is in danger

We all have to die someday

l'd rather die in bed,
surrounded by weeping women

Lots of flowers
and a stately funeral

But what's the difference
if l die in a street?

That's suicide!

- What's wrong with him?
- Nothing!

He confronts hardships that
would topple a mountain!

Only l can understand him

Get back to your work

How many students has he had?

He's educated at least one son
in every family

He's taught a lot and given much

With one hundred students, we can
recopy his work in two weeks

Two copies of each book

Nasser.. are there rumors
in the palace?

- Let's make...
- Three copies of each!

Manuela, Sarah and l
will work day and night

Namuela? This is supposed
to be a secret!

Manuela outrivals
you and your ancestors!

She's educated!
She swears in 5 languages!

l'll take a copy to France

- lt's too dangerous!
- lt's to save my uncle's work

l was thinking that...

ls Blue Eyes predicting
the future again?

Forget France!
l'll take them to Marrakesh

Everyone's a relative there

Joseph wants to help
and you give him a hard time!

l'm starting now

l know his work by heart.
l'll dictate

l'll do these with Manuela
and Sarah

lf you so much as blink,
l'll hang you from the minaret

Understood?

Uncle, Averroes must know
nothing of our voyages

From me? My lips are sealed

#Wisdom guides the virtuous
theologian

#in his study of what we call
"syllogism"

#And divine law guides the
philosopher

#in his study of what we call
"reason"

#Reason is the study of divine law.
Philosophy is the study of wisdom

#Everything that has been
deduced

#from divine law is subject
to interpretation

#No devout Muslim can doubt this

#Reason is the sister
of divine law

#The supposed conflict between them

#is a malicious invention

Taste this

Why are you wearing all that?

Have you caught cold?

Aunt Zeinab, l want you to know...

you're like a mother to me

Not now

Taste this

Your blue eyes tell me
you're leaving

You're going home?

My heart tells me
you'll soon be back

l'll put aside
a jar of dates for you

l'll be back.. l promise

lt's safer if you travel
by night

lt's best if l mix with
the crowds

lf my father had done that,
he'd still be alive

You're like a brother

But.. l'm in love with
someone else

With Nasser

My country is full of ignorance
and misery, but l love it

l have to go pass on to them
what l've learned here

Come what may?

You really do love Averroes

l'm not the only one..

This is a letter for him

That's his most important book.
Have a safe trip

Tell your people

that what we Arabs respect
most is loyalty

And tell your people that
what we Christians respect most

is honesty

#The best moments of my life
were those l spent with you

#But what can be better

#than saving books that will
enlighten mankind?

#Your benevolence and kindness
have overwhelmed me

#After everything l've learned,

#l couldn't risk your
forbidding me to go

#This decision comes from deep
within me. lt is entirely mine

#lf you won't forgive me,

#at least be indulgent

#You said: "Wherever we are,
knowledge is a homeland

#and ignorance, a foreign place"

#l promise to return
to the land of humanism

#and of love

#Your son, Joseph

Manuela thinks that Abdallah
has joined a sect

They've been stalking him

They nabbed him at the inn

He kept going to the desert and
coming back covered with sand

He told me to mind my own business.
Now he's gone again

Does Marwan know?

Marwan was half-dead and
Abdallah told him to pray

He told me: "The real culprit
is in the palace"

l said:
"Your father? You're crazy"

And you kept quiet?

l thought he was avoiding Sarah

What for?
What a bunch of idiots!

Marwan, l need to see you

Did you know about Joseph?

Yes, l did

He can save your books
if he wants. We all can

Stay seated

What would a member of a sect
be learning

in his third week of training?

How to handle arms

Where would that happen?

Wait for the water to settle!

What are you doing?

The more water,
the more you see

lf he knew you were improving
his invention,

Alhazen would roll over
in his grave

l'm here to find Abdallah

That's all

lt won't be easy to get in there

lf you see him there,
come tell me

Get some rest.
We'll keep watch

Are you crazy?

Here?

lnstead of sitting around

let's make a baby

lf we were able to,
Abdallah would worry us less

So then, let's just make love

Say yes and l'll get
Abdallah back

lt'll help me concentrate

You filthy brute!

Worse than the gypsies!

You're obsessed

Hands off or l'll scratch out
your eyes

And l'll pull out your hair

Get it?

Now you try

Wait until you hear someone
shout "His Grace!"

Then get a good look

He only shows his face
once a year

Marwan, get up!

Abdallah's there! l saw him!

His Grace!

An angel..

There are a lot of them

Protect the Emir!

Have them move back!

Get back!

l want him on my horse

Can't you hear?
Get him on the horse!

Abdallah!

Tie his hands behind his back

Go join the others

You too

Stand up!

We're respecting our agreement
with Sheik Riad

We attack in two weeks.
We expect Cordoba to be ready

No fighting. No resistance

Everything is in place

Sheik Riad will seem
the perfect patriot

l trust him implicitly

Why would he risk losing what
he's strived for all these years?

The battle will allow us
to eliminate Mansur

- And his heirs?
- His sons?

One babbles with the philosophers,
the other eats out of our hands

And the philosophers?

By the time they're understood,
we'll be in power

- You're well-informed
- With all due modesty..

Smuggling books.. what decadence!

Where were you? The whole palace
is looking for you!

"The infidels and blasphemers
will burn in Hell"

Then to hell with all of us!

Why were you with those
fanatics?

You've made a mess of your life

- You have no right to question me
- But l am

Answer me!

You want to k*ll Marwan?

Why not k*ll me?

Or our father?

k*ll him

"They'll suffer shame in this world
and a mighty chastisement in the next"

Out of my house, you lout!

- Madwoman!
- Go away!

He's the crown prince!

Does that allow him
to hit his brother?

This is my house! l pay the tithe.
So get out!

Who is he?

Just the crown prince

Welcome to our humble home

He's not welcome at all!

Why not?

He's a brute who hits
his brother!

Your brother hits you
all the time

He's a brute too!

- Even your father. Look
- Mother, not now

Stay put or you're dead!

He'll stay here until he's
back in shape

You may be a son to me,
but none of your tricks

Be a good boy. l'll make you
some saffron rice

We'll celebrate. He'll sing
and dance like before

Averroes was right

Things are never as simple
as they seem

Your assailants were like him

He's a criminal too

He should be punished

He's your brother

Where was he hiding
all this hate?

Those lunatics unleashed it!

They're experts at instilling hate

Go ask Averroes

He knows their methods now

And he says to fight hate
with hate?

The Christians are pushing us
into the sea

You're busy playing
with the gypsies

while l'm here all by myself

building the greatest fleet
in history

- This time, it's serious
- No more than any other time!

Your lack of foresight makes you
an unworthy prince

and an unworthy human being

And you consider yourself
a worthy father?

l'll forgive you.
They're not your words

Averroes has managed
to turn you against me

They kidnapped Abdallah
and shattered his will

You told me he joined them
willingly

They'll make a man of him

- They'll make a criminal of him
- Keep him under guard

What else can l do for you?

Take us seriously

l don't eat the food
of sinners

You've become too skinny

- Your heart...
- My heart is my business

Stomp on it, if you want.
But be careful..

l'm in it

God alone is in my heart

But God is love

Our Emir eats only a date a day

But you said he was an angel

You and l are mortals.
Or have you become an angel?

Eat. You're skin and bones

"To withstand God's ordeals
is a virtue"

Your brother is right

They've hardened your heart

Bon appetit!

#Sing your song to your
heart's content

#for we can still sing

#And we'll keep on singing

#day in, day out,
for the rest of our lives

#And if ever one day

#they try to break you,

#stand up tall

#like the proud palm tree

#reaching up to the sky

#Don't let them beat you.
Don't let them break you

#Don't let them scare you

#Be like a dream,
blossoming in the desert

#Sing your song to your
heart's content,

#for we can still sing

Only dancing can bring him
back to us

#Your song, resounding amongst
mankind,

#will make the night's heart
beat with joy

#and heal the wounds
of the innocent

#Will you dance?

#l will too

#Despite myself, l'll dance too

#Despite myself.. despite myself..
l'll dance too

#Until your dream
is entwined with mine..

#despite myself, l'll dance too

Soon enough, you'll be dancing
in hell!

Maybe. But look at you

You've made your hell on earth!

Get off your horse

Kneel down and beg for mercy

Perfect

Marwan!

All infidels will meet
the same fate

We shall purge society
of the vile Mansur

The country will now live according
to the precepts of God, His Prophet,

and his successor

You're faced with the choice
of a lifetime

lf you want to,

take my horse, follow them

l wish it had been you
who delivered the mortal blow

To die by your hand

He's dead!

m*rder*r!

l'm to blame for Marwan's death

How presumptuous!

He alone decided to die

For him, saving you was a duty

- l'd never have thought...
- Thought?

You let others do the thinking
for you

lf you want a shoulder to cry on,
a word of warning:

l'm neither Marwan, nor your father

- Marwan wasn't my father
- He chose to be

That's far more noble
than giving life

He taught you to love life

And he paid the price

My real father never cared
about me

Every man has his limits

Your father can't give
what he hasn't got

You're no longer a child

You're responsible for
your choices

You're too old to whine:
"Mother hit me, Father neglected me

"and he preferred my brother

"l hate the whole world
so l'll accuse it of being impious"

That's too easy

Too easy to justify the laziness,
hatred and jealousy

you carry within yourself
by blaming it on others

Do you aspire to greatness?

You'll reach it by doing
something for others

What's impious is reveling
in your hatred

That's heresy!

- l want to spread God's word
- Whose do l spread? The Devil's ?

You?

Spreading God's word?

How presumptuous

You're so hollow, you repeat
whatever nonsense you're told

Learn a poem and a Koranic verse
and you're a poet and scholar?

What do you know about
medicine and astronomy,

about mathematics and chemistry,

about philosophy?

Do you know enough about love,

about truth,

about justice

to claim to be able to spread
God's word?

Answer me!

Why do l keep on writing?

My idea don't reach anyone
anymore!

Why should l wait for them
to burn my books?

l'll burn them myself!

lt's every man for himself!

Let them burn!

Keep out of it!

l'm not an animal!

Animals have more heart

than you and your sect!

Do you understand?

Zeinab!

l was worse with him
than they were

God forgive me

You kicked me out of your house

And l'll do it again

Do you want me to leave?

Nasser was Marwan's best friend.
He's come to console you

You were all so handsome

Three suns which merged
into one

Nasser

Joseph

and Marwan

l've come to thank you
for the joy you gave him

Thanks to you, not only Marwan,
but all of us

learned about the joy of life

Still here?

You're not with your "friends" ?

Marwan had to die?

- Nasser!
- How can you allow him here?

Marwan always looked after
Abdallah like a son

Can't we forget?
Can't we forgive?

Console him. He's lost his
father... Marwan

Sing your song to your
heart's content,

for we can still sing

Nasser!

Don't let yourself be blinded
by hate

Saving this one book
was worth all the risks

Read me something from it

l'm going back

You're resigning,
like a lowly employee?

Go, if you want to

No one is indispensable to me

l'll find ten others like you

lt's my father who appointed you

l inherited you from him

ln that case, l may go..

You may not!

You're a commoner now.
You're subject to my whims

Dismissed!

All this fuss over the death
of a c*ck

They claim responsibility
for Marwan's death

and menace their enemies
with the same

They undermine justice
and your authority

Riad rules the streets

Are you sure it's Sheik Riad
who rules the streets?

Or is it you?

Why not?

l'm not interested in power

But you're interested in glory.
ln immortality

Living on for posterity

Don't worry. Sheik Riad knows
his limits

Let's hope so

Show me a man who is not
a sl*ve to his pride

His place is in my heart

You hate me

l hate ignorance and vanity

- You think l'm vain?
- l think Sheik Riad is

No need to fear.
l'm more clever than he is

Sit down

Such is politics

Politics without morality
is doomed to failure

Don't you see? The political
situation decides for us

Our conscience should decide

lf l didn't owe you some respect,
l'd destroy you

Destroy me rather than both
yourself and the country

l won't write anymore

Then they've won.
They've broken you

and severed you from Mansur

Had l stayed with him, l'd have
ended up hating him or myself

lf you could hate him,
you wouldn't be grieving

A friend who is spurned seeks
revenge. He despises himself

for the love he once gave

lt's just me and you

l esteem neither your politics
nor your company

l'm not thrilled about
yours either

Go console your friend
in his fall

- Providence is on his side
- And not on mine?

l thought no one was
indispensable to you

Can we really expect...

Can we expect a man to be
a great strategist,

a great leader and a good,
loving father?

We ask nothing of your father

He is what he is.
We must make our own way

My way is...

to Egypt

Tomorrow at dawn

Now that's a decision!
You better stick to it

- You agree?
- l agree if the decision is yours,

if you put your father behind you,
if you forgive Abdallah

and if you say you love me
as l love you

You're in love with Joseph

The day he left, you stared into
his eyes from the roof

My mother likes his blue eyes too

l saw you kiss him!

He's the one who kissed me

When you leave, l'll go to the roof
and stare at you

Will you?

Swear to God that you'll
marry me

- Another decision!
- l'll tell your father

- He knows l love you
- You told him?

- My mother did
- She knows?

Everyone knows but you

Go. When you come back,
my trousseau will be ready

l'll go faster than my shadow

Father will refuse your trip
and our marriage

- l demand both
- Or nothing at all

We'll stand up to him

The two of us... together

What are you waiting for?

Someone's permission?
Joseph would have...

Let them burn my books!
Someone else can write them!

Great thinkers don't grow on trees!

Too bad. Such is my destiny
and that of the nation

l'm scared, but l'm letting
him go

You write books to incite
people,

to rouse them,
to make them think!

We have a right to take a stand
and share the risks!

She sounds just like her father!

Thank God she looks like
her mother!

Quiet! My husband is gorgeous!

l have to take responsibility
for my decisions

Exactly

Besides, l'm the Caliph's son

l'll make myself respected

No one will be able to stop me

He's already proved his worth

Salma and l are for

He and l are against

Are we?

How about me?

Salma and Nasser are for.
You and Abu Yehia are against

l've always played fair

l'm with them.
That makes three against two

lsn't that right?

You're always right, my love

Go... No one can deprive
the world of wisdom

God keep you

l'll do our children proud

As soon as we have some

Where are they?

Here and there. They're
approaching Guadalquivir

They're a stone's throw away.
Where did we go wrong?

After Alarcos, we wasted
our fighting forces

in futile battles.
Our army has suffered

Nothing l do is futile

Sire...

The enemy is here
and we jabber away

How about the enemies within?
They're undermining your power

Your friend Averroes warned you

lf you mention his name again,
l'll throw you in jail!

Go ahead. You're the Caliph

People bow,
even when you fart!

lt's Averroes who divided
the nation!

He just happens to resign
when the enemy attacks

He just happens to send my son
God knows where

And the enemy happens
to read his books!

Do they contain military
secrets?

ldeas belong to all of mankind

Our kingdom was born of an idea.
ldeas will live on

long after you and l fall
into oblivion

l'll win this battle.
lt's his ideas that will perish

ldeas have wings.
No one can stop their flight

l can!

l'll have all his books burnt!
l'll banish him!

lt'll be the end of Almohad
culture and all of Andalusia

l am Andalusia!

Not him!

Open the doors!

Show Sheik Riad in

Can you rally the people?

Of course

How long will it take?

A day... a moment...

They're waiting for you

Ever since our glorious Saladin
- God bless his soul -

set Jerusalem free, unifying
Arab people the world over,

Christians have sought revenge

Their one wish is to destroy
our empire

which has enlightened the world
for over six centuries

They want Andalusia to sink back
into misery and ignorance

They'll burn our homes, k*ll our
children. They want our blood

Can we let

the enemy take back the land

which our forefathers turned
into a paragon of civilization?

Can we?

God has given us a leader

even more glorious than
Saladin!

Our mentor is pure.
He is courageous

and inspired

Mansur the Victorious!

Commander of the believers
of Andalusia!

We are your soldiers,
Victorious One!

Glorious believers..

The world will soon know that
Paradise is for the pure of heart

What happened, Sheik Riad?

You left during my speech

lt is you who inspires
the people

You and you alone

Whatever you say arouses
their enthusiasm

They hung upon your every word

There's no use talking about
land and honor

Just tell them

it's God's will.
Every one of them will obey

You're a real saint.
And a clever one at that

For foundering in the ocean
of illusion

and obscuring the people's
judgement,

the Caliph forbids the following
people from teaching

in schools and mosques.
Furthermore, the Caliph orders

that their books be burnt
in public

and that they be banished

lt's Averroes!

Are you hurt?

Al-Razi, only you can be
entrusted with this

l don't always agree with
what Averroes says,

but under such circumstances

it is my duty to save
these books

My father has great respect
for Averroes, but...

He ordered these books burnt
and their author banished

lt will soon take effect

l learned of this yesterday

Sheik Riad has won

Run back to Averroes

lf he sees his books burn

without knowing they've
been saved,

he'd die

"Commentary on Aristotle
by Averroes of Andalusia"

"The lncoherence of lncoherence"

#Subjective, conflicting
interpretations of divine law

#which assert their veracity
above all others

#have torn the country apart

#We are all to be held responsible
for these rifts,

#for these schisms

Tell her she's wrong!

No, your mother is right

Everything stays but the bench

Take the cupboard while
you're at it!

Remember?

Life is so cruel with us

Leaving everything...

We've been through worse.
As long as we're together...

we'll pull through

Tell me

Do you remember this bench?

Of course l do.
l thought you'd forgotten

Our first night..

On the bench.. God forgive you!

Thank God, you're safe

Nasser's back

l want him docile

or l want him dead

Meeting like this is a true
blessing

lndeed

l'm going to betray one of
Sheik Riad's secrets

The Spaniards want peace

Who wouldn't ?

"lf they incline to peace,
incline to it"

They want us to reduce the army
and give out some gifts

to pacify the people
and make them amenable

Trade will thrive.
We all stand to profit from it

What does the Caliph
of Andalusia think?

My father is the Caliph
of Andalusia

Al-Mansur

He's given enough.
He deserves a long rest

l've been trained to k*ll you

From behind?

Go ahead..

Won't your hand obey?
Do it

l could have if they'd
reached my heart

But they only played
with my mind

Who's "they" ?

Those you wish to please
by burning his books

Justice is done!

Too late

l know your books are safe
in Egypt

Of course

Abdallah almost k*lled me

Sheik Riad has sided with
the Spaniards

l was offered your throne

They lost

l'm ready to fight now

So am l

Heaven has answered your prayers,
Sheik Riad. Enter

Not thwarting Averroes' plans

would have been disastrous

He can do us no more harm

Now that we are unified, we can
confront the enemy together

You and your sects will go
to the front line

As a shield

An example for those willing
to die in the name of lslam

Victory or death..
both lead to Paradise

- l'm not a warrior
- Come now!

Your eloquence alone
gets the masses marching!

Have you nothing to say,
Sheik Riad?

Who'll run the country?

No one. lt will run itself

- The philosophers can do no more harm
- l'm an old man

Don't underestimate yourself!
You're in fine health!

l know my dream will come true

l saw you leading the army,
charging with the troops,

dressed in white, a sword in hand

- l've never held a weapon
- Now's your chance!

The mettle of a warrior
is apparent only in battle

- Sword against sword
- Take mine

We know that the enemy
is gathering near Jaen

Get your men ready.
We attack at daybreak

We're attacking them at Jaen?

That's what our new "general"
will tell them

- We'll attack at Alarcos
- Perfect

Sire...

Averroes' books are safe

l took a copy of each to Egypt

Thank God

That was a wise thing to do.
Thank you

May l tell him?

We set off in an hour

l won't be long

Will you restore him
his honors?

l accused him of treason.
Shall l contradict myself now?

What made you fall into
your own trap?

Vanity

The books! They're safe!

Sarah, Manuela, his books
are safe in Egypt!

That's Aunt Zeinab!

Move away! We have to
congratulate him!

- l'll marry you when l come back
- No, now!

Wait

l'll be back

Just a moment

Thank you

Thank you

A thousand thanks..

ldeas have wings.
No one can stop their flight