Fish & Cat (Mahi va gorbeh) (ماهی و گربه)

Based on a true story.

In 1998 a restaurant in northern Iran is shut down because of health issues

a familiar occurrence in those years.

A bit later, three cooks from that restaurant were sent to prison for cooking non-livestock meat.

This even made the headlines for a while, with articles being written about the use of human meat.

It was said after several people disappeared, the police began to suspect the workers of this restaurant.

FISH AND CAT

Don't forget to ask for directions; Balaasar.

It wasn't Balaasar; Give me that.

Ask if they have any fish.

Hi, I wanted to ask for directions... what's that smell? Phew!

It's the smell of rancid meat from the restaurant.

It's disgusting!

How did you get here?

We got lost! We need to get to this address.

How did you pass the gate?

The gate? Which gate?

What road did you take?

I told you, we made a wrong turn and got lost.

Do you have an ID?

What?

Show me your ID.

Why?

How many of you in the car?

Four.

What time did you pass the gate?

Sir, we didn't pass a gate.

Show me your ID.

Keep them awhile. Let's see they're up to.

Was the gate down or did you guys pull it down?

We didn't tear down a gate we just made a wrong turn, that's all!

Where are you coming from?

Tehran.

Stop mentioning Tehran!

OK

Where are you headed?

This address here

It's clean!

Do you want me to hold this for you?

How many did you say you are?

Four.

Bring me their IDs too.

Sir you're making a mistake. We didn't break anything, we just came here to ask you for this address.

That's all!

I need to check the trunk too.

But we just... who are you anyway?

Babak,

Let them go, there's too many of them. It's risky.

Do you have a place to stay out there?

Yes! I mean no! We're going to rent a villa.

All four of you together?

What are you going to do for food?

Hmm, we'll go to a restaurant.

This is a restaurant.

Here?

Yes.

Sure! We'll come here!

This road is closed.

You have to go back to where you missed a turn.

Make a right and carry on for 20 kilometers. You'll see a sign saying “Chaman gol“.

Continue on the winding road and you'll get there.

We'll be waiting for you.

Sure! Thanks!

Make a turn, the road is closed.

Are you ready?

Start the car; I'm coming.

We're out of gas.

By the way, Mahmoud called last night. He wanted to speak with Hamid.

What's that?

What's that?

It's classical music!

Hamid gave it to me.

His nephew recorded it for him

Hamid said he wanted some music for the restaurant, and this is what he recorded for him.

Do you want to listen?

Did you know Hamid's nephew is dead?

Dead?

Turn it down! Turn it down!

It's nice. Was that his only nephew?

Yes, he's dead.

So who gave this to him then?

They speak to each other. They are somehow in touch.

Talking to the dead is one thing, but the dead recording music for you is something else!

Well, if they talk then perhaps he gives him music too!

You don't think it strange that he talks to the dead?

Ah! Babak!

So that's why there is a constant noise in the background of this music!

You're imagining things again!

No! No! It feels like someone is constantly whispering something.

Listen!

What?

Don't you hear it?

No.

Pay attention!

Did you hear it?

No.

You're not listening carefully! Listen!

You're imagining things again.

And you're standing too close.

I was saying; Mahmoud called last night. He wanted to speak with Hamid.

He told me an interesting story.

Do you want to hear it?

Who is Mahmoud?

Amir's friend. You met him last year.

Oh, that tall guy.

So, what did he say?

He said Hamid's been shot four times so far and is still alive.

During the war?

I don't know, he said there are eight bullets in his body!

That's a lot!

Not only that, it's dangerous too!

Eight bullets, shot four times, is that two bullets each time?

If you average it out I guess.

Six are from one incident.

So that's why he never gets on a plane.

Did you want to get on a plane?

Yes.

I tried so hard to get him on a plane once.

He said he couldn't trust the city's metallic connections from up there!

Apparently he once saw a play where the actress repeated these words, and you know how he likes convoluted words.

So they stuck with him!

He said he nearly got captured once during the war but escaped.

Then he fell unconscious.

When he wakes up lying in the yard of a house in a village,

He sees his future wife looking at him!

They get married,

and then the twins are born

He's told me this story at least ten times!

We should do something about these traps.

Someone keeps putting sticks in them.

It's Asaadi the guard.

Do you have any water with you?

No.

So what's in that?

Does this look like there's water in it?

You could have brought a bit of water with you.

Be patient, we'll get there soon.

I can't hear you. What?

I didn't get that. Hold on, let me move a bit.

Don't worry, we're fine

I'll try to convince him to return.

We'll see.

But what can I say to him?

Do you want me to tell him about the swimming pool.

The costume-party?

OK

OK honey, bye!

Dad... Mom..

These are the most significant names in my life.

Always following me like a shadow.

My dad always calls me.

Kambiz!

My dad always calls me: Kambiz..Kambiz.

I can never get further than a hundred steps from him.

That's our maximum distance.

Kambiz!

When he was a student he fell in love with a girl called Mahnaz, but he never dared tell her.

Now every woman except mother reminds him of Mahnaz.

Where were you?

Look what I found! It's a woman's purse. I found it over there.

Take a look at this picture.

Don't you think this girl looks like Mahnaz?

Who's Mahnaz?

Mahnaz! My friend from the university.

How would I know your university friend dad?

My dad has repeated Mahnaz's story so often that we all know it by heart.

But he prefers us to pretend that we don't know who Mahnaz is.

This is an old game.

I should go now.

If you want to make a phone call, go by that tree, you'll get a good connection there.

Dad, I won't be gone forever!

OK!

I was wondering if we could have a word before you left.

About what?

Do you have any problems?

Problems?

No!

This is how all our arguments start, which always ends badly.

I shout a bit, dad gives up, and I leave.

He may retell some stories about Mahnaz too.

I like them, but I don't care if I go with them.

But you'll care once your mother finds out that you haven't gone with them.

She said she will confiscate your mobile phone if she finds out you're not with them.

But I won't stay without a phone.

Kambiz,

Your mother is sensitive about your university.

I know.

My dad thinks he once saved Mahnaz's life, when he was ten years old.

He thinks they were neighbors then.

He says she was about to be hit by a car and he saved her by moving quickly.

He thinks she should have known then that he was in love with her.

But I doubt this is a true story.

Sometimes he says the car was a Fiat, other times he says it was a Nissan.

Besides, when my clad was a student there were no Nissans around.

Do you remember I once told you I went to a costume-party when I was ten?

When I was 10?

Yes.

I remember something.

Of course you do!

I told you Mahnaz was seven, she fell as she got out of the car and was nearly run-over