If You Want to be Understood…Listen|Sep. 08, 2006|United States | Mexico | France | Morocco | Japan|143 Min.|R
Genre: Drama
Description: **Babel 2006 Movie Synopsis in English**
In the Moroccan desert, Abdullah, a goatherder, purchases a .270 Winchester M70 rifle and ammunition from his neighbor Hassan Ibrahim to protect his goats from jackals. He entrusts the rifle to his two young sons, Yussef and Ahmed, who take it with them while tending to the herd. Ahmed criticizes Yussef for spying on their sister as she changes clothes. Curious about the rifle’s range, the boys test it by shooting at rocks, a moving car on a distant highway, and eventually at a bus carrying Western tourists. Yussef’s shot hits the bus, critically injuring Susan Jones (Cate Blanchett), an American woman traveling with her husband Richard (Brad Pitt) on vacation. Realizing their mistake, the boys flee and hide the rifle in the hills.
News reports suggest the U.S. government views the incident as a terrorist attack and pressures Morocco to find those responsible. Upon hearing about the shooting, Abdullah confronts his sons and forces them to reveal the truth. In a desperate attempt to escape, the family is pursued by the police, leading to a confrontation on a rocky hillside. Ahmed is shot in the leg, and Yussef returns fire, injuring a police officer. When Ahmed is critically hit in the back, Yussef surrenders, admitting guilt and pleading for medical help. The police are stunned to discover they were firing at children.
Meanwhile, Richard and Susan, the American couple from San Diego, are left in a dire situation after Susan is shot. Richard insists the bus driver take them to the nearest village, Tazarine, while other tourists grow anxious and eventually demand to leave, fearing further attacks.
The film weaves together these interconnected events, exploring themes of misunderstanding, fear, and the consequences of rash actions.
Cast director: Alejandro González Iñárritu
Cast actor: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Gael García Bernal, Adriana Barraza, Rinko Kikuchi, Koji Yakusho, Satoshi Nikaido, Harriet Walter, Michael Maloney, Dermot Crowley
Original name: Babel