CarryYouHome

【SpoilerAlert!ThePromiseHomeland】ThecamerafollowsClaireFoy.ShestridesthroughroomsofwhisperingArabianmenandwomen.Ifeel,forthefirsttime,beingsoclosetoher,probablybecauseweareaboutthesameage(notexactlythough...ErinshouldvebeensomefouryearsyoungerthanI,anywayClairecanverymuchlooklikemypeers),probablybecausethisisalsoasummerbreakforme(whichseemsverylikelytobeidledaway).Thistimesheembarksontheroad,orflight,moreprecisely,lesstraveledby.Heradventurous-yet-very-cruelsummerbreaktakesmeintothemid-Easterncountriesforthefirsttime.Asinnocentasherinthebeginning,Icouldsay,ifnottoomuch,intheendIdidlearnsomethingfromthisjourney,too.Iwanttoknowthetruth.AscuriousasDawninTHEWRECKERS,ErinstrovetofindoutthetruthlyingbehindthelinesofLen,hergrandfathersdiary.Seeminglyfeeble(shesaepilepticpatient)andfragile(shecriedandthoughtaboutflyingbackhomeafterthesuicidebombingattack,whichistotallywhatnormalpeoplewilldo),shewas,nevertheless,moreaLadyPersiethananAmyDorrit,inasensethatshewasveryveryreckless.Pushingherluck,shewenttoHebronaloneanddidloadsofhighlyriskstuffs,remindingpeopleoftheupstairsladywhodidlotsofthoughtlessdeeds.(Well,itisneedlesstosayErindidallforgoodreasons.)Shewasverypersistent,highly-determined,andhadincrediblystrongwill,whichmovedPaulandOmar,theinsanebrotherofherbestfriendElisaandhisdangerousPalestinianbro,whilstputElisaandherparentsinaveryawkwardsituation.Ifshethinksaboutcomingbacktodosomething,sheneedstowatchout.Butthistime,luckyforher,shemadeit.Shecarriedthekeyhome,and,tosomeextent,fulfilledhergrandpaspromise.Theparallelstructureofthetwostoriesismorethanthecreepycoincidenceofthesuicidebombingattacks.TheBritisharmy,whowastheretosettlethemdown,togetthemlivingpeacefullytogetheragainturnedtolootinnocentJewshousesonlytofindcleanaswhistle,likealwaysandtoblowupmartyrshouseafterbeingattackedinKingDavidHotel,whereasIsrealiarmydidthesamethingtoPalestiniansthisdayandage.WesawLen,whowasapro-JewatthebeginningwhohelpedJewsandlovedaJewishwoman,beingmarkedasNazi-Britishlater,andeventuallychosetostandontheArabianside,andpointthegunattheJews.Erinfoundherselffacingalmostthesametwistedsituation,assheshockinglyfoundhergrandpasdearArabianfriendhadafamilymemberwhowasoneofthesuicidebomberswhoblewacafeandnearlykilledherandPaul.ShestartedtheseriespartyingwiththeJewishyoungsters,andendedupbindingherlifewithanArabiangirl.IsupposeIfeelembarrassed,andshamed,likethewholethingwasafailure.wroteLenattheendofhisdiary.ItwasnotamereremarkofthebrokenpromisemadetoMohammed.Itwasalsoaconclusiondrawnintheswayingprisoncell.LenwasheartbrokenforfailingtobringHassanbacktohisfamilysafeandsound,andheevenfailedtoreturnthekeytoMohammedforHassan.HewasalsodisillusionedtofindthatthepromiseofapeacefulstateofconditionthatBritisharmymadetotheJewsandtheArabsturnedouttobebutshitleftbehind.Lenwasdisheartenedthatheleteveryonewhoevertrustedhimdown.Butthetruthwashewasnottheonlyonefailedtokeepapromise.Hisclosearmyfrienddesertedthearmylikehedid,butchosetofighttheArabs,onlytofinditwasonlyhiscomradehesaimingat.AndClara,theJewishwomanheloveddearlyandtrustedwholeheartedly,betrayedhim.ThedislocationfounditsplaceinErinsstory,too.ItwassadtoseeEliza,thegirlwhoonceaskedpeoplenottobearacist,andtoseetheotherpointofview,infusedErintheideathefamilyofterroristswereexactlythepeoplewhotriedtokillthemThebeautifulbighouseMohammadoncelivedwasflattenedinonesecond.Standingintherubbles,tryingdesperatelytograbsomethingforJawda,ErinsufferedanEpilepticfitandfainted,indicatingthefragilityofoneindividualseffort,andhoweverythingisstillverywrong.Beforehelplesslyfallingbackontheflooroftheambulance,Erindidherutmosttodosomething.Herstrongintentiontomakeachangedidnotstopafterbeingabigsisterguidingthegirlstudentsagainstthespitefulstone-throwers.ThethoughtofhelpingwassoheavyonhermindthatittooktheexpressionofthebodyofLenonhersinherdream.Shewantedtobethesaver,notonlyofthoseunarmedArabiangirls,butofheroldgrandpawhopasthisalmostentirelifemourningoverthebrokenpromise.Inoneway,shetriumphed.Inanother,shewasjustaBritishgirlcomingfromafarstandingforlornlyintheruinsofademolishedhouse,thelasthousebelongedtohergrandfathersfriend.SameaswhathappenedinHomeland,itwasthedeathofachildthatmadeachangeinpeoplesheart(orlessseverer,thepowerlessnessofachilddostirsomethingdeepdowntheheartofPaul).Asaspecimenoftheyoungergeneration,intheend,Erinwasnotsosurethatshecouldmakeanactualchange.ShewavedgoodbyetoPaul,seeingnopointofcomingback,andgaveaverywearylookafterhesaidTheresalottobedone.Youngasshewas,thesummerbreakplantedtherootofdoubtdownherheartandremindedcallouslyherofthefeelingofhelplessnessandpowerlessnessoverandover.WhileIseeonthescreenErinasapeerofmine,Iwonderwhatdidshesawbeforehereyesontheflightbackhome?TheArabiangirlwithableedingforehead?Theyoungwomansmilinginthephotoframewhowasinthemeantimeasuicidebomber?Thewretched,horrified,injuredIsrealiwomenshamblingoutoftheattackedcafe?TheIsrealigirlsswearingwhoretothePalestinianwoman?OrtheEliza,whosatbesideheronherwaytothatfarawayland,whodefinedtheenemiestoherontheroofofthehousewhichwasabouttobepulleddownbeforelong?Childrenchangeitall.Butjudgingfromtheconditionsoftheyoungpeopleinthetwocountries,aspeoplelikePaulandOmarwhoshakehandsareararity,thefuturestilllooksverygrim.Thekeywascarriedhome.Butwasthereanyhomeforit?Aworldwithoutmap,murmuringtheEnglishwomaninthewindsandsands.Inthewindsandsands,thereisaworld,withblockedwall,occupiedterritory,warzone,withamapoftearsandblood.