red flowers / red bodies / slow / red deserts / red fumes / wild red / poisoned / women / men / silky / red / poisonous / red hooves / red ears / quadrupeds / slumber / red / poisonous / bodies / all / clinging together / sleepwalking / red / numb / breathe in poison.
When the vapor arises and covers us in a fog, we are sent into ecstasy, we fall asleep and we become one. The vapor of the flowers seduces us, persuades us to itself and makes us high. The vapor is red as it relates to blood, as it contains a sign of life. As the blood in our veins donates life to us.
We get to be become one by the red vapor of the flowers; all of us come together. We return to the source of existence where all the life forms were united. So the bodies merge; woman becomes man and man becomes woman as we born the same in the very beginning from a single core; the land. Our bodies come together, I become a beast and the beast becomes me as we were one in the first moment, when we were rising from the soil.
We lie down on the soil, lame and surrendered. The vapor of the flowers sets us free and it covers our bodies. The flowers are restless as they were in the first day. It is so tranquilize as we unite and we become one with the soil. Our bodies merge and we cherish the unity as we are all in ecstasy by the vapor of the flowers. Maybe this is the enjoyment of living.
Behdad Amini writes a tale under influence of “Land of Restless Flowers” body of works;
-Land of White Fumes-
A. Quote from the Wonderbook of Navader-ol-Bahador va Gharayeb-ol-Makhloughat written by Shams-ol-Din Tousi, 10th century A.D.
… Another wonder of the deserts is a land of crimson and pink, where a specific plant with white poisonous fumes grows, whoever passes by this flora would pass out intoxicated.
* First Witness
Once I knew of somebody who claimed that he had visited the crimson desert when he was young and approved that he had seen such plants: a magical plant with a thin stalk and a flower similar to fig or sesame seeds, whose mouth would spread white fumes which diffuse in the air as fog. My friend has taken a few steps ahead in this foggy garden. As he was walking, in the midst of the white fumes, here and there, he would see a number of bodies on the ground sleeping or reclining among the stalks: slim, soft and light bodies lying either on their back or on their side, unclear whether they are asleep or awake. He intended to call them, though seemingly he was unable to utter a word, since none of the sleeping creatures reacted to his calling, and when he would feel he was about to collapse he turned back. This friend claimed that poisonous fumes of the plant had only affected human and had no impact on other plants or animals.
B. Scientific Fact
A species of plant with these features has never been cited in any theses or botany encyclopaedia, although it is possible that the mentioned plant to be a specific kind of ancient Castor Bean (Ricinus Communis) or perhaps Jimson weed or Devil’s Snare (Datura Stramounium), mixed with superstitions and local myths.
* Second Witness
My friend said a few times: “Let me send you to sleep and this and that…” I got a knack for such things meself, when somebody pushes, well man it’s the story of human being and being tempted… Replied: “Ok, let’s see how good you are…” So he came over at night with a tiny pink bag, I said: “Gesus, are you going to paint me face?” Answered: “Sit down quiet so I can show you.” we closed eyes and tried to clear this bloody mind of mine from all kinds of trash… Then came a click like he opened the box, I said: “Mate, don’t you drug me here…” he answered: “Shshshshsh… shut up and sit tight!” So we stay still… After a short time passed, I just realise that ma head is spinning and my hands and feet getting numb… I saw it, officer! A huge cow in an empty land, or a horse was it… There is nothing on God’s earth, except for this long stalks from them top was spreading a white wape just like Yazdi Cookie… When this cow turned her head to me, cause she wanna talk, Slapped me pal shouting, “Wake up wake up sluggard!” There I awake… But! Let me tell you something, no one might believe, but it was not the smell of this white fogs made me mind so dizzy, no Sir! It was her sound that rang in my two ears like a Shshshshshsh…
Behdad Amini – Filmmaker
