once yehia is put under anaesthetic, the action shifts to a surreal, dreamlike court case held within yehia's own chest cavity (the roof-beams of the court-room, for example, are yehia's ribs). yehia's inner child is on trial: feeling unloved by the adult yehia, this child is attempting to kill yehia. the child's witness stand comprises clear plastic tubes into which he drops white crystals, symbolising yehia's arteries and the cholesterol that is choking them. as different witnesses speak during the chaotic court scenes, the film presents different flashbacks to yehia's life, starting with his unfair treatment by a bitter, catholic primary-school teacher.