Movies

Some of these films we endorse without reservation: others with some. However, all of these films examine, from various perspectives, important aspects of the conflict and provide stimulation for discussion, argument, and learning.

Discordia It's September 9, 2002, and a scheduled appearance by Benjamin Netanyahu has sparked heated debate at Montreal's Concordia University. By the end of the day, the "Concordia riot"has made international news, from CNN to Al-Jazeera. Discordia documents the fallout from that eventful day - following three young campus activists as they negotiate the most formative year of their lives. Filmmakers Ben Addelman and Samir Mallal jump into the fray with street-smart bravado and a handheld camera. Buoyed along by hip-hop artist Buck 65, they offer a tonic reflection on the current state of Canadian student activism and the enduring value of a tolerance and open mindedness. More information at http://www.onf.ca/discordia/

Inner Tour Media coverage of the region, which overwhelmingly dwells on violent extremism, rarely breaks down the wall that keeps one side from truly understanding the other. This documentary focuses on the human side of crisis, bringing to light, with grace and sensitivity, stories of loss and displacement told from the Palestinian perspective. Director Ra'anan Alexandrowicz follows a diverse group of Palestinians on a three-day sight seeing tour of Israel. With the visitors' eyes riveted on the prosperous Israeli town rushing by, the tour almost immediately takes on disturbing and heart-wrenching overtones. The encounter with Israel prompts each passenger to reflect on the harsh realities of the present and to recollect a vanished past. As they look outside, we in turn are given a precious window into the soul of Palestinian society. Screened at the San Francisco and Sundance Film Festivals, 2002.

Battle for the Holy Land This insightful documentary explores the conflict from the perspective of those who are fighting it. BBC's Frontline crew goes deep into the refugee camps to expose the bomb factories and militia groups waging war against Israel. We also see the Israeli commando units fighting this war from the other side, and accompany soldiers on a raid to capture a terrorist. It shows us the nuts and bolts of this conflict, underneath the rhetoric and politics. This film is a useful trigger for discussing the issue of moral equivalency: how do we weigh the deaths of civilians killed by suicide bombers against Palestinian civilians killed as part of Israel's counter terrorism effort?

Promises Promises follows the journey of one of the filmmakers, Israeli- American B.Z. Goldberg. B.Z. travels to a Palestinian refugee camp and to an Israeli settlement in the West Bank, and to the more familiar neighborhoods of Jerusalem where he meets seven Palestinian and Israeli children. Though the children live only 20 minutes apart, they exist in completely separate worlds; the physical, historical and emotional obstacles between them run deep. Promises explores the nature of these boundaries and tells the story of a few children who dared to cross the lines to meet their neighbors. Rather than focusing on political events, the seven children featured in Promises offer a refreshing, human and sometimes humorous portrait of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Promises, a film by Justine Shapiro, B.Z. Goldberg and codirector and Editor Carlos Bolado was shot between 1995 and 2000. Running time, 106 minutes. Arabic, Hebrew and English dialogue with English subtitles. More information at http://www.promisesproject.org/

Late Summer Blues Director Schorr's triumphant first feature, a universal story of life under war's shadow, opened the 1987 Jerusalem Film Festival to unanimous acclaim. Set in 1970 during the War of Attrition at the Suez Canal, Late Summer Blues chronicles events in the lives of seven Israeli students during the summer following high-school graduation-- a summer clouded by their impending induction into the army.