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Just back from seeing it, it's a very good (I won't exagerate it as 'amazing' but it is worth seeing) film, the experiences of Jeremy and some of his friends in the ISM during two visits to the West Bank last year.
I'll say more in my blog, but two things stand out. The first time Jeremy goes to Bethlehem and joins up with the ISM. He spends a day going round the town before the troops move in, and as he walks back to the hotel he tells the cameraperson that he thinks the ISM people he's met are a bunch of idiots, looking to be heroes. He's getting more and more depressed as the likelihood of invasion looms. Then it happens. The next day the ISM organise a peaceful demonstration which British Barbelithers might remember from the news as the one where the Army started shooting to disperse the protesters. Jeremy finds the experience makes him angry and defiant that the Israeli army would fire at unarmed peaceful protesters, it also makes him re-evaluate the ISM people and realise they aren't just in it for glory but to make a difference.
There were a couple of people, Israeli or pro-Israel. One woman was crying as she said she found the film difficult to watch as she'd come from Israel, other woman was supporting her, shouting 'hear, hear!' until the first woman said she was pro-Palestine and wanted peace, at which point the second woman seemed to go quiet! She then later on started complaining about the bias of the film, pro-Palestine and Israel co-existing peacefully, but as the director Leila Sansour said, she was Palestinian so of course she would want to make a film about her people, if you disagreed then go out, get the equipment and make your own film!
I recommend everyone who has the opportunity to see the film, hopefully the Beeb or C4 can be persuaded to pick it up, but if not check your local listings for screening details. |
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