Promises, by Justine Shapiro and BZ Goldberg
I saw the most astonishing documentary last night. It was released in 2001 and was nominated for best documentary in 2002 (Oscar), but I just now saw it. (Perhaps you've already seen it.)
Promises, by Justine Shapiro and BZ Goldberg. Amercian Jewish filmmakers went to Israel during the relative peace between the Intifada sometime between 1997 and 2000 and talked to secular and religious Jewish and Palestinian children about their feelings on the peace process. A total of about 10 kids, in the 10-12 yr age range, are interviewed in their homes and daily contexts. Each child deeply befriends the director BZ and he gets them to really talk about what they think and feel. At the end, he gets two Jewish children together with a group of Palestinian kids to play for a day and then they talk about how it has affected their world view. At first they just desire to know and enjoy each otehr's company, but the conversation inevitably turns to the fact that one of the Palestinian boy's brothers was shot to death by a sniper when he was out herding sheep and throwing stones at targets with other herders. The Jewish children express dismay and point out that they too know people who have been killed, by bombs on busses, that they themselves face bombings all day every day. One Jewish child sums it up, saying," Just as not all Palestinians are Hamas-niks, not all Jews kill Arabs." Their final conversation shows that the kids desire to maintain this new friendship, but fear that political pressures will prevent it from happening. One Arab boy points out that it is the check points that prevent them from knowing each other, and the check points are controlled by the Jews. As a wrap up, the film crew goes back 2 years later to talk to several of them for a couple minutes each to see how their new feelings have evolved.
It was an excellent documentary and very educational. I recommend it HIGHLY. Five+ out of five stars.
Best scene: a very serious, devoutly religious English-speaking Jewish kid is being interviewed in a public place by the filmmakers. He is saying that he does not personally wish to befriend any Arabs, but that he does try to be polite in social contacts, and says hello as he passes and does not avoid or start confrontations. A small Palestinian boy playing nearby enters the picture and begins to intentionally harass the young Jewish boy, making fun of him, repeating things he says, and generally mugging for the cameras. (The children do not share any languages.) The Jewish boy explains he has never met this child before and that this is a typical kind of interaction in public... The Palestinian boy burps at the Jewish boy, as a new method of attempting to be rude. The small, serious, articulate, devoutly religious Jewish boy burps back - in the middle of a sentence spoken to the camera, just leans back a bit and out of the corner of his mouth burps back. The Palestinian boy is shocked at this and returns the volley. What ensues is a giggle-laden burp contest between the two 10 year old boys on camera.
Promises, by Justine Shapiro and BZ Goldberg. Amercian Jewish filmmakers went to Israel during the relative peace between the Intifada sometime between 1997 and 2000 and talked to secular and religious Jewish and Palestinian children about their feelings on the peace process. A total of about 10 kids, in the 10-12 yr age range, are interviewed in their homes and daily contexts. Each child deeply befriends the director BZ and he gets them to really talk about what they think and feel. At the end, he gets two Jewish children together with a group of Palestinian kids to play for a day and then they talk about how it has affected their world view. At first they just desire to know and enjoy each otehr's company, but the conversation inevitably turns to the fact that one of the Palestinian boy's brothers was shot to death by a sniper when he was out herding sheep and throwing stones at targets with other herders. The Jewish children express dismay and point out that they too know people who have been killed, by bombs on busses, that they themselves face bombings all day every day. One Jewish child sums it up, saying," Just as not all Palestinians are Hamas-niks, not all Jews kill Arabs." Their final conversation shows that the kids desire to maintain this new friendship, but fear that political pressures will prevent it from happening. One Arab boy points out that it is the check points that prevent them from knowing each other, and the check points are controlled by the Jews. As a wrap up, the film crew goes back 2 years later to talk to several of them for a couple minutes each to see how their new feelings have evolved.
It was an excellent documentary and very educational. I recommend it HIGHLY. Five+ out of five stars.
Best scene: a very serious, devoutly religious English-speaking Jewish kid is being interviewed in a public place by the filmmakers. He is saying that he does not personally wish to befriend any Arabs, but that he does try to be polite in social contacts, and says hello as he passes and does not avoid or start confrontations. A small Palestinian boy playing nearby enters the picture and begins to intentionally harass the young Jewish boy, making fun of him, repeating things he says, and generally mugging for the cameras. (The children do not share any languages.) The Jewish boy explains he has never met this child before and that this is a typical kind of interaction in public... The Palestinian boy burps at the Jewish boy, as a new method of attempting to be rude. The small, serious, articulate, devoutly religious Jewish boy burps back - in the middle of a sentence spoken to the camera, just leans back a bit and out of the corner of his mouth burps back. The Palestinian boy is shocked at this and returns the volley. What ensues is a giggle-laden burp contest between the two 10 year old boys on camera.