The documentary
(i mentioned it in the previous entry). It's called "Promises". this is from www.imdb.com, and written by another person...and probably means little to you :) but that's cool..
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This is a documentary about 7 kids living through the Peace Process between Israel and the Palestinian people, between 1995-2000. Allow me to quote from the Festival's
program:
"Without newsflash superficiality, political commentary or cold analysis of the situation
in the Middle East, Promises is a documentary filmed between '95 and '00 that brings
the perspective of seven children from diverse backgrounds and both sides of the
conflict. Moishe is a settler child; Mahmoud supports Hamas; Shlomo is ultra-orthodox;
Faraj lives in Dehaisheh and dreams of returning to the village from which his
grandfather was exiled; Sanbal is from a refugee family with modern views; twins Yarko
and Daniel are secular Israeli kids living in West Jerusalem. All live a few kilometers
from one another, but are worlds apart. Before adolescence, children are freer, more
spontaneous and can express themselves directly and without self-censorship. They can
express what adults are afraid to say. At the same time, children, who usually allow the
facts to confuse them, carry the hope for change in the patterns of hostility engrained in
the minds of adults."
I saw the film at the 2001 Jerusalem Film Festival, with the twins and Mahmoud in the
audience as well. Everyone was glued to the film and I think I saw many people shed
some tears as Faraj, Sanbal and the twins meet for one day, doing what seemed
impossible at the beginning of the project. Their faith of goodness of people is catching,
and leaves you in the audience regretting the fact that us, adults, have a harder time
sitting together and just getting to know one another. While the bloodshed may continue
for a while longer, it is important to view such films that allow us to accept another
option of the conflict.
One of the best documentaries of the year and one that is a good one to give you an
explanatory introduction to the conflict. It doesn't cover all basis in this very
complicated situation, but at least you will get the idea that there is no easy solution in
this political-religious-historical conflict. Hopefully these kids all could meet again one
day in one place without any barricades between them.
B.Z. Goldberg has definitely created relationships with these kids that without his
people-skills wouldn't have made those kids open up to him the way they did.
Watching Faraj weep when he realizes that BZ is going to leave them after the meeting
with the twins and that all their efforts would be in vain is a moment you will remember
for a long time.
-----------------
it was shown on PBS's program called POV, and you can find out more at PBS.org--i loved it.
------------------
This is a documentary about 7 kids living through the Peace Process between Israel and the Palestinian people, between 1995-2000. Allow me to quote from the Festival's
program:
"Without newsflash superficiality, political commentary or cold analysis of the situation
in the Middle East, Promises is a documentary filmed between '95 and '00 that brings
the perspective of seven children from diverse backgrounds and both sides of the
conflict. Moishe is a settler child; Mahmoud supports Hamas; Shlomo is ultra-orthodox;
Faraj lives in Dehaisheh and dreams of returning to the village from which his
grandfather was exiled; Sanbal is from a refugee family with modern views; twins Yarko
and Daniel are secular Israeli kids living in West Jerusalem. All live a few kilometers
from one another, but are worlds apart. Before adolescence, children are freer, more
spontaneous and can express themselves directly and without self-censorship. They can
express what adults are afraid to say. At the same time, children, who usually allow the
facts to confuse them, carry the hope for change in the patterns of hostility engrained in
the minds of adults."
I saw the film at the 2001 Jerusalem Film Festival, with the twins and Mahmoud in the
audience as well. Everyone was glued to the film and I think I saw many people shed
some tears as Faraj, Sanbal and the twins meet for one day, doing what seemed
impossible at the beginning of the project. Their faith of goodness of people is catching,
and leaves you in the audience regretting the fact that us, adults, have a harder time
sitting together and just getting to know one another. While the bloodshed may continue
for a while longer, it is important to view such films that allow us to accept another
option of the conflict.
One of the best documentaries of the year and one that is a good one to give you an
explanatory introduction to the conflict. It doesn't cover all basis in this very
complicated situation, but at least you will get the idea that there is no easy solution in
this political-religious-historical conflict. Hopefully these kids all could meet again one
day in one place without any barricades between them.
B.Z. Goldberg has definitely created relationships with these kids that without his
people-skills wouldn't have made those kids open up to him the way they did.
Watching Faraj weep when he realizes that BZ is going to leave them after the meeting
with the twins and that all their efforts would be in vain is a moment you will remember
for a long time.
-----------------
it was shown on PBS's program called POV, and you can find out more at PBS.org--i loved it.