This is a film about the personal story of man named Emad and his experience protesting in Bil'in, a small village in the West Bank. Because the film is a personal story, it does not give a wider political context, a lot of history, or an overview of any kind, which is bound to put off some viewers, especially pro-Israeli ones. Personally, I don't fault the movie-maker for that choice. I think the film would have suffered from it.
Because of the lack of context, a politically sharp-eyed, skeptical and unsettled viewer (unsettled on the Israel-Palestine conflict) like myself need to take some of the film with a grain of salt. That being said, some of the footage is undeniable: arresting children in night- time raids, shooting unarmed men dead, etc. Regardless of your position on the struggle, this kind of footage should make you angry.
I think the film is definitely worth watching, not because it's an "unbiased" (whatever that means) view of a political struggle, but precisely because it is biased. The viewer gets to feel what it's like to protest in Bil'in, what it's like to have a family involved in the conflict, to have your friends or family arrested, beaten, or killed. Even if you completely disagree with Palestine's position, I think any human should be able to identify with Emad, his village, and their side of the story. This is the most important point because it draws out the viewers humanity, which is exactly what's needed if this conflict is to be ended peacefully.
Because of the lack of context, a politically sharp-eyed, skeptical and unsettled viewer (unsettled on the Israel-Palestine conflict) like myself need to take some of the film with a grain of salt. That being said, some of the footage is undeniable: arresting children in night- time raids, shooting unarmed men dead, etc. Regardless of your position on the struggle, this kind of footage should make you angry.
I think the film is definitely worth watching, not because it's an "unbiased" (whatever that means) view of a political struggle, but precisely because it is biased. The viewer gets to feel what it's like to protest in Bil'in, what it's like to have a family involved in the conflict, to have your friends or family arrested, beaten, or killed. Even if you completely disagree with Palestine's position, I think any human should be able to identify with Emad, his village, and their side of the story. This is the most important point because it draws out the viewers humanity, which is exactly what's needed if this conflict is to be ended peacefully.