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"Israel vs Israel" Reviews

Kansas International Film Festival offers Jewish flavor
Written by Keith D. Cohen, Contributing Writer
Thursday, September 22 2011

Cinema lovers in Greater Kansas City do not need to travel to Cannes, Toronto or Jerusalem to attend a first-class film festival. Opportunity knocks starting next weekend when local audiences can find their very own slice of film nirvana in Overland Park at the 11th annual Kansas International Film Festival (KIFF). KIFF will take place Sept. 30-Oct.6 at the Glenwood Arts Theatre located inside the Metcalf South Shopping Center.

This year's festival will premiere more than 50 films over seven days. The lineup contains an eclectic mix of dramatic features and documentaries with many filmmakers in attendance for question-and-answer sessions following the presentation of their films.
Three films will have a distinctive Jewish flavor.

"Israel vs. Israel" is a powerful documentary that will stir up discussion and debate. It follows four Israeli peace activists who oppose the military occupation in the West Bank and want more humane treatment for the Palestinians. The protest groups represented in the film are Breaking the Silence, Anarchists Against the Wall, Rabbis for Human Rights and Checkpoint Watch. Filmmaker Terje Carlsson filled the roles of producer, director and cinematographer. He is also credited for the original musical score. The movie brings up the issues of nationalism versus religion and differentiates between the state of Israel and the biblical land of Israel that God promised to the Jewish people in perpetuity. The excellent cinematography takes you to places that you will not see on your tour when visiting from the United States. The hatred is most evident in Hebron where soldiers are constantly demanding that the camera be turned off. The movie is slanted toward those opposing what the government is doing and the extreme security precautions. It pushes for territorial compromise and moral behavior that treats human life as holy. The documentary is partially in Hebrew with English subtitles and has a running time of 58 minutes. It screens on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 2, at 3:45 p.m. and you are encouraged to stick around afterwards to meet Carlsson, who will be in attendance.
My rating 3 1/2 out of 4 stars.

ART THREAT
The best political films of 2010
Pro-life militants, kid activists, fracking, garbage portraits,
and the decline of the American Empire
by Ezra Winton on December 16, 2010

ISRAEL VS. ISRAEL (Terje Carlsson, Sweden, 2010)
The last thing an American Jew expects to be called by another Jew is a "Nazi," yet this is the reality progressive Jews fighting the illegal occupation inside Israel face from fanatic Israeli Jews. ISRAEL VS. ISRAEL is one of the most important documentaries I have seen in the growing arsenal of cinematic testimonies to the oppression of the Palestinian people. So many films have documented the devastation and despair of Palestinians yet few films highlight the lesser-known struggle of progressive Israeli and international Jews who risk their careers, reputations, and lives for the Palestinian cause.
Carlsson's one hour exploration of these unsung heroes is a moving portrait of the fight from the inside – four men and women who stand up to both the Israeli state and to fanatic, violent and mentally unbalanced settlers. Disparate moments of bravery are woven together and make up a larger picture of solidarity and community – of a social, political and cultural movement that includes Israeli citizens, rabbis, former IDF soldiers, and Jews from the West. What they face is the overwhelming violence of the Israeli state as it continues its policy of occupation, oppression and expansion as well as fundamentalist militants whose children are encouraged to throw stones and sewage at elderly Palestinian women as they pass in the street. The images are shocking and terrifying. That such cruel manifestations of life on this planet exist is heartbreaking. Celebrating those that defy their own government, their own people, and who risk life and limb to fight with the Palestinians is one of the most important stories ever to be told from this ongoing conflict. (EW)

Israel vs. Israel: A Cinema Political Review

Lee Thomas - The Brunswickan
September 28, 2011

Throngs of old women in headscarves, being herded through a cement-walled check stop. School children having their bags searched by armed men carrying big black guns. Civilians throwing rocks at soldiers, who reply with a hail of bullets. The bloody corpse of a protestor being dragged away by his companions. The series of brutal images is difficult to watch . . . and impossible to forget.

In his intensely provocative new documentary, director Terje Carlsson explores Israeli resistance of the occupation in Palestine. For those unfamiliar with the history of the conflict, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been ongoing since 1967, when Israel conquered the Gaza West Bank and became an occupying military force in the Palestinian territories. After more than 40 years of occupation, life for the Palestinian people remains harsh and restricted.
In Israel, the subject of the occupation is polarizing, a socially-taboo topic that divides friends and families. Religious Jewish citizens of Israel opposed to the occupation are often viewed as unpatriotic or blasphemous. Israel vs. Israel examines the stories of four Israelis actively opposing the actions of their state, and the numerous social and legal challenges they face every day.

"The situation in Palestine is one of the greatest tragedies of the world today," said Tracy Glynn of the Conservation Council of New Brunswick and host of Cinema Politica screenings at Conserver House

."We see it in the news, but we don't always get the full picture. (Israel vs. Israel) tells the stories we don't hear." Indeed, the passionate struggles of the four activists depicted by Carlsson are as moving as they are startling. A grandmother, fighting for more compassionate treatment of Palestinians at check stops, invites the audience into a private conversation between her and her nationalist son. An ex-combat soldier campaigns to break the code of silence surrounding the occupation, and is harassed in the streets by his neighbours."You're not afraid?" asks the voice behind the camera. "Of course I'm afraid," replies the young man, but his voice and determination are unwavering.These are the faces of the Israeli resistance, and they share a common goal: to end the unlawful Israeli occupation of Palestine and restore peace to a nation fraught with violence. The documentary, shown at Conserver House and co-hosted by the Jews for a Just Peace Fredericton and the Fredericton Palestine Solidarity, coincides perfectly with current news events regarding the conflict. This past Friday, Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas submitted an application for full membership in the United Nations. Of the 15 Security Council member states, nine must approve the application before the entirety of the UN membership is permitted to vote on the issue.
Many obstacles lie in the path of Palestine's bid for membership, not the least of which is the US and Canadian commitments to supporting the Israeli state. Whether this incident marks the beginning of a Palestinian Spring or will simply become another event in the long and complex Israeli-Palestinian history, remains to be seen.


Citizens for Justice in the Middle East
Reflections on the Documentary Film
"ISRAEL vs ISRAEL"
Posted on 16 October 2011
Catchy title, isn't it? This award winning documentary "Israel vs Israel" was shown Sunday Oct. 2, 2011 as part of the International Film Festival I attended.

Foreshadowing - After purchasing my ticket I was told to go outside the theater and wait in line against the wall. Of course, what instantly came to mind were Palestinians waiting at check points because of THE WALL. Getting a little anxious with the silence and no "please" or "thank you" offered, I reminded myself I did live in a rarified stratosphere, unlike those living in Palestine. After those with passes entered, our line too was allowed to enter.

Inside the theater was a different atmosphere. Several people to my right were happily chatting, reminding me of a family reunion. They seemed to know everyone and the group was full of life and laughter.

Finally the documentary started. No feeling of family reunions in Palestine; checkpoints, yes; Rabbi Arik Asckerman doing his best to protect farmers harvesting their olive crop, yes; crowded checkpoints with a Jewish grandmother urging a young soldier holding an AK47 rifle to let in parents with sick baby go to doctor, yes; the Wall, known as the security fence in Israel, yes; and Palestinian youths throwing rocks as soldiers fired tear gas, yes, that too.

Other memorable scenes included the retired Israeli Army officer who stated he regretted everything he did every day as a soldier. The opening scene of documentary was more than just interesting. A group of Israelis holding posters for peace and one Israeli walks by and calls them Nazis. Comment from Jewish gentleman in peace group: "Imagine a religious Jew calling another religious Jew a Nazi!"

Probably the scene that haunts me the most was Palestinian 5 and 6 year-old girls waiting in line for school being taunted by Israeli little girls of the same age.

At the end of documentary, everyone in the audience sat in silence, then there was applause by some, and then complete silence as we left the theater.

If you visited Israel, but did not go to the West Bank having been told that area is too dangerous, you need to make a return trip. Visit the West Bank so you can experience firsthand what everyone in Israel does not want to talk about, the Occupied Territories. And just maybe you will be inspired to make your own poster similar to the one being shown at the opening of this film, "FREE PALESTINE = FREE ISRAEL."

Janet Baker
CJME committee member

 


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