A film cannot, of itself, save the world. But sometimes a film can go a long way in holding the world together. At the very least, the making of such a film can provide hope for those making it.
As the people of the occupied West Bank have attempted to defend their land for generations against Israeli development, getting the message out to the world has become vital to their struggle. Adra, a Palestinian filmmaker and lawyer, is joined by Israeli journalist Abraham to document the unending demolition of homes and schools in the Masafer Yatta region. This documentary shows the ongoing determination to let the world know how the people there are being systematically displaced.
The strength of this documentary is that it shows all these moments of Israeli soldiers arriving at the edge of yet another village to demolish yet another building. Unsteady footage collected on handheld cameras genuinely reflect the desperation and anxiety felt by the Palestinian villagers. At times, Adra’s filmmaking is objected to by the soldiers who give chase, revealing that more than real estate is under threat.
Despite several scenes of dialogue between Adra and Abraham that seem somewhat contrived, the film naturally reveals the bond that develops between the Palestinian and Israeli filmmakers, and that reinforces the idea that hope lies in the hands of the next generation. The homage they pay to activists who came before them might help them to overcome their own reluctance to go on at times. Yet their unwillingness to stand by and do nothing comes from places even deeper than they themselves may understand.
There are moments throughout the film when one questions how the villagers have been able to hang for so long. It might be that their struggle is not an armed one, but one that requires them to be in a perpetual state of rebuilding. It’s as if they are not fighting a war with guns but only trying to survive, bearing the only tools they know —shovels and trowels.
Amidst a continuing exhaustion of already depleted resources, it’s surprising that a film like this can get made at all. What is even more impressive is the attention it has received around the world. Of course, its popularity may have to do as much with its grass-roots style of reporting as with all the outside attempts to equate antisemitism with anything pro-Palestinian.
As documentaries go, this one may not be remembered for redefining the medium. But it will be remembered as a testament to the determination of people who refuse to let their voices crumble in the dust.
