The label Documentary, even in these post modern times, implies objectivity. Unfortunately this is something lacking here. It would wrong to say the film is Pro-Palestian, since it attacks President Yassir Arafat and the members of Fatah as incompetent, corrupt and collaborators. Instead it backs, the militant platform. The peace process is explicitly portrayed as a trick by the Israelis to continue occupation and it is implied Palestians who talked to them, were motivated by greed.
As propaganda it also lacks power. I watched it with students, apart from those ideologically committed, they expressed incredulity. A political science student said "it's propaganda isn't it". The paradox is, a touch of objectivity adds power to partisan films. The Battle of Algeris is all the more compelling, because, the French paratroops, are human beings. Israeli soldiers are portrayed here as in WWI tabloid cartoons Kaiser's army was, killing children, women and defenceless men, for little reason.
However indiscriminate killing is justified, when committed by Palestinian militants: the longest single segment in the film, is devoted to portraying suicide-bombing as the only defence against a merciless foe. Struggles in Ireland, South-Africa and India are used as supporting parallels. Expressly the words, the apartheid government used in the Rivevoina trial to frame Nelson Mandela, are taken to be blessing on terrorism.
To sum-up Nobel peace prize winners Rabin,Peres and Arrafat are painted as collaborators in oppression and café, bus and restaurant bombings are elevated to a needed, even laudable noble action.
As propaganda it also lacks power. I watched it with students, apart from those ideologically committed, they expressed incredulity. A political science student said "it's propaganda isn't it". The paradox is, a touch of objectivity adds power to partisan films. The Battle of Algeris is all the more compelling, because, the French paratroops, are human beings. Israeli soldiers are portrayed here as in WWI tabloid cartoons Kaiser's army was, killing children, women and defenceless men, for little reason.
However indiscriminate killing is justified, when committed by Palestinian militants: the longest single segment in the film, is devoted to portraying suicide-bombing as the only defence against a merciless foe. Struggles in Ireland, South-Africa and India are used as supporting parallels. Expressly the words, the apartheid government used in the Rivevoina trial to frame Nelson Mandela, are taken to be blessing on terrorism.
To sum-up Nobel peace prize winners Rabin,Peres and Arrafat are painted as collaborators in oppression and café, bus and restaurant bombings are elevated to a needed, even laudable noble action.