Gaza Strip

Director: James Longley
Studio: Arab Film Distributi
Product Type: DVD

Description

In January of 2001, American director James Longley traveled to the Gaza Strip. His plan was to stay for two weeks to collect preliminary material for a documentary film on the Palestinian Intifada. It was during his stay that Ariel Sharon was elected as Israeli Prime Minister. As violence erupted around him, Longley threw away his return ticket and filmed for the next three months, acquiring nearly 75 hours of footage. Gaza Strip, his first feature documentary, is an extraordinary and painful journey into the lives of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip struggling with the day-to-day trials of the Israeli occupation. Filmed in verité style and without narration, Gaza Strip at last gives voice to a population largely ignored by mainstream media.

Customer Reviews:

American Media is Unbalanced.......2007-02-13

"Gaza Strip" and "Promises" should be broadcast regularly on American television to counter the distorted perspective on Middle Eastern affairs presented by the American news media. I show this film to my college classes each semester, and they always ask the same question -- why don't the press and the media ever explain the Palestinian side? The American public is kept in the dark by its media. The only way to find a balanced discussion of international affairs is to seek out alternate sources and independent films like this.
It's interesting to see the anger in some of these reviews from those who can't stand to see a fair representation of both sides. Anything from the Palestinian perspective is "propaganda"! OK, so what is the Israeli-friendly American news? Truth?
Let's get real -- our foreign policy is as self-serving and hypocritical as it gets -- if you back us, we support you, no matter what crimes you commit. Our news stations back up the basic worldview of the American government -- no alternative views are permitted on primetime.
This is not to say that Hamas and the PLO are innocent, far from it. But to watch "Gaza Strip" is to begin to understand the hopelessness and degradation of the Palestinian people. Look especially at the children, so brilliantly portrayed in this film, growing up in the most degrading conditions. Conditions imposed by Israel and fully supported by the USA. Begin to understand how these abysmal social conditions -- no schools, no social services, no future -- which our government actively helps to sustain, inevitably create suicide bombers and "martyrs".
When we understand why ordinary Palestinian people -- who are no different than ordinary American people -- have got good reasons to hate the Jews and resent Americans, perhaps we, the American people will begin to question the monolithic support our government gives to Israel's anti-Palestinian policies.
Let us at least have the information that will allow us to have an honest discussion of these crucial issues here in the USA. Our ignorance doesn't keep us safe. Just the opposite. Our ignorance is more dangerous than any jihadist. Remember that the Israeli-Palestinian situation is one of the major reasons that Islamic fundamentalists use to recruit young people for martyrdom.
Why aren't Americans given the information that would allow us to make better political decisions and to vote for policies that would really be in the interests of our national security? We need to seek oyut the answers for ourselves. I recommend this film and also "Promises", which gives both Israeli and Palestinian perspectives.

Victims of the Israeli occupation.......2006-11-10

I highly recommend it to be watched using the producer's comments, it gives a good understanding where and why the scenes are taken. This movie expresses the real struggle of the Gazian people.

Fake Detractors? Balanced reviews, please!.......2006-10-15

Another reviewer mentioned that some have called this documentary "fake" or "propaganda" - and indeed there are those who are "anti-semites" or "self hating jews", but in reality the truth is always harder to find than this kind of soundbite - this kind of 'rolling 24hour news' (as rolled out by the dumbed-down Biased Broadcast Corporation); this is sensationalism as evidenced right across Europe. True that the events (not least in the Middle East) DO disturb, but let us ALL be more self-effacing and honest. Let us not forget, for example (just to add a little balance; a counterweight, if you like) that the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem himself set up legions of Arab SS, designed to snuff out the Jew. It seems clear from here in Europe, that even America is not free from such bias as would be cheered on in a meeting with modern day left OR right fanatics. Let's just hope that (Iranian?) Nukes aren't used, because Israel would be likely react in kind! The disservice to American and Israeli citizens, as well as to the wider world, is done by the likes of this film, by virtue of the fact that it puts only one side across (Fahrenheit 9.11 without the Fahrenhype 9.11 perhaps?), stifling honest debate that might lead to a solution precisely because some seek out the media that merely confirms their preconceived ideas. Shame that Americans didn't appear quite as moved when millions of Africans were slaughtered in Rwanda under the watchful eye of Clinton, but that's just the kind of bias we are used to over here.

fake detractors.......2006-08-23

Those who criticize this film as "fake" or "propaganda" appear to be from the same philosophical group that refers to anyone that merely believes there are two sides to the story as either "anti-semite" or "self hating jew" as the case may be. This demonstrates many of the propaganda devices used by the Israeli lobby in controlling the perception in our national media of the Middle East conflict. They do a disservice to American and Israeli citizens by stifling honest debate that might lead to a solution.

Grim reminder about the Middle East.......2006-08-07

The good thing about this movie is that there is no interference that one usually sees in documentaries either in the form of a commentator or some analysis. This is basically raw footage in the sense that the camera is roaming the streets following people as they go about their daily life.
One might argue that you don't get to hear the Israeli side of the story, a valid argument. However, I don't think the movie is trying to analyse the conflict; it is just showing the people living in Gaza and their ever changing reaction to what's going on in their life from despair to the hope of a better tomorrow.
The main character, a boy, summarises it all at the end when he says that he would rather die then continue on living like this. A statement that might shed some light on why some people choose to wrap themselves with explosives and why there is still a long way to go in the Middle East with no hope in sight.
Recommended if you would like to get an idea about the life of the Plaestinians under the Israeli occupation

Average customer rating:

Disturbing
Not recommended
fair
The making of martyrs . . .
The Ultimate Sacrifice

Death in Gaza
Starring: Saira Shah
Manufacturer: Hbo Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Paradise Now
Gaza Strip
Wall
Stolen Freedom: Occupied Palestine
Jenin Jenin

ASIN: B000BBOU90
Release Date: 2006-02-21

Description

This poignant and powerful documentary takes a shocking, first-hand look at the culture of hate that permeates the West Bank and Gaza, and which continues to escalate the perennial violence pitting Palestinians against Israelis. Starting out in the city of Nablus (where as many as 80 percent of suicide bombing plots are planned), James Miller and Saira Shah ended up in the Gaza town of Rafah, one of the most dangerous cities in this volatile region. There they spent several weeks focusing on the activities of three Palestinian children - two 12-year-old boys and a 16-year-old girl - who have grown up surrounded by messages of hate against Israel (whose military presence in their town is a constant), and taught that the greatest glory is to die a martyr. The film ends on a day like many other days in Rafah, with death - except that on this day, the fallen victim happens to be the man making this film.

Customer Reviews:

Disturbing.......2007-06-01

Hmm...

* All the scenes in schools involve teaching kids to hate Jews. (Funny, I've been through years of Jewish education and spent lots of time in Israeli schools, and I've never seen the reverse towards Muslims.)

* Kids get shot at because they spend their afternoon recreation time throwing hand-grenades and rocks at tanks while they're at work. Well, duh? And their deaths accomplish *what*, exactly, for Palestinian statehood?

To me, this movie accentuated the pernicious evil of the paramilitary "resistance" organizations in treating kids as weapons -- and the concomitant unlikelihood of a shared peace settlement. The more of their children die pointlessly like those in the film (such as in blowing up Jewish "pigs" and "dogs", to use their own words from the film), the harder it's going to be to accept a legitimate compromise settlement -- they'd have to accept that all of their kids really did get themselves killed for nothing.

Not recommended.......2007-04-15

This movie gives watchers with little background on the issue the IMPRESSION of being bias-free. However, it's filled with subtle biases that favor Israel and its close to 40 year occupation of Palestine.

Moreover, the woman (Sarah) who was speaking to the child was ridiculous. In one scene, a boy was telling her of his toy gun. She sat there smiling at him, instead of explaining how this is a product of occupation and violence directed at the Palestinian people.

Also, if watchers understood Arabic, they would see that in more than one scene, the translation is completely misleading. For example, the boys (Ahmad and his friend) are speaking of prayer and how FELLOW PALESTINIANS (not Israelis, as the translation puts it) are praying incorrectly. By phrasing the words in English as if they are pointed at the Israelis, this movie is furthering false notions of Palestinians society.

NOT RECOMMENDED!!!

fair.......2007-04-10

There were some scenes in here I was glad I saw. Nothing was quite so powerful was watching boys throwing stones at tanks and seeing tanks fire back. Stones versus tanks. To those that say the movie is biased because it doesn't cover the Israeli point of view, I will reiterate what has been said over and over--he was killed before he got a chance. The crew seemed rightly appalled at the way Palestinian miltants used children--this is no blind propaganda for the Palestinian cause. But you know, if ever anyone had a good reason to be biased, it would certainly be one who was killed by the mighty while weilding only a white flag

The making of martyrs . . ........2006-10-09

This film about life among young Palestinians packs the usual punch of HBO documentaries. Celebrated British filmmakers Miller and Shah get as close to the skirmishes directed against Israeli troops as possible, capturing footage that refuses to turn away from the human cost of this particular kind of urban warfare. It is high-risk filmmaking, and we know from the start that Miller is killed by Israeli gunfire before the shooting of the film is completed.

Viewers not familiar with the Palestinian resistance will be shocked by the impact that fear and hatred of the Israelis has made upon the youngest generation - the boys flinging rocks at Israeli tanks, who have come under the influence of masked, gun-wielding insurgents. We meet two young boys, close friends, who manufacture explosives, and an older girl who has lost several members of her family and weeps at yet another funeral. The romance of martyrdom overwhelms their youthful world as a welcomed though not fully understood prospect.

There is little resolution to the powerlessness the viewer can feel watching this film, and those sympathetic with the Israeli side of the equation will find it represented by distant, menacing armed figures in military uniforms or moving through the streets in tanks - objects to be feared, scorned, and hated. And as the film represents this ongoing struggle, there seems to be no end in sight. Worth seeing as a look behind the daily news from that part of the troubled world.

The Ultimate Sacrifice.......2006-05-09

I found this documentary to be very emotional for me. James Miller went to great lengths to try to give us an accurate picture of the Palestinian side of the conflict from the views of three kids. It's about time someone tried to do this. Unfortunately, he paid the ultimate price for his venture. But it leaves me to wonder if this story would have had the impact that it has had if he didn't die. I highly recommend this DVD to anyone who is interested into finding out "both sides of a story" and who values those journalists who risk their lives to bring those stories to us.

Historic Palestinian Refugees Films DVD: 1950 History Film The Sands Of Sorrow About Palestinian Children in Refugee Camps In The Gaza Strip From The Middle East Palestine - Israel War of 1948. Includes Footage of UNICEF Aid & Several Refugee Camps.

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Historic Palestinian Refugees Films DVD: 1950 History Film The Sands Of Sorrow About Palestinian Children in Refugee Camps In The Gaza Strip From The Middle East Palestine - Israel War of 1948. Includes Footage of UNICEF Aid & Several Refugee Camps.
Director: Theodore A. Morde
Manufacturer: Quality Information Publishers Inc.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Stolen Freedom: Occupied Palestine
Tragedy in the Holy Land - The Second Uprising
Gaza Strip
Jenin Jenin
Wall

Product Features:

Table Of Contents:
(1) The Sand of Sorrow (1950) 28 Minutes
Film Summary:
First Palestinian Arab Refugee Camp Footage From The Middle East In 1950

ASIN: B000IVZ4CA

Product Description

The film is elegantly introduced and closed by Dorothy Thompson, who was a civil rights activist, journalist, and had just recently returned from an extended visit to the Middle East. She stresses the importance of relief of which without the approximately one million refugees would otherwise die of starvation and disease. This film was produced by the Council for Relief of Palestinian Arab Refugees and is the first to document Palestinian Refugees in the Middle East and marks the beginnings of a large scale American public concern for those marginalized by the religious and natural resource conflicts that, to this day, continue to haunt the Middle East. Makeshift schools, workshops, hospitals, and kitchens in the Gaza strip are the focus of the footage of this film. Footage of refugees living in ancient roman ruins is also shown despite the fact that these people refuse to allow close up shots to be taken because of religious beliefs. The narrator refers to them as 20th century cave dwellers who lifestyle is barely fit for wildlife. The films main goal is to show the suffering of these refugees to encourage increased donations by Americans who sympathize with their plight. Oddly enough the reason why the refugees have been forced to flee there homes in not even addressed. The efforts of the United Nations and its UNICEF branch to help these refugees are stressed. The daily rations given to the refugees total 1400 calories per day, which is severely short of the 2000+ calories that are needed to sustain good health. Table Of Contents: (1) The Sand of Sorrow (1950) 28 Minutes

A West Bank Retrospective - Journey to the Occupied Lands

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A West Bank Retrospective - Journey to the Occupied Lands
Starring: Frontline
Director: Michael Ambrosino
Manufacturer: Wgbh Boston
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Stolen Freedom: Occupied Palestine
Tragedy in the Holy Land - The Second Uprising
The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine
Promises
Gaza Strip

ASIN: B0009OUAG6
Release Date: 2005-08-02

Description

As the Arab-Israeli peace talks enter their 17th round of negotiations, Frontline examines the issue which holds the key to peace- the land of the West Bank and Gaza. In a personal journey to the Israeli-occupied territories of the West Bank and Gaza, correspondent Michael Ambrosino explores the bitter and complex issues of land ownership, the scope and future of the Israeli settlements, the realities of Israeli military justice, and daily life under Israeli occupation.

Charlie Rose with Haim Shibi; Nathan Myhrvold; Malcolm Gladwell (September 26, 1996)

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Charlie Rose with Haim Shibi; Nathan Myhrvold; Malcolm Gladwell (September 26, 1996)

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Description

Haim Shibi of the Israeli newspaper Yediot Ahronot, talks about the battles between Israeli and Palestinian troops throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip and Palestinian riots in response to Israel's decision to open an archaeological tunnel near one of the holiest sites in Islam. Then, Dr. Nathan Myhrvold, group vice president in the Advanced Technology Group at Microsoft, talks about the future of computers and the Internet. Finally, Malcolm Gladwell of The New Yorker talks about recent progress by scientists in the quest to extend the human life cycle. .

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