On Sunday, August 4th at 1:30PM in the Sanctuary, UUSM Peace & Social Justice Committee and Jewish Voice For Peace Westside will host a screening and discussion of “Five Broken Cameras,” the award-winning documentary from Palestinian and Israeli filmmakers. A first-hand account of struggle in Bil’in, a West Bank village affected by the construction of the Israeli West Bank barrier, the film won numerous awards including an International Emmy, and received an Academy Award Nomination for Best Documentary in 2012.
When his fourth son, Gibreel, is born in 2005, self-taught cameraman Emad Burnat, a Palestinian villager, gets his first camera. At the same time in his village of Bil’in, the Israelis begin bulldozing village olive groves to build a barrier to separate Bil’in from the Jewish settlement Modi’in Illit. The barrier’s route cuts off 60% of Bil’in farmland and the villagers resist this seizure of more of their land by the settlers.
During the next year, Burnat films this struggle, which is led by two of his best friends including his brother Iyad. At the same time, Burnat uses the camera to record the growth of his son. Very soon, these events begin to affect his family and his own life. Burnat films the army and police beating and arresting villagers and activists who come to support them. Settlers destroy Palestinian olive trees and attack Burnat when he tries to film them. The army raids the village in the middle of the night to arrest children. He, his friends, and brothers are arrested or shot; some are killed. Each camera used to document these events is shot or smashed. (Wikipedia)
Here’s a trailer for the film:
More from NPR: The Story Of A West Bank Village Told With ‘5 Broken Cameras’
PSJ looks forward to this opportunity to learn more about the history of struggle in Palestine, and to engage with our neighbors and community partners.
For questions or to help with this event, please contact justice@uusm.org.
