This documentary has almost nothing to do with the intricate details of the decades-long Israel/Palestine conflict. It makes almost no attempt at summarizing the history of the conflict. Being an American with a passing knowledge of the conflict, I had some idea of the events being talked about, but I lacked any sort of concrete internal time line of the conflict or anything of that nature.
But that's not the point of this documentary. The various events and tragedies of the conflict are used as conversation points to elicit from the former heads of Shin Bet their moral, ethical, and emotional viewpoints on war and anti-terrorism. The viewer gets to see, first hand, the personal struggles that go on inside the minds of men charged with a nearly impossible task: eradicating terrorism while attempting not to become terrorists themselves.
We see that certain interviewees struggled to no end with the morality behind killing captured terrorists, collateral damage, and military operations that may or may not have been legal under military law. One interviewee appears to operate under the assumption that killing terrorists is always justified, whereas another takes a step back and acknowledges that one man's freedom fighter is another man's terrorist.
If these types of thorny issues discussed on a personal, sometimes emotional, level do not interest you, then this film is not for you. If you are looking for a war documentary, this is not for you. If you are looking for politicized documentary, this is not for you.
This is a long series of interviews with Shin Bet decision-makers, punctuated only by brief explanations of the events upon which the interviewees are questioned. The viewer sees elements of compassion, struggle, helplessness and even sociopathy in the responses elicited.
Most of all, these men are all human, discussing their actions and decisions on a human level. Their final conclusions act as a fitting conclusion to the film. Even if you hate these men, or disagree with what they have to say, this film is the essence of well-made documentary.
*As a side note, some will argue that this film displays a pro-Israeli stance. However, any film which interviews the commanders of a certain armed force will inevitably present that side's viewpoint. This documentary is not sold as anything but what is -- interviews with the men in charge of Shin Bet.
But that's not the point of this documentary. The various events and tragedies of the conflict are used as conversation points to elicit from the former heads of Shin Bet their moral, ethical, and emotional viewpoints on war and anti-terrorism. The viewer gets to see, first hand, the personal struggles that go on inside the minds of men charged with a nearly impossible task: eradicating terrorism while attempting not to become terrorists themselves.
We see that certain interviewees struggled to no end with the morality behind killing captured terrorists, collateral damage, and military operations that may or may not have been legal under military law. One interviewee appears to operate under the assumption that killing terrorists is always justified, whereas another takes a step back and acknowledges that one man's freedom fighter is another man's terrorist.
If these types of thorny issues discussed on a personal, sometimes emotional, level do not interest you, then this film is not for you. If you are looking for a war documentary, this is not for you. If you are looking for politicized documentary, this is not for you.
This is a long series of interviews with Shin Bet decision-makers, punctuated only by brief explanations of the events upon which the interviewees are questioned. The viewer sees elements of compassion, struggle, helplessness and even sociopathy in the responses elicited.
Most of all, these men are all human, discussing their actions and decisions on a human level. Their final conclusions act as a fitting conclusion to the film. Even if you hate these men, or disagree with what they have to say, this film is the essence of well-made documentary.
*As a side note, some will argue that this film displays a pro-Israeli stance. However, any film which interviews the commanders of a certain armed force will inevitably present that side's viewpoint. This documentary is not sold as anything but what is -- interviews with the men in charge of Shin Bet.