When two countries have been birthed violently with war, and their people have lived with a sense of doom for more than half a century, cinephiles can sense its presence — albeit in the shadows — in their cinema and shows. Tales of survival that make us watch awestruck and tales of sorrow that make you angry even when you’re tearing up. You understand why the now powerful, so determined to do everything they can to prevent their people from facing another genocide are vulnerable too. And those powerless who have been forced to survive within 140 sq. miles — are determined to eat, to fall in love, to dream — are also capable of violence. Over the last week one has seen a gruesome drama of murder and retaliation unfold from Israel and Gaza. A horrendous dance of death, egged on by those with vested interests, coloured by religion. And caught in the crossfire, as always, are women and children.
Whether you are watching an action-packed Fauda, or the coming-of-age story Farha, you have but one wish: if only something could eradicate war itself and smooth over our collective imperfect destinies.
These films and shows give us a glimpse of the lives of the people living inside the iron dome and outside it:
Fauda
Four seasons about the lives of soldiers. Some who wish to not wage any war any more are forced to step back into that world where killing is the only way out. Other soldiers, bound by promises made to their faith, believe that killing the ‘others’ will save them.
Farha
A young Palestinian village girl dreams of going to a city school and then coming back to her own village and starting a school of her own. But unbeknownst to her, destiny has other plans. The British and Israeli soldiers aided by Palestinian men who betray their own have unleashed a brutality that is not easily forgivable.
The Red Sea Diving Resort
If you are a fan of spy stories, then you may have seen untold stories of Mossad spies on Netflix. One such humane and audacious plan resulted in the rescue of African Jews from mercenary overlords. This wildly daring plan was made into a Hollywood film which shows us the implausibility of the plan, and the risks people can take in the service to their country and their beliefs.
Born in Gaza
This documentary of dreams and reality will surely make you melt. Those who pound the podiums and preach to incite war, need to see what a prolonged conflict can do to the next generation. How can you meet the eyes in which there’s no hope? What do you say to a child who plays with rocket shells instead of action figures in a playground that once was a school?
The Spy
How patriotic are you? Patriotic enough to lie to your wife, your family and travel far away into another country and spy for your own? Sasha Baron Cohen who is an incredibly funny actor shows his skills here when he turns into a spy for Israel and travels to Syria and enchants all of Damascus.
When I Saw You
Tarek is a young Palestinian refugee in a camp in Jordan who runs away to find his father. In this journey we see everything from dreams of a homeland to betrayal and more. This wonderfully poignant film earned a nomination for best foreign film at the Oscars, won the best Asian film at Berlin and the NETPAC award.
Blackspace
What do Israeli detectives do when there’s a school shooting? Those students that are traumatised do not wish to speak, and the others are too angry to share anything with the grownups. Parents or the police. This story about trust will resonate with everyone.
Mo
This comedy series on Netflix may be set in modern day Houston, it presents an outrageous, funny and uplifting Arab American way of life instead of chronicling the travails of Palestinian life. The ineffective immigration lawyer and ‘an ineffective branding issue’ tell us a funny and heartwarming tale about adjusting into alien communities
When Heroes Fly
Four men who become friends when they serve in the army together (Israel has a mandatory service rule) struggle with their reality after the horrors of the Lebanon wars. They come together to travel as brothers once again when they set out to search for the sister of one friend. They are battle scarred in more ways than one, and their struggles to adjust to life are real. This story serves as a beacon of hope and warning so that no mother should ever see her young boy or girl suffer war.
Eyes of a Thief
This Oscar nominated film tells us the story of Adel, Lila, Houda and Duniya each torn by their life experience under Israeli occupation and then life in the West Bank… The humanity of the little girl who is courageous and the man who goes back to find the life he once had will make you reach out for your handkerchiefs and yet the hope that shows up unexpectedly will soothe your furrowed brow.
Unorthodox
Religion is supposed to bring people together. And yet, the rules and regulations can suffocate anyone. Especially if you belong to an orthodox Jewish community living in New York. The Hasidic Jews are a close knit community and their way of life can be stifling for an eighteen year old forced into marriage that is oppressive. She wants to spread her wings and sing.
Omar
This is a love story that scales walls between Israel and Palestine. What if love trumped war? Would a young lad be forced to risk his life to meet the girl he loves? Would he be forced to betray his friend? This film was shown at the Mumbai Film Festival and has won many awards. If you and I imitate Amitabh Bachchan here, you will appreciate Marlon Brando and Brad Pitt there.
The list of Palestinian and Israeli films and shows is long and they are all available on Netflix. We may be hundreds of miles away from the conflict, but we cannot remain untouched by the horror inflicted on humanity. If only men would give up investing in the machinery of war and invest in people instead, the world would be a different place.
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