Promesas

I only saw the second part of the movie, but that gave me enough impression to leave me in a state of "having seen something everyone should see". And I think everyone and most of all Israelis and Arabs will agree that a way to peace will only be possible when encounters like these will take place, where kids from both "sides" will meet each other to discuss and understand each other problems. I am so much impressed about the openess, sincerity, wisdom and "the stuff that separates the youth from the adults": playing a soccer game, making fun, sharing dreams. It's hard to see that two years after the meeting the Arab boy has almost lost his belief in a solution. A while ago I heard an interview on the radio with the famous Jewish military expert Martin von Kreefeld. This interview impressed me as much as "Promises", but in a very different way. To Von Kreefelds opinion, the only solution to the Jewish-Arab problem was building a high wall, deviding the two nations, probably at cost of some 30,000 lives. But then, so Von Kreefeld, there would finally be "peace". Well, let's just hope future generations from Israel and Palestine will proove him wrong. The documentary is filmed at high speed and will grasp your attention immediately, and will not let loose. Very impressing, very... moving ;-)

7 children, 7 hates, 7 different lives, 7 possibilities, 1 meeting and 1 million chances to peace. "Promises" is a shiny and wonderful documentary about the conflicts between Israel and Palestine showed by children. It's extraordinary to see them talking about the conflicts: they repeat their parents' opinion until the director B.Z. suggests a meeting. Some agree; others no. And the great moment of "Promises" is their meeting, when they're just kids: playing, eating, laughing, talking, crying... That meeting waves to peace. It seems to be the solution adults don't want to see. "Promises" is great, one of the best movies I've ever seen in my whole life. 10/10.

It was so poignant to see this film now, with all the strife that is taking place in Israel. To say that this film is a must see is an understatement; it should be mandatory for all Palestinians and Jews to see it together. We can only hope that its projects like this that will open the rest of the world's eyes and let them understand what life is like there. People who only watch CNN in the states will never understand what it means to be apart of this world. It's just too bad that so many millions will be in line to see "Star Wars" next week, and maybe less than 1% of those people will see this film. In a perfect world, it would be the other way around. But until the generations to come find a way to stop harboring hatred and to stop continuing a way of repression and violence, this is the world we will be in. It will take a long time, but I hope some day we will all be able to put our religious differences aside, and realize that we are ALL right.

What an inspiring and terrifying film. It was so well documented, almost every scene and every word is important. A brave project with a wonderful message; I can't say anything bad about it.

Shot by American-Israeli co-director, B.Z. Goldberg between 1997-2000, Promises is a timely and moving look at the Arab-Israeli conflict from the point of view of seven Israeli and Palestinian children including Arabs, Orthodox Jews and secular Jews. The film, which was nominated for an Academy Award for best documentary, gives truth to the biblical refrain that "a child shall lead them" and provides some hope for a better understanding from the next generation. Indeed, if adults were as open, honest, and giving as these children, there would be no more talk of checkpoints and terrorists and innocent people blown to bits.

Filmed in Israel and the West Bank Occupied Territories, we see an Israel rarely seen on CNN, a country of checkpoints and segregated corridors reinforced by violence.

Goldberg, a secular Jew who grew up in Jerusalem, studied film at New York University and worked as a journalist in Israel. He filmed 170 hours and narrowed it down to 106 minutes. Throughout the film, each child is interviewed separately and most recite the litany of hatred and misunderstanding that they have learned. Moishe, 12, lost his best friend in a Palestinian Intifada, while Faraj, a young Arab, mourns for his closest friend who was killed by an Israeli soldier. "The more Jews we kill, the stronger the Arabs will be", states a Palestinian boy. As the film progresses, a strong desire for peace and reconciliation emerges through the quiet, thoughtful questions posed by Goldberg.

Goldberg astonishingly brings the Israeli twins Yarko and Daniel to spend a day with their Palestinian neighbor Faraj. At first they maintain an aloofness but as the day progresses they forget all about their politics in a few hours of wrestling, playing ball, and eating a delicious meal. The most emotional moment comes when Faraq breaks down and cries because he realizes that when the cameras leave, everything will be the same as before and they will never see each other again. I couldn't see the next few minutes because of all the moisture in my eyes.

In a sad epilogue, the children are shown two years later, somewhat hardened in their attitudes, ready to sacrifice themselves for a futile conflict. Perhaps by now, some of them have blown themselves up in glorious martyrdom or were simply caught in the wrong place at the wrong time when a bomb went off. The most heartbreaking statement comes from one of the children who state, "The life we live doesn't allow us to accomplish our dreams".

Nevertheless, listening to these children, there has to be some reason for optimism. "In war both sides suffer," one of the Israeli twins says. "Maybe there's a winner, but what is a winner?" Perhaps what we need are more people like Yarko, Faraj and Goldberg to show us the way.

One of the most uplifing, hopeful and fulfilling documentaries I've seen in quite some time. Also one of the most depressing and frightening films I've seen. Explains the entire palestine/israel problem at its most basic, most pure level, children. Outstanding work.