Promises (Documentary)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C+     Extras: B     Film: B+

 

 

Taped before the latest nightmare of Israeli/Palestinian conflict, Promises (2001) is a vital, must-see documentary work which boldly goes to Jerusalem and other key areas around it, and gets deep perspective and pointed points of view of children from both sides of the conflict in the last know period of relative peace.  Justine Shapiro, B.Z. Goldberg and Carlos Bolado (also editor) take much-earned co-directing credit for one of the most remarkable documentary works in recent years.

 

The 110 minutes-long program lays out in near-brilliant detail all the ins and outs of how people are separated and how tough life can be there.  For Israelis, the idea of their lives and religion being further minimalized and eliminated by anti-Semitic forces worldwide for good reason, far beyond what the Nazis almost succeeded in doing.  For Palestinians, it is never being recognized as a people who deserve to be part of the world at large and allowing their only support to be from the Arab world, since they feel they have no where else to turn.  The United Nations has certainly failed to change this, even though a peace accord was reached and nearly took hold.

 

As usual, the hate is coming from all over the place and ruining these kids; the misery that all adult sides have agreed too foolishly, the land that will never be able to be cut in a way that will ever truly bring peace, the pain that will never go away from a lost one being murdered.  The shocking thing is that the seven children focused on in interviews throughout are doing the talking and thinking adults gave up on decades ago.  It is a disgrace to all.  By the time I finished watching this, I was so fired up and angry, I could not believe it.

 

For one thing, the U.S. news media has done an awful job of presenting either side in the three dimensions they deserve to be represented as.  None of the news networks have been fair or balanced in any way, shape, or form and that is a disgrace.  Even the BBC, usually better at these things, seems to have blown it.  What this tells me is that more people and parties are benefiting from conflict, genocide and hate than we are being told.  The events of 9/11/01 only further obscure the truth in this matter, especially with dark forces in the U.S. who want perpetual war.

 

Israel has made some major mistakes and the Palestinian government bears as much blame, though they seem to be being used by Islamic extremists as much as Israel is being used (especially recently) by The Religious Right in the U.S., far more than they realize.  How convenient the extremists are allowing others to die for their insane beliefs, but that is a way to avoid war crime charges, of course.  This document, the common sense of such young children, is vital beyond words and will serve as evidence of how the conflict can be resolved.  Whenever that resolution happens, unless everyone kills each other, this vision will be vindicated by time.  The truth always is.

 

The full frame, taped image has the usual limits, but is in very clean, clear shape.  The DVD has the best possible transfer you will see of this material.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo has very faint Pro Logic surrounds, but is as clear as can be expected for being shot under the circumstances it was shot.  The combination is better than expected just the same.  Extras include biographies of the filmmakers, a 10:57 segment of the series Globe Trekker, and a 2004 featurette (19 minutes) updating further what has happened to the children for starters, now in their late teens.  They turned out so well and you have to wonder if it is because the meeting in the film with others gave them a moral center that put them above the evils of suicide bombings, terrorism, and petty politics.  Three deleted scenes lasting 13:51 only add to the picture.  Another featurette has some of the cast going to Academy Awards when this was up for Best Documentary.  This segment covers the build up to the evening in sections and runs 14:17. 

 

“People on both sides die.  Both sides loose.”  That statement essentially sums up the entire film, but it actually offers some light and possibilities on how to act on this.  Michael Apted’s Up Series (reviewed elsewhere on this site) was definitely a model for this and like that series, this came out of a TV show.  In this case, it was Globe Trekker, and it is fair to say it is the most important installment they ever embarked on.  Promises is a must-see DVD.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo