Pretty Good

How sad is this?

Admirable film.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

To those that say "there are two sides to this conflict". I say, that thinking reminds me of "who are you going to believe, me or your lying eyes?" The movie is quite disturbing. Children are hauled off in the middle of the night and arrested. A man is shot and killed in front of your own eyes during what appeared to be another non-violent protest. Jewish settlers are allowed to steal land by building a structure and claim land as their own. When Palestinians try to use the same law, the structure is torn down and violence is used against them. Essentially what you have is a modern army, with young soldiers that are allowed to shoot to kill and maim against unarmed yelling civilians. It starts with Palestinians protesting and "yelling loudly" at the Israeli soldiers. They yell at them to have a conscience but unfortunately the some soldiers don't have a conscience and start firing. The soldiers then fire tear gas canisters (maybe a 100 or so) and fire a few bullets into the smoke for good measure. Sometimes the Palestinians are lucky the soldiers only arrest someone for waving a sign or flag in the soldiers faces. The most disturbing moment is a sniper equipped with a modern scope killing an 11 year old deliberately. Maybe the kid was throwing a stone but does that merit the execution of someone in grade school? To some of you "Israel, love it or leave it" types that think it does, I say you people are nuts and evil. If the situation was reversed, you'd be screaming bloody murder to the high heavens. These Arabs deserve to live in peace like anyone else but that's not going to happen. Israel was not deeded to the Jews by God, it is just being stolen bit by bit by men using God as an excuse. It's the oldest story in the book. The English did it to the Irish, The Americans did it to the Indians, the Germans did it to the Jews, and now the Jews are doing it to the Arabs. It never ends and it's always in the name of some God. You'd think everybody would have that scam figured out by now. Anyhow if you want to see how it works ....here it is .....on film right in front of your lying eyes. There are "two sides?" Give me a break.

this documentary was a true and honest eyes to what really happening in the occupied territories by the Zions in Palestine, the events show how the people of the small village Bil'in suffered by the army of the Zions that burned and killed and brook the laws, not humans laws, not world's laws, but them own laws. it has a very real touching scenes witch can make a one shed the tears without he knows, when I watched those scenes and slices from lives of real people I seen those Zions as really they are, not what their press and media whas trying to show us every day in every movie we see. this documentary make me live with El-Phil and Emad and Adeeb and Dabaa for ninety minutes and I wished to live with them some more.I've some many documentaries and movies,an Oscar winning ones. they can't be as good, honest, realistic and lively as this.I'm really wondering and questioning why this can't win an Oscar?!

This is a well-made documentary that allows you to experience the life of Palestinian villagers under the unjust Israeli occupation. It is very sad to see such a proud and resilient people suffer on their own land due to a ruthless and greedy occupation. What touched me the most about this film was the bravery of these unarmed Palestinians--every man, every woman and every child--who stand up day after day to the illegal confiscation of their farm land,their olive trees, and to the soldiers who support usurping settlers and shoot live and rubber ammunition at unarmed protesters. The Israeli army also regularly terrorizes and punishes the whole village, down to arresting children. By the way, all this is against international law. Nobody with any mercy in his/her heart could support such oppression.

Five Broken Cameras is one of those pleasant surprises that you encounter as a movie buff. A homegrown low budget documentary that has you wondering right from the start. The title in and of itself had me curious, and helped pull me in - is this guy some camera shop mechanic or what? Who entitles their documentary after broken cameras? Fortunately, that mystery is solved instantaneously when you find out the film maker's journey through a Palestinian's point of view about the erecting of Israeli wall. It's an eye opening experience to see the progression of the film maker, both in his journey to see the building of the wall either diminished or stopped and his experience as a film maker in capturing the whole experience of the Palestinian domestic way of life. As a North American we are often removed from the complexities of the mid east and most of us are too busy living our own lives to really get a taste of events there. We see it on CNN or read about events in the papers, but it is rare to see such a gem of a documentary that really provides a domestic, gritty look at daily existence on the west bank. If you are a documentary lover, you will enjoy this movie, even if you are not - and just curious about Palestinian life - it's worth a look. I hope you enjoy the documentary - I know I did.Take care Seebs