SFJFF 30: 'Budrus'

The international documentary team of Julia Bacha and Ronit Avni are back (after 2006's Encounter Point) with another compassionate film about ordinary people dealing with extraordinary conditions - Budrus - a film which has already won prizes in San Francisco and Berlin, and special mentions at the Tribeca and Madrid festivals. When the Israeli state began bulldozing olive orchards on Palestinian land around the village of Budrus in the West Bank in preparation for construction of another section of the 'security fence', local residents organized in non-violent resistance against troops in an attempt to save their village, their land, and their way of life. Local organizer Ayed Morrar brought together Fatah and Hamas affiliates in a style of resistance that has proved one of the most effective in the struggle against state misuse of power everywhere, and when Budrus villagers' daily struggle attracted the attention of Israeli peacemakers as well, activists from both sides of the border joined forces to create a wall of joint resistance it is an inspiration to see. Cameras capture the entire story from inception through crisis to resolution, and this footage is edited together with interviews with Morrar and his family (his 15 year-old daughter organized the women), Hamas organizer Ahmed Awwad, Israeli activists, internationals, troops and border police, as well as clips of Israeli news shows covering the situation with talking heads and opinions reflecting the state position. But its impossible not to cheer for the ordinary people in this struggle. Compliments to the Jewish Film Festival for, once again, screening films which challenge the dominant trend in thinking about the Arab-Israeli conflict, especially after last year's fracas over the Rachel Corrie film. If you want to support their doing so, and need to hear some good news from the Middle East, news about people and not ideals, positions, statements, rebuttals, etc. - or worse still, violence and casualties - go to see this wonderful film and see for yourself what people who have no political power can do when they organize. Here's the trailer: