Arna's Children

This documentary tells the story about a children's theater group in Jenin in the Palestinian territories. The theater group was established by once passionate zionist Arna mer-Khamis who later became an Isreaeli Jewish political and human rights activist involved in peace building and dialogue in the region.

I watched the movie as part of my master's program and it had a tremendous impact on me. On one hand due to the immense energy and empathy of Arna, despite numerous obstacles and working under extremly difficult conditions, she never gives up, never ceases to inspire and encourage the people around her. Also, witnesseing how a group of eight-year olds develop over the course of ten years, is eye-opening. Some go on to become suicide bombers while others try to live as normal a life as the occupational zone allows and yet others are imprisoned due to open resistance to the Israeli forces.

Most strikingly of all perhaps is the "invisible" character of the director, Arna's son. The love and devotion with which he depicts his mother's life work is humbling. It can not have been easy on him to bear witness to - and become a target of - the intense hatred and frustration developed but the once (fairly) innocent children in the theater group.

Highly recommended for anyone who wants a grasp on life in a war zone.

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Year: 
2004
Director: 
Juliano Mer Khamis
Film Category: 
Country: 
The Netherlands
Israel
Palestine