Budrus

 

Story:

Documentarian Julia Bacha delves into the fraught world of Palestinian-Israeli relations in this amazing account of one family's leadership of a movement to prevent Israel's Separation Barrier from slicing the Palestinian village of Budrus in half. Ayed Morrar inspires nonviolent protests of the giant barrier by numerous factions, and his 15-year-old daughter, Iltezam, leads a women's group. Archival footage and interviews illuminate the action. (Netflix)

Review:

Despite my best intentions to not sound like a sappy fool, I’m, more often then not, a sappy fool.  I love heart warming stories and inspiring tales. Sure I enjoy a story that drags audiences through the muck and mire of humanity, but sometimes you need to be pulled out of all that, cleaned up and given the chance to see life from a more hopeful perspective.  Cue Julia Bacha’ Budrus.

Ask any ordinary citizen what the situation between Palestine and Israel is, and you can probably sum up their perspective as ‘bleak’ (and it doesn’t matter which side of the argument they’re on).  So when Bacha’s documentary was about to start, I was prepared for a stirring argument for tearing down the wall Israel was building, but also a lengthy summation of how terrible the situation is.  To my surprise though, I didn’t leave the theater cynical or more jaded, I left hopeful. Inspired even.

See Budrus is a story of one man in one tiny village uniting an angry community into protesting peacefully to cause change.  We all wish we could see the efforts of Martin Luther King or Gandhi in action and wonder if force is the only tool left for enacting real change, but Ayed Morrar and his community proves the peace movement has something left in the tank.

Now don’t get me wrong, this is a film staunchly supporting the Palestinian side of the debate and those on the opposing side will mock this film.  And that’s fine, this review is not meant to argue the either side but to look at the documentary as a narrative, and when focused squarely on that, it’s hard to deny the beauty of Bacha’s work.  What makes the film so special is how little ‘talking’ there is.  This is not a theoretical film, but a detailed demonstration of a peace movement in action.

Everything about Budrus is fascinating.  If you don’t instantly appreciate Morrar and his family, then his ideals will certainly captivate you.  And if those don’t hold you, the drama and tension certainly will.  And if those don’t engage you, there’s always the promise of hope and inspiration.  And frankly, if that doesn’t do it for you, then you’re a lost cause anyway.

Budrus is a great film and further proof that stories from our real life can enthrall audiences more than any Hollywood film.  But more importantly, for those activists weary of the efforts of their peaceful protests- for those tired, angry and shell shocked – perhaps this film will provide encouragement.  Then again, if you’re an every day person just looking for a good story, you can’t go wrong with this either.

Reviewed by Matthew Abshire for Documentary Film Online on April 27, 2011

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