On Sunday, the award-winning documentary “5 Broken Cameras” will be shown at the Workers’ Education Association in Gloucester Street Christchurch. One of the filmmakers, Emad Burnat, will also be attending and the organisers promise an extended Q&A period. The showing is part of nationwide tour.The event is organised by:
- Kia Ora Gaza
- Christchurch Palestine Organisation
- The Solidarity Movement for Free Palestine and
- New Zealand Palestine Solidarity Network
The film won an award at the prestigious 2012 Sundance Festival; the Golden apricots award at the 2012 Yerevan International Film Festival, Armenia; for Best Documentary Film, won the 2013 International Emmy Award, and was nominated for a 2013 Academy Award.
It was initially developed by the Greenhouse Development Project, a Mediterranean development project initiated by an Israeli foundation and sponsored by the European Union.
Later it received funding from international and Israeli sources such as the New Israeli Cinema Fund (Israel), the Jan Vrijman Fund (Netherland), ITVS (USA).
Still later, funding was provided by Israel’s Channel 8, Dutch Television IKON, and sources in Canada, South Korea, and the UK. Ultimately French television and the CNC French Cinema Fund provided help.
A survey of critical reviews of the film indicates clear themes:
- The film presents a one-eyed pro-Palestinian view of the Middle Eastern conflict; and
- Does not attempt to present a perspective from the settlers’ or the security forces’ perspective; and
- The film itself has been artistically and technically, well produced.
For this reason, we believe that the documentary is worthwhile viewing, even if it is just to behold it’s artistic and technical brilliance. Nonetheless, as a piece of ethical independent journalism, it is not. It is instead, a great piece of advocacy journalism, that is, propaganda.
In particular, viewers should bear in mind that criticism of the content has focused on two significant areas:
- That Israeli security forces use unnecessary force; some have noted that there is footage which has been heavily edited in order to contrive its message; and
- That it ignores the fact that Palestinian violence caused the security fence or wall to be constructed.
For further reading:
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