First Run / Icarus Films - http://www.frif.com
A New Release about the Current Intifada
BETHLEHEM DIARY A Film by Antonia Caccia
It's Christmas in Bethlehem, 2000. In this final year of the 20th Century, the town was expecting 5 million visitors to celebrate the end of the millennium, but the streets are deserted, the hotels are shut, and shops are empty. The Israeli army has closed off Bethlehem since the 2nd Intifada began the previous September. Areas of the town have been heavily shelled and ruins are everywhere.
BETHLEHEM DIARY is a compelling personal account of the current Intifada -- an opportunity to witness the lives of Palestinian families living in Bethlehem during this arduous period.
The film focuses on two Palestinian families and an Israeli human rights lawyer. We witness their lives amidst extraordinary events - through moments of despair and anger. The intimate, surreal, and humorous stories they tell help us to understand how violence and uncertainty affect both their public and private lives.
We see how routine tasks such as driving to work, taking the kids to school or visiting a doctor have become daily struggles. Movement of any kind has been extremely difficult since the Israeli army bulldozed many roads in and around town.
Six months later, July 2001. Bethlehem is buckling under the pressure. As high-rise Israeli settlements go up a few hundred yards away, the heightening tension and violence are forcing these families to consider the painful decision of leaving their homes.
BETHLEHEM DIARY brings the current Palestinian/Israeli conflict into focus. Through intimate first-hand accounts, the film captures the thinking and emotion of the street, and allows for a deeper understanding of the ever-evolving crisis in the Middle East.
60 minutes / Color / 2001 / Order # LB31 Sale/video: $390 Rental/video: $100
* Please refer to Order #'s on all purchase orders and written requests. * Free preview for purchase consideration available. * Purchase price includes Public Performance Rights. * Canadian Rights are available for this title. _______________________________________________________
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