Caught in the Crossfire 2001
Distributed by First Run/Icarus Films, 32 Court St., 21st Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201; 800-876-1710
Produced in association with the Independent Television Service
Directed by David Van Taylor and Brad Lichtenstein
VHS, color, 54 min.
Sr. High - Adult
Middle Eastern Studies, American Studies, Multicultural Studies
Date Entered: 11/09/2018
Reviewed by Homa Naficy, Coordinator, The American Place: A Resource Center for Immigrants and Refugees, Hartford Public Library, Hartford, CTThe makers of Caught in the Crossfire attempt to document the lives of three New Yorkers of Arab decent and how they were affected by the events of September 11, 2001. Ahmed Nasser a New York police officer emigrated from Yemen in 1986. He is a proud American, one of "New York’s Finest," and a devout Muslim. Married with two young sons, he finds himself protecting the streets against a different sort of violence, one directed against Muslims, Arab Americans, and his very own family. He voluntarily convenes a meeting of Muslim Law Enforcement Officers, to create ways to outreach to the community and educate them about their fellow Muslim citizens. He is young and hopeful.
A pastor at the Salam Arabic Lutheran Church, Khader El Yateem emigrated in 1992 from the Palestinian territories. Both Muslims and Christians attend his church. The congregation has grown since 9/11, and support groups have been formed to help parents to understand the effects of the tragedy on the behavior of their children. The pastor and his wife work long hours, as they are also trying to support families in their birthland. Their struggles seem almost futile in face of the daily news of Israeli attacks on their people, as the campaign is heightened dramatically by the war on terrorism. At times it seems Khader would all but fall apart if not for his faith in God.
Finally, we meet Raghida Dergham, who at the age of seventeen, arrived from Lebanan in 1970. She believed that this country would liberate her. Today, she is a leading correspondent for Al Hayat. Daring and opinionated, she has achieved international fame, yet as we gain a glimpse into her personal life, we see her vulnerabilities. She identifies with the pain of others and affirms that only this recognition allows for communication among people of different backgrounds. Putting animosities into perspective, Raghida Dergham relentlessly tries to uncover both sides of the terrorism story.
Through straightforward film footage and interviews we are able to gain profound insight into the struggles of Arab-Americans. The film clippings intelligently and creatively alternate among the three characters. As long as we continue to reel from the events of September 11, Caught in the Crossfire, will be a priority acquisition and a first choice for initiating sensible discussion on the topic.