Jenin, Jenin 2002
Distributed by Arab Film Distribution, 10035 35th Ave. NE, Seattle, WA 98125; 206-322-0882
Produced by Iyad Samoudi and Mohamed Bakri
Directed by Mohamed Bakri
DVD, color, 54 min.
Sr. High - Adult
Ethics, Human Rights, Jewish Studies, International Relations, Middle Eastern Studies
Date Entered: 08/06/2004
Reviewed by Brad Eden, Ph.D., Head, Web and Digitization Services, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las VegasThis film is an account, from the Palestinian perspective, of the Israeli Army's Defensive Wall operation of April, 2002 on the Palestinian city of Jenin. The city and camp were the scenes of fierce fighting in early 2002, resulting in the destruction of the city by the Israelis, leaving scores of Palestinians dead and many homeless. The DVD includes a slideshow with eyewitness accounts, a map of Jenin, scene selections, and biographies of the filmmakers.
The film interviews numerous Palestinians who survived the attack, as well as shows scenes of the destroyed camp and city. Many of the interviewees were either dejected or defiant in their opinion of what happened at Jenin. The United Nations appointed a commission of inquiry into human rights violations and war crimes to examine the Jenin massacre, but Israel has refused to let members of the commission visit the scene. The producer of this film, Iyad Samoudi, was killed shortly after this film was completed at another town that the Israeli army was destroying.
This film is meant to be biased and opinionated, given that it is from the Palestinian perspective. The destruction and loss of life, however, that this film portrays captures the desperation and resolve of a people who feel that they are being unfairly targeted and eliminated by another ethnic group. This film should be watched, understanding that it portrays only one side of a conflict in the Middle East that has strong feelings on both sides.