Checkpoint 2003
Distributed by Choices, Inc., 3740 Overland Ave., Ste. F, Los Angeles CA 90034; (310) 839-1500
Produced by Amit Breuer Edna and Elinor Kowarsky
Directed by Yoav Shamir
DVD, color, 80 min.
College - Adult
Human Rights, Jewish Studies, Middle Eastern Studies, Military Studies, Political Science, Sociology
Date Entered: 05/27/2005
Reviewed by Douglas Reed, Department of Political Science, Ouachita Baptist University, Arkadelphia, ARCheckpoint reveals the human toll of Israel’s actions in the West Bank and Gaza.
The film provides insights from both sides - the Israeli soldiers who guard roadblocks and the Palestinians who attempt to go through them. The length of the documentary and the repeated visits to various checkpoints demonstrate the recurring difficulties of Palestinians in the occupied territories. The film provides many examples of the capricious nature of access to neighboring communities. Some situations seem like a Kafka novel. That is, individuals who are initially permitted to pass through a checkpoint are often denied re-entry. On occasion, they are trapped between checkpoints and unable to return home. Adding to the frustration, soldiers often do not have an explanation for the change in policy. The film also shows the heart-wrenching trauma of family separation, whereby some members are allowed passage and others are left behind.
Most noteworthy is the film’s cinema vérité style, which makes the content more realistic. Viewers will have a true sense of the soldiers’ and the civilians’ frustrations. Moreover, Checkpoint offers a balanced vantage point, showing how both sides grapple with uncertainty and mistrust on a daily basis. The soldiers must deal with inconsistent orders and the fear of suicide bombers. The Palestinians are forced to contend with the unpredictability of checkpoint access.
Checkpoint received “best documentary” accolades at international film festivals in Amsterdam, Barcelona, Newport, San Francisco, and Toronto.
Highly Recommended for academic and public libraries.
See another EMRO review of Checkpoint.