Raised to be Heroes 2006
Distributed by National Film Board of Canada, 1123 Broadway, Suite 307, New York, NY 10010; 800-542-2164
Produced by Tracey Friesen and Rina Fraticelli
Directed by Jack Silberman
DVD, color, 40 min.
Sr. High - Adult
Jewish Studies, Middle Eastern Studies, Social Sciences
Date Entered: 10/12/2006
Reviewed by Geraldine B. Hébert, Bronx Community College, Bronx, NYRaised to be Heroes focuses on the lives of five young men, called “Refuseniks,” living in Israel who face the excruciating dilemma of fighting for their country or refusing and suffering the consequences of imprisonment and shame. Being true to their conscience, they refuse to continue a war of aggression and revenge on a people like themselves.
Raised in a system that prepares them for war against their neighbor Palestine, this generation of young men suffers backlash and hostility from the nation of Israel, family, friends and society due to their unwillingness to follow in the footsteps of their fathers. For conscience sake, they cannot fight against or oppress a people who seek to exist as they do. With this new breed of Israeli soldiers, the Refuseniks hope to end the occupation and fighting in Israel and Palestine and live peacefully among each other.
With the political climate changing as the number of Refuseniks increase, this documentary uses their experiences to inspire an essential dialogue about peace, democracy and personal responsibility. They are determined to break the cycle of aggression, oppression and revenge that has been fundamental to their culture for so many years.