Educational Media Reviews Online

Private is a story of a Palestinian family facing a difficult decision—one we do not face in the West. The story takes place in Israel. Militant activity has surged in the family’s neighborhood. Security forces move in and requisition the family’s three-story home, which looks like a fortress with its unfinished concrete walls. The family is given a choice to stay or leave, and they decide to stay. The viewer should be aware that collaboration with the soldiers, whether perceived or real, more than likely means a summary death sentence for the family by the militants. However, the choice to stay is not dramatized as a capitulation. What the story reveals is a man standing up for secular values like protecting personal property and hoping to be judged by reason. It’s a bold and daring stance, especially given the tense political climate in Israel, and this is what Western viewers should identify and find solidarity with.

The father has many variables to consider. While he struggles with his decision to try to save the family’s property, he also struggles with his son’s and daughter’s desire to resist the soldiers. The family must also face the very real possibility that the father’s decision will result in profound loss—of both property and life. By staying, they risk their lives. If they resist, they risk their lives. If they leave, they will be refugees and will lose everything the family has worked for. There is only the slimmest of possibilities that they will be left alone once the soldiers leave. The requisition of the house becomes an analogy for co-existence. The video itself is no cinematic wonder, but the story is important, perfectly believable. This video is recommended for high school, college, and university collections in Middle Eastern Studies.