Refuseniks 2005
Distributed by Third World Newsreel, 545 Eighth Avenue, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10018; 212-947-9277
Produced by Reel Revolution Films
Directed by Sonja de Vries
DVD, color and b&w, 56 min.
Sr. High - Adult
Middle Eastern Studies, Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Date Entered: 06/03/2008
Reviewed by Michael Fein, Coordinator of Library Services, Central Virginia Community College, Lynchburg, VAThis production is really a quite well done piece of what the Soviets termed “agitprop”—a piece of propaganda meant to agitate and inspire a particular course of action/thought. De Vries, a far-left activist who loves Fidel and wants to establish "social justice" presents the stories of members of the Israeli military who refuse to serve in the so-called occupied territories (Gaza and the West Bank). For this reason, they are “people of conscience” which will lead many to assume that those who do serve are people without consciences. But let’s get down to the basic argument: it’s all the fault of the Jews. If they hadn’t shown up, why there’d be no problems in the Middle East, everyone would sing “Kum Ba Ya” and we could all live in bliss. There will be fighting over what is now Israel until either one side or the other wins. Don’t waste your time on this.