Educational Media Reviews Online

Working on a shoreline “on the edge” between Gaza and Israel, a group of Palestinians and Jews manage to operate a small fishing boat between 1999 and 2003. With limited, interspersed pieces of narration, and few bona fide interview portions, this film has the nature of a story more than a documentary. It explores the mutual respect, camaraderie, and tensions over time. Though there are segments of joking and bickering, the backdrop and tone of this work is somewhat ominous, as the audience is frequently reminded of the bellicose environment in which these men are managing to cooperate. The most compelling parts of this film take place off the boats, when the men discuss their feelings on God, family, and, to smaller extent, politics.

From a production standpoint, there are often long periods of time with no dialog. The vast majority of the film examines the men’s first two years together. Nevertheless, this is a superb and unmistakably unique film. The timing and presentation of events, such as the reaction to the Ramallah lynching, accentuate the fundamental divide they must overcome. The film is not so much a forum for debate between the two parties, as it is a demonstration of striving for manageable coexistence in an incredibly hostile setting.

This is a strong work, highly recommended to anyone who wants to witness a nearly implausible alliance of men, enduring pressures from outside and within.