West Of The Jordan River

West Of The Jordan River, directed and narrated by prolific filmmaker Amos Gitai, is a 2017 political documentary that compellingly presents various narratives of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Woven into this feature are notable appearances by prominent figures including former U.S. President Bill Clinton and Israeli politician Tzipi Hotovely, who provide their own perspectives on the enduring problem.

The film extends beyond a conventional documentary by seeking to understand the human element of this decades-long conflict. Gitai presents a unique cinematic approach by examining the lives of ordinary people residing in occupied territories in West Bank and Gaza Strip. He uses his camera to facilitate dialogue, tear down stereotypes, and allow voices to be heard that are usually silenced in the wide tableau of international geopolitical discourse.

Unlike previous films that have sought to detail this conflict from a strictly political or religious viewpoint, West Of The Jordan River does not prioritize dogma over people. It examines the political situation with a humanistic angle, providing a platform for people on both sides of the divide, thus stimulating a less polarized, more nuanced understanding of the Israel-Palestine issue. Gitai, through his patient and understated direction, lets the protagonists in this conflict speak for themselves in a manner that promotes empathy and invites reflection.

Bill Clinton, a commendably key figure in peace talks during his term as the US president, provides insightful commentary that lends an international perspective on the issue. His realistic, hopeful outlook about peace and his candid reflection on the peace process add a layer of depth to the film's narrative, offering viewers an understanding of how international actors perceive and engage with the conflict.

Tzipi Hotovely, Israel's deputy minister of Foreign Affairs at the time, shares her avowedly Zionist position. Her views, depicted without critique or commentary, serve as a stark representation of one facet of Israeli political thought, contributing to the film's objective portrayal of the complex viewpoints involved in the conflict.

Through a series of disjointed scenes reflecting the disjointed nature of daily life in the disputed territories, West Of the Jordan River manages to convey the tragic absurdity of the situation. These vignettes include conversing with families, interviews with activists from both sides advocating for peace, navigating through military checkpoints, and visiting schools and hospitals that bear the brunt of the ongoing turmoil.

Dialogues, rather than monologues, form the core of the film. Gitai establishes substantive exchanges with individuals in the backdrop of the simmering conflict, whether they are bereaved Israeli and Palestinian parents collaborating to stem the perpetuation of hatred, women from Gaza recounting their everyday hardships, or rappers using music as a tool for resistance and protest against occupation. These narrative threads help envision a more personal, less caricatured conflict as viewers realize that beneath the political polarization, there lies a shared commonality of human experiences and suffering.

The documentary also captures interactions with various organizations like 'Breaking the Silence', a group of Israeli ex-soldiers who strive to expose the realities of the military occupation. The group's members discuss their experiences and their reluctant transformation into dissenters. Such depictions underline Gitai's intent not to provide resolutions, but to dwell on questions, provoke thought, and expose the diversity of experiences and narratives within this geopolitical quagmire.

The film's power lies in its quiet, unpretentious presentation of dialogues and exchanges occurring in the shadow of ongoing strife, juxtaposed with unflinching yet respectful introspections of the conflict's protagonists. With West Of The Jordan River, Amos Gitai has crafted a poignant emotional testament that humanizes a fraught political conflict. The film's array of perspectives enlighten without preaching, interrogate without accusing, and ultimately, urge a path towards understanding and reconciliation.