Homeland

Homeland is the fourth and final part of George Sluizer's documentary series on Palestine and the Palestinian people. Following the same two families as the previous films - made in 1974-1975, 1977, and 1983 - Sluizer built up a very special and warm relationship with them over the decades. After recovering from a severe illness, Sluizer wished to return once more to give a final update on their turbulent lives and the situation in Jerusalem.

Feeling that the Palestinian people were solely depicted as terrorists in popular media, Sluizer aimed to humanise the Palestinians, by sharing their stories. For Homeland, Sluizer meets up with his old friends again, and listens to their experiences. In all four films, the question what you expect from the future is a recurrent one. As many Palestinians feel themselves as exiles, this question addresses a significant source of uncertainty in their lives. New in this documentary is that Sluizer also interviews Israeli people and asks them for their motivations to drive out the Palestinians from their homes.

This documentary series is quintessential to the Dutchman's oeuvre; its provides new perspectives on a relevant topic, and it is thoroughly human and adventurous. Homeland can both be viewed as final part of the series, but as it incorporates material from the previous documentaries, it can also be watched separately.