Tantura

This movie should be seen from an educational perspective. When they say that history repeats itself it is important to understand why. If one wants a reminder as to why, they should consider watching this. It leaves you with many mixed emotions. You feel like you are watching an episode of Law and Order with no legal trial. You feel you are watching CSI with no evidence presented. You feel you are watching a legal drama where there is truth being hidden like in the movie primal fear. It leaves you with a feeling of what people are capable of out of fear and trauma where there is no impunity. Its a must see for a open mind.

As I write this review in May of 2024, my American government is funding the genocide of the people of Gaza. So far, about 40,000 have been massacred by the IDF with an assortment of armaments from our stores, including two thousand pound "dumb bombs." Teddy Katz is a true hero for having the courage for speaking out against his country by writing a paper with full proof with interviews, of some of the atrocities committed during the Nakba(catastrophe) of 1948. One interview subject, in particular, spoke with glee of a teenage Palestinian girl being sexually assaulted. The man belongs in a jail cell.

Katz received death threats for this and every member of congress should be locked in a room and forced to watch this documentary. It will never happen.

Of course this film's topic is absolutely essential and I am so glad this story is being told. As for the way the film portrays details (the eerie points where people smile, the reaction of the dog and other animals, the inflections of the people being interviewed) is what made this film so terrifying and so strong. It's also why I recommend watching it multiple times-you'll notice more detail each time. I've watched it twice, a year apart, and found myself catching so many more small details. This film is essential if you want to educate yourself about Palestine and its history, and about the way people lie to themselves to keep their "morality" intact. Ultimately, what I found myself feeling again after watching is this: being afraid to learn, to adapt and to admit when you were wrong is essential to liberation. Every time someone in this film says "I don't think about that anymore," it's so clear that they think about it every day.

This is a very revealing film which documents the horrendous massacres committed against the indigenous people of Palestine. The interviewer skillfully exposes the repetitive lies and excuses concocted by certain members of the zionist militias as they ransacked village after village with the peaceful seaside hamlet of Tantura being the focal point of this documentary. It was refreshing to hear the truth being told from time to time. Interviewing Ilan Pappe for this film was excellent as he is the foremost Israeli scholar on the events that transpired during The Nakba. Very educational and well worthy of a watch.

My previous review was canceled without any explanation; my only thought is that it must have contained a spoiler.

This is an important film to see. I think the director did a great job telling a forgotten story about the creation of Israel. We are offered a glimpse into history from the perspective of the Israeli soldiers who participated in the massacres of the Palestinian villages that were ethnically cleansed during the creation of the state of Israel. I am amazed that this film was made and screened at US festivals, given the censure these types of films typically receive. It's a tough watch, but a necessary one.