The Narrow Bridge

This documentary by Esther Takac is important to see. It prompts us to re-think how one can deal with intense personal trauma, and heal through a human approach. Two women and two men share their intimate journeys and lived experiences. Though all have suffered deep loss, they help others understand the futility of hatred. The commonality of their grief leads them to journey and consequently begin to heal. As a psychologist, Esther Takac deals sensitively with this difficult and potentially polarising situation, transforming the grief of the subjects into a message of hope and of reconciliation.

For anyone interested in the Israeli Palestinian conflict this documentary is essential viewing. In this sensitive and profound documentary, first time director/producer Esther Takac gives us hope that individuals on both sides, tragically impacted by the Israeli Palestinian conflict, are themselves looking for a path to peace. Rather than politicising the conflict, Takac interviews and follows 4 individuals who are part of a grassroots organisation that brings bereaved Israeli and Palestinian families together, building a bridge to understanding and humanising the conflict showing us the power of grassroots movements to bridge the divides. She examines the idea of post traumatic growth and the potential to change the "conflict culture" through understanding. We all have much to learn from this documentary.

This is an incredibly important and powerful documentary that shows us that even those who have lost family due to the violence of 'the other' can find a way to create bonds, make friendships and work together for peace.

I do not know anyone who has seen this documentary and not been moved to tears for the authenticity and honesty brought to us from both sides of this conflict.

There are no 'rose colored' glasses here. It is an honest portrayal of the pain and suffering and how lives were shattered, but also how they have been rebuilt. The 4 people you hear from are part of a group that they say does not need any more members - called Israeli-Palestinian Bereaved Families organisation.

Brilliant teaching tool. Highly recommend.

A Australian director Esther Takac's profoundly humanist documentary The Narrow Bridge brings together people who have lost loved ones in the decades long war between Israel and Palestine. Her main subjects Meytal, Bassam, Rami, and Bushra each lost a family member during the conflict. Meytal's father was hacked to death by Palestinian youths. Bushra's son was murdered by Israeli fighters. Rami's daughter was killed in a suicide bombing while getting schoolbooks. Bassam's daughter was shot outside her school. Coping with enormous trauma and pain, these survivors of unthinkable tragedy decided to reach across the Israeli/Palestinian divide to help create a grass roots peace movement based within the Israeli-Palestinian Bereaved Families organisation.

Esther Takac's documentary filmed over a number of years (beginning in 2017) charts the immense bravery of her subjects and what they are willing to risk for change. With an ultra-right-wing government in Israel tensions are burning. For some of the participants even being in certain areas is illegal. Esther Takac, a trauma psychologist, earned the trust of the participants and lets them tell their stories. Facing opposition not only from each of their cultures but sometimes from friends and family, the participants' commitment to reconciliation and peace is inspiring and honours those they have lost in a beautifully hopeful way. Grief can galvanise people further into hate, but for Meytal, Bassam, Rami, and Bushra the process has meant coming to terms with devastating loss and working to achieve a peace that means no further families will suffer like they have. A crack of light has opened for them and letting the light shine in means that perhaps one day an enlightened society can emerge where people see each other as human beings, not enemies.

A 'Must See' documentary. This important film by Esther Takac is both thought provoking and deeply moving. Created through the lens of an experienced psychologist, we are steered away from fracturing politics and into the human realm. We are introduced to the traumas and losses of the four subjects interviewed. They are gently drawn to share their lived experiences with us as they piece together their broken lives in a bid to help others understand the futility of hatred of conflict. The many insights shared are profound. The impact of their losses and commonality of their grief is what has propelled them to journey across the narrow bridge, to reach out, to begin to heal. A universal message of hope.