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.

The Narrow Bridge is a most meaningful, deeply moving and inspiring story of a complex journey from trauma to hope. Its about people seeking mutual understanding, despite their grief.

Esther Takac , psychologist and author, created this film with so much respect and sensitivity.

Esther Takac brings the viewers an incredibly important message through this compelling and powerful documentary. The Narrow Bridge film explores the emotional journey of four people from both sides of a conflict; a journey from devastating trauma and profound grief to mutual understanding and shared positive activism.

For a first film, Esther Takac has hit the ground running. A superbly curated film reminding us of the deeply personal and human side of conflict and offering hope to those who should have felt hopeless. Bereaved families on either side of the Israel-Palestine conflict come together to share their grief, hopes and refusal to have their losses define them. These are authentic ambassadors for peace and their stories are beautifully and sensitively told by Takac's perceptive film. We also hear from the opponents of their cause, but this ultimately uplifting film is a moving testament to those who use their own losses to try to save others from that same fate. We need more films like this!

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.

The Narrow Bridge provides an intimate window into the lives and hearts of two Palestinians and two Israelis and their families who have suffered tragic loss through the conflict, and who have worked to move past fear and hatred towards recognition of each others common humanity. We are witness to the resistance to this mutual engagement from their respective communities. While the complex and bitter politics of the conflict are not avoided, the human story is always foregrounded. This profoundly emotional yet unsentimental film leaves the viewer with a sense of the potential of grass roots, person to person community building as a response to the conflict.