Review of Five Broken Cameras (2011) by Megan T — 16 Jan 2013

This Oscar nominated documentary is presented from a poor, Palestinian, olive farmer turned journalist's point of view. It highlights the injustices being done to the people of his village, Bil'in, by showcasing several "non-violent" protests they orchestrate at or near "the wall". They are hostile partisanly, rather than the "non-violent call for peace" he insists are their purpose.These protests are accompanied by narration and short organizations of film showing Emad, the filmmaker's, home life and personal events with his family and friends in an attempt to demonstrate the normality and love outside his opposition to Israel's efforts.

Although this documentary succeeds in showing the violation and oppression of the people in his village, it begins to take a different turn when venturing out into much more multifaceted situations such as Gaza. It seemed to me that the film maker attempted to paint the Gaza situation as similar to his own. The documentary goes from quite innocent to conspicuously one-sided when nearing an close. In this way, he fails by deconstructing and greatly oversimplying situations which are not simply "non-violent" protests against the encroachment of freedom and property such as his own. It is more than bias; it is frankly just incorrect.

It is also notable to mention that I found the willingness and justification by many of the Palestinians to take their small children to their "protests", protests which are frequently broken up by tear gas and live ammunition, highly disturbing. At one point, a small boy is killed by a sniper in a neighboring town undergoing a similar siege as Bil'in. Although such a thing is clearly unjustified, I can't help but wonder why this boy, who couldn't possibly understand such opposition, was partaking in it. Many times, the film maker is seen with his small children (the youngest at 4 years old) participating in similar protests. I understand the anger and frustration of Bil'in's citicizens but cannot possibly promote using unsuspecting children to further such feelings.

This is certainly a flawed documentary, but it does get its point across - that the obstruction of freedom and violent actions being perpetrated against the citizens of Bil'in are wholly iniquitous. And although imperfect and somewhat angled, '5 Broken Cameras' serves it purpose well.