Et Israël fut
Romed Wyder
FR, CH • 2017 • 52’ • VO/OV st En
+ I signed the Petition • Mahdi Fleifel
Timed to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel on 14 May 1948, the documentary "And There Was Israel" traces the history of Zionism from the perspective of Western responsibility. Or how, using impressive archival images, this 'Eretz Israel' [Land of Israel], built from the pieces of religious memory, was consolidated by a national imperative that was born as an idea in the late 19th century in a Europe where anti-Semitism was prevalent.
Through the analysis of internationally-renowned experts, this brilliant documentary shows how, in adopting the Zionist project in 1948, Great Britain and other Western countries have been guided mainly by their own agenda.
Preceded by the documentary I signed the petition by Mahdi Fleifel • Royaume-Uni, Allemagne, Suisse • 2018 • 10’• VO/OV st Fr/En
What does it mean to be Palestinian? How can the act of signing a petition put people in the crosshairs of different control systems? How effective are political actions? This film starts with a very simple idea but puts it forward in a very careful way, using only the voices of people trying to come to terms with the contradictions and hypocrisy of postmodern politics. Through a conversation between two friends, the film analyzes, deconstructs, and interprets what it means to choose to publicly support the cultural boycott of Israel.
