Living in Conflict is
a documentary about five Israeli Jewish and Palestinian individuals who use
art, science, music and poetry as way of surviving conflict in a region riddled
with tension. It is a film about the measureless part of the human spirit--the
part in all of us that can create beauty out of pain.
It is not a political film, but rather a film about personal journeys which
inevitably embody the political situation. Natan Yonatan, the unofficial poet
laureate of Israel, deals with the loss of a son through the words of a writer.
Acclaimed Israeli Palestinian author, Hana Abu Hana, creates poetry which
reflects his pain over the loss of his country and the disenfranchisement
of his people. Rana Bishara , a young Israeli Palestinian artist, gives voice
to her anger and fears about the future by creating sculptures out of dried
and chocolate covered cactus. Yair Delal , an oriental Jew of Iraqi descent,
creates music that bridges both the Arab and Israeli cultures. Close by in
Jericho, Dr. Rose Bilbool, an 89- year- old Jewish scientist has dedicated
her life to making holistic health products from papaya and has become a celebrated
healer of both Jews and Palestinians.
It is through the stories and lives of these individuals that we are presented
with a rich tapestry of perspectives concerning the conflict in the region.
Perspectives that go far beyond the mainstream media’s portrayal of the
situation. It is at the end of the film when Rose and Rana meet for the first
time in New York just ten days before September 11th that we see that despite
all the differences it is possible for humans to understand and accept eachother
on many levels. Living in Conflict is a film about the ways individuals use
their passions and creativity in order to survive conflict. It is an important
documentary because although it focuses on individuals from Israel/Palestine,
it transcends these boundaries by serving as a metaphor for every country
in conflict.
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