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All we are saying…

I watched a fantastic documentary called Promises last night. Promises follows the lives of 7 children growing up in and around the Jerusalem area, filmed in the late 1990’s, months before the outbreak of the second Intifada. The primary allure of Promises is that it tells the story of the modern Israeli/Palestinian struggle through the eyes of the children it profiles. Some of the kids are Jews, some are Arabs.

The most beautiful portions of the film are towards the end, when Daniel and Yarko, two secular Jewish twins, are given the chance to meet Faraj, a Palestinian boy living in a refugee camp outside a Jerusalem checkpoint. Once initial awkwardness falls by the wayside, the children get busy doing what kids do best - being children. After a day of fun and getting to know each other, the kids are seated in a living room and asked to speak honestly about the unfortunate situation in which they are forced to live. A touching moment occurs when Faraj, after listening to several kids’ opinions, comes to the realization that this day of innocent bonding and relationship building will most likely someday succumb to the hatred passed on from generation to generation. Heartbreaking stuff.

Big thumbs up, in my book. If only we could see the world like children.