Films

Promises

Film. Written and directed by Justine Shapiro, B. Z. Goldberg, and Carlos Bolado. 2001. 106 minutes.
This documentary explores the Palestinian-Israeli conflict from the eyes and experiences of Israeli and Palestinian children living in the West Bank.

Time Periods: 2001-

Themes: US Foreign Policy, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements, World History/Global Studies

What is it really like to live in Jerusalem? The 2001 documentary Promises offers touching and fresh insight into the Middle East conflict when filmmakers Justine Shapiro, B. Z. Goldberg, and Carlos Bolado travel to this complex and charged city to see what seven children — Palestinian and Israeli — think about war, peace and just growing up.

Living within 20 minutes of each other, these children are nevertheless locked in separate worlds. Through candid interviews, the film explores a legacy of distrust and bitterness, but signs of hope emerge when some of the children dare to cross the checkpoints to meet one another. [Adapted from PBS description.]

Watch the trailer for Promises below. The documentary can be rented on Vimeo, and also viewed in Spanish.