5 BROKEN CAMERAS (DOCUMENTARY FILM)
Summary
A documentary film about protests against the construction of a barrier in the West Bank, told from the perspective of Palestinian resident and amateur filmmaker Emad Burnat. Emad Burnat is a Palestinian farmer living in the village of Bil'in in the West Bank with his wife Soraya and his four sons. In February 2005, surveyors from Israel arrive and soon thereafter construction vehicles roll in to construct a barrier near the village; the stated purpose is to separate the Israeli settlement of Modi'in-Ilit from Bil'in, but in reality it is being used to seize more land for the Israelis. Around the same time, Emad's fourth son Gibreel is born, and he purchases a camera in order to film him. He remarks on how his other three sons, Mohamad, Yasin, and Taki-Ydin, have endured tumultuous periods in the region's history. The village of Bil'in begins organizing non-violent protests against the barrier, and the Israeli military respond with tear gas. Emad feels compelled to film the protests, as he has acquired the unofficial position of "village cameraman." Emad's friend Phil leads another protest, but the military intervenes again and open fire on the protestors. They are aided by undercover Israeli units disguised as Palestinians, who attack Emad's brother Riyad. The village organizes weekly demonstrations, and another villager, Adeeb, becomes a leading figure for the movement, seemingly unafraid of the Israeli soldiers. The protests in Bil'in draw international attention, and people from around the world join in the protests. During one protest, Emad's camera is damaged by a gas grenade, injuring his hand in the process. The camera lasted from the winter of 2005 to the fall of 2006. His friend Yisrael gives him another camera so he can continue filming, and after a month Riyad is returned from jail; he is the first to be arrested in the demonstrations. Gibreel turns one year old and Emad spends a great deal of time filming him. The demonstrations succeed in allowing the Bil'in villagers limited access to the other side of the barrier so that they can pick the olive trees there. The protests continue to gain support, and Adeeb and Phil distinguish themselves as leaders of the movement, energizing the villagers due to their optimism and drive. During one demonstration Adeeb is shot in the leg by an Israeli soldier and Phil is captured. Phil is released the same day, but Adeeb takes a year to recover from his gunshot wound. As time passes, Emad becomes close friends with Phil and Adeeb. The Israelis employ a number of tactics to occupy Palestinian land, such as depositing trailers on Bil'in territory. The protestors retaliate by putting down trailers of their own, but they are removed by the army each time. When the settlers build concrete outposts on Bil'in soil, the protestors build their own on the other side of the barrier, believing that the army cannot legally destroy it due to Israeli law. The demonstrators are attacked but the outpost is left intact. The soldiers decide to retaliate by burning down the olive trees on their side of the barrier. The protestors try to replant the trees but they are attacked with gas grenades. One of them hits Yisrael in the face, causing him intense pain. Emad's brother Eyad is arrested and the concrete outpost is destroyed, so some of the demonstrators decide to rebuild it and use it as a meeting place. Gibreel grows quite attached to Phil, and they accompany Emad to the Israeli construction site, where Phil's brother Daba is trying to halt construction on his own. Daba is arrested, and the Israeli settlers become agitated at Emad filming them. One of them approaches Emad and breaks his camera. This is the second camera to be irreparably damaged, lasting from winter 2006 to spring 2007. Emad acquires a third camera and uses it to film Gibreel's third birthday party. The weekly protests continue, and Gibreel witnesses one of them for the first time, including the arrest of Emad's brother Jafar. The army starts coming into Bil'in more frequently, launching pre-emptive attacks on the villagers to prevent them from protesting. Emad's brother Khaled is arrested, and his parents attempt to stop the soldiers from taking him away. Emad hopes that his films of these events will have some sort of purpose. The Israeli military begins raiding at night and arresting village's children. During one of these raids Emad's brother Eyad is shot in the shoulder, although he insists it isn't serious. One night a squad of soldiers arrives at Emad's door and announces that his home has been declared a "closed military zone," and that he must evacuate. They order him to stop filming as well. He is interrogated and accused of throwing rocks. He is sent to jail, but his lawyer convinces them to put him under house arrest. Emad is sent to a house outside of Bil'in, left with little to do other than film himself. After a month, Emad is allowed to return to Bil'in, as the court claims that it lost the evidence for his case. The people of Bil'in put together a lawsuit which leads to a warrant designed to prevent construction on the other side of the barrier and prevent anyone from occupying it. At the next demonstration Emad's camera is damaged by gunfire; the bullet becomes lodged in the camera, possibly saving his life. This third camera lasted from winter 2007 to winter 2008. As Emad continues to film with a fourth camera, the barrier begins to spread to other villages seemingly unimpeded. Emad screens his footage for his fellow villagers, hoping that it will boost their morale. In the nearby village of Nil'in, the Israeli army shoots and kills a protestor. The people of Bil'in travel there to aid in their protests. The military responds with force and Daba is shot in the leg. Snipers surround the village, and soon thereafter two of children are killed by sniper fire. Emad grows concerned about the safety of his own children. In spite of the tragic setbacks, Phil remains optimistic and rallies the protestors. The Israeli courts authorize the dismantling of the barrier, and the people of Bil'in celebrate. However, a year later there is no evidence that the court's decision has been implemented in any way. So much land has been destroyed or burned on the other side of the barrier that it is no longer recognizable to Emad. He accidentally crashes his truck into the barrier, ruining his fourth camera in the process. He is severely injured and taken to a hospital in Tel Aviv, where he spends nearly three weeks in a coma. The fourth camera functioned for the entirety of 2008. Emad awakens in the hospital and begins the slow process of recovery. At this time, Israel launches a massive attack on the Gaza strip, leaving many Palestinians in mourning. Emad returns home two months later with no fanfare. The crash has left Emad unable to perform strenuous physical tasks and has left him with expensive hospital bills. Politicians begin to seize on Bil'in as a tool for political advancement, and Israeli settlers begin moving into the land taken from Bil'in. Gibreel turns four, and so does the resistance movement. During one demonstration, Phil is shot to death by an Israeli soldier. The village collectively mourns for his death, treating him as a martyr to their cause. The anger over Phil's death leads the protestors to become more confrontational with the Israeli military. Adeeb is arrested and sent to jail, and Emad is sent an arrest warrant. This proves to be too much for Soraya, who feels as though Emad's filming has caused many problems in their lives. During one protest, the demonstrators attempt to dismantle a section of the barrier. The military responds, and one of them shoots an M-16 bullet into Emad's camera, rendering it useless. This fifth camera lasted form winter 2009 to spring 2010. One year later the court's decision is finally implemented and the barrier is dismantled. Some land is returned to the village of Bil'in. While Bil'in celebrates, a concrete wall is constructed closer to the Israeli settlement, and protests against this wall begin. Emad films Gibreel's fifth birthday party and he reflects on how filming the protests has been a process of "healing" for him, to avoid "forgotten wounds." He completes his treatments at the hospital in Tel Aviv and takes Gibreel and Tak-Ydin to the beach with him. The epilogue states that in 2010 Emad was hit with a stun grenade while filming the destruction of the barrier, but that his camera remained intact and he continues to film to this day.
Details
- NETWORK: N/A
- DATE: November 23, 2011
- RUNNING TIME: 1:30:32
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 110350
- GENRE: Public Affairs/Documentaries
- SUBJECT HEADING: Public affairs/documentaries
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Emad Burnat … Producer, Director
- Guy Davidi … Producer, Director
- Serge Gordey … Producer
- Christine Camadessus … Producer
- Samir Joubran … Music by
- Wissam Joubran … Music by
- Adnan Joubran … Music by
- Emad Burnat … Narrator, Cast
- Soraya Burnat … Cast
- Gibreel Burnat … Cast
- Mohamad Burnat … Cast
- Yasin Burnat … Cast
- Taki-Ydin Burnat … Cast
- Muhammad Burnat … Cast
- Bassem "Phil" Abu-Rahma … Cast
- Adeeb Abu-Rahma … Cast
- Ashraf "Daba" Abu-Rahma … Cast
- Intisar Burnat … Cast
- Riyad Burnat … Cast
- Eyad Burnat … Cast
- Jafar Burnat … Cast
- Khaled Burnat … Cast
- Yisrael Puterman … Cast