This is half a documentary.
It focuses on the lives of teen and preteen Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip in 2003.
This film captures the rage felt by many youth regarding Israel.
Two of the children, Ahmed and Mohammed, are close friends and both say they would rather die together as martyrs than to die alone.
Strong words for two so young.
Also, the filmmakers take the time to talk to a 16 year-old girl, Najla, who lives in a precarious area because Israel suspects there are tunnels nearby that supply militants with weapons from Egypt. Najla has lost as many as eight family members to the conflict.
“Death in Gaza” shows how children throw stones at Israeli vehicles and how they play games like “Jews and Arabs” much like children play “Cowboys and Indians” or “Cops and Robbers” in the United States.
Even a little girl, not much more than a toddler, calls the Jews “sons of dogs.”
The documentary does not show the Israeli side at all. Most of the time Israelis are shown in approaching tanks, bulldozers and armored personnel carriers.
It is easy to hate the Israelis because they are faceless and menacing in their equipment versus children with rocks.
Director James Miller had planned to document the lives of Israeli children to see how they address the conflict and to balance the perspectives. The reason why he did not do that is evident once you see the end of the film.
“Death in Gaza,” 80 minutes long, is now available on DVD.
Murphy can be reached at [email protected]
