Transcending Borders | Open Bethlehem - Review

Leila Sansour looking over Bethlehem

The Israel-Palestine conflict is something that Christian arts festival Greenbelt has worked hard to raise awareness of. It was a constant element of the 2009/10 festivals I attended, being the subject of various talks, films, etc. I did make an effort to engage but struggled to get my head around the politics of it all. Also, whilst it's commendable of Greenbelt to bring it to people's attention, I felt a bit like it was being forced down my throat, which put me off, perhaps selfishly, given that the problems occurred in the heartland of the faith held by many Greenbelters, myself included. My ambivalence was also, to my shame, partly because the conflict was not on my doorstep and so I cared less about it than other issues closer to home. Nor did I really have the resources to go and do anything to help, although I admired those who did.

Aside from talks, etc, 'Soldiers' also guarded the 'borders' between different sections of the festival site, demanding to see people's passports - a show to represent an aspect of daily life for those living in Israel and Palestine. Coincidentally, Open Bethlehem features many religious, political and media figures from around the world, including former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, as well as former US President, Jimmy Carter, amongst others, showing off mock-up Bethlehem passports. This was in aid of the Open Bethlehem campaign which is a large part of the film. It is written, directed, produced and presented by Leila Sansour, a Palestinian filmmaker who has dedicated a decade of her life to documenting the hardship caused by the wall dividing Palestine and Israel, including the little town of Bethlehem, where she grew up.

Visual gimmicks really help me get into documentaries, such as the funky animations in Morgan Spurlock's Super Size Me. Aside from the mock passport, Open Bethlehem had an animated version of Leila's little red car flying across Israel, transcending borders, which helped lighten the often necessarily downbeat tone. If the real version of her car had been able to do this, I might've enjoyed the film even more but it probably would've detracted from the story somewhat.

I thought that watching Open Bethlehem might ignite more of a passion in me about the Israel-Palestine conflict than Greenbelt had. Plus, it made a change from watching sci-fi epics like 2001 and Interstellar. I foudd the film passionate, serious, focused and, at times, surprisingly amusing (e.g. the car). Yet, it failed to get me fired up about the issue enough to leave me thinking much about it afterwards, or even considering a visit to Israel to see things for myself - the only thing that could help me fully understand it. However, the human interest stories in the film did enable me to empathise better with those living in such a dire situation. The effect of the wall on Laila and her family was particularly saddening.

Further enhancing the tragedy of it all was the highlighting of the fact that it has been happening in the Holy Land - a place intended as the home of God's chosen people and the birth of Judaism and Christianity. Leila herself mournfully ponders the lack of miracles in Jesus' - and her - homeland. It will certainly take a few to bring down the wall and an end to the conflict. Leila seems to have lost whatever religious faith she may have had but not faith in herself or the hope that things can change.

Open Bethlehem failed to light a revolutionary fire within me. This was not least because, after all Leila's impassioned searching and campaigning, she and her supporters had still not managed to bring about any lasting change as of 2013, where the film ends. Admirably, she is still fighting and hopefully, further Open Bethlehem screenings will make some difference.

Meeting other audience members afterwards, a lot of them were already passionate about the Israel-Palestine situation and the film only made them more so, with some preparing to visit Israel and see what they could do to help. There was an information stall for the Norwich Palestine Solidarity Campaign, as well as a discussion about issues raised by the film. If we had also been given Bethlehem passports on our way out, then that would have been the crushed walnuts on the Caraway Pudding!

A further screening of Open Bethlehem is scheduled at Cinema City again on March 2nd, 2015 but only if enough tickets are sold, so, if you are interested about learning more about this issue, are passionate about it, or just want to see a well-made documentary in the cinema, then you can book here.

Discover more about the Open Bethlehem film & campaign at the official website here.