The Settlers
Directed by Shimon Dotan
In the nearly 50 years since Israel's decisive victory in the 1967 Six-Day War, hundreds of thousands of Israeli citizens have established expanding communities in the occupied territories of the West Bank. Frequently coming into direct conflict with the region's Palestinian inhabitants, and facing the condemnation of the international community, the settlers have been viewed by some as the righteous vanguard of modern Zionism and by others as overzealous squatters who are the greatest impediment to the possibility of peace in the region.
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Reviews
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★★★★½ review by Ken Rudolph on Letterboxd
After the partition of Israel and Palestine in 1948 and the subsequent wars between the Arabs and Israelis, certain ultra-Othodox, ultra-nationalist Jewish cults were determined to settle lands in Judea and Sumeria (the so-called West Bank) promised to them by Elohim. Along with the secular, leftist kibbutzim and American evangelical Christians, they became what are known as "settlers," a form of European colonialism not much different from the conquest of the West by Americans. Or is it? This comprehensive historical and geopolitical documentary examines the settler question in detail. And fittingly, I was never quite sure which side the film makers were on, Israelis or Palestinians...a sure sign that the film was bending over backwards for balance. Except is balance possible? I'm an American Jew, and a passive Zionist, I suppose. And I even have West Bank settler "friends" in real life (and no matter how removed in time, I am the beneficiary of "settlers" of the American West, so who am I to point fingers?). But much of what I watched here was new to me, and, well, frightening, even as I was responding with a certain guilty elation. At least now I think I have a better understanding of what is happening in that part of the Middle East; and due to this film my attitudes are in flux. Your mileage may vary; but it doesn't make this film any less important.
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★★★★ review by Scout Tafoya on Letterboxd
159/200
Deeply upsetting but very, very well done.
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★★★★ review by Paolo Kagaoan on Letterboxd
A documentary about the Jewish settler movement. Very intellectually dense and brutally honest. Watch this and then hug your neighbours. intheseats.ca/poignant-facts-review-settlers/
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★★★★½ review by hnevis on Letterboxd
Left leaning doc on the settler movement. Good background
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★★★½ review by Andrew Parker on Letterboxd
Israeli politics will never be easy to understand, but this is a fascinating look at the Jewish Alt-Right. Races to a conclusion, and leaves some key points dangling, but overall chilling and relevant.
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