Disturbing the Peace (2016 film)
| Disturbing the Peace | |
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.jpg) Poster | |
| Directed by |
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| Produced by |
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| Cinematography | Avner Shahaf |
Production company | Reconsider Films |
| Distributed by | Abramorama |
Release date |
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Running time | 87 minutes |
| Languages | Arabic, English and Hebrew, with English subtitles |
| Box office | $25,287 [2] |
Disturbing the Peace is a 2016 documentary film about the work of Combatants for Peace directed by Stephen Apkon and Andrew Young.
Synopsis
[edit]The film introduces members of Combatants for Peace, an activist group of former Israeli soldiers and Palestinian fighters who have renounced violence against the enemy after years of participating in it and instead advocate for a two-state solution.[3] It first gives a brief history of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict since Israel's founding in 1948.[4] Through interviews, historical footage, and reenactments, the viewer learns of each side's personal traumas and how members came to see the humanity in the other.[4][5] Combatants, including former Israeli soldiers Chen Alon and Avner Wishnitzer and former Palestinian fighters Sulaiman Khatib and Jamil Qassas, share their family histories and personal experiences linked to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.[1][3] Another subject, Shifa al-Qudsi, recalled the grief she felt over the destruction of her home in Tulkarm, which ultimately led her to attempt a suicide bombing in Netanya as an act of vengeance for Palestinians killed by the Israel Defense Forces.[6]
Rather than deeply analyzing overarching political hostilities such as Hamas’s attacks on Israel or Israeli settlement expansion, the film briefly presents wrenching images—such as a bombing in Tel Aviv and demolished Palestinian homes before focusing on the personal journeys of Combatants for Peace members. Their transformations unfold not as sudden revelations but as gradual, profound realizations.[3] The film creates a balance between the different narratives, and the film's website provides a discussion guide for having conversations about the film.[5]
Premiering April 15, 2016 at Ebertfest,[1] the film was shown on the separation wall in the West Bank in July 2016,[6][7] and opened in the United States November 11, 2016.[8]
Awards and recognition
[edit]- Ebert Humanitarian Award (2016)[9][10]
- Hamptons International Film Festival: Brizzolara Family Foundation Award for a Film of Conflict and Resolution (2016)[11]
- New York Times Critic's Pick[3]
- Traverse City Film Festival: Won both the Audience Award and the Founders Award for Best Foreign Documentary (2016)[7][12]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Merli, Melissa (April 16, 2016). "Middle East conflict gives rise to work, doc of peace". News Gazette. Champaign, IL. p. C1. ProQuest 1787902377.
- ^ "Disturbing the Peace (2016)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
- ^ a b c d Webster, Andy (November 10, 2016). "Review: 'Disturbing the Peace' Profiles Israelis and Palestinians United Against Violence". The New York Times. ProQuest 1837865099.
- ^ a b Goldstein, Gary (November 18, 2016). "Valiant steps toward peace". The Los Angeles Times – via newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Tuschling, Lina (2018). "Disturbing the Peace. Directed by Stephen Apkon, and Andrew Young. Oley, PA: Bullfrog Films, 2016". Peace & Change. 43 (3): 379–381. doi:10.1111/pech.12306. ISSN 0149-0508.
- ^ a b Ashkinaze-Collender, Sophie (July 15, 2016). "Ex-foes, seeking peace, meet at Jerusalem Film Fest". Jerusalem Post. ProQuest 1805270754.
- ^ a b Ahituv, Netta (August 14, 2016). "Seeing the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict From Both Sides of the Separation Wall – and on It". Haaretz. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
- ^ Sucharov, Mira (November 11, 2016). "Prepare To Have Your Peace Disturbed". The Forward. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
- ^ Allen, Nick (April 18, 2016). "Ebertfest 2016: "Disturbing the Peace" Wins First Ebert Humanitarian Award | Festivals & Awards". RogerEbert.com. Archived from the original on February 12, 2018. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
- ^ Ebert, Chaz (November 8, 2016). "Disturbing the Peace: Stephen Apkon talks to Chaz Ebert | Chaz's Journal". RogerEbert.com. Archived from the original on October 18, 2017. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
- ^ "Brizzolara Family Foundation Award for a Film of Conflict and Resolution". www.imdb.com. Hamptons International Film Festival. 2016. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
- ^ "TCFF XII Award Winners". Traverse City Film Festival. Retrieved March 25, 2025.