Promises presents a powerful portrait of seven Palestinian and Israeli children who live in and around Jerusalem. As filmmaker B.Z. Goldberg, who was raised in Israel, notes, "They live no more than 20 minutes from each other, but they are each growing up in very separate worlds." The children include Mahmoud, Shlomo, Sanabel, Faraj, Moishe, and twins Yarko and Daniel. With the exception of the latter, all are religious (the twins are the grandchildren of a Holocaust survivor). Most have strong political beliefs and have seen their share of tragedy--Faraj's friend was killed in front of him--but as the film makes clear, they're also kids. They like to watch TV, hold burping contests, and compete in sports (Faraj is a runner, Yarko and Daniel play volleyball). Promises doesn't attempt to explain them, but lets the kids speak for themselves. The results are funny, sad, and ultimately quite profound. --Kathleen C. Fennessy (from Amazon.com)
Check out my students' reviews of this film below:
31 comments:
The movie promises (106 minutes) directed by B.Z. Goldberg and Justine Shapiro was overall a good film. The people that were in the film from different parts of the conflict are Faraj, Yarko and Daniel, Sanabel, Shlomo, Mahmound, and Moishe and his sister Raheli. This movie wasn’t rated due to the fact that it is a biography of people’s lives. In this movie B.Z. Goldberg meets kids in different parts of Israel and Palestine. He asks the young kids to about their thoughts and feelings about the conflict going on between the Jews, Arabs and the Palestinians.
Personally I think that the children were too young to make up some of their own responses to B.Z. questions. I think that some of it was in their own words but a chunk of it was with the help of the director. One example of this is that the kids were using to complex words for their age. The words that they were using are normally too big for a kid their age to use without help from somebody. Another example is B.Z. Goldberg. If he didn’t help guide the kids with what to say then it would have been a little bit harder to understand their thoughts about the conflict.
I think and probably and probably a few other reviewers think that the kids were too young to understand the whole conflict. For example Raheli is so young in the film. She couldn’t even separate chairs by herself without having a lot of trouble. Another example of how they are too young is with Moishe. Moishe thought that it was his land because of what the torah said. The torah said that Abraham gave the land to the Jews. He said himself that all he wants to see is a bullet fly into an Arabs head and kills him. He only wants this because of the torah. But the torah also says that the land was giving to the Arabs too because Abrahams kids were both Arabian and Jewish. He doesn’t really understand the whole story.
Those arguments and examples are on why the children were too young for these interviews. I overall liked the film even though the kids could have been older in it. I learned a lot about the conflict over there from watching this film. I think that the purpose of the film was to teach people about what the conflict was like in the view of children’s eyes. I think that the purpose was almost reached if the children were a little older then they most likely would have achieved its purpose. But it was a good educational film. I liked it.
02/25/2009
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Promises
Promises takes place in Israel where 8 kids, Faraj, Yarko and Daniel, Sanabel, Mahmoud, Shlomo, Moishe and his sister Raheli, give their opinions to B.Z Goldberg and the directors of this film, Justine Shapiro and Carlos Bolando. The kids were giving their thoughts about other religions and about different people and their land being taken. The director, B.Z Goldberg interviews these kids to know what their thoughts about Israel and their hometown. These seven children tell their own story about growing up in Jerusalem. Promises effectively show the feelings and thoughts of children on both sides of Israel-Palestine conflict.
For instance the movie becomes much clear and emotional when B.Z brings all the different kids together to talk about their feelings and bringing their emotions to B.Z. For example when they sat on the sofa in Faraj’s living room Faraj starts to cry, because he’s scared that when B.Z leaves, Faraj will never meet Yarko and Daniel again. Faraj becomes sad because he doesn’t wants to break his friendship with them. And also when the kids play outside they become more friendly and closer to each other. For example the children learn that different people are the same as them because they understood that other people want the land too just like themselves. The other thing is that Sanabel thinks Arabs and Jewish should meet and get to know each other.
At the end of the film the children finds their own way of living and becoming an adult. For example Moishe was the same as before he started. He says that he doesn’t wants to be friends with Arabs because he thinks their bad and terrorists. Yorko and Daniel become soldiers and they are not afraid to shoot people or even friends. The other children find their own way in the United States living peacefully and happy.
Overall the film is emotional and happiness with lots of details. I learned that different people are not the same as other religions because every religion wants what they want and deserves it. Like when the children have the same thoughts about their land, every different background wants the land to be theirs and not have war. I think the purpose of this film is to teach people about Israel what was going on in there and how do people feel about the land. This film was a good film, I think it was a wonderful experiment and I liked it.
Promises, (106 minutes) is a documentary by B.Z. Goldberg, and Justine Shapiro, about children from both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Because this movie is about peoples real lives it had no rating. The Jewish children are Yarko and Daniel who are brothers, and there’s Shlomo who is ultra orthodox. The Palestinian children were Mahmoud, Faraj, Sanabel, and Moishe and his sister Raheli. In this film all the children from both sides of the conflict get together thanks to B.Z. Goldberg, and share what they think.
Promises shows how the children from both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can form a friendship. An example of this is when the children heard that they were going to meet each other, they were all very excited. And when they did finally meet they were getting along, and they put their differences aside because they realized that they have a lot of things in common for example, Yarko and Daniel both were into sports and so was Faraj.
Some Jews did not want to meet the other children for a specific reason. Moishe for example did not want to meet the other kids because his friend was killed by someone on the other side of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and he feels like he can’t trust the other side or even afraid of them. Shlomo also didn’t want to meet the other children because his father was a rabbi and he was ultra orthodox. He also said that he would never want to be friends with an Arab kid but he would not be rude to them either.
Promises is a great film about how children from both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can come together and form a relationship. It shows how they all share their feelings about each other. It also shows some kids that refuse to meet each other. Overall, it showed that it is possible to be friends with another side that you are against.
Promises film review
In the film promises which is rated NR and it was 106 minutes long. In the film director Justine Shapiro and co-director B.Z. Goldberg was interviewing kids from Palestine and kids who lived in Jerusalem. The kids in the movie we’re Yorko and Daniel, Faraj, Sanabel, Mahmoud, Shlomo, Moishe and his sister . In the film they interview these kids and asked them what they think about the war between Israel and Arabia. Some of the kids think strongly about this subject and some just doesn’t really seem to care.
In the film B.Z. Goldberg interview the kids at a very early age and most of the kids didn’t understand the subject very well and I think that the producer tells some of the kids what to say. When B.Z. interviewed the kids some of them had a lot to say about the war going on between Israel and Arabia. Most of the kids talked about something else and most of the kids had to talk about stuff that’s going on in their lives and how they feel about it.
During the film B.Z. Goldberg force some of the kids to meet each other. B.Z. made Yorko and Daniel to meet Faraj and Sanabel and they became friends with each other. After the day was over Faraj cried because he knew when B.Z. leaves he won’t get to see Yorko and Daniel again and he kept hope of seeing them by telling them that he will cross the checkpoint but Yorko and Daniel knew it wasn’t that simple and gave up on the hopes of keeping their friendship.
“Promises” Film Review By Julia Patsios
The movie “Promises” directed by B.Z Goldburg, Justine Shapiro, and Carlos Bolado, B.Z Goldburg visits 8 different kids with 6 different family’s and gets each Childs opinion on the Israeli- Palestinian conflict from both the Jewish and Muslim side. “Promises” effectively shows the feelings and thoughts of children on both sides of the conflict.
The movie shows both sides very clearly when B.Z brings the children together to meet and talk. For example when Faraj begins to cry as he talks about how after B.Z leaves him, Yarko, and Daniel won’t be friends anymore. My second example is also when Faraj, Yarko, and Daniel are playing soccer together which shows them getting closer together and showing the same interests and that they really are good people.
My second argument is that the movie equally shows the opinions for who the land belongs to from both the Israelis and Palestinians. For example when B.Z asked Moishe who he thought the land belonged to and he pulled out the Torah and found the part where it states that the land belongs to the Jew’s. My second example of B.Z treating both sides equal is when he asked the same question to Faraj and Faraj went and found the Key and Receipt to his house and states that the land literally belongs to him. But Faraj also thought that if everyone got a piece of the land that there would be peace, were Moishe thinks that the Arabs should just “Fly away”.
Over all I think that B.Z did an outstanding job with treating the kids equally and not leaning more toward one side and favoring them. He also did a good job getting just as much information and opinions from each kid from each side. I recommend this movie for people eager to see both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.
Promises directed by B.Z Goldberg. Characters: B.Z. Goldberg, Yarko & Daniel who are two twin boys that are secular Israeli and live in Jerusalem. Faraj (boy) and Sanabel(girl) two Palestinian children living in the Deneishe Refugee camp located on the west bank. Shlomo an ultra – orthodox Jewish boy living in the Jewish quarter of the old city of Jerusalem, Mahmoud a Palestinian boy who lives in east Jerusalem and finally Moishe(boy) and Raheli(girl) brother and sister, Jewish children living in the Beit El Settlement located in the west bank. [Not Rated; 106 minutes]
Promises is a documentery about 8 Isreali/Palestian children and their opinions about the conflict going on between their two kinds. I believe B.Z Goldberg was right to bring the Israeli and Palestian children together because it gave the children a better understanding on both sides. This improved the movie because it allowed the film to give an unbiased view on the conflict.
When Yarko and Daniel went to the Deneishe Refugee camp to meet Faraj, Sanabel and the other children living in the camp, it looks and seems like they’ve known each other for a really long time. I think this because when the children first met they were just talking like normal children. They were playing soccer eating food, and just chilling and hanging out like children here in the states do. The children didn’t care about the conflict going on between there two kinds.
When they got to the subjects about what’s going on between there two kinds they didn’t make it seem they hated each other. They talked it out giving examples about what’s going on with both sides. Explaining to each other about the check points, the differences about there theories, and where they live. They also talked about how one group the Israelis have more freedom going to different places and doing things then the Palestians do.
The children now have a better understanding about their two kinds. It gives me a better feel on the movie and how easy it was for just a few kids from each side came together and learning about what each side knows about the conflict going on.
The documentary, Promises was directed by B.Z. Goldberg, and co-directed by Carlos Bolado. It’s 106 minutes long and not rated. Promises is a documentary about the Israeli Palestinian conflict from the viewpoint of children. The children are brought together in the film by Israeli-American B.Z. Goldberg. The subjects in the movie consisted of 8 kids, Yarko and Daniel, secular Israeli twin boys living in Jerusalem. Faraj and Sanabel, are a Palestinian refugee boy and a girl living in the Deheishe Refugee Camp in the West Bank. Shlomo, an ultra-orthodox Jewish boy in the Jewish quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. Moishe and Raheli, a brother and sister living in the Beit El settlement in the West Bank. Mahmoud, a Palestinian boy living in East Jerusalem. Goldberg appeared in the film himself too, he was the one who brought together the children from both sides of the conflict, and had them talk with one another. Promises clearly showed the opinions, thoughts, and actions of both sides of the Israeli Palestinian conflict.
Some kids took their opinions to an extreme, while others were unconcerned by the separation of Israelis and Palestinians. Mahmoud and Moishe for example, were all for getting rid of the other side, and didn’t mind if they were shot or blown up. Meanwhile Yarko and Daniel were more willing to share the land and make peace with both sides.
The opinions of most children change over time, and some opinions never change. Mahmoud stopped being afraid of the Israelis, but Moishe was still stuck in his idea of deporting all the Palestinians. Yarko and Daniel may have wanted to share the land, but later went on to join the Israeli army.
Promises made the opinions of kids from a young age to young adults clearly come through with their actions. Promises was a very informative and well-thought out film. It showed every aspect of the kid’s daily lives, and how difficult it is to communicate with each other.
The names of the characters in the movie are Raheli, Daniel, Yarko, Schlomo, Moishe, Mahmoud, Faraj, and Sanabel. The name of the director for the movie is B.Z. Goldberg but the movie was never rated. The length of the movie was 106 minutes. The movie was about the Islamic and Palestinian people thought about bad about each other and thinking differently about their land. Then at the end, most of them had changed their opinions of each other but still think differently about their land. But I think that B.Z. Goldberg’s way of interviewing the children was inappropriate, he looked for more details and information then we should expect from that age level. Interviewing teenagers of young adults would have been better suited to his purpose.
My first argument is that when they answered the questions as kids, they wouldn’t answer them too well because of the lack of detail. One reason for this is that Sanabel didn’t speak very clearly about how her father had gone to jail. She was just saying that he didn’t deserve to be sent to jail. Another example of this is that when Mahmoud was saying that he hates the Jews and thought that they were bad people so they couldn’t be trusted. But he said all of that without really knowing even much about the Jews. Just thinking that they stole his land.
My second argument is that all the kids weren’t talking very nicely about the other kids in the movie. But then when they got older they started to think differently about the other kids and started to like each other, also when they met each other as young kids started to like each other.
One example of when they were older was when the kids thought good about each other and used more detail then they would have before when they were kids. Like when Mahmoud grew up and started to like the Jews when he meets them at a theatre and wasn’t afraid of hating them anymore. He started to actually think about what to say about the Jews and using some detail on his thoughts about the Jews. My second example is that B.Z. Goldberg made the kids meet each other and when Faraj met both Daniel and Yarko he had realized that just because they are a couple of people that live in different places doesn’t mean that they are all bad people. So after figuring all of that out, Faraj had actually become friends with people that he thought were bad people and that they would never even have contact with each other. If Faraj had met them before they had become friends I think that they would have been against each other on the spot. So he finally started to use more detail about talking about what he felt about different kids.
So I think that most of the characters matured very well and started to think differently about each other. Except for Schlomo and Moishe who didn’t want to do anything with the Islamic and Palestinian kids. I am actually very satisfied in the way that this film was made and about what it teaches to people about how different people were that used to hate each other are going into the right direction into solving all of their problems about their land and each other.
In the movie Promises (106 minutes), documented/directed by B.Z. Goldberg and Justine Shapiro was about 8 Arab & Jewish children (Yarko, Daniel, Moishe, Mahmoud, Shlomo, Sanabel, Faraj & Rahami) getting interviewed about how they felt about each other, the war and the land sharing. At one point of the interview, the kids even met each other and even became friends! This film, an interesting and relevant movie did a wonderful job in showing both the similarities and the differences between Israelites & Arabs.
B.Z. Goldberg interacted with the Palestinian & Israeli kids’ thoughts about conflicts against the two nations. He got involved in the children’s lives but for the good of it. Goldberg wanted the children to meet and create peace together, (instead of hating on each other) and possibly become friends also. Without him interacting with the kids, the Arab’s/Jew’s children would have never met, spoke, or played with Jew’s/Arab’s and got a different point of view they have never seen of each other.
The director of Promises offered the Palestinian & Israeli kids to meet, but some thought it was not a good idea. Some people thought it was dangerous meeting people from either Palestine or Israel. For example, Yarko & Daniel (Israeli twins) were anxious to meet Arab kids, however their parents at first thought it would be dangerous to go to the other side of Jerusalem. In the end they thought it threw, and let the children go. When they made that decision to meet the Arab kids, their lives changed. They finally understood that those kids were just like them. They all had many similarities such as liking to play sports. Faraj (a Arab boy) was probably the person who wanted to meet a Israeli the most. He was very excited to meet them, and prepared also...since he took a long time getting ready before they came to his home. Some children didn’t want to meet Arab’s/Israeli’s so they did not participate in the event of meeting each other.
This film got my attention—other movies we watch in school don’t really interest me as much as Promises because it is a real story, and its something that is going on now also. I loved that they showed the children as they got older, because some of their opinions changed and they got more mature. I didn’t like that Yarko & Daniel were in the army, because that just ment that the whole Promises movie for them, was just a joke and didn’t mean anything. In conclusion, I really liked this movie. =]
Film Review
By Hardeep Singh
The movie Promises has these characters their names are Faraj, Yarko, Daniel, Sholmo, Sanabel, Mahmound, Mosishe and his sister. The movie director is Justine Shapiro and co- director is BZ Goldberg and is rated NR and 106 mins. The plot is mostly all of the kids and what there opinions and thoughts about the land against Israel and Arabs. My thesis statement is Promises does a good job of making you feel like you know the children. This gives you a better understanding of their feelings.
My argument is that BZ shows good reasons on how the kids and their feelings are being shown. One example is when Sanabel starts to cry because she misses her father and talks about when they mail letters to their father in jail. Another example is when Faraj starts to say that the only thing he has to defend himself is a stone and wishes he has something else to defend him and his town or neighborhood from all of the soldiers.
Another argument is that the co-director BZ Goldberg shows the place they live and how they live in their homes. One example is how Sanebal lives without her father when he is in jail for no reason. Another example is about Yarko and Daniel when they go on the bus and they have to decide on whether to go on the 18 or 22 because the number 18 gets bombed a lot while the 22 doesn’t get bombed as often.
Overall this film showed how the kids said there opinions on the opposing city and their own and what they think is there right and there right to their own land. Also it shows what they think about one another and what they about other Arabs and other Israelin children. Also it shows how the war affected both sides of the country between the Arabs and the Israeli. That is my film review for the movie Promises.
The picture, Promises (B.Z. Goldberg-N/R) is a bright documentary focused on
the Israeli—Palestinian conflict from seven children, Yarko and Daniel, Faraj, Sanabel,
Schlomo, Mahmoud, and Moishe and Raheli’s point of view from either side of the
dispute. Over a period of years, the children were interviewed about their opinions,
educating each participant of the other children involved. At one point, some of the
children even met each other and found that they had more in common with the
“enemy” than they ever thought they would. Although the film was detailed and colorful,
I felt very disappointed near the end seeing as how reality had changed the kid’s minds
and their ideas toward life and peace had drastically altered into more close minded
views.
Truthfully, the conflict between Israel and Palestine was started by many
different things, one of those things being ownership of the land, particularly the
Jerusalem, the “Holy Land” to many. Each child when asked about who had the right to
the land had something different to say. Moishe, a Jewish participant in Promises, talked of
how the land was promised to Abraham by God himself. To prove his own theory he
pulled out the family Torah and found the exact passage in which this was said.
Abraham, a Jewish forefather, was promised the land by God. The only fluke with his
comment was Abraham’s two sons, one an Arab and one a Jew. In spite of this
comment, Mahmoud, a Palestinian participant said that the land he lived on was his, because he
was born and raised there, and no one had the right to take him from his home.
As we get older, our minds become more scrambled and so complex. Problems
suddenly are not so simple to solve because they start having angles and we take so much more
into consideration. Could this be why people involved in this conflict have such trouble playing
nice? When it came to these kids, they each had their own idea how to make their world a better
place, and how to finally end the fighting. Mahmoud, the Palestinian participant stated that if
enough Jewish people were killed with only a minimal amount left than his land would be under
his people’s control once again. As he grew up, he clarified that he thought this only because he
feared the Jews and that now he found it easier to co-exist with them, rather than fear them. As
he grew, he became more open minded, this was rare. Faraj, another Palestinian participant had
a different opinion. He figured if everyone was given an equal share of land than everyone would
be free and happy. As he grew however, he still hoped for peace of course, as everyone did, but
he didn’t expect change.
“Promises” clearly illustrated multiple ideas of children from every angle of the Israeli—
Palestinian conflict through the years, collecting their ideas and pieces of each child’s daily life.
Eventually, a small group of the children met and became friends, learning from each other.
Years later when the children were followed up on their lives, it was clear to see how they had
changed. Some were still hoping for peace, and change. Some no longer hid in fear of their
enemies, and unfortunately some were much more negative and close minded. But all together
the film shed a brighter light on current dispute and how it affected people. Hopefully one day
the fight will be over and people will find a happy middle, and when that day comes everyone
will feel safer and happy at the same time. However, we are still waiting for that day.
The movie “Promises” by B.Z Goldberg is a movie that shows two sides of a conflict. The two sides in this conflict are Israel and Palestine. Until this day they are fitting with each other for the land called “Jerusalem”. The main characters in the movie “Promises” are Yarko and Daniel, Sanable, Faraj, Moishe, Shlomo and Mahmoud. The character development in this movie helps us to identify with the actors. This lets us feel the relationships between the characters. We see how our characters get along when they are younger but as they get older they grow apart. I believe that “Promises” demonstrates that it is possible to bring the both side together and get along very well. At least some of the children are willing to meat each other.
Yarko and Daniel, the Israeli children, were very interested in meeting Faraj. Faraj was Palestinian and he had wanted to meet them as well. They shared a common interest in sports which helped bridge the differences in their cultures and beliefs. When Yarko and Daniel went to meet Faraj, they were gladly welcomed. Faraj served them very delicious lunch. Then he took them to the park to play soccer.
Almost all the kids got along like Yarko and Daniel, Faraj, Sanable and Mahmoud. They spent the whole day together having fun. When they all went to Faraj’s house and they all sat down and ate together. Sanable showed Yarko how to do a Palestinian dance.
These all show that the kids on both sides of the conflict could get along and have a good time together. This movie was very thoughtful and showed how people with big differences can still have something in common. The kids are at least going to remember each other and think about the good times that they spent together. I think this movie brings every person together.
In the movie “Promises” (NR, 106 min) directors B.Z Goldberg, Justine Shapiro, and co-director and editor Carlos Bolado document the lives of children in Israel. They take their cameras and explore the opinions of Yarko and Daniel who are secular Israeli twins living in Jerusalem, Faraj and Sanibel, two Palestinians living the Deheishe refugee camp in the West Bank, Shlomo, an ultra-orthodox Jewish boy in the Jewish quarter of Jerusalem, Mahmoud, a Palestinian boy living in East Jerusalem, and Moishe and Raheli who live in the Beit El settlement in the West Bank. B.Z gets their view of the Israeli- Palestinian conflict. He brings both sides together to meet where some were willing and others were not. In the end, most children realize how alike they really are. “Promises” succeeded in showing the similarities and differences between the Palestinians and Israelis and the strong opinions of both sides.
One of the similarities that the film illustrates is that many of the children’s opinions were stated by others but in a different perspective. One example of this was when both Jews and Arabs said that the land belonged to either side. Another example was when Yarko and Daniel met Faraj and Sanabel. When they sat down and expressed feelings they each had their own opinion but understood where the other person’s feelings were coming from because they felt the same way.
The movie was also unbiased. It did not favor one side over the other. For example, B.Z brought together both Palestinians and Israelis wanting them to tell about their thoughts on the conflict. Also, the movie shows both sides of the land conflict not just one or the other. It shows how some children have their minds completely made up about how the land is theirs where as it also shows how the children are neutral and want to make peace between both sides.
Overall, the film made me understand the conflict going on in Israel between the Palestinians and the Israelis. I never understood how strongly people felt about it and how it affected their lives. Also, I noticed how these children had never met each other and many hadn’t even said hi to one another. Most of their opinions were based on how they grew up and what they had heard, not from personal experiences. I did enjoy this movie I think it did well at documenting the personal difficulties that the conflict causes on these children.
Leandro Franca
The movie Promises is 106 min long and directed by B.Z Goldberg. The movie showed different points of views of children that lived only about 20 min away from each other during the on going conflict between the Palestineans, Israeli, and the Jews. In the movie B.Z interviewed three palestinean children, four Israeli children, and one Jew. I liked the movie because I think it efectivly showed the different points of views of the Israeli, and Palestinean, and Jewish children.
B.z went to each of the children's homes to ask them how they felt. He also asked them their opinions and their pionts of view during the conflict. An example would be when B.Z went to Faraj's home. Faraj was a Palestinean boy. B.Z asked Faraj what he thought about the Jews and who he thought should own the land. Another example is when B.Z went to Yorko and Daniel's homes. They were Israeli twins. B.Z went there to see how they lived and their different lifestyles and asked them a few questions on what different things were gowing on.
B.Z managed to temporally change the way some of the children thought towards each other. He made Faraj meet with the twins. Faraj hated the twins because they were both from Israel. B.z made them meet and they ended up likeing each other. They had a lot of things in common such as their love for running. B.Z also temporally changed the way Mahmoud who was a Palestinean boy feel towards Jews. Mahmoud really like B.Z, and B.Z was Jewish so Mahmoud thought that even some Jewish people can be good.
Overall I think movie was a pretty good documentry. I liked how B.Z went to each of the children's homes rather then just have the kids come to him.
Laura Gallella
Movie Review
Characters: Yarko, Daniel, Faraj, Sanabel, Shlomo, Mahmoud, Moishe, and Raheli.
Directed by: B.Z Goldberg, Justine Shapino, and Carlos Bolado.
The movie Promises (106 minutes, no rating) is about several children with different nationalities and how their lives are in 1995-2000 during the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and how it affects them. The children also talk about their opinions toward people from the other side (who do not have the same nationality). Promises effectively shows the feelings and thoughts of children on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
During the movie the different children believed the land belonged to them (either to the Arabs, the Jews, or the Palestinians). For example Moishe believed the land belonged to the Jews. He thought this because at one point during the movie he points to a part of the Torah that stated God gave the land to Abraham so it belonged to the Jews. Another example is Faraj believed the land belonged to the Palestinians. This was because his family had the legal documentation (the deeds) to certain parts of land that they owned. His family also had the key to the home his Grandparents lived in, that was located in the village the Palestinians were kicked out of. So the different children had different opinions on who the land belonged too.
Near the end of the film B.Z Goldberg takes Yarko and Daniel to the Deheishe Refugee Camp to meet with Faraj, Sanabel, and other Palestinian children. During this visit the children realize they aren’t so different because they have some things in common. Such as they like to play sports, game, laugh, and just talk. At one point during the visit Faraj is afraid that when B.Z Goldberg leaves that Yarko, Daniel, and him will not be friends anymore and this causes him to start crying. He was afraid of this because his family could not get past the checkpoints, so he would not be able to see them. At the end of the visit the children realize they can be friends with children of another nationality, and not fear and hate each other.
Overall throughout the movie the opinions of the children change. They realize that children from other nationalities aren’t as bad as they once thought. The movie effectively showed the opinions of the children on either sides and how it changed throughout the movie.
The film "Promises" (not rated, runs for 106 mins.) is a movie directed by B.Z. Goldburg who was also the interviewer. The other directors were Justine Shapiro and Carlos Bolado. The film featured children living in the midst of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. These children are faced with the conflict of how both the Arabs and the Jews claim the same land, including the city of Jeruselem, to be exclusively their own. These children include Yarko and Daniel, Faraj, Sanabel, Shlomo, Mahmoud, Moishe and Raheli. Yarko and Daniel are two secular Israeli twins living in Jerusalem. Faraj is a Palestinian refugee boy living in the Deheishe Refugee Camp in the West Bank. Sanabel is a Palestinian refugee girl living in the same camp as Faraj. Shlomo is an ultra orthodox Jewish boy who lives in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. Mahmoud is a Palestinian boy who also lives in Jerusalem but on the east side. And finally, Moishe and Raheli, are brother and sister, who live in the Beit El Settlement in the West Bank. B.Z. interviewed each of these children on their thoughts of the Palestinian Israeli conflict. B.Z. was brilliant to bring the Palestinian and Israeli children together, because it gave the kids a better understanding of both sides of the conflict.
When B.Z. took the Israeli twins Yarko and Daniel to the Palestinian camp, they met Farj, Sanabel, and other kids from the camp. They walked around the camp and went to Faraj's house. They wrestled and spent time with each other. They were interacting like there was no difference between them. The kids bonded well with each other. The movie showed that kids in the Palestine and Israeli conflict can become friends. They just needed to have the chance to meet each other first. Also, when the kids started to talk about politics, their first thought was that they understood why each side was afraid of the other. This shows that the movie accomplished something. And that accomplishment is that, as the movie shows, if they didn't have checkpoints then maybe people would get along like the way the kids did.
The movie is unbiased because both the Israeli and Palistinian viewpoints were presented. An example of this is when B.Z brought the kids together. If the movie were biased then it would only focus on one side, not both. This is also good for the kids (when the two sides meet) because they learn about the different points of view. They also learn or start to understand why each side has their point of view. Some kids even started to become neutral, that is, until the second intifada.
Overall, I thought this was a well made documentary. I loved the kids and seeing their points of view. I especially loved seeing how their points of view changed after their meeting with the other children and how the meeting affected their decisions later. One of my favorite parts was when Raheli was trying to get the chairs apart and later she became known as the "Chair girl". I also think that B.Z.'s idea of interviewing the kids of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is fantastic because people usually don't get to see the point of view of regular children living in political conflicts. I actually think that more movies or documentaries should be made based on current events and they should target the kids caught in the conflict and not just the adults. This was a very good documentary by B.Z. Goldburg and I think the film "Promises" deserved to win an Oscar award
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- Jadzia Lee
PROMISES
There were seven characters in the film; they were Yarko, Daniel, Faraj, Sanabel, Shlomo, Mahmound, Moishe and his sister Raheli. The director and co-directors were Justine Shapiro, B.Z. Goldberg and Carlos Bolado. The rating of this film is NR. The length of this film is 106 min. B.Z. Goldberg filmed seven children who lived 20 minutes away from each other but they had never met. The seven children have really different lives and they tell their view points about the Israeli-Palestinian’s war. Promises effectively show the feeling and thoughts of children on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian’s conflict.
One problem is that B.Z. Goldberg brings the children together so they meet each other and tell their stories to the other children. The children started playing and taking about the first intifada. Faraj told Yarko and Daniel how the war happened and how they shot everywhere with real bullets. Yarko and Daniel only saw it on the T.V but Faraj saw it with his own eyes. Faraj started to cry because when B.Z Goldberg went away with Yarko and Daniel then they would not be with each other. Faraj gets sad because he likes them; he thinks that they are good people and good friends. He doesn’t want them to go, he wants them to stay or be friend. But the can be friend anymore because it going to be really hard for them to be friends. Yarko and Daniel knew that they would not be friends anymore. I think that deep down Faraj new that they could not be friend friends anymore too. Yarko and Daniel were about being friends anymore. They couldn’t be friend anymore because it was hard crossing the checkpoints. If they couldn’t cross the checkpoint they could not be friend because their religions were fighting (Israeli-Palestinian’s conflict). Even though Faraj called Yarko and Daniel a lot, Yarko and Daniel knew they couldn’t be friends anymore. So they stop calling Faraj back. Yarko and Daniel felt bad and sad, Faraj felt sad too but they had to stop calling each other. After Yarko and Daniel joined the army so that was other reason why they should not talk anymore.
The seven children have different viewpoints of the land and the war. Yarko and Daniel think that it was their land but they could share the land with Palestinians people and other people who lived there. Mahmound thinks that it’s the Palestinians land and the Jewish should get out of their land. Mahmound also thinks that the Jewish should get killed, so there would be less Jewish people. He didn’t like anyone to be in his land but when he grown up, he changed his mind a lot because he got to know the Jewish people. He though they great good people and he like them after that.
Promises was a great film and it taught the viewer so many things about the Israeli-Palestinian’s war. It show that it is possible to change the children’s opinions of each other for the good, then maybe it can change the conflict or even stop it. I like this film because the seven lives and opinions are shown really clearly. I would definitely encourage people to see this film.
In the film Promises there are eight characters : Yarko & Daniel, Faraj, Sanabel, Shlomo, Mahmoud, Moishe & Raheli. B.Z. Goldberg directed this 106 min. documentary, about a number of Palestinian and Israeli children who all live in the areas around the Gaza strip where the Palestinians and Israelis both think that their god gave them the land and that it belongs to only them. All the children in this movie have different views and opinions about what’s going on and what should be done about the conflict between Israelis and the Palestinians . Promises effectively shows the feeling and thoughts of children on both sides of the Israeli Palestinian conflict.
In this documentary B.Z. shows how emotional living in Israel at this time. For example Sanibel a young Palestinian girl who’s father was put in jail without being charged with a crime and she writes letters to him but they never get sent. Also she and the immediate family go to visit him and they travel for about 5 hours and would only be allowed to see him for 30 min. This makes her feel very upset and angry because she never gets enough time to see him and he’s missing her grow up. Another example would be that Faraj’s a Palestinian boy living in a refugee camp who’s dear friend was shot and killed by an Israeli soldier. This event makes him feel sad and angered at the same time because his friend was shot and killed by an Israeli soldier but throughout the film he bonds with Israelis who one day will become a soldier.
Another way thoughts and feelings are shown is when the directors show how they change over time with age. For example, Mahmoud a young Palestinian boy who in the beginning was afraid of the Jews and thought they were mean and deceitful but then about two years later after seeing the film he wasn’t afraid of Jews anymore because after viewing the movie all the Jews got up and shook his hand. He now thinks that they are good people and want peace just like he does. Another example would be that Yarko & Daniel two Israeli twins who in the beginning of the documentary were all about peace and sharing the land equally. Then about two years later they end up joining the army and fighting for their land.
Overall, Promises affectively shows how emotional living in Israel is. It also does a good job at showing the subjects thoughts and feelings through out the film. I liked that after watching it I have a better understanding about why each side of the conflict feel so strongly that the land belongs to them and what its significance is. Also I’m able to hear about it from actual people who are living there and facing the difficulties that the conflict brings up. This film is wonderfully filmed and interesting to watch. I’ve changed as a result of this film because it makes me feel torn in two because me being Jewish I feel like I need to support the Israelis but after seeing the Palestinians and seeing what they have to say about it opens my eyes to other solutions to get out of the conflict instead of war.
Promises is a documentay showing the lives of eight children who are living in the middle of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They have never met, but they are all dealing with similiar issues. The characters are Yarko, Daniel, Faraj, Sanabel, Shlomo, Mahmoud, Moishe, and Raheli. Promises was directed by B.Z. Goldberg, Justine Shapiro, and Carlos Bolado. This documentary is not rated and is 106 minutes long. B.Z. Goldberg's way of interviewing the children was innapropraite. He looked for more details and information than we should expect from children at that age level. Interviewing teenagers or young adults would have been better suited to his purpose.
Clearly by watching this documentary, you can see that B.Z. coached the children on what to say. One example of that is during one of the interviews, you can hear B.Z. tell Yarko to answer all questions as an israeli would. Yarko even mentioned that he does not think about the conflict too often. Like most kids, he would rather talk about sports, not politics. Another example of B.Z. coaching the children was when he was talking to Raheli. Raheli was only nine years old. Most nine year olds do not know how to answer political questions they way she did.
Another reason it would be better for B.Z. to interview teenagers is because teenagers know much more about polotics and whats going on in the world around them. One example of that was Yarko and Daniel. When they were younger, they really did not want to join the army. However as they got older, they realized that their country needs them to fight. Another example is Sanabel. When she was younger, she did not understand why there is so much hatred in the Middle East. When she was older, she did an interview with 60 Minutes. During that interview she reveals that earlier that year, her friend was killed. That made Sanabel change her whole outlook on everything. She felt so much anger towards the people who killed her friend, she now understands why people bomb; out of anger.
The children in the documentary came from both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. By the end of the movie, most of the children realized that the oposing side was not as bad as they thought they were. They realized that they are born into those families and it's not their choice to be Muslim or Jewish. However, the movie would have been much more effective if the children were older and had more knowlege of the conflict.
Promises Film Review
By Arielle Ahladianakis
In the movie “Promises” directed by B.Z. Goldberg (106 minutes long), the story depicts the life of seven children living in Israel who are either Israeli or Palestinian. The children have strong stereotypes about each other and they each think the land of Israel belongs to them. “Promises” shows the opinion through the eyes of Israeli and Palestinian children on the Middle East conflict.
The movie shows both opinions clearly when the children meet. Faraj, a Palestinian boy, starts to cry because he fears that once B.Z. (the movie director) leaves the friendships he made with the Israeli boys will fall apart. Faraj gets along with the Israeli kids and realizes that they are just like him. In one scene, a friend of Faraj’s explains how Faraj lost a friend who was shot by an Israeli. Yarko and Daniel, both Israeli, are also sad because they see Israelis die on television. However, Faraj does not feel that seeing people dieing on television is the same as losing a close friend.
The movie also shows how the children’s opinions change from when they were children and then grow into young adults. When Yarko and Daniel are children they both think that the land belongs to both the Israelis and Palestinians. However, when they grow up they both join the Israeli army. If they were truly sincere about what they believed when they were children, they would not have joined the Israeli army. Mohammed (a Palestinian boy) hates the Israelis when he is a child, but when he gets older he realizes that he was just afraid of them and no longer despises Israelis.
Overall, I feel B.Z. Goldberg, did a good job expressing the feelings and opinions through the eyes of the Israeli and Palestinian children. He captured the innocence of the children and helped them realize they are not all that different from one another. However, once they grow up other pressures such as religion and obligation to their country change their young opinions.
Promises starring: Yarko, Daniel, Faraj, Sanabel, Shlomo, Mahmoud, Moishe, Raheli and B.Z. Goldberg. Directors: Justine Shapico, B.Z. Goldberg, and Carlos Bolado. Not rated (106 minutes). B.Z. Goldberg takes the opinion of Israeli and Palestinian kids on the conflict between Israel and Palestine and turns it into an award worthy movie that takes place in several years of the kids’ lives. Promises showed that some people are willing to let bygones be bygones and share the land with the other culture, but some people don’t even want to interact with the other culture, yet alone share land with them.
Most of the kids in Promises were willing to meet with kids from the other culture to see what they’re like and to talk to them about this problem between their two cultures. Yarko and Daniel twin Israeli boys living in Jerusalem were neutral in this complicated conflict, which has the Israelis thinking Jerusalem and Israel is their land and the Palestinians thinking its their land, but in their opinion they thought the land should be shared, so they didn’t mind going to meet with Arabs. Faraj and Sanabel two Palestinian children living in the Deheishe Refugee Camp in the West Bank were also neutral even though Faraj was a little stubborn at first he eventually agreed to meet with Jews. When these kids met with each other you couldn’t tell that they were from different cultures, because they got along so well and had more similarities than they had differences. This showed you that if people really wanted to they could make peace with one another and live happily, but this wasn’t what everyone thought.
A few of the kids were not willing to meet with the other culture and didn’t want anything that had to do with the other side. Moishe an Israeli boy living in the El Bait settlement didn’t want to get close to a Palestinian kid and even wished some of them would get killed by passing by bullets. Another Israeli boy Shlomo living in the Jewish part of the Old City of Jerusalem also refused to meet with any Palestinian kids, but didn’t show as much hatred towards them as Moishe had. The Israeli kids weren’t the only ones not willing to meet with the opposing side, Mahmoud a Palestinian boy living in East Jerusalem also denied a meeting with Israeli kids and almost showed as much hatred towards them as Moshe had to the Arabs. But Mahomoud’s case is a little interesting because over time he turns into a whole different person with a whole different opinion, your going to have to watch the movie to see what happens.
Promises is a must see movie that shows you the similarity and differences between Israelis and Palestinians and shows you this big conflict between them in the eyes of children. After watching this five star movie you will see how some people in this conflict are willing to set aside their differences and make peace, whereas some don’t even want to talk to the other side and wouldn’t even consider the idea of making peace.
Promises (106 min.), an outstanding, insightful, thoughtful and personal documentary by B.Z. Goldberg, showed how kids changed their thoughts and feelings about kids on the other side of the checkpoint. B.Z. Goldberg interviewed 8 children (Yarko and Daniel, Faraj, Sanabel, Shlomo, Mahmoud, Moshe and Raheli) who all had different ideas about the conflict.
Some of them claimed that the land was theirs, but the others denied. Mahmoud, an Arab boy, who searched in the Torah, and read that Abraham said that the land was theirs. However, Shlomo, a Jewish boy, who talks about being cursed and punched by Arab boys, thinks that the land is theirs. On the other hand, both, Israelis and Palestinians, came from Abraham, so the land is both of theirs.
Also, some kids decided that they wanted to meet the kids on the other side of the checkpoint, but some said they didn’t. Shlomo, wasn’t interested in meeting the others, he said that he wouldn’t be mean to any Arab, but he wouldn’t be friends with them either. Unlike, Yarko, Daneal, and Faraj, who were thrilled about the idea of meeting each other, even though Yarko and Danial were Jewish, and Faraj who was a Palestinian. When they met, they shared their opinions about the conflict, and they also had fun. They played sports, and shared their ideas of what they liked. While they were together, they had to speak in English, because they didn’t understand each other’s language. When Yaarko and Daniel, had to leave, they got emotional but still were very happy that they had the chance to see each other.
All the children were proud to share their thoughts. But as they got older they had different thoughts. For example, Yarko and Daniel, decided to join the army to defend their country. They said that, there may be a winner at the end, but what does a “winner” mean. There were always questions left for them to answer.
In the film “Promises”, the film’s director, B.Z. Goldberg, interviews seven children; Jews and Arabs alike, whose lives are dominated by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Yarko and Daniel, secular Jewish twins living in Jerusalem, Faraj, an Arab boy living in the Deheise refugee camp, Sanabel, also in the refugee camp. The other three children are Shlomo, an orthodox Jew living in Jerusalem, Moishe, a Jew living in a settlement in the west bank, and Mahmoud, a Jerusalem Arab. In a series of interviews done between 1995 and 2002 the children share their thoughts and views on the conflict. Later, near the end of the documentary, the twins, Yarko and Daniel, are invited to the refugee camp by Faraj and travel there for a meeting. The documentary displays how though many in the region are neutral or even accepting of the other culture involved; there are still those who are extremely pro-Israel or extremely pro-Palestine.
Even in the middle of an extremely heated issue, some people manage to stay neutral. One example of those who are neutral on the conflict is Yarko and Daniel. Though Israeli, the twins constantly bombard B.Z. about Faraj, “the sprinter” and want to meet him and other Arab kids. This they eventually accomplish when they go to the Deheise refugee camp and Meet Faraj, Sanabel, and their friends. Another example is the opinion of Sanabel, who, after meeting Yarko and Daniel, says that she would like to meet more Jewish children. She says that she understands that some, if not most, are nor to blame.
But, as in any conflict, there are still those who strongly support one side or another. One example is Mahmoud, an Arab living in the Palestinian section of Jerusalem, says that the land belongs to Arabs, no matter what. “The Jews had no right,” coming and taking it from them. Moishe, a Jew living in a settlement, is also very opinionated. He believes in deportation, and at one point in the movie says of Israeli target practice, “It’s OK if [the soldiers] miss because they might hit an Arab!”
The film really changed my perspective on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I never realized with such clarity how bad the hate is over there. It surprised me that, though the hate is great, there are still many people who are willing to cooperate and try to find some sort of resolution to the conflict. I hope one may be in the near future.
Promises,(106 minutes)In this movie there are 8 children living in areas of Israel and Palestine. (Mahmoud, Faraj, Sanabel, Shlomo, Daniel, Yarko, Moishe, Raheli) All have different opinions about each other. The Jews have different opinions about the Arabs and the Arabs have different opinions about the Jews. B.Z. Goldberg,director, chose an interesting an relevant topic to focus on. The film was a successful in showing both the similarities and differences between th Israeli and Palestinian.
Then the kids say that the land is there’s because they are the descants of Abraham. Moishe, a Jewish boy living in the West Bank Settlement, reads from the Torah, ”God gave Abraham the land and Abraham gave it to his descants the land. ”Then he added on ”We are the descants of Abraham the land belongs to us.” Unlike Faraj, a Arab boy living in a settlement, said that the land belongs to the Palestinians, because he has a deed to show it.
Then B.Z. decided that the Jews and the Arabs should meet, but some of them refused. Daniel and Marko, Jewish twins, agreed that they all should meet. Unlike them Mahmoud, an Arab boy, declined the meet because he didn’t like the Jew and said “When I see a Jew I want to kill them.”
Once I had seen the movie, I saaw that if u judge people on what you hear, you can get judge back or even get into a lot of trouble doing so. Also stereotyping will come into order and the that person, or people will be thought bad of because other people don’t like them.
2/11/09
Amine
The name of this movie is called “Promises” (Not rated, 106 min). It Is about a man named B.Z who travels to the country of Israel and the Palestinian territories to visit 7 children. The 7 children’s names are as follows; The Palestinian children are, Sanabel, Faraj, Mahmoud, and the Israelis, Shlomo, Yarko and Daniel, Moishe. B.Z interviews these children and gets opinions of the war from both sides of the war, and the innocence of children instead of adults. Promises effectively shows the range of opinions and sides in the Israeli and Palestinian conflict from the extreme to the moderate to the unconcerned.
Some of the children felt that the land belongs to the Jews or to the Arabs. They thought they were right and the true owners of the land and said that god promised them the land. They felt they were right and didn’t want to waste their time talking about it with the other side (Arabs or Jews). An example is Moishe, a young Jewish boy living in Palestinian occupied territories, and Mahmoud, an Arab boy living in Palestinian territory, and how Moishe wanted the Arabs deported. Another example is how Mahmoud wasn’t as extreme as that but he still wanted nothing to do with the Jews.
On the other hand, some children were leaning towards neutral. Meaning, they believe the land belonged to them but was hoping for a compromise between Arabs and Jews over the land that they both believe god promised to them. For example, Shlomo, a young ultra orthodox Jew, believed that the land belonged to the Jews. But it did seem he was okay with a compromise between Arabs and Jews over the land they both covet. Faraj felt the same towards the end after being visited by Yarko and Daniel, two secular Jewish boys who wanted to meet the Arabs. At first Faraj wanted nothing to do with the Jews and wanted them out of his home country. But after meeting the Jews he wanted a compromise.
I feel that “Promises” showed the huge differences between the opinions of the Jews and Arabs very well. They also showed very well the small differences in between their own sides.
Promises, directed by B.Z. Goldberg, Justine Shapiro and Carlos Bolado, stars Yarko, Daniel, Faraj, Sanabel, Shlomo, Mahmoud, Moishe, and Rahelli. It is not rated, and it’s 106 minutes long. In the movie, Promises, B.Z. Goldberg talks to eight children about their opinions. The movie shows how they change over a couple of years and how their opinions change. Promises effectively showed the range of opinions and sides in the Israeli Palestanian conflict, from the extreme to the moderate to the unconcerned.
In the movie, some kids changed their opinions as they got older, and some stayed exactly the same. For example, when Moishe was younger, he wanted to get rid of all the Palestanians. When he was interviewed when he was older, he had the same exact opinion, he wanted to deport them all. Another example is when Mahmoud was younger, he wanted to get rid of all of the Jews. When he got older he was completely changed. He said that he was no longer afraid of the Jews and that he could walk outside with them.
In the movie, some of the children were willing to get together with each other, and get to know each other. They were able to talk to each other about their different opinions about the Palestanian Israeli conflict. They ended up becoming friends and playing all types of games together. Yarko and Daniel chose to meet with Faraj and Sanabel. They played some games with each other and were able to get to know each other. They were able to sit down with each other and talk about the Palestanian Israeli conflict, even though they were on different sides. They ended up basically having the same opinion. Another example is that Moishe, Mahmoud and Shlomo refused tp meet with the other. Their opinions were to strong to talk about it with other kids.
Promises effectively showed the range of opinions and sides in the Israeli Palestanian conflict, from the extreme to the moderate to the unconcerned.
Film Review of the Promises movie
Yarko, Daniel, Sanabel, Shlomo, Mahmoud and Moishe are the subjects of the movie Promises. (NR, 106 minutes.) The director is Justin Shapiron, Carlos Bolado and B.Z. Gold Berg the narrator interviews children from both sides of Israel and Palestinian from the point of view of the children instead of adults. Promises chose an interesting and relevant idea to focus on. The film was successful, in showing both the similarities and differences between the Israelis and Palestinians.
One of the similarities that many of the kids have is that they don’t want to meet the kids from the other side even though that they didn’t see each other. Moishe lives in the west bank, which is part of Israel. He wished Palestinians would fly away and never sees each other again, without any fight. He wants peace in his country but still keep his land. In Palestinian Mahmoud works in coffee shop and at his work he sneaks coffee. Mahmoud didn’t want to meet any Jews and if he does he wanted to kill them all and keep his land.
They all had different things to say for the same question. Yarko has a twin brother named Daniel and they both get scared very easily. Yarko thought that his people should have his land and Arabs to go away without getting hurt. One of Faraj is an Arab kid and one day his best friends threw a rock at a soldier and the soldier shot him. After that day he wanted to kill all the Jews. Faraj wanted peace without fight, but he thought that the land was his peoples land.
Overall In the movie I liked it because it was very emotional. One day we were all talking and everybody had something different to say. They all were involved in a difficult situation when they were young. Promises showed a huge difference between the opinion of the Arabs and Jews.
Promises Film Review
By: Nicole Mendez
(N.R. Directed by B.Z. Goldberg, 106 minutes) The documentary Promises
tells the opinions of children Yarko and Daniel, Faraj, Sanabel, Shlomo,
Mahoud, and Moishe and his sister Raheli and how they feel about the
Israel - Palestinian conflicts. This documentary also shows the children
growing up through the years and how their opinions change or stay the
same. I loved everything about the documentary Promises including its
bitter sweet ending, no matter how heart-breaking it was, because it really
makes you see how someone’s opinion can change over time.
Promises was a little too intense when dealing with children. But that
needed to happen in order to understand exactly what these children were
going through. When the children talked about there friends who died. Like
Faraj and his friend who got shot by terrorists. Another example would be
when Sanabel talks about her dad and starts crying because he is in jail.
The ending of Promises to me was sad because the opinions of some
children changed a lot. Yarko and Daniel two brothers who before were
open to change and then when they got older they started to be less open to
Change, because they felt their lives were too different. Then they stopped
returning Faraj’s phone calls because they couldn’t see the point of talking to someone they weren’t going to be able to see again. A second example
would be when Sanabel was crying because her dad was out of jail but her
brother was now in jail. This shows how she felt betrayed by Yarko and
Daniel when they joined the army. I would recommend watching the
documentary Promises. It is a heart felt film that will make you feel like you
actually know the children in it, and that you are going on the journey with
them and B.Z. Goldberg.
Joey Farrar
2/24/09
I thought that Promises was a really great movie to watch. I really liked it. The characters in the movie are Faraj, Yarko, Daniel, Shlomo, Sanabel, Mahmoud, Moishe and his little sister Raheli. The directors of this film are Justine Shapiro, B.Z. Goldberg, and co-director Carlos Bolado. They do a great job with this film. Promises has no rating, and is 106 minutes long. Promises is about kids from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict who come together and meet eachother. Promises demonstrates how it’s a possibility that kids from different nationalities can come together.
B.Z. Goldberg brings the kids together and they have a pretty good time. For example, they play sports and they had a llot of fun together. Another example is Faraj, a Palestinian refugee boy, cries when B.Z. Goldberg leaves because he doesn’t think he will make the next checkpoint. So, the kids have a great time together and don’t want to leave.
It is only a possibility that kids from different sides of the conflict can come together because some of the kids didn’t want to go because they didn’t even want to get near the other kids. For example, Shlomo, an ultra-orthadox Jewish boy, refused to go with B.Z. Goldberg and meet other kids from the opposite side of the conflict because they are not like him or his family. Another example is that the kids didn’t always agree on everything. They had arguments about the Ireali-Palestinian conflict. When Sanabel found out that Yarko and Daniel were going to join the war to fight the other side, she was very upset with them because they are fighting against her people. Yarko and Daniel new they had to go fight for their side because without their side, they would not be anything of what they are now.
I really liked this film, Promises, because it showed that it is a possibility for kids from the other side of the Isreali-Palestinian conflict can come together and be friends. I think B.Z. Goldberg and the other two directors did a really great job with this film and this was a very interesting movie. It is interesting because it shows different kids opinions on each side of the conflict. I recommend this film to anyone who is interested in other peoples opinions of the Ireali-Palestinian conflict. This was a really great film.
"Promises" by B.Z. Goldberg shows that kids have a strong feeling about politics that not onl adults have a saying, kids do also.
Adults disagree with the fact of trying new things. But for Yarko and Daniel they decide to try and do both.Follow there parents desicion and follow there's. New beggings and new oppurtunities.
When Yarko and Daniel decide to visit Faraj he thought he was gonna be different but then he realized there like them. No difference.
Children have always had different opinions of each other . These kids one by one have different opinions for Shlomo he hates the fact that Yarko And Daniel want to make peace. Sanabel she dosen't like reuniting either. But, at the end of the movie she realizes she only wants peace nothing else.
Afterall, the movie "Promises" tells us that children have a say in anything maybe children have different opinions but that could change throughtout time.
woahhhhhb thats awesome (:
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