AT THE GREEN LINE

AT THE GREEN LINE

    Price: $310.00

    Code: 2209

    Directed by Jesse Atlas
    2005, 53 minutes
    Purchase: $310 Classroom Rental: $125


    At the Green Line is a passionate and balanced documentary about the "Courage to Refuse" movement that looks at the political, ethical and moral choices facing Israeli soldiers serving in the occupied territories.

    Since January 2002, the "Courage to Refuse" movement has been growing steadily within Israel, with the belief that "the commands issued to us in the Occupied Territories destroy all the values we were raised upon." Today, the movement numbers over 600 high-ranking soldiers and officers. Military service in Israel is mandatory, and this act of refusal is considered treason by a society who sees no other alternative to protecting their families and their country.

    At the Green Line profiles several "Courage to Refuse" ex-soldiers as well as Israeli Army reservists, and shows how each side wrestles with the effectiveness and morality of their choices. The viewer is taken to the front lines of the conflict: night patrols in the Gaza Strip, suicide bombings, targeted assassinations, checkpoints, the separation fence, and the fear and tension that permeate day to day existence in Israel.

    A raw, powerful, and heartfelt film, At the Green Line documents the struggle to reconcile individual conscience with responsibility to, and love for, one's country.



    Subjects & Collections



    Festivals & Awards

    * Winner, Best Film - Conflict & Resolution,
    * Hamptons International, Film Festival, 2005
    * Winner, Best Doc (short), Doxa Documentary Film Festival, 2005
    * Official Selection, Toronto Jewish Film Festival, 2005
    * Official Selection, Boston Jewish Film Festival, 2005


    Reviews

    At the Green Line goes one step further [than similar documentaries on this subject], and contrasts the members of Courage to Refuse with soldiers who still belong to the Israeli Defense Force. This contrast deepens the interest between those who refuse to fight and those who continue to fight. In particular, At the Green Line could be used in history classes to spark a debate about war, pacifism, and why some people choose one over the other. It is highly recommended for college and adult collections.” – Educational Media Reviews Online

    “A beautifully shot and crafted documentary! At the Green Line is a fascinating look at the Courage to Refuse movement… The documentary possesses an immediacy rare in many pieces on the Occupied Territories.” - Al Jadid: A Review & Record of Arab Culture and Arts

    “Most documentaries about the Israeli-Palestinian struggle portray the Israelis as the bad guys and the Palestinians as the harassed innocents. While this one leans slightly in that direction, it should not be lumped in with that crowd. At the Green Line brings up important issues that should not be brushed aside and it does so in a way that elicits discussion more than confrontation. The effort is laudable.” – Cynthia Ramsay, Jewish Independent