5 Broken Cameras

5 Broken Cameras is a brilliant film, a documentary begun with no purpose other than to capture the events in a small Palestinian village called Bil'in. The director, Emad, purchased a video camera to film his youngest son's development but quickly begins to record a passive resistance uprising within his home. Israel is moving further into Palestinian land and building complexes for what are termed "settlers," Israelis who are looking for homes in which to live.

The title comes from the events over the course of five years in which his camera is destroyed five times, forcing him to purchase a new one. On two occasions, the camera is destroyed by gunfire, likely saving his life both times. 

I loved this documentary because it seemed the most honest of many films I've seen. Very often, filmmakers set out with a purpose in mind to communicate with their footage. Not so Emad. He filmed hundreds of hours of footage for several years before realizing what he had on his hands. He presents what seems to me to be an incredibly unbiased view of what occurs in his village.

One of my favorite moments comes in a time of despair for Bil'in. They are attempting to regain their land and getting nowhere in their resistance; meanwhile, many of them have been injured and killed by Israeli soldiers. Emad arranges a screening of his footage within his village and his narration indicates that this unites them and draws them closer. I found this a profound statement about the nature of film as a shared experience. Certainly they were particularly drawn to it because it is a narrative of their own home, but I think there is something to be said for how film connects us.

There was a facet of this film that I found intriguing. It appears to me that Emad, while taking on the role of documenter, uses his camera to insulate himself from the harsh reality surrounding him. Of course, he is vitally present in it, coming close to death on multiple occasions. But I wonder whether or not his camera was the thing that gave him the hope to carry on.

While this film has potential to be very political, I think it is worth watching. Regardless of your opinion of the political situation between Israel and Palestine and whose land it is, watching this movie will enrage you when you see the deep injustice of how they are treated. As my friend says, I don't want to be pro-Israel or pro-Palestine, I want to be pro-people. This film should shock you into movement on behalf of the oppressed. Absolutely find a way to see this one.