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Sucha Normal
Thing - A Simple Journey into the Israeli-Occupied
West Bank
Rebecca
Glotfelty
"We are
human beings and we feel," reflects
a Palestinian hotel manager. Capturing the
voice of individual Palestinians, internationals,
and Israeli peace activists, Sucha Normal Thing documents untold stories
of ordinary people amidst the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict.
In an attempt
to deconstruct her preconceived visions,
American filmmaker Rebecca Glotfelty travels
beyond mainstream news headlines into the
heart of the Israeli-occupied West Bank
to experience first-hand one of the most
pressing conflicts of our time.
Filmed in
the fall of 2003, Sucha Normal Thing vividly explores visceral moments of life
and death under occupation. From the busy
cities of Jerusalem, Ramallah, Hebron, and
Nablus, to the villages of Sa'aer and Zbuba,
Sucha Normal Thing brings forth
stories of Palestinians struggling to maintain
a normal existence under Israeli occupation
as well as Israelis, Palestinians, and internationals
working non-violently toward peace.
Sucha Normal Thing captures the uncertainty
of a "normal" day for the filmmaker
and the Palestinian farmers,children, doctors,
teachers and others living and working in
the West Bank. Amidst stories of fear, anger,
and hopelessness, exist moving stories of
humans determined to persevere, to rise
above the situation, to remain hopeful despite
the uncertainty of daily life. A Palestinian
father declares, "I want my children
to be free, think free, not to be caged
in the occupational culture." Hopeful
for a life of freedom from the occupation.
Reviews
"There are lots of
good movies about the conflict over Palestine,
but this is certainly one of the very best.
What I like most about it is that it doesn't
rely on the usual cast of American professors
and Israeli progressives - most of it is
ordinary Palestinians speaking for themselves,
in detail, about their own experience. I
can't imagine that anyone could watch this
movie and not be deeply moved."
- Henry Norr
"This
film does an amazing job of showing a side
of the story that the media rarely shares
with us. The human side, particularly from
the Palestinian point of view, is eye opening
and heart wrenching. With any war, there
are always innocents. It is disgusting how
little regard our world leaders have for
the people who are simply trying to lead
a normal life among constant chaos. Fortunately,
this film gives us hope that there are people
amidst the horrors of war who are working
for the greater good."
- J. T. Black
"If
you're one of those people who sometimes
disregards what is happening to Palestinians,
then this movie will truly help you feel
for them and see that their situation is
real. This movie is filled with compelling
interviews and hard evidence of clear injustice.
As someone who has been to Palestine twice,
I can say that this filmmaker had lots of
guts to go to the places she did."
- Nader Khoury
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