Five Broken Cameras (2011)

A documentary on a Palestinian farmer's chronicle of his nonviolent resistance to the actions of the Israeli army.

Directors:

Emad Burnat, Guy Davidi

Stars:

Emad Burnat, Soraya Burnat, Mohammed Burnat

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 18 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Emad Burnat	...	Himself - Narrator
Soraya Burnat	...	Herself - Wife of Emad
Mohammed Burnat	...	Himself - Son of Emad
Yasin Burnat	...	Himself - Son of Emad
Taky-Adin Burnat	...	Himself - Son of Emad
Gibreel Burnat	...	Himself - Son of Emad
Muhammad Burnat	...	Himself - Father of Emad
Bassem Abu-Rahma	...	Himself - Protester (as Phil)
Adeeb Abu-Rahma	...	Himself - Protester
Ashraf Abu-Rahma	...	Himself - Protester (as Daba)
Intisar Burnat	...	Herself - Mother of Emad
Eyad Burnat	...	Himself - Brother of Emad
Riyad Burnat	...	Himself - Brother of Emad
Khaled Burnat	...	Himself - Brother of Emad
Jafar Burnat	...	Himself - Brother of Emad

Storyline

When his fourth son, Gibreel, is born, Emad, a Palestinian villager, gets his first camera. In his village, Bil'in, a separation barrier is being built and the villagers start to resist this decision. For more than five years, Emad films the struggle, which is led by two of his best friends, alongside filming how Gibreel grows. Very soon it affects his family and his own life. Daily arrests and night raids scare his family; his friends, brothers and himself are either shot or arrested. One camera after another is shot at or smashed. Each of the 5 cameras tells part of his story.

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Plot Keywords:

reference to the world cup | camera | friend | palestinian | arrest | 

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Genres:

Documentary | War

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [Japan]

Country:

Palestine Israel France Netherlands

Language:

Hebrew Arabic

Release Date:

2011 (Israel)

Also Known As:

5 Broken Cameras

Filming Locations:

Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,674, 3 June 2012, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$109,983

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$283,292

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alegria Productions,Burnat Films,Guy DVD Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Emad Burnat - Narrator: Healing is a challenge in life. It's a victim sole obligation. By healing, you resist oppression. But when I'm hurt over and over again, I forget the wounds that rule my life. Forgotten wounds can't be healed. So I film to heal. I know they may knock at my door at any moment. But I'll just keep filming. It helps me confront life. And survive.

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Connections

Featured in The Oscars (2013)

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Soundtracks

Music from the albums: Randana, Majâz, As far
Music composed and performed by Samir Joubran, Wissam Joubran, Adnan Joubran
Interpreted by Le Trio Joubran
Percussions by Yousef Hbeisch
(p) & (c) Randana - 2007
Courtesy of Randana

User Reviews

lives of occupied people

Emad Burnat's documentary about the on-the-ground reality for the people inside the West Bank is a very disturbing portrait of life under military occupation. In fact, when Burnat got detained at the LA airport on his way to the Academy Awards, he noted that it is what the Palestinians go through on a daily basis. Indeed, the settlers and army do some absolutely evil things, such as burning an olive tree.

"5 Broken Cameras" (whose title refers to the different cameras that Burnat had to use after the army kept breaking them) is a documentary that everyone should see. It's a real look at what life is like for the Palestinians under Israeli occupation, a complete contrast to the nonstop depictions of Palestinians as terrorists.