Disturbing the Peace (2016)

In a world torn by conflict -in a place where the idea of peace has been abandoned-an energy of determined optimism emerges. When someone is willing to disturb the status quo and stand for ... See full summary »

Directors:

Stephen Apkon, Andrew Young

Stars:

Chen Alon, Jamil Qassas, Avner Wishnitzer

6 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Chen Alon	...	Self - Interviewer
Jamil Qassas	...	Self - Interviewer
Avner Wishnitzer	...	Self - Interviewer
Sulaiman Khatib	...	Self - Interviewer
Mohammed Owedah	...	Self - Interviewer
Shifa Qudsi	...	Self - Interviewer
Assaf Yacobovitz	...	Self - Interviewer
Maia Hescal	...	Self - Interviewer
Fatima Qassas	...	Self
Lara Qassas	...	Self
Dania Qassas	...	Self
Maytal Lochtoff
Maya Katz
Itamar Feigenbaum
Oron Elior

Storyline

In a world torn by conflict -in a place where the idea of peace has been abandoned-an energy of determined optimism emerges. When someone is willing to disturb the status quo and stand for the dream of a free and secure world, who will stand with them? DISTURBING THE PEACE is a story of the human potential unleashed when we stop participating in a story that no longer serves us and, with the power of our convictions, take action to create new possibilities. DISTURBING THE PEACE follows former enemy combatants - Israeli soldiers from elite units and Palestinian fighters, many of whom served years in prison - who have joined together to challenge the status quo and say "enough." The film reveals their transformational journeys from soldiers committed to armed battle to nonviolent peace activists, leading to the creation of Combatants for Peace. While based in the Middle East, DISTURBING THE PEACE evokes universal themes relevant to us all and inspires us to become active participants in...

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Plot Keywords:

reenactment | palestine | reference to nelson mandela | reference to gandhi | zionism | 

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Taglines:

We Shall Be Free

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Genres:

Documentary

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Preview screening of this film #ebertfest 2016. This film was just finished and according to co-director Stephen Apkon, the film was completed at this time, because Chaz Ebert asked to see it to host it at Ebertfest 2016. Apkon's co-director and the film's cinematographer, Andrew Young, echoed the film's amazing point: many of the people in countries at war often don't have the hate for each other, that is the fodder for the media feeding frenzy, and political leaders who gain power from conflict and death.

Two principals in the film, a Palestinian, Suli, and an Israeli, Alon, are in attendance and along with the filmmakers, received the Roger Ebert Humanitarian Award. Please check out their social media sites, Combatants for Peace on Facebook and elsewhere. The people of this movement have and are changing the world.

User Reviews

A radically different approach to the Israeli-Palestine conflict

"Disturbing the Peace" (2016 release; 92 min.) is a documentary about the Israeli-Palestine conflict. As the movie opens, we are told it is "West Bank, 2005", during the 2nd Intifada, and we get to know a couples of Palestinians and their hatred for Israel. We then switch to "Israel, 2005" where we get to know a couple of Israelis, and their hatred for Palestine. But a surprise awaits us: these individuals from both sides have agreed to meet. Is it a trap or a set-up? Or can they find a way forward that is radically new and different?

Couple of comments: this movie is co-directed by Stephen Apkon and Andrew Young. They document the humble but daring origins in 2006 of a movement that eventually became known as "Combatants for Peace", an Israeli-Palestine collaboration unlike any other. Along the way we get a thumbnail sketch of the Israeli-Palestine conflict over the years, as well as the surprising background of the core individuals of the CFB movement (including a Palestine woman who was just hours away from carrying out a suicide attack). The key moment in the film is a argument between a Palestine husband (a key member of the CFP movement) and his wife about the sense of it all and whether the CFP movement is the right way forward, while their 2 daughters (and we the viewers) listen in to the back-and-forth. Just watch! This documentary is essential and mandatory viewing to get the full picture of the Israeli-Palestine conflict, and how a small group is trying a different approach, trying to spread its message of peace and hope to a large audience.

"Disturbing the Peace" has been out for over a year, so imagine my surprise when out of the blue it opened at my local art-house theater here in Cincinnati this weekend. Better late than never, I suppose. The Friday early evening screening where I saw this at was attended poorly (only 1 other person besides myself), and that's a shame. This is a movie that, like the message from the Combatants of Peace, deserves a wider audience. If you have a chance to check it out, be it in the theater, on VOD or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray, I strongly encourage you to do so.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site official website

Country:

Israel Palestine USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 March 2016 (USA)

Also Known As:

Disturbing the Peace

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$10,907, 13 November 2016

Gross USA:

$25,287

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$25,287

Company Credits

Production Co:

Reconsider, Archipelago Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1