Film Archive

Jahr

Media Name: 23541811-9c07-4fb5-a022-33b0fd4e542c.jpg

Children

Yeladim
Ada Ushpiz
International Competition 2020
Documentary Film
Israel
2020
128 minutes
Arabic
Subtitles: 
English

There are children, too, among the Palestinian insurgents. For some time now, the Israeli side has observed minors who take an active part in an Intifada, especially with knives. They are harshly dealt with: prison, hardly any judiciary support. Ada Ushpiz, filmmaker and journalist, comes surprisingly close to some of the Palestinian families concerned. She has accompanied the dubious insurgents over several years and witnessed terrible pressure.

Freshly released from prison, 12-year-old Dima encounters a crowd of television people. A few months ago, she was caught with a knife. The attack was said to be aimed at Jewish Israelis. Now, in a frenzy of camera flashes, her mother stands close by her side. But instead of offering protection she assumes the role of an agitator, demanding that her daughter report how she was treated by the Israelis. But Dima remains silent. Her family describes the pubescent girl as mentally handicapped. Dareen is younger than Dima and lives with her brothers, father and a few snakes in the immediate vicinity of their Israeli neighbours. Soldiers stalk the house, sometimes stones fly, Shin Bet, Israel’s domestic intelligence service, is allegedly involved. In her astonishing film, Ushpiz shows a life in constant tension. Her approach is unapologetic and familiar.
Carolin Weidner

Credits DOK Leipzig Logo

Director
Ada Ushpiz
Cinematographer
Danor Glazer, Bilal Saed
Editor
Neta Braun
Producer
Ada Ushpiz
Co-Producer
Philippa Kowarsky
Sound
Aviv Aldema
Score
Avi Balleli
World Sales
Philippa Kowarsky
Broadcaster
Channel 8
Funder
NFCT
Nominated for: Prize of the Interreligious Jury, FIPRESCI Prize