5 Broken Cameras

2012 • 94 minutes

About this movie

Academy Award nominee for Best Documentary Feature. An extraordinary work of both cinematic and political activism, 5 Broken Cameras is a deeply personal, first-hand account of non-violent resistance in Bil'in, a West Bank village threatened by encroaching Israeli settlements.

Shot almost entirely by Palestinian farmer Emad Burnat, who bought his first camera in 2005 to record the birth of his youngest son, the footage was later turned into a galvanizing cinematic experience by co-directors Guy Davidi and Burnat.

Structured around the violent destruction of a succession of Burnat's video cameras, the filmmakers' collaboration follows one family's evolution over five years of village turmoil. Burnat watches from behind the lens as olive trees are bulldozed, protests intensify, and lives are lost. "I feel like the camera protects me," he says, "but it's an illusion."

Ratings and reviews

It is interesting buy very one sided. !. did you ever see a documentary on Palestinian farmers in other parts under Palestinian rule? they are much harder. 2. the world forget that there was not occupation. Judea and Samaria was always known as part of Israel and their names poit to it. The Jordanian in 1949 fought the young israeli country which was accepted by the UN but most of its members. In 1967 when Egypt started the war against Israel The leaders of Israel aske the Jordanian King not to get involved but he did. The Jordanian started to fight against Israel and luckily Israel won 3. Look at other countries like Russia England and other that during a war conquered another country and return the land? and Israel did not start the war and did not take any land that did not belong to it. Just think that all the "west Bank" was not ever marked in red borders as belonged to Jorden was was not recognized as a border between Jordan but as armistice line.

Very insightful documentary. Really neat to see and hear it through the eyes of someone living through these events and incredible to see how a child is raised in such a hectic and dangerous atmosphere. Truly amazing documentary.

Great movie !! You have to see it if you're a Native American. We had bows & arrows, they only had rocks to save their little village.