How do the Palestinian and Israeli educational systems teach the history of their respective nations and their intertwined conflict? Israeli director Tamara Erde set out to answer this is a provocative, complex, and fascinating question a few years after completing her army service. Despite the fact that the respective education ministries are leery about allowing teachers to speak on camera, Erde was able to arrange filming at a number of Israeli, Palestinian, and mixed schools, observing different teacher strategies and various responses from the children. She also spoke to educational researchers on both sides. There’s a good bit of pessimism from children and adults alike, but the film also shows good people trying to build curricula and teach responsibly. “I’ve kind of forgotten what it means,” says a 17-year-old Israeli when asked to define “shalom” (peace). In these troubled lands, this sad amnesia is an unfortunate truth.
The 29th annual Washington, DC International Film Festival focuses on relationships, character depth, and story. It is an opportunity to explore and discover. It is an adventure, and we invite you to enjoy the festival and all of its pleasures.
Filmfest DC is an 11-day annual festival presenting more than 60 feature premieres, restored classics and special events to the general public. The majority of Filmfest DC presentations are Washington, DC premieres. The festival brings the finest in contemporary world cinema to the nation’s capital and has introduced over 1,000 feature and short films from over 55 countries to an ever-growing audience.
The festival is a District-wide event, bringing together the city’s film community in a spirit of cooperation and celebration. It is one of the longest running major cultural events in Washington, DC and credited with thought-provoking, insightful and entertaining programming. The Filmfest DC community includes the University of the District of Columbia, The National Endowment for the Arts, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities and the Washington Film Society, Landmark’s E Street Cinema, Goethe-Institut Washington, and Embassy of France.
For further information and tickets reservation please visit the Filmfest DC website.