Watch 5 Broken Cameras

The movie 5 Broken Cameras from 2011 is a riveting documentary film that portrays the struggle of a Palestinian farmer named Emad Burnat against the Israeli army's encroachment into his hometown of Bil'in in the West Bank. Co-directed by Emad Burnat and Guy Davidi, the film is a poignant chronicle of Burnat's journey as a cameraman, who captures the non-violent protests, the brutalities of the occupation, and his personal life with his family during the five-year conflict.

The movie starts with Emad Burnat's son Gibreel being born, and Emad records his growing up with his first camera. However, Burnat's peaceful existence in Bil'in is disrupted as the Israeli government begins constructing a security wall on Palestinian land, obstructing the farmers' access to their olive groves. Burnat becomes an active participant in the non-violent resistance movement against the Israeli forces, filming the weekly protests and confrontations between the activists and soldiers.

The title of the film alludes to the five cameras that Burnat destroys or lose, which symbolizes the toll the conflict takes on him and his community. Burnat's second camera is damaged by a tear-gas canister fired by the soldiers, and his third camera is confiscated by the authorities during a raid on his house. The fourth camera is smashed when Burnat tries to film a demonstration, and the fifth camera is stolen by a soldier who threatens him with violence.

Throughout the movie, Burnat suffers from the Israeli army's targeted violence against him and the other protesters, leading to the death of several people, including a ten-year-old boy. The film captures the unjust practices of the Israeli government, which uses force to repress the Palestinian resistance and destroy their livelihood. Burnat's footage reveals the army's use of rubber bullets, tear gas, and live ammunition against unarmed demonstrators and the arrest of innocent people.

The movie also depicts the Burnat family's everyday life and how the conflict affects them. Emad's wife Soraya is shown to be a constant source of support and resilience, as she tries to keep their family together in the face of hardship. Emad himself becomes a target of the Israeli army's oppression, leading to his arrest and detention for weeks.

In addition to the political conflict, the film highlights the human dimension of the struggle, showing the bonds of solidarity and friendship between the Palestinian activists from Bil'in and the international community who join their cause. The documentary captures the sense of community that develops among the protesters, who share their stories and support each other.

The cinematography of the movie is raw and visceral, using shaky handheld cameras to capture the action on the ground. The film's soundtrack includes the sounds of gunshots, screams, and chanting, creating a sense of being in the midst of the conflict.

Overall, 5 Broken Cameras is a powerful film that exposes the brutality of the Israeli occupation and the resilience of the Palestinian people. The movie shows the power of film as a tool for resistance, as Emad Burn at uses his camera to document the reality of his struggle and preserve the memory of his community's struggle for future generations. So, the movie is a must-watch for anyone interested in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the power of non-violent resistance to bring about change.

5 Broken Cameras is a 2011 war movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.9 and a MetaScore of 78.