REFUSENIKS

59 min . - Louisville

Director: Sonja de Vries

A moving portrait of Israeli men and women who have been willing to risk imprisonment in defense of their stands against the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza by refusing to serve in those regions or refusing to serve in the military at all. A high school student, a career military officer, an army medic, and others tell a conflicted and passionate story of how they have come to believe they must take a stand. They differ in their spiritual and political beliefs, some are ardent Zionists, and some question and challenge the concept of Zionism, but all of them believe that taking a stand is crucial to their own humanity and to the future of their country.

What an amazing and important film.  Sonja de Vries has captured a people and country in crisis.  The stories of the refuseniks are inspirational and the imprisonment of them a sad state of humanity.  This film educated me on a part of current events that I am sad to say I was not fully aware of.  Sonja also spoke to the people of Israel about the refuseniks.  Many are against the freedom of choice they are invoking.  Some were trying to understand.  I was amazed at the strength and perseverance of these young and old humanitarians that might one day change the face of life in Israel.  If you get a chance you should see this film and share it with everyone you can.

Shane Morton