Encounter Point
“Sometimes I’m very angry with myself that I didn’t protect my child. So what do you do with this pain? Do you take it and look for revenge and keep the whole cycle of violence going, or do you choose another path to prevent further death and further pain to other parents.”
-Robi Damelin, Israeli
Sometimes I’m faced with questions like: “How can you still do this after all you’ve been through? You could have great status in your society. You have the right to hate.” But I tell them I don’t have to love Israelis to make peace with them. And I’m not asked to forgive the soldier who killed my brother. I’ll never forgive him.
-Ali Abu Awwad, Palestinian
A clash of civilizations: suicide bombers and kidnappers on one side spewing hateful, nihilistic rhetoric, and one of the world’s most powerful armies on the other, reining down its massive force to subdue the local population and maintain its occupation. These are the archetypes that characterize coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Caught in the crossfire are thousands of Palestinian and Israeli civilians who reject violence and who seek to build a secure, peaceful future for their children.
Reverberations from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are felt worldwide. It is perhaps the most divisive, polarizing and documented political issue of our time. Encounter Point moves beyond sensational, dogmatic and canned images to tell the story of an Israeli settler, a convicted Palestinian fighter, a bereaved Israeli mother and a wounded Palestinian ex-prisoner who sacrifice their safety, public standing, communities and homes in order to press for a grassroots movement for nonviolence and peace. Their journeys lead them to the unlikeliest places to stem hatred among their peoples and confront fear within themselves. Encounter Point explores what drives these and thousands of other like-minded civilians to overcome anger and grief to work for peace. Without dogma or righteousness, it implicitly asks why, with the world’s cameras focused on this conflict, we have never heard about these courageous and vital efforts?
Join us afterward for a question and answer session with film producer, Nahanni Rous, and her colleague, Irene Nasser from the production company, Just Vision.
Admission is free, drinks and pizza will be served.
