Heading into the final stretch of the Sundance lineup, these profiles look at the first of two documentaries in the Spotlight section: Dror Moreh’s THE GATEKEEPERS, an eye-opening look at Israeli’s national security.
Sundance Program Description:
Since its North American debut at the Telluride and Toronto film festivals, THE GATEKEEPERS has inspired passionate debate. Its insider view of Israeli national security and the Palestinian question will no doubt make it one of the most talked-about documentaries of the year.
Director Dror Moreh filters the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since 1967’s Six-Day War through the keen perspectives of all six living former heads of the Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security agency. In remarkably candid one-on-one interviews, the men reflect on lessons learned and reveal the lasting impact of their actions on the peace process—for better or for worse.
With unprecedented access to these key figures—the only Israeli intelligence officials whose identities are publicly known—Moreh poses challenging questions that shed light on the inner workings of the government and its counterterrorism activities. Their pragmatic answers, born of hard-fought battles against extremists on both sides, offer a provocative path forward for Israel if it ever hopes to find lasting peace.
Some Background:
Moreh’s previous film, SHARON, screened at the Berlin International Film Festival. Among his producers is Philippa Kowarsky, whose credits include Sundance alums SWEET MUD (2007) and TREMBLING BEFORE G-D (2001).
Why You Should Watch:
As one of the five nominees for the Best Documentary Oscar, Moreh’s film is essential viewing for non-fiction fans. Beyond my description above, I previously wrote about this riveting documentary out of the New York Film Festival here.
More Info:
Watch the film’s trailer. For more info on the doc, visit its website and Facebook page. For screening dates and times at Sundance, click the link in the first paragraph.
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