On the Objection Front

Israel is a country where military service is not only compulsory but one of the foundations of social cohesion and national pride. This timely documentary interweaves the stories of six soldiers who, after years of loyal reserve duty and annual active combat, find they can no longer countenance serving in the occupied territories of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. They become "refusniks"--an action that puts them at odds with deeply held national values and has devastating consequences in their own lives. The notion of refusing duty exploded onto the scene with the 2002 publication of the "Combatants’ Letter," in which 614 combat soldiers declared their moral objection to participating in military actions beyond the 1967 "Green Line." In Shiri Tsur’s film, with remarkable candor, signers of the original letter reveal the untenable combat experiences that led to their decision, the public outcry it provoked and the price they continue to pay for refusing to serve--including isolation, family ostracism and imprisonment. The men are articulate and thoughtful; Tsur has crafted a finely shaded film that exposes the deep ethical questions at the heart of their actions. When does an individual’s conscience require disobedience? At what price, to oneself and one’s country? Winner, Ecumenical Jury Prize, Berlin Film Festival