Film Forum

In June 1967, at the end of the Six-Day War, Israel literally tripled its territory, occupying the Sinai Peninsula, the Gaza Strip, the Golan Heights, and the West Bank. Hundreds of thousands of settlers have made homes in these Occupied Territories since that time -- their presence making a peace agreement with the Palestinians infinitely more complex. THE SETTLERS takes their full measure -- its focus ranging from opportunistic families seeking less costly living conditions to Western-style hippies; messianic, religious extremists to idealistic farmers; settler “patriarchs” to new converts. Israeli intellectuals, politicos, and academics weigh in on this conundrum: How can approximately a half-million people be allowed to stand in the way of a Middle Eastern peace settlement the world so desperately needs?

Presented with generous support from the Joan S. Constantiner Fund for Jewish and Holocaust Films and the Richard Brick, Geri Ashur & Sara Bershtel Fund for Social Justice Documentaries

Playing on a dual program with BEN-GURION: EPILOGUE (separate admission).

FRANCE / CANADA / ISRAEL 2016  110 MINS.  IN ENGLISH, HEBREW, AND ARABIC WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES   BOND/360

Reviews

“EXTRAORDINARY.”
– Amy Goodman, Democracy Now!

“Opens a rare window into the reclusive and politically explosive ‘hilltop youth’ movement... Chronicles the germination of the early settler movement after Israel captured the West Bank from Jordan in 1967, including the ideas and religious zeal that fueled it...one of the first close-up views of the motives and personalities in a group that rarely opens up to outsiders.”
– James Glanz, The New York Times

“A remarkable feat of access and explication. Gripping. The real achievement here is in going beyond the buzzwords of newscasts and talking points to convey a sense of what’s happening on the ground — and to give it a sense of urgency.  Sifts through a great deal of material with speed and clarity.”
– Ben Kenigsberg, Variety

“Provocative.”
– Duane Byrge, The Hollywood Reporter