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Death in Gaza
Directed by: James Miller
Starring: James Miller and Saira Shah
Genre:
Documentary
Run Time: 80 min.
Release Date:
October 2004
On The Web:
Official
Site
Teaser:
Not Available
Reviewed by
Byron Merritt |
If this documentary had
been finished, and its primary film maker not killed, I have no doubt it
would've been a very powerful spectacle to behold. James Miller (documentarian
extraordinaire) was killed by Israeli soldiers before he had a chance to
finish the film, but before he died Miller had uncovered some startling
realities around the Palestinian/Israeli conflict. His focus was to be
of the children on both sides of this ongoing battle but his death left
the documentary unfinished and, thus, unbalanced.
The entire focus was on the Palestinian children and how the Israeli
tanks, daily bulldozing of houses near the Gaza Strip, and the fanatical
behavior of militants-cum-martyrs has eaten away at common sense.
Although this is undeniably so, the fact that only the Palestinian side
was shown gives the film a very uneven keel. Had someone picked up where
Miller left it, I feel that the energy of its final impact would've been
staggering and given even more relevance to Miller's life and,
ultimately, untimely death. This is easy for me to say, sitting here at
my computer, typing away, but that's how I see it as a film, not as a
personal assault on any moral values I hold for (or against) the
Israeli's or the Palestinians.
I guess my main problem with the film was that it was trying to show
"why" Miller was there (i.e., the effect this "lifestyle" has on a
kids), while at the same time showing what a dedicated documentary-maker
he was and how that ultimately ended up killing him. This pulled the
viewer away from what should have been the focus -- the kids -- and put
the emphasis on Miller. Why? I'm not sure.
I'm not going to take any credit away from Mr. Miller or Mrs. Shah.
They're both able film makers and camera-folk. Their shots are often
equally incisive, poignant, and gruesome. But the fact that this film
remains unfinished is the biggest shame. Perhaps that's the message they
wanted to get across ...that the documentary was left undone, just as
Miller's life was. But this doesn't translate to film very well,
especially when dealing with such a volatile subject matter.
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Image from Death in Gaza
DVD cost: $19.99
Purchase:
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Film Review Stew
Favorite? No.
Stew Poo-Poo? No.
Newsworthy:
Director James Miller was
killed during the making of the film, which is narrated by his reporter
and producer, Saira Shah.
Movie Quote: "This
war goes on forever."
Other Actors/Actresses
from Death in Gaza
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