Amythos Films: Content / Releases / Junction

Junction

in Releases

Israel-France 2003
56 min
Director: Ilan Ziv
Producers: Amit Breuer for Amythos films
Serge Gordey for Point Du Jour
Ilan Ziv for Tamouz Media
Executive Producers-Luc Martin Gousset and Amit Breuer
Based on an idea by Ilan Ziv and Elias Khuri
Journalist: Amal Mougihazal
Camera: Uri Ackermann/Olivier Chambord
Editor: Einat Sidi
Original Score: Joel Diamand
PA :Sigal Rosh
Coproduction of Amythos films, Point Du Jour, Tamouz Media with Noga Communications and ARTE
World sales: Doris Weitzel Point Du Jour international, Paris.
North American distributor: Jonathan Miller First Run/ Icarus Films Inc, NY

Synopsis

The Junction investigates and explore the culture of death that feeds the violent convolutions that are currently consuming both Israelis and Palestinians. It is focusing on a specific spot- The Nezarim junction in the Gaza strip in a specific moment –The first days of the armed clashes between Israelis and Palestinians in late September 2000 .

Although they may have had little in common in life, Fahmi Abou Ammouneh and David Biri are linked in death, their fates tied to Netzarim Junction in the Gaza Strip, a crossroads between the Israeli settlement of Netzarim and the Palestinian refugee camp of Nusseirat. It became a strategic location during the Oslo peace process, which left Nezarim isolated in Palestinian lands.

It was there that David and Fahmi died - the first Israeli soldier and the first resident of Nusseirat to lose their lives in conflict that has since seen nearly 1,000 Israelis and 3,000 Palestinians killed. Using home videos and memories of family and friends, THE JUNCTION shows the ripple effects on their loved ones and their communities.

David's sister remains angry at the meaninglessness of his death. His parents have left his room untouched, except for changing the sheets once a week. His dearest friend, El'ad, committed suicide. And David's surviving army buddies are disillusioned.

For Fahmi's family, his death is a personal tragedy and one more injustice perpetrated by the Israeli occupiers. His mother's family was forced out of their village when she was a baby, and his uncle decries the misery that follows them from generation to generation.

Once a busy intersection and a teeming neighborhood, the area is now a militarized desert.The Palestinian homes, orange groves, and greenhouses that surrounded the crossroads have been reduced to rubble and sand; a metaphor for the trap that has imprisoned both Palestinians and Israelis. Nothing remains except the Israeli settlement that David's unit was tasked to protect.

The narrative spine of THE JUNCTION is confined in space and time, yet reaches far into the social fabric of both societies to explore the culture of death that feeds the political impasse, and the violent convolutions that are currently consuming both Israelis and Palestinians.
**Best Documentary, 2003 Haifa Film Festival
**2004 Global Visions Film Festival
**2004 Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival