Palestinian farmer, activist, filmmaker — and Oscar nominee

[bemildred]

BILIN, West Bank — Like many Palestinians, West Bank farmer Emad Burnat punctuates his life story with events from the Israeli occupation of his village.

His first son was born amid the optimism that followed the 1993 Oslo peace accords, and another came just as the 2000 Palestinian uprising erupted.

His youngest, Gibreel, was born the same week that Israel began constructing a separation barrier through his hometown of Bilin. That's when Burnat got his first camera, initially to capture his newborn, but later to document his village's fight against the Israeli military and nearby settlers.

It was the first of five cameras he would use, all destroyed during filming by bullets, tear-gas canisters or angry settlers.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/middleeast/la-fg-palestinians-filmmaker-qa-20130203,0,6108191.story

[snappyturtle]

1. I think the fact that Burnat and his Israeli friend making the film a joint

effort should go a long way in keeping criticisms of the public at bay.

Can't help but wonder if the issues over this relatively small part of the Earth will ever be resolved in my lifetime. I'm 65 and at best can only remember short periods of time for hope.

[Larkspur]

2. I just got the DVD of this documentary before the Blizzard hit

I hope to watch it soon. Suppose to be another small storm on Thursday and possible another Blizzard this Sat-Sun. Oh boy! I got 20 inches of snow from Nemo. Hope the Sat-sun storm misses me or is not as bad as Nemo.

[oberliner]

3. If he was a BDSer, his film would have never happened

Another example of the positive results that can come from Palestinians and Israelis working together instead of boycotting one another.

A BDS-er would have rejected the Israeli funding for this project, right?

I know the BDS-ers have a lot of bizarre loopholes.

[bemildred]

4. I just thought he looked like a nice man.

An antidote for stereotypes in other ways too.

[shaayecanaan]

6. Do sanctions on Iran prevent Iranian films from being made? nt

[Jefferson23]

5. You have to admit, he would be reaching one huge number of people worldwide...especially, Americans

If you win, what will you say to the millions of people watching worldwide?

I have to prepare something. It would be a very special moment to say something about the Palestinian issue. It would be the first Palestinian to win an Oscar. So it would be a chance to inform people around the world about our situation, and give Palestinians some hope.


* If he does not win, I wonder if he will consider revealing his considered remarks in another venue.

[shaayecanaan]

7. You think they'd allow him to appear onstage alone?

Normally, a Palestinian can't appear in American media without an accompanying Jewish person to "balance him out".

[Jefferson23]

8. LOL, maybe. Kidding aside, he is going to attend the event, for that alone, he has scored. n/t