PREVIEW: Divine Intervention -- The Palestinian Movie Banned in Hollywood

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Here is the show schedule:
http://www.avatarfilms.com/releases/divine_intervention.html

To my disappointment, I could not find a DVD version of this on shopping.yahoo.com.

It's too bad that this movie which won at least two awards internationally was banned from consideration from the Oscars. Just goes to show the racism of Israel's supporters.

One of the scenes not in this preview shows Israeli soldiers looking through binoculars at a slow moving balloon with the face of a smiling Arafat on it. They were discussing what to do as if it were a really big deal. One of them got his M-16 out to shoot it down. The other called it in to the Israeli air force so they could shoot it down. The movie plays on some of Israel's most ridiculous obsessions and the result is hilarious.

But in the end, I think it might humanize Palestinians a little too much (as far as Zionists are concerned), thereby undermining the carefully crafted image of evil/fanatic Palestinians that Hollywood has been so instrumental in creating -- thus it's got to be banned.

I am organizing a protest right there in the heart of Hollywood at the Academy Awards. Yep, that's right. We plan on having a blast! Got the hotel room already, just one block from the Kodak Theatre where the Oscars will be handed out. We will have signs that say things like "Oscar is a Zionist Racist" and ""Divine Intervention" is needed at the Oscars!" and pass out fliers etc. explaining the deal. And so forth. If you are interested in joining us please e-mail me at truthaboutisrael [at] earthlink.net We plan on dressing the part of Oscar winners (ie. tux and gowns).

LEFT: James Longley received the Student Academy Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for his short documentary, "Portrait of Boy with Dog," about a boy in a Moscow orphanage. "Gaza Strip," his first feature documentary, was produced on location during the spring of 2001. James Longley, director of the 2001 feature documentary "Gaza Strip," will return the prestigious Student Academy Award he received from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) unless the Academy explains why it has deemed Palestine ineligible to enter the Oscars competition.

"Unless people stand up in vocal opposition to what they feel is wrong, there is a good chance that their views will simply go unnoticed," Longley told EI in an interview. "When I won the Student Academy Award eight years ago I felt it was a great honor and very exciting. The Academy makes a big point of touring you through all of the big Hollywood institutions, introducing you to all the right people and effectively inviting you to be part of the club."

Longley added that, "to now return the award would be a way to publicly reject that invitation on principle, to take a personal stand in favor of free speech and against what I perceive to be unfairness and cowardly partisan politics on the part of the Academy."

EI reported on 10 December that AMPAS Executive Director Bruce Davis had told the producer of Elia Suleiman's award-winning film, "Divine Intervention," that it could not be entered into the competition for Best Foreign Language Film because Palestine is not a recognized member state of the United Nations. In fact, AMPAS routinely accepts official entries from territories, such as Wales, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Puerto Rico that are neither independent states, nor have any status at the United Nations, and its published rules make no mention of a UN membership requirement.

Despite Davis' position that the film could not be entered, John Pavlik, communications director for the Academy wrote to Longley and others who had protested, that since "Divine Intervention" was never formally submitted to the Academy, "no decisions were made by the Academy with regard to accepting the film."

This technicality is rather like a shopkeeper protesting that he has never refused to hire a Palestinian because none has ever asked for a job, while failing to mention the sign on his door stating 'Palestinians need not apply.' In its responses to Longley and media enquiries, the Academy has continued to act as if mere procedure is at issue, while refusing to acknowledge that Davis' ruling that Palestine is ineligible effectively shut out "Divine Intervention."

Pointing to the glaring inconsistencies in the Academy's attempts to explain the exclusion of Palestine, Longley wrote to Davis, "I must ask how AMPAS can explain this apparent double standard." He is still waiting for a reply.

James Longley won the Student Academy Award for his short documentary, "Portrait of Boy with Dog," about a boy in a Moscow orphanage. "Gaza Strip," his first feature documentary, has been exhibited at dozens of film festivals, cinemas and universities around the world. The film was so popular at last April's Chicago Palestine Film Festival that hundreds of people had to be turned away, even when an unscheduled screening was added. Learn more about James Longley and his films at www.littleredbutton.com

LEFT: James Longley.
Full EI Interview with James Longley:

EI: Why did you feel a need to say you would return your Student Academy Award over the exclusion of Divine Intervention?

James Longley: Unless people stand up in vocal opposition to what they feel is wrong, there is a good chance that their views will simply go unnoticed. When I won the Student Academy Award eight years ago I felt it was a great honor and very exciting. The Academy makes a big point of touring you through all of the big Hollywood institutions, introducing you to allthe right people and effectively inviting you to be part of the club. To now return the award would be a way to publicly reject that invitation on principle, to take a personal stand in favor of free speech and against what I perceive to be unfairness and cowardly partisan politics on the part of the Academy.

EI: What is your reaction to the Academy's response?

James Longley: Predictably, the Academy is attempting to squirm out of the situation without addressing the bigger issues, such as why a film from Palestine was discouraged from participating while films from other places with far less official recognition as states are allowed to compete. I am still waiting for a response to my 17 December letter.

EI: What do you think lies behind the Academy's decision to deem Palestine ineligible for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar?

James Longley: Given that the "Palestine is not a state" excuse used by the Academy clearly contradicts their own past actions, I am left with no other possible conclusion than the Academy acted in a politically motivated way when it discouraged the producer of "Divine Intervention" from entering his film. Anyone who has seen "Divine Intervention' can well imagine the almost desperate desire on the part of some not to have attention given to this film in the United States.

EI: Is there a connection between the fate of Elia Suleiman's "Divine Intervention" which has been excluded from the Oscars, and Muhammad Bakri's documentary "Jenin, Jenin" which has been banned by Israel?

James Longley: While I have not seen "Jenin, Jenin" I have certainly heard the arguments of its detractors. The issue boils down to one of freedom of speech, and the suppression of it. It is clearly the intent of many in the pro-Israeli government camp to squelch voices with which they disagree. One might conclude that this is only necessary because of the inherent weakness of their position in a fair and open debate.

EI: "Divine Intervention" has been celebrated as a major achievement outside the United States, winning a Jury Prize at Cannes, as well as the European Film Award, and yet it can't even enter the Oscars this year. Can you reflect on this based on the reception your own film, "Gaza Strip" has received?

James Longley: My own experience with "Gaza Strip" has been more prosaic. It has received very positive reviews and an enthusiastic audience response everywhere it has been shown. I chalk up the lack of U.S. broadcasters to pure terror on their part. I was told flat out by a vice president of programming at PBS that though he liked the film it would be "politically very difficult" to show it. He was being diplomatic; it is politically impossible to broadcast a documentary like mine in the United States on a national network. Not because it isn't a good documentary, but because broadcasters are terrified of showing something that contradicts the status quo when it comes to Israel-Palestine, and broadcasters have no incentive to be anything but spineless. Neither, apparently, does the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

EI: What role do you think film plays in Palestine? What role do films about Palestine play in the rest of the world?

James Longley: Until the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land ends, I think there won't be much opportunity for Palestinians to think about normal things like going to the movies. Internationally, of course, films about Palestine play an extraordinarily important role. I maintain that if the American public could only see for themselves what is taking place, the Middle East conflict would end because all support for Israel's policy of occupation would evaporate instantly. Film has the power to provide that window.

Related Links:
, by Benjamin J. Doherty and Ali Abunimah, The Electronic Intifada, 10 December 2002.


Ali Abunimah is one of the founders of the Electronic Intifada. Benjamin J. Doherty is an occasional contributor. EI's Nigel Parry also contributed to this report.

--"I maintain that if the American public could only see for themselves what is taking place, the Middle East conflict would end because all support for Israel's policy of occupation would evaporate instantly. Film has the power to provide that window."
-James Longley

Give handouts to everyone going into and out of the theatre to see "The Pianist" yet another Holocaust movie. The handouts should have information about the Palocaust that is happening NOW, the Warsaw that is happening NOW. With lots of links to websites with more info on the conflict and current news and how to help. Websites to include are http://www.cactus48.com, http://www.boycottisraeligoods.org, http://www.palestinemoniter.org, http://www.divest-from-israel-campaign.org, http://www.palsolidarity.org, http://www.electricintifada.org ( I think-- double check), you get the idea. Explain Zionism and the truth about racist, anti-democratic, apartheid Israel. Some people are already handing out flyers like this at "The Pianist". This is something else we will be doing at the Oscars.

EI: "Divine Intervention" has been celebrated as a major achievement outside the United States, winning a Jury Prize at Cannes, as well as the European Film Award, and yet it can't even enter the Oscars this year. Can you reflect on this based on the reception your own film, "Gaza Strip" has received?

James Longley: My own experience with "Gaza Strip" has been more prosaic. It has received very positive reviews and an enthusiastic audience response everywhere it has been shown. I chalk up the lack of U.S. broadcasters to pure terror on their part. I was told flat out by a vice president of programming at PBS that though he liked the film it would be "politically very difficult" to show it. He was being diplomatic; it is politically impossible to broadcast a documentary like mine in the United States on a national network. Not because it isn't a good documentary, but because broadcasters are terrified of showing something that contradicts the status quo when it comes to Israel-Palestine, and broadcasters have no incentive to be anything but spineless.

------------------------------------------

What is the media afraid of?

Here are some suggestions for leafletting at "The Pianist":
Re leafletting cinemas:

A friend has drafted this text to a leaflet to be handed out to people at cinemas showing Polanski's 'The Pianist'
Please feel free to use it!
.......................
The Warsaw ghetto exists today.
Its name is
Nablus...
Jenin...
Gaza...

You've just seen Polanski's powerful film about the Nazi occupation of Poland. Sixty years after the Holocaust, and in the name of the Jewish people, the Israeli government is conducting a
murderous military occupation.

Israeli army refusenik Idan Landau calls it 'a horrible reality of mindless devastation and terror'.

Even as you read this, Israeli soldiers are

€ killing and wounding Palestinian civilians with impunity
€ keeping cities of tens of thousands of people, like Nablus, under curfew for months on end
€ detaining young Palestinian men without charge or trial, and torturing them
€ cutting off water and electricity supplies
€ preventing Palestinians going to school, doing business, visiting their families, through hundreds of army checkpoints
€ stealing land and other Palestinian property
€ building walls and fences to create Palestinian ghettoes

You can't say you didn't know.

Here are several websites that carry factual information:
http://www.palestinemonitor.org
http://www.gush-shalom.org




And these are some of the organisations campaigning to end the suffering of the Palestinians:

Palestine Solidarity http://www.palestinecampaign.org
Jews for Justice for Palestinians http://www.jfjfp.org
Boycott Israeli Goods http://www.bigcampaign.org.uk


On January 20, 2003, Idan Landau was sentenced to jail in Israel.

Landau is a reserve army captain who refuses to serve, either in the Occupied Territories or in Israel. This is the second time he's gone to prison. He's one of more than 500 Israelis who refuse
to serve in the occupation army.

This is what Landau asks us to do:

Call for sanctions on the Israeli government and any institute collaborating with the occupation.
Call for immediate
international intervention
and renewal of unconditional peace talks.
Call for full withdrawal of Israeli military forces from Palestinian land.
And don't stop.
Literally, human lives depend on this.


You can't say you didn't know

Preview of "Divine Intervention"

Preview of Gaza Strip by James Longley (from above interview)

From www.occupation101.com:

Occupation101 Preview 1
Occupation101 Preview 2

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--"Does that possible reason for it's exclusion by the academy even register with you people?"

That's not why they excluded it. It was excluded from the competition for Best Foreign Language Film because they said that "Palestine is not a recognized member state of the United Nations." However, AMPAS routinely accepts official entries from territories, such as Wales, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Puerto Rico that are neither independent states, nor have any status at the United Nations, and its published rules make no mention of a UN membership requirement.

Interesting debate on Divine Intervention on a yahoo message board.

One guy said that some of the major studios threatened distributors to prevent a wide American release.

Does anyone have any information on that?

"I've read that for the first time in it's history, the Academy Awards "UN-nominated" a movie (Divine Intervention) for best foreign language film (the Golden Globes refused to even consider the movie); despite awards it's won outside the U.S. Furthermore, distributors were threatened by studios so they would not show the film in a wide American release. Why? Because it's a pro-Palestinian film. Why does Hollywood care? The History Channel has a show (which you can research from their website) entitled "An Empire of Their Own: How Jews Invented Hollywood." The entertainment and news industry in America is saturated with those who will only allow one viewpoint of the conflict in the Holy Land....because they want to manage American opinion. This is censorship in the face of massive pro-Israel propagandists."
-thogwummpy from the message board

Academy Foundation
8949 Wilshire Blvd.,
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
Phone: 310 247-3000; Fax: 310 859-9351
http://www.oscars.org; Email: ampas [at] oscars.org

Esteemed Academy Foundation and Members

Like many American Citizens, I am a loyal fan of the film industry and the Academy and look forward every year to watch what all agree is the 'greatest show
on earth'-- the Academy Awards-- for its profound impact the world over. I an a grandmother who represent those who like myself, ultimately choose the winners by buying the tickets at the door and providing for the Academy, Industry, and its Celebrities, marketability through our support at the ticket counters. We, like the Industry and Academy, know that what is being sold to millions must
be of quality and substance, to be accepted and embraced by todays consumer.

We are aware that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have decided to refuse the Palestinian entry, "Divine Intervention", by Elia Suleiman, for
the nomination of Best Foreign Film category, while accepting submissions from countries like Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Chad. How could it be that the
Academy does not recognize Palestine as a nation? This, a further stab at the heart of a people who have already experienced the tragic denial of their home
lands at the hands of destiny. The Academy denying the land of Jesus, it's existance? How cruel? As citizen's of the world, we truly ask for 'divine intervention',
to not only open the eyes and hearts of the Academy, by accepting this film, thus recognizing these world citizens with respect, acknowledging their rightful
place in society, their land, culture, and history, trodded upon as it be... to accept this film as it represents the reality of global warfare as we so have embarked
into the Millennium with all of the contradictions of democracy, yet, still, possessing the right to tell our stories through the medium of film and art.

All informed citizens know that the government of each nation is allowed to submit one film to represent its country. There is no excuse for this denial by
whim, but an indication of further enforcement by an unchallenged power and authority that doesn't recognize the Palestinian government. Does this body also
deny the fact of the Cannes Film Festival? that did accept the Palestinian entry this year? And, even the Bush administration, though it exercises dubious control
and authority of the Whitehouse, has communicated with the Palestine government. And, isn't the Constitution of the Academy, in its principles, pledged to
promote art without any distinction of race, religion or politics? Does this follow that as the Bush administration's "in times of war" policy is also being
excercized by the Academy? The people of America and the world are paying for the Academy, the world market, the highlife of celebrity, and Bush's policies
with their taxes, and, now, their young that will be sent to war-- taking the ultimate steps to protect the right for art and international peace to have its respectful
place on this and every podium known to humankind.

To honor life and culture and the credibility of world civilization by acknowledgement and protecting the Palestinian right to exist. Being recognized, even in its
tattered dress, at the door of the Academy with the entire Hollywood film industry-- saving civilization from further decadence and any failings in serving
humanity from its last shred of dignity. We implore the Academy to reverse this absurd decision to deny, immediately.

A grandmother and soon to be great grandmother for peace,

Dorinda Moreno

--"Although the reception of film seemed good, a phantasmagoria sequence appears particularly tendentious. It is when a young woman fights Israeli soldiers during a training exercise. Taken as a target, she ends up killing them all one by one with different kinds of weapons. Does violence have to necessarily call for violence?"
http://www.plume-noire.com/movies/reviews/divineintervention.html

In the above review, the reviewer objects to a scene in which a Palestinian woman ends up killing Israeli soldiers who were trying to kill her. She says "Does violence have to necessarily call for violence?"

It seems to me that is the mainstream position vis a vis the Palestinians and the Israelis. In US collective consciousness, Israelis have this exclusive right to kill and maim while Palestinians do not -- not even in self-defense. Although I do not like the targetting of civilians by Palestinians, I do not think that is the exclusive right of Israel which has been doing just that since its creation in 1948 -- that's 55 years now and still on going. Plus most of Palestinian resistance is geared towards soldiers in the Occupied Territories -- not against civilians in Israel (which only the fringe targets and only after many Palestinian civilians have been killed).

All I say, is lets be fair in this conflict and try to understand the real history of what's gone on instead of just what some want us to believe so that we can keep aiding Israel unconditionally.

Whoever has not read "The Fateful Triangle" by Noam Chomsky, I urge you to do so because it gives the recent history of the region in an impartial and unbiased manner. It is a real eye-opener. Please try to pick up the latest version of this which has additional chapters on the most recent events there.

Anyone interested in seeing reader reviews of Noam Chomsky's "The Fateful Triangle" (including shrill Zionist responses) or purchasing a copy can go to the link below.

If your getting to get it, you should get the latest version which is in the below link (the one above is the original book). The latest version has additional chapters on the Palestinian uprising and limited war against Lebanon throughout the '90s.

"Although the reception of film seemed good, a phantasmagoria sequence appears particularly tendentious. It is when a young woman fights Israeli soldiers during a training exercise. Taken as a target, she ends up killing them all one by one with different kinds of weapons. Does violence have to necessarily call for violence?"
http://www.plume-noire.com/movies/reviews/divineintervention.html

In the above review, the reviewer talks about one of the scenes in the movie in which Israeli soldiers try to kill a Palestinian woman but end up getting killed by her instead. The reviewer asks "Does violence have to necessarily call for violence?"

It seems to me that in US consciousness, it is Israel's exclusive prerogative to kill and maim while Palestinians cannot even kill Israelis in self-defense. Israel has been targetting Palestinian civilians since its inception in 1948 and it is still on going. Palestinians aren't even allowed to target Israeli soldiers on Palestinian territory.

A few of us a going down to La La land to protest Zionist Hollywood's barring of "Divine Intervention"! It should be a blast! For more details, e-mail: truthaboutisrael [at] earthlink.net.

Palestinians cannot even live a normal life as the movie "Divine Intervention" so sadly shows.

Two people in love, one living in Nazareth (in Israel) and the other in Ramallah have to use all sorts of clandestine methods to meet because of the checkpoints. In one scene, the main character Elia releases a balloon near a checkpoint to distract the Israeli soldiers so he can meet with his beloved.

The Israeli soldiers watch the slow moving balloon through binoculars and see Arafat's big, ugly face smiling back at them. The balloon is threatening to cross the border as they contemplate what to do as though it were a really big deal. One gets out his M-16 rifle to shoot it down. Another calls it in to the Israeli air force to intercept it. The movie plays on some of Israel's most absurd obsessions and the result is hilarious.

Another scene shows Elia stopping at an intersection where he sees an Israeli billboard with a Khaffiya wearing Palestinian with a butcher knife in his hand and inscriptions in Hebrew which read "if you are ready to shoot, pick up your gun." It is an IDF ad trying to recruit Israelis into the Army. Upset by the inherent racism in the ad, Elia pops in a cassette of Natacha Atlas's "I Put a Spell on You," dons his sunglasses, and stares down an Israeli in the next car.

Anyone who has not had a chance to see the preview and hear the catchy Arab tune, please check it out.

Preview of "Divine Intervention"

Preview of Gaza Strip by James Longley (from above interview)

From www.occupation101.com:

Occupation101 Preview 1
Occupation101 Preview 2

Palestinians cannot even live a normal life as the movie "Divine Intervention" so sadly shows.

Two people in love, one living in Nazareth (in Israel) and the other in Ramallah have to use all sorts of clandestine methods to meet because of the checkpoints. In one scene, the main character Elia releases a balloon near a checkpoint to distract the Israeli soldiers so he can meet with his beloved.

The Israeli soldiers watch the slow moving balloon through binoculars and see Arafat's big, ugly face smiling back at them. The balloon is threatening to cross the border as they contemplate what to do as though it were a really big deal. One gets out his M-16 rifle to shoot it down. Another calls it in to the Israeli air force to intercept it. The movie plays on some of Israel's most absurd obsessions and the result is hilarious.

Another scene shows Elia stopping at an intersection where he sees an Israeli billboard with a Khaffiya clad Palestinian holding a butcher knife in his hand and inscriptions in Hebrew which read "if you are ready to shoot, pick up your gun." It is an IDF ad trying to recruit Israelis into the Army. Upset by the racism in the ad, Elia pops in a cassette of Natacha Atlas's "I Put a Spell on You," dons his sunglasses, and stares down an Israeli in the next car.

Anyone who has not had a chance to see the preview and hear the catchy Arab tune, please check it out.

\"Although the reception of film seemed good, a phantasmagoria sequence appears particularly tendentious. It is when a young woman fights Israeli soldiers during a training exercise. Taken as a target, she ends up killing them all one by one with different kinds of weapons. Does violence have to necessarily call for violence?\"
http://www.plume-noire.com/movies/reviews/divineintervention.html

In the above review, the reviewer talks about one of the scenes in the movie in which Israeli soldiers try to kill a Palestinian woman but end up getting killed by her instead. The reviewer asks \"Does violence have to necessarily call for violence?\"

It seems to me that in US consciousness, it is Israel\'s exclusive prerogative to kill and maim while Palestinians cannot even kill Israelis in self-defense. Israel has been targetting Palestinian civilians since its inception in 1948 and it is still on going. Palestinians aren\'t even allowed to target Israeli soldiers on Palestinian territory -- which is considered terrorism by our media, government, and in turn a good percentage of our population. While Israel\'s deliberate targetting of children and breaking of bones is viewed as Israel\'s legitimate right or just an accident.

The big studios in Hollywood have threatened major distributors and are desperate to keep this movie from getting any significant exposure in the states.

One has to wonder what they are so scared of?

"Although the reception of film seemed good, a phantasmagoria sequence appears particularly tendentious. It is when a young woman fights Israeli soldiers during a training exercise. Taken as a target, she ends up killing them all one by one with different kinds of weapons. Does violence have to necessarily call for violence?"
http://www.plume-noire.com/movies/reviews/divineintervention.html

In the above review, the reviewer talks about one of the scenes in the movie in which Israeli soldiers try to kill a Palestinian woman but end up getting killed by her instead. The reviewer asks "Does violence have to necessarily call for violence?"

It seems to me that in US consciousness, it is Israel's exclusive prerogative to kill and maim while Palestinians cannot even kill Israelis in self-defense. Israel has been targetting Palestinian civilians since its inception in 1948 and it is still on going. Palestinians aren't even allowed to target Israeli soldiers on Palestinian territory -- which is considered terrorism by our media, government, and in turn a good percentage of our population. While Israel's deliberate targetting of children and breaking of bones is viewed as Israel's legitimate right or just an accident.

Palestinians cannot even live a normal life as the movie "Divine Intervention" so sadly shows.

Two people in love, one living in Nazareth (in Israel) and the other in Ramallah have to use all sorts of clandestine methods to meet because of the checkpoints. In one scene, the main character Elia releases a balloon near a checkpoint to distract the Israeli soldiers so he can meet with his beloved.

The Israeli soldiers watch the slow moving balloon through binoculars and see Arafat's big, ugly face smiling back at them. The balloon is threatening to cross the border as they contemplate what to do as though it were a really big deal. One gets out his M-16 rifle to shoot it down. Another calls it in to the Israeli air force to intercept it. The movie plays on some of Israel's most absurd obsessions and the result is hilarious.

Another scene shows Elia stopping at an intersection where he sees an Israeli billboard with a Khaffiya clad Palestinian holding a butcher knife in his hand and inscriptions in Hebrew which read "if you are ready to shoot, pick up your gun." It is an IDF ad trying to recruit Israelis into the Army. Upset by the racism in the ad, Elia pops in a cassette of Natacha Atlas's "I Put a Spell on You," dons his sunglasses, and stares down an Israeli in the next car.

Anyone who has not had a chance to see the preview and hear the catchy Arab tune, please check it out.