The Settlers (2003)

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine is reflected in the personal and political differences of two men on opposite sides of the issue in this documentary. Ali, of African and Palestinian descent, is a translator and commentator for several international news organizations who, years before, served 17 years in prison for a terrorist act against a Zionist group. Dov Shurin was born in Brooklyn and spent years pursuing several different spiritual paths before embracing Orthodox Judaism; he lives in a Jewish neighborhood in a primarily Arab section of Jerusalem and hosts a radio talk show. Both men are adamant that they want peace between the two nations, but neither is especially interested in compromises that will help realize that goal. Both men also have their own personal demons to deal with, as Ali's marriage begins to collapse and he sinks into depression, while Dov develops a paranoia about those around him and begins to accuse the filmmakers of anti-Semitism. Settlers was produced for the British television network Channel 4 and received its American premiere at the 2000 Mill Valley Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi