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Sucha Normal
Thing - A Simple Journey into the Israeli-Occupied
West Bank
Rebecca
Glotfelty
"We are human beings and we feel," reflects a Palestinian hotel manager. Capturing the voice of individual Palestinians, internationals, and Israeli peace activists, Sucha Normal Thing documents untold stories of ordinary people amidst the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
In an attempt to deconstruct her preconceived visions, American filmmaker Rebecca Glotfelty travels beyond mainstream news headlines into the heart of the Israeli-occupied West Bank to experience first-hand one of the most pressing conflicts of our time.
Filmed in the fall of 2003, Sucha Normal Thing vividly explores visceral moments of life and death under occupation. From the busy cities of Jerusalem, Ramallah, Hebron, and Nablus, to the villages of Sa'aer and Zbuba, Sucha Normal Thing brings forth stories of Palestinians struggling to maintain a normal existence under Israeli occupation as well as Israelis, Palestinians, and internationals working non-violently toward peace.
Sucha Normal Thing captures the uncertainty of a "normal" day for the filmmaker and the Palestinian farmers,children, doctors, teachers and others living and working in the West Bank. Amidst stories of fear, anger, and hopelessness, exist moving stories of humans determined to persevere, to rise above the situation, to remain hopeful despite the uncertainty of daily life. A Palestinian father declares, "I want my children to be free, think free, not to be caged in the occupational culture." Hopeful for a life of freedom from the occupation.
Reviews
"There are lots of
good movies about the conflict over Palestine,
but this is certainly one of the very best.
What I like most about it is that it doesn't
rely on the usual cast of American professors
and Israeli progressives - most of it is
ordinary Palestinians speaking for themselves,
in detail, about their own experience. I
can't imagine that anyone could watch this
movie and not be deeply moved."
- Henry Norr
"This
film does an amazing job of showing a side
of the story that the media rarely shares
with us. The human side, particularly from
the Palestinian point of view, is eye opening
and heart wrenching. With any war, there
are always innocents. It is disgusting how
little regard our world leaders have for
the people who are simply trying to lead
a normal life among constant chaos. Fortunately,
this film gives us hope that there are people
amidst the horrors of war who are working
for the greater good."
- J. T. Black