Disturbing the Peace (2016 film)

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{{Short description|2016 documentary about Combatants for Peace}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Disturbing the Peace
| image = Disturbing the Peace (2016 film).jpg
| caption = Poster
| director = {{Plainlist|
* [[Stephen Apkon]]
* Andrew Young }}
| producer = {{Plainlist|
* Stephen Apkon
* Marcina Hale
}}
| writer =
| starring =
| music =
| cinematography = Avner Shahaf
| editing =
| studio = Reconsider Films
| distributor = Abramorama
| released = {{Film date|2016|04|15|[[Ebertfest]]}}<ref name=Merli2016>{{cite news |title=Middle East conflict gives rise to work, doc of peace |last=Merli |first=Melissa |work=[[The News-Gazette (Champaign–Urbana)|News Gazette]] |location=Champaign, IL |date=April 16, 2016 |page=C1 |id={{ProQuest|1787902377}} }}</ref>
| runtime = 87 minutes
| country =
| language = Arabic, English and Hebrew, with English subtitles
| budget =
| gross = $25,287 <ref name="NUM">{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt5503512/|title=Disturbing the Peace (2016)|website=[[Box Office Mojo]]|accessdate=March 25, 2025}}</ref>
}}
'''''Disturbing the Peace''''' is a 2016 [[documentary film]] about the work of [[Combatants for Peace]] directed by [[Stephen Apkon]] and Andrew Young.

==Synopsis==
The film introduces members of Combatants for Peace, an activist group of former Israeli soldiers and Palestinian fighters who have renounced violence against the enemy after years of participating in it and instead advocate for a [[two-state solution]].<ref name=Webster2016>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/11/movies/disturbing-the-peace-review.html |title=Review: 'Disturbing the Peace' Profiles Israelis and Palestinians United Against Violence |date=November 10, 2016 |last= Webster |first=Andy |work=[[The New York Times]] |id={{ProQuest|1837865099}} }}</ref> It first gives a brief history of the [[Israeli–Palestinian conflict]] since [[Israel#Independence and early years|Israel's founding in 1948]].<ref name=Goldstein2016>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-valiant-steps-towa/171205511/ |title=Valiant steps toward peace |first=Gary |last=Goldstein |date=November 18, 2016 |work=[[The Los Angeles Times]] |via=newspapers.com }}</ref> Through interviews, historical footage, and reenactments, the viewer learns of each side's personal traumas and how members came to see the humanity in the other.<ref name=Goldstein2016/><ref name=Tuschling2018>{{cite journal | last=Tuschling | first=Lina | title=Disturbing the Peace. Directed by Stephen Apkon, and Andrew Young. Oley, PA: Bullfrog Films, 2016 | journal=Peace & Change | volume=43 | issue=3 | date=2018 | issn=0149-0508 | doi=10.1111/pech.12306 | pages=379–381}}</ref> Combatants, including former Israeli soldiers [[Chen Alon]] and [[Avner Wishnitzer]] and former Palestinian fighters [[Sulaiman Khatib]] and [[Jamil Qassas]], share their family histories and personal experiences linked to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.<ref name=Merli2016/><ref name=Webster2016/> Another subject, Shifa al-Qudsi, recalled the grief she felt over the destruction of her home in [[Tulkarm]], which ultimately led her to attempt a suicide bombing in [[Netanya]] as an act of vengeance for Palestinians killed by the [[Israel Defense Forces]].<ref name=JlemFF>{{cite news |title=Ex-foes, seeking peace, meet at Jerusalem Film Fest |last=Ashkinaze-Collender |first=Sophie |work=[[Jerusalem Post]] |date=July 15, 2016 |id={{ProQuest|1805270754}} }}</ref>

Rather than deeply analyzing overarching political hostilities such as [[Hamas]]’s attacks on Israel or [[Israeli settlement]] expansion, the film briefly presents wrenching images—such as a bombing in [[Tel Aviv]] and demolished Palestinian homes before focusing on the personal journeys of Combatants for Peace members. Their transformations unfold not as sudden revelations but as gradual, profound realizations.<ref name=Webster2016/> The film creates a balance between the different narratives, and the film's website provides a discussion guide for having conversations about the film.<ref name=Tuschling2018/> Director Apkon noted that each side had to break out of the cycle of victim and perpetrator in order for peace to work.<ref name=Grace2017>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald-grace-film-focuses-o/179902111/ |title=Film offers a lesson in bridging divides |first=Erin |last=Grace |work=[[Omaha World-Herald]] |date=February 28, 2017 |pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald-film-offers-a-lesson/179902052/ B1],[https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald-grace-film-focuses-o/179902111/ B2] |via=newspapers.com }}</ref>

Premiering April 15, 2016 at [[Ebertfest]],<ref name=Merli2016/> the film was shown on the [[West Bank barrier|separation wall]] in the [[West Bank]] in July 2016,<ref name=JlemFF/><ref name=Ahituv2016>{{cite news |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/culture/2016-08-14/ty-article/.premium/seeing-the-conflict-from-both-sides-of-separation-wall/0000017f-e363-d9aa-afff-fb7b739c0000 |title=Seeing the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict From Both Sides of the Separation Wall – and on It |first=Netta |last=Ahituv |date=August 14, 2016 |work=[[Haaretz]] |access-date=March 26, 2025 }}</ref> and opened in the [[United States]] November 11, 2016.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://forward.com/opinion/354189/prepare-to-have-your-peace-disturbed/ |title=Prepare To Have Your Peace Disturbed |first=Mira |last=Sucharov |date=November 11, 2016 |work=[[The Forward]] |access-date=March 26, 2025 }}</ref>

==Awards and recognition==
* [[Ebertfest: Roger Ebert's Film Festival#Awards|Ebert Humanitarian Award]] (2016)<ref name=Ebertfest2016>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/festivals-and-awards/ebertfest-2016-disturbing-the-peace-wins-first-ebert-humanitarian-award |title=Ebertfest 2016: "Disturbing the Peace" Wins First Ebert Humanitarian Award &#124; Festivals & Awards |last=Allen |first=Nick |date=April 18, 2016 |website=RogerEbert.com |access-date=March 26, 2025 |archive-date=February 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180212084303/https://www.rogerebert.com/festivals-and-awards/ebertfest-2016-disturbing-the-peace-wins-first-ebert-humanitarian-award |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=Ebert2016>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/chazs-blog/disturbing-the-peace-stephen-apkon-talks-to-chaz-ebert |title=Disturbing the Peace: Stephen Apkon talks to Chaz Ebert &#124; Chaz's Journal |last=Ebert |first=Chaz |date=November 8, 2016 |website=RogerEbert.com |access-date=March 26, 2025 |archive-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018013225/http://www.rogerebert.com/chazs-blog/disturbing-the-peace-stephen-apkon-talks-to-chaz-ebert |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Hamptons International Film Festival]]: Brizzolara Family Foundation Award for a Film of Conflict and Resolution (2016)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000310/2016/1/#brizzolara_family_foundation_award_for_a_film_of_conflict_and_resolution |title=Brizzolara Family Foundation Award for a Film of Conflict and Resolution |website=www.imdb.com |publisher=[[Hamptons International Film Festival]] |date=2016 |access-date=March 25, 2025 }}</ref>
* [[The New York Times|New York Times]] Critic's Pick<ref name=Webster2016/>
* [[Traverse City Film Festival]]: Won both the Audience Award and the Founders Award for Best Foreign Documentary (2016)<ref name=Ahituv2016/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.traversecityfilmfest.org/tcff-xii-award-winners/ |title=TCFF XII Award Winners |website=[[Traverse City Film Festival]] |access-date=March 25, 2025 }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|tt5503512}}
* [https://www.disturbingthepeacefilm.com/ ''Disturbing the Peace'' official website]

[[Category:2016 films]]
[[Category:2016 documentary films]]
[[Category:Documentary films about the Israeli–Palestinian conflict]]