UNSETTLED
During the Gaza withdrawal, three young Israelis will be forced from their homes, two soldiers will be sent to evict them, and one activist will try to help her country avoid a war. UNSETTLED is the story of a generation on the front lines of a nation's battle against itself.
When the Israeli government announces that it will withdraw from the Gaza Strip, it means lifeguards Lior, 21, and Meir, 27, will be forced to leave their home — Gaza's "Palm Beach" — forever. They and their surf posse could be characters on MTV's The Real World, but in the blink of an eye it becomes obvious that the danger is all too real.
For Neta, 20, a religious filmmaker, the pullout plan sets off a desperate struggle to convince Israelis and the world that the withdrawal is a crime against God.
Soldiers Yuval, 21, and Tamar, 20, must prepare for a mission against other Israelis, putting aside their own emotions to face angry protestors and the prospect of attacks.
Ye'ela, 21, joins a cross-country tour in support of the withdrawal, even as she mourns a sister killed by Palestinian terrorists.
For young Israelis, the summer of 2005 will change the meaning — and for some the very location — of home. UNSETTLED is a story about religion and democracy, soldiers and civilians, and the kids on the front lines of a battle where there is no enemy.
“Remarkable for the balance of its compassion, and for the range of youthful
intelligence it reveals on both sides of a heartbreaking issue. An extraordinary film.”
- Kurt Loder, MTV
“A well-made film that every person interested in Israel, the Middle East,and,
by extension, world politics, should see.”
- P. Scott Cunningham, Miami New Times
“Like some of the most accomplished documentaries of the past few years –
"Capturing the Friedmans," or "Metallica: Some Kind of Monster" –
UNSETTL ED has the capacity to ignite a remarkable cognitive dissonance.”
- Steven Zeitchik, The Forward
“Hootnick manages the near-impossible: He delivers a film that is fair to both sides in the heart-rending debate, one that captures with honesty and intimacy the bonds that unite all Jews even as they wrestle with one another.”
- Lyn Payne, Heritage Florida Jewish News
“I think this film is very important for people in the Muslim world to see,
because they will see Israeli people – Jewish people – as human.”
- Professor Akbar Ahmed, former Pakistani Ambassador to the UK
Slamdance Film Festival (World Premiere), 2009
Thessaloniki Documentary Festival (International Premiere), 2009
Florida Film Festival, 2009
Syracuse International Film & Video Festival, 2009
Nashville Film Festival, 2009
LA Jewish Film Festival, 2009
Newport Beach International Film Festival, 2009
Rhode Island International Film Festival, 2009
Jersey Shore Film Festival, 2009
Movies That Matter, 2009
Temecula Valley International Film Festival, 2009
Warsaw Jewish Film Festival, 2009
Central Florida Jewish Film Festival, 2009
New Filmmakers Series, 2009
Washington Jewish Film Festival, 2009
Miami Jewish Film Festival, 2009
Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival, 2009
Pacific Jewish Film Festival, 2009
Sonoma Valley Film Festival, 2009
Edmonton Jewish Film Festival, 2009
Special Jury Prize Documentary Feature, Sonoma Valley Film Festival 2008
Grand Jury Best Documentary, Slamdance 2007
Jury Prize Best Documentary, Temecula Valley Film Festival 2007
Audience Award Best Documentary, Florida Film Festival 2007