The Heart of Jenin
Leon Geller, Marcus Vetter
- Germany, Israel
- 2008
- 89min
- HDCAM
- color
Synopsis
Ahmed Khatib is a twelve year old boy living in West Bank, in a refugee camp called Jenin. Jenin is a Palestinian nightmare for the Israeli army, as it nurtures more suicide bombers than anywhere else. One day, Ahmed goes out to buy a tie for the commencing Muslim festival. He meets two friends on the way and plays with a plastic weapon, only to be mistaken and shot by the Israeli army. He ends up with tragic death 24 hours later. Wishing that the boy’s death should not be for nothing, Ismael, the boy’s father, decides to donate the organs of his son, which has to be done in 12 hours. According to the old custom, he calls his brother and obtains the blessing of everyone necessary in the given time, which looked as impossible at first. Six people, who would have had no chance of survival without an organ transplant, now live on with the boy’s organs. A year has passed since then. What is the life like for the children from Israel who live with the heart and organs of an Arab child? What do the families think about Ismael’s great gesture? What does Ismael himself believe he has achieved with this gesture of peace? The Heart of Jenin investigates these questions. This powerful and deeply moving documentary leads us to the people who have learnt to live with everyday violence yet have not given up their hope of peace.
Review
Director
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Leon Geller
Leon Geller was born in New Jersey, USA. After growing up in New Jersey Leon moved to Israel and enrolled in Tel-Aviv University’s Film Department, completing his studies in 2006. Leon’s graduate short film won 14 international awards and earned him an Academy Award Nomination. Leon recently completed his latest film - a German-Israeli co-produced feature documentary, currently directing two projects for Israeli television and in development of a feature film. The Heart of Jenin (2008) Roads (2007)
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Marcus Vetter
German-born Marcus Vetter holds an academic background in economics and media theory and has always been drawn to film. Since 1994, Vetter has worked as an editor, producer and director for the television channel ARD/SWR in Baden-Baden and Stuttgart. He has directed several documentaries including The Tunnel, Wo das Geld wächst - die EM- TV-Story, and Broadway Bruchsal, all three of which won an Adolf Grimme Preis. The Heart of Jenin (2008) Traders’ Dreams - Eine Reise in die Ebay-Welt (2007) Mein Vater, der Türke (2006) Unzerbrechlichen (2006) La Florida. Streets of the Duped-the collapse of the banking system in Argentina (2003) Wargames (2002) Broadway Bruchsal (2001)das Geld wächst! - Die EM.TV-Story (2000) Tunnel (1999)
Credit
- ProducerErnst Ludwig Ganzert, Ulli Pfau, Eikon
- Cinematography Nadav Hekselman
- Editor Saskia Metten
- Music Erez Koskas
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