As a gamer with a keen interest in history and conflict resolution games, I can’t help but feel a sense of intrigue when it comes to the new documentary, “Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989″. Being born in the late 80s, I missed the opportunity to witness the events unfold live on television. However, this three-hour archival footage doc promises a glimpse into stories and voices from both sides of the conflict that has been hidden for decades.
1958 to 1989, a time of conflict between Israel and Palestine, is the focus of a new documentary titled “Israel Palestine” directed by Swedish filmmaker Göran Hugo Olsson, who previously made “The Black Power Mixtape 1967–1975” and “Concerning Violence”. This documentary will have its world premiere in the out-of-competition section of the Venice Film Festival later this week. Recently, the first trailer for this three-hour long archival footage documentary has been released.
The trailer reveals a sneak peek into narratives and perspectives from both parties involved in a prolonged dispute, which has remained undisclosed for many years. As mentioned, this previously unseen material is hidden within the archives of Swedish television.
From 1958 to 1989, Swedish public broadcaster SVT stood out with their coverage of Israel and Palestine. Their reporters were consistently on the ground in the conflict-ridden region, capturing everything from daily routines to major international crises. The film “Göran Hugo Olsson’s new film” is made up of this rich archival footage, which shows the development of the Israeli state alongside the Palestinian fight for freedom. This includes previously unseen news segments featuring Yasser Arafat and interviews with Israeli foreign minister Abba Eban during a visit to Sweden. Together, these pieces provide a glimpse into a transformed media landscape and offer insights into a conflict that has significantly impacted our era like few others.
Olsson expressed that the project on the document was challenging. He stated, “This is undeniably the most distressing film we’ve ever produced, and after five years of creation, it has unfortunately gained a painful relevance. Although the material has been a pleasure to work with, offering stunning visuals, intriguing characters, human testimonies, and geopolitical events – the unfolding of history becomes increasingly troubling. We have strived to pay tribute to both the creators of the footage and the participants, with the aim, albeit old-fashioned, of fostering ideas like peace and understanding.”
The movie was made by Story AB, but it also had support from Film i Väst (Sweden), Tekele Productions (Finland), and Ström Pictures (Denmark) as co-producers. The distribution rights for regions outside North America are managed by Reservoir Docs, which is based in Paris.
Back in the days of the Cold War, being sandwiched between the two superpowers gave us Swedes a unique perspective – we had a treasure trove of footage from that era, and glimpses of places and faces seldom seen elsewhere. I, as a gamer, can say that when we started working on this film five years back, it was tough to stir up excitement about the topic; not many were talking about it then. But today, its relevance is crystal clear.
The debut screening of “Israel Palestine on Swedish TV, which aired from 1958 to 1989,” will take place in Venice this coming Friday at 3 p.m. (local time).
Watch the trailer below.
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2024-08-28 11:24