Defamation
First Run Pictures
R1 DVD
Defamation
is a fascinating and somewhat disturbing journey into the world of the politics
of anti-semitism. It is important to appreciate the
significance of what this film achieves, it offers a
balanced and insightful examination of how fear of prejudice can be used for
political ends. The filmmaker is clear about the history and reality of anti-semitism and its pernicious nature and discusses some
frightening cases, such as the madman with a knife stabbing people in a Moscow
Synagogue. At the same time he handles the difficult question of how the
memories of the Holocaust and fear of anti-semitism
is used as a means to protect the political reputation of Israel.
The
primary organization working against anti-semitism in
the U.S. is the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). Defamation explores how this
organization, while respected by many, is accused by others of being a P.R
company for the Israeli government. A
major theme in this film is whether it is correct to equate criticising Israel
as a state and political system with anti-semitism.
While the ADL thinks that this equation is correct, it does seem to use the
argument to stop any dissent against the activities of the state of Israel. It
also seems to “inflate” reports of anti-semitism with
minor and fairly irrelevant incidents which could have as much to do with
religion or personal clashes than race.
On
the other side of the debate are various academics who not only think the ADL
approach denigrates the reality of the Holocaust and anti-semitism
but is a tool for right wing Israeli politicians to avoid criticism of their
hawkish policies. Explosive books have been written including The Holocaust
Industry and the Israel Lobby and their authors are interviews extensively
throughout the film.
One
of the more intriguing and disheartening aspects of the film is that tour
offered to young Israeli’s of the Nazi concentration camps. While certainly
these tours are important, when you listen to what is being told to these young
people, it seems to be a deliberately orchestrated program of fear and manipulation. A scene which epitomizes this is when the
girls speak to three old men; the men ask if they have come from Israel and laugh
and say that it sounds like they are speaking Chinese and cannot understand
them. The girls immediately claim the men called them bitches and made nasty
faces at them, by mid-afternoon the tale has morphed into the men calling them
donkeys and making threatening gestures. This constant indoctrination of a
“victim” consciousness and a fear of the outside world is
both tragic and rather disturbing. It may be of political value for Israel to
have a population living with a heightened memory of the past but I am not sure
of the psychological value.
The
sections of the film which discuss the Palestinians are especially interesting,
arguing that the Holocaust surely cannot be used to justify the suppression of
another people that perhaps the oppressed have become the oppressor.
This
is a highly intelligent documentary filled with thought provoking content and
will stimulate debate for a long time to come.
Reviews appear on the Synergy website with
a single cover image. In the digital and print edition, reviews appear with
multiple images and with expanded content. We recommend you download the free digital edition (or buy the print edition) to get the most from Synergy Magazine.
This review will appear in Volume 3 No. 4 of the digital and print
edition of Synergy Magazine.
If you came to this page directly (and
missed our menu), click here to go to the
front page of Synergy Magazine Website or use the following link: http://www.synergy-magazine.com