Fire Within

Each year the Jacobs International Teen Leadership Institute (JITLI) sponsors a two-week trip by 30 teenagers--10 Israeli Arabs, 10 Israeli Jews, and 10 American Jews--to Spain and Israel, providing the kids an opportunity to get to know one another as individuals rather than types, thereby breaking down the prejudices that divide them, and--hopefully--building a foundation of mutual tolerance and respect. Richard Berman's modest but moving documentary follows one group's journey, balancing the coverage between lighter moments of growing friendship and serious discussions of issues on which the participants differ. Effectively portraying the youngsters' diversity, Fire Within does a solid job of showing how the group's communal experience, however brief, has a positive effect, and while it can't give each of the 30 teens equal coverage, the film is adept at singling out those whose comments and reactions are especially telling. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)