Passionate Voices: American Jews and Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Other than fairly presenting the unfiltered fervor of American Jews' various positions on the issue of the titular conflict, the half-hour-plus documentary Passionate Voices seems to lack purpose: it's hardly a primer for those unfamiliar with the history and politics in question, and--worse--some of the average-citizen interviewees here appear to underscore the belief that many who are vehemently pro-Israeli practice a brand of vitriol that is carefully shellacked in the language of reason. Primarily, Passionate Voices focuses on a dozen or so New York activists, some protesting Israeli policy in front of Israel's consulate building, others angrily shouting them down, and a few less vociferous activists on either side offering their various points of view on camera in their homes and offices. "They attack us. We have to attack them back," says one. "We know what it's like to lose our homes. Why can't we understand what it feels like to a Palestinian?" asks another. The fact that it doesn't seem to go anywhere or try to resolve any of the raised issues makes the film frustrating to watch--but perhaps that's the point, metaphorically speaking. Optional. Aud: C, P. (R. Blackwelder)