A pogrom is the organized massacre of an ethnic population dating back to the 18th and early 19th centuries in Eastern Europe and can be translated to mean devastation. Given the events on October 7, 2023, it is clear why documentary filmmaker and director Pierre Rehov chose this term to title the film. Pogrom(s) documents the atrocities on October 7 through raw, disturbing footage of both the Israeli and Palestinian perspectives during and after the attack.
While difficult to watch, this footage provides the foundation for a better understanding of the experience of the Jewish people and the systematic antisemitism found in the West. This includes the West’s immediate response to this event and their rush to contextualize what happened arguing it was Jewish occupation that caused this event and the lasting college campus protests that made the nightly news.
The documentary includes raw footage from October 7 and the aftermath, Israel Securities Authority interrogation footage, commentary by academics, researchers, Israeli officials, human rights officials, and political activists, a clear picture of these events and the history of antisemitism appears most shockingly with international organizations that were purportedly founded to help people. This includes the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) which recently found that nine employees ‘may have’ been involved in the October 7 attack. In addition, the film offers an understanding of the geopolitics in the region.
As Dwight D. Eisenhower noted the importance of documenting the brutality witnessed at concentration camps in Europe at the end of World War II to ensure those in the future could not deny the events that occurred by inviting the media and townspeople into these spaces, Pogrom(s) serves a similar function by documenting the events on October 7 with raw and disturbing footage.
More importantly, this film provides context for these events by examining the history of antisemitism and how it led to the atrocities on that day. Pogrom(s) is highly recommended for any academic or public library collection as it documents the horrors of the events on October 7 using actual footage from both the Palestinians who participated in these atrocities and the Israelis who responded.
This documentary will have a place in any college classroom but will require clear warnings prior to the start of the film as the graphic nature of the content could be considered disturbing to many in any educational environment. In addition, this event and topic will also spark considerable debate in any classroom however, it is a debate that should occur if we can work towards a peaceful resolution.
What kind of film collection would this title be suitable for?
Pogrom(s) is suitable for any general public or academic library collection. It would fit nicely into any Jewish history, holocaust, human rights, political science, international affairs, or Middle East collection.
What academic subjects would this film be suitable for?
Pogrom(s) would support any political science, Middle East studies, Jewish studies, human rights, or international affairs subject areas.
What type of classroom would this documentary resource be suitable for?
While the use of Pogrom(s) in any classroom would require a clear warning before the film is viewed, it would fit into any classroom that is discussing the current Middle East, Palestinian-Israel conflict, human rights, and political violence.