Slaves of the Sword: Ariel Sharon

One of three hour-long documentaries profiling Israeli military leaders who later became politicians (the other titles in the series--priced at $490--are Moshe Dayan and Yitzhak Rabin), this treatment of the career of the current prime minister offers a portrait that nicely balances praise and criticism. Ariel Sharon is, of course, a very controversial figure, castigated for his aggressive tactics and provocative policies: many still consider him a war criminal due to the brutalities perpetrated by forces under his command years ago in Lebanon, while his proposal for a unilateral withdrawal of settlers from Gaza has earned him the scorn of many former supporters. Yet, as his continuing electoral success demonstrates, Sharon still has a solid majority of voters behind him. Director Paul Jenkins manages to cover Sharon's career economically but insightfully, making expert use of news footage and interviews with political allies and opponents, members of his family, journalists, foreign diplomats, old army colleagues, and Palestinian foes. Love or hate him, Sharon is a fascinating and important figure in contemporary Middle Eastern history, and this film provides a fine biographical introduction. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)