KEDMA

Israel, 2002, 100 minutes, Colour.
Andrei Kashkar, Helena Yaralova.
Directed by Amos Gitai.

At first, we might be a little detached as we slowly gaze at a group of huddled migrants on the ship Kedma, making for Palestine in May 1948. We observe rather than empathise. This continues when they land on the beaches and are pursued by half-hearted British troops. As they walk their way to a kibbutz, we get to know them a little better. But, the parallels with present day Israel and the Palestinians start to trouble the mind. Soon, some Arabs appear, displaced by the incoming Jews. One of them makes an impassioned speech prophesying the oncoming clashes - we will be here like a wall raising rebellious children. Finally, a distraught refugee is so desperately emotional about the history of the Jews, 'forced by the goyim' that he says he wants none of it as he goes towards Jerusalem. Amos Gittai raises all the issues as he confronts us.

1. A re-examination of Israel's present via the history of its past? How effective, how valid? Intellectual arguments about the state of Israel and the Palestinians? Emotional arguments about Israel, the Arabs and displacement, the history of Israel shaped by outsiders?

2. Sea locations, the detail of the passengers on the ship, the landings on the beach, the attack by the British soldiers, the trek through the coastal region, the attack on the village, the battles, the roads of what was to become the state of Israel? The absence of dialogue in the first 10 minutes, the absence of music, the sound of the ship engines? The gradual introduction of dialogue and music?

3. The title, the boat, the migrants from war-torn Europe and its aftermath to Israel, the setting a week before the establishment of the state of Israel?

4. The opening on the ship, the focus on Rosa, in bed with her husband, the gradual revelation of the crowded hold, the people, Janusz and his getting dressed, going up to the deck, the camera roving over the range of people crammed on the deck? People beginning to tell their stories?

5. The landing, the boats on the beach, the British platoon and its drill, hiding in the scrub, firing warning shots, attacking the Jews on the beach? The group huddling, leaving their cases on the beach, hurrying into the interior, their guides with the guns, the migrants with their suitcases? The various groups, the leaders? Janusz and his being separated from Rosa? Their finding each other, the affectionate kissing, Janusz being happy to be on Palestinian soil? Menachim and his singing, his background as a cantor, his wife? The group speaking German and other European languages and finding Hebrew difficult? The groups and their stopping, having something to eat, the fires? The progress towards the village?

6. Meeting the group of displaced Arabs, their quietly going down the hill, their resentment towards the Jews and being displaced, realising that the group they had met was Jewish? Allowing the Jews through and continuing on their way? The Jews and their fear of Arabs?

7. The battles, the village, people being shot, the deaths, the hand grenades, the Arabs escaping? The Jewish soldiers and their confronting the old Arab man?

8. The Arab man and his wife, talking about the Arabs fleeing, his resentment towards the Jews? His dynamic and dramatic speech about continuing to be a wall in Israel, raising up rebellious sons - and the foretelling of the future?

9. Menachim and his wife and his being shot, the other members of the group, the personalities of the guides, especially the elderly teacher?

10. The finale with Janusz's melodramatic speech, the strong emotions, his comment on Hebrew history, their being forced to be victims, his not wanting to be identified with that history or teaching it? His wanting to disown it? The repercussions for Israelis in 2002 with the clashes with the Palestinians and hearing this particular interpretation of their history?

11. The director's perspective on the relationship between Israelis and Arabs? Ownership of the land, the ousting of the British, the ousting of the Palestinians? The fifty years of conflict - and there seeming to be no end in view?