Five Broken Cameras

Nov 23 2011 Not Rated 1h 34m
Documentary, War

Five broken cameras – and each one has a powerful tale to tell. Embedded in the bullet-ridden remains of digital technology is the story of Emad Burnat, a farmer from the Palestinian village of Bil’in, which famously chose nonviolent resistance when the Israeli army encroached upon its land to make room for Jewish colonists. Emad buys his first camera in 2005 to document the birth of his fourth son, Gibreel. Over the course of the film, he becomes the peaceful archivist of an escalating struggle as olive trees are bulldozed, lives are lost, and a wall is built to segregate burgeoning Israeli settlements.

Plot

When his fourth son, Gibreel, is born, Emad, a Palestinian villager, gets his first camera. In his village, Bil'in, a separation barrier is being built and the villagers start to resist this decision. For more than five years, Emad films the struggle, which is led by two of his best friends, alongside filming how Gibreel grows. Very soon it affects his family and his own life. Daily arrests and night raids scare his family; his friends, brothers and himself are either shot or arrested. One camera after another is shot at or smashed. Each of the 5 cameras tells part of his story.

Written by

Guy Davidi

Directed by

Emad Burnat, Guy Davidi

Cast

Emad Burnat, Soraya Burnat, Mohammed Burnat

Crew

View crew

Production Countries

Netherlands, Palestinian Territory, Israel, France

Production Companies

CNC, Burnat Films, Guy DVD Films, Alegria Productions

Languages

Awards

Nominated for 1 Oscar. 18 wins & 10 nominations total

Trailers
5 Broken Cameras Official Trailer #1 (2012) - Documentary HD
Scores
# of Votes
7,106
Average Rating
7.9 out of 10
Metascore
78
Popularity
NA