On the 21st January 2009 Israeli troops completed their withdrawal from the Gaza strip after their 22 day offensive. They left behind a scene of total devastation.
Approximately 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis were killed and more than 4,000 homes were destroyed or badly damaged, with no hope of ever rebuilding them whilst Gaza remains under siege. One year in the making, this film follows the lives of four children whose lives have been changed as a result. We will see the effects this war and the continuing siege is having on these young minds. Many have lost their fathers and are now easy pickings for the fundamentalist groups, as the boys seek a new mentor. With revenge in their hearts and seemingly no sign of justice for the deaths of their family members, they are gradually turning to thoughts of violence. The next generation of suicide bomber is in danger of being born."This is not a film about taking sides. What it does, with touching clarity, is to illustrate the futility of shooting bullets at a situation and expecting it to ever end". The Metro "Beautiful, as well as deeply disturbing" The Guardian "A unique view of conflict from the perspective of its most vulnerable victims". The Telegraph "An unforgettable film, vital viewing". Mail on Sunday "A humane, beautifully made film" Radio Times "A hard hitting film, full of moving moments... ...A shocking, touching, and uniquely intimate reflection on extraordinary courage in the face of great adversity". TV Week "Essential, disturbing, remarkable & intimate. The violence brewing here is no less horrifying for its predictability." Time Out "In one particularly chilling scene 11 year old Mahmoud is presented with a a Kalashnikov by his uncle, with the instruction that it is for killing Jews. It's a tribute to the power of the documentary that, while the wrongness of a child holding a gun pains us, we can understand entirely why he immediately picks it up with a smile". The Herald "The film remains largely free of political bias, but it's hard to watch such things without coming to certain conclusions in your head - about the nature of war, if nothing else."Sunday Herald