THE FIRST 54 YEARS - An Abbreviated Manual for Military Occupation

In a quest to define the term ‘military occupation’, director Avi Mograbi explores the 54-year-old seizure of the Palestinian West Bank and Gaza Strip—via the testimonies of Israeli soldiers. Their stories are taken from the archives of Breaking the Silence—a group of Israeli veterans whose mission is to expose the inner workings of the occupation machine to the Israeli public. These ex-servicemen do not express any opinions—simply explaining, rather, the roles they were required to perform to ensure the occupation’s continuation. Almost every Jewish Israeli has served in the army and played their part, including generations of labourers who have learned a trade and passed it down from father to son—so ensuring the cogs of military control remain thoroughly greased. Ultimately, The First 54 Years contends that, although not one of the conscripts’ activities have been essential to the occupation, together they constitute its very essence.

This film is available for the extension of the festival, until Sunday 14 November.

This film is available for audiences in India only.

You can watch it with the following Festival Passes:

• Regular Festival Pass