Luecarou
What begins as a feel-good-human-interest story turns into a mystery, then a tragedy, and ultimately an outrage.
Haven Kaycee
It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film
Sean Lamberger
A quick bio of Finkelstein, an outspoken Jew with bones to pick in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and an overview of the troubles spawned by his controversial stances. He's a rare voice in the sense that his opinions place him at-odds with his religious homeland, decrying the lack of a Palestinian state and brow-beating the Israeli government for their part in allegedly whitewashing the conflict. It should come as no surprise that such a vocal, incendiary stance has made him all manner of powerful enemies, and his sharp, confrontational personal nature does him no further favors in that respect. Finkelstein at his best is intriguing, an engaging speaker with a fiery streak and the credentials, both personal and scholastic, to back him up against any opponent. Sadly, he also seems doomed to a fate of self-contradiction. He often employs the very same methods in his own tricky public speaking engagements that he vehemently decries in the opposition, even if this documentary does try its very best to clip and trim around such moments. It's just one side of a very complicated debate, and while he does make some convincing points that refute the official story from the United States and Israel, it can be difficult to accept his story and make a judgment without an equally eloquent counterpoint in play.
njmollo
American Radical: The Trials of Norman Finkelstein (2009) is the story of an honest man in an inherently corrupt society.Norman Finkelstein sees the solution to the Palestinian/Israel conflict as a simple one but the issue has become one of revenge. How can the Palestinian ever forget or forgive the daily atrocities committed on mostly innocent people by Israel?The term "holocaust industry" is perfectly applicable to the methods used by Israel to frame themselves as the victims in this particular conflict. Literally millions of dollars every year is paid to firms and media outlets to shape the message, create propaganda and stifle criticism of their unmitigated barbarism on the Palestinian people.What is surprising is that the Jews having suffered so greatly under Naziism would allow themselves to be hijacked into emulating their oppressors rather than becoming an enlightened power for world peace. American Radical: The Trials of Norman Finkelstein (2009) shows clearly the irrational and dishonest behaviour of many spokespeople in support Israel. These talking heads, that included the crudely dishonest Alan Dershowitz, ignore utterly Israel's relentless crimes against humanity and paint a picture of Israel based more on a hyper-reality propagated by the corporate media rather than empirical evidence.Alan Dershowitz's blatant dishonesty and surprising ignorance does not bode well for the future of American academia. His bitterness at being so thoroughly bested and exposed as a fraud by Norman Finkelstein on the program "Democracy Now" resulted in a vile yet successful campaign to ostracise Finkelstein from the American educational system.Norman Finkelstein does only one thing, he tells the truth. The trouble with Finkelstein, is he is able to express his message eloquently and succinctly. In times where Truth is rapidly becoming unknowable due to disinformation, lies and insidious forms of corporate propaganda, Finkelstein and his message is, as he himself states, "a painful pill."
greggalen
I agree with the previous reviewer who said that equal time spent watching a debate or discussion yields more information. However, if the film leads to viewers looking into the issues (Palestinian self determination, academic freedom, the US role in the conflict, etc...) then it serves a valuable function.The uncomfortable thing about this type of film is that, perhaps out of certain features of the medium of film itself, it puts an individual at center stage of an event that impacts all of us, and has a kind of disempowering effect. We experience the drama through Finklestein and in a way purge ourselves of the responsibility to act in our own way. I watched the documentary, "All the Power to the People" soon after watching "American Radical" and was impressed by the difference in my reactions. I think the former succeeds in presenting the multiple dimensions of a social movement. I don't mean to compare the two films, and cannot fault "American Radical" for failing to achieve goals it did not set for itself. I do think it is noteworthy that some documentaries manage to avoid the presentation of history as being merely the result of key individuals.
Wouter
This documentary shows the uphill struggle of an outstanding man. Norman Finkelstein is arguably the only one who is bent on resolving the Isreal-Palestine conflict. In his methodical research, he focuses on what the United Nations say, what international law says, what people and organizations in Israel and Palestine say. His conclusion is that -contrary to popular belief- the conflict is not overly complicated nor controversial: Israel, backed by the United States and European governments, simply does not adhere to international law and blocks a peaceful settlement of the agreement. Watch a two hour lecture on YouTube, and decide for yourself how strong his case is.That is exactly the weak point of the documentary: it shows someone who swims against the current, but why this man keeps going is not well shown. You get the feeling that Finkelstein had better let it go since it is no use fighting. But had the film maker even only briefly summarized the content of Finkelsteins case, it would be clear why. And the audience would bond with him. I think that is a missed opportunity.Of course the film makers had to stop somewhere, but the sad fact is that since the assault on Gaza, end of 2008, and the shameful treatment of the Goldstone report, international public opinion has shifted significantly and a lot has happened. Our governments are pressuring Israel to stop the settlements and to change its course. People see through the 'anti-semite' or 'self hating Jew'-argument, with which some try to divert all critique of Israel. The documentary does not touch on that, which calls for a sequel!All in all very interesting, but investing two hours on YouTube to watch a lecture is many times more powerful and enlightening.PS: I saw this movie at the IDFA in Amsterdam.
