Livestonth I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

Maleeha Vincent It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

Fatma Suarez The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Juana what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

runamokprods Yet another clear-eyed, intelligent and affecting documentary on the heartbreaking, seemingly endless conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians. In this case the subject is the title town, where the Israelis – for seemingly no good reason – have decided to erect their 'wall of separation' not along the natural green line border outside the enclave, but cutting right through the heart of this small rural town, dividing the cemetery, and forcing the digging up of farmland and ancient olive trees that provide many in the town with their only income. Whether ignorance, political strategy or simple cruelty on the part of the Israeli government is never really explained (a slight weak spot in the film). But the film is detailed and insightful in tracing how the townspeople - led by soft-spoken community organizer Ayed Morrar - stand up to the mighty Israeli border army in a non- violent way, eventually earning supporters from around the world including younger liberal Israelis, who come and join in the protests, so the conflict evolves from Arab against Jew into human beings against the army and cold, indifferent bureaucracy. Perhaps in that re- alignment lies the seeds of a human solution for the larger conflict that the people of both sides can not only accept, but even embrace.

TheDocHierarchy Ever wondered if non-violent resistance is futile?Ever questioned whether the very protesters who vow never to take up arms are dooming themselves to insignificance and the demise of their cause, however noble?For all its history and morality, is non-violent protest going out of fashion? Why, one could reasonably ask, organize million-strong marches when you could take a few hundred, cause a bit of trouble and be assured of instantaneous, blanket, worldwide media coverage and a week's worth of column inches?Before you lose any hope, consider the case put forward by Julia Bacha's Budrus. Threatened by the prospect of Israeli's 'Security Wall' cutting it off from a large portion of its arable land, the town organizes a series of protests designed to prevent the progress of the contractor bulldozers. Avowedly non-violent (indeed, they are almost mini-festivals with their chanting, smiles and gentle ribbing of soldiers), the protests develop from small, local, all-male affairs to regional, unisex events to being the centre of an evocative international saga.The star of the resistance movement is the town's understated 'community organizer' (can't write that without thinking Obama), Ayed Morrar, who succeeds in uniting Fatah and Hamas factions, both within his town and externally, behind the non-violent movement of his town. This is no mean feat in a nation once united, but now increasingly divided itself. Budrus could easily have become another platform for a Palestinian spat but thanks in part to Morrar's mediation, and (one feels) the presence of the international media, internecine rivalries are put to one side for the sake of the town and its efforts."It takes a village to unite the most divided people on earth"Like most statements about this particular region, there is much to be disputed about the film's byline. The Budrus movement is a great advert for many things - but I'm not sure Middle Eastern unity is one of them. The fact is that the wall is still being built, and will soon act as a permanent reminder of the absence of unity in the region. What do we make of the tens of Israelis willing to go into Palestine and protest on behalf of the Budrus villagers? It is encouraging, granted, but ultimately relatively meaningless until the Israeli left-wing is sufficiently strong enough to influence Israeli politics. It is propitious that so many are young, for it might connote a generational change, but then again, they are no younger than the Israeli soldiers against whom they direct their protests.Nevertheless, in the meantime 'Budrus' offers hope to villages in Palestine and beyond who suffer under the repression of foreign states and bodies. Non-violent protest can and does work, and is just as courageous and brave as any armed struggle.

Angel Crowe Budrus is exceptional! I liked how it shows both sides, the Israeli soldiers and the Palestinians. This film stands above other films I have seen on this subject. It seems to shed light by calling on humanity's consciousness to do what is right in the world. I found Budrus to be an accurate portrayal of a nonviolent resistance movement. I was really impressed how the different factions had to come together to really make a statement. It was inspiring to see Fatah, Hamas, Israeli and international activists, and especially to see the women protesting for humanity and human rights right along side the men. I like how they use public relations and nonviolent protest to protect their livelihood (Their Olive Groves).Budrus is in my mind is a must see documentary. I recommend this doc to anyone who wants a "how to" guide for making peace and solidarity between different peoples of the world.

nyshrink This documentary will be an eye-opener for many Americans. It tells the story of an on-going non-violent protest movement on the West Bank of the Palestinian Territories. The movement has been created and led by Palestinians--a people often portrayed as terrorists or fanatics by the Western media. Some intrepid international activists as well as some Israelis have joined the movement, but the focus of this film is on the Palestinians.The film portrays the actual protests and the response by the Israeli military. Just as interesting are numerous brief interviews with many people including the leaders of the protests, an Israeli activist and an Israeli military leader on the ground (who I began to suspect was probably later fired, as his comments were damning as well as humorous). Many people might be shocked to see a Hamas member talk about the value of non-violent protest and how he has met progressive Jews whom he now views as comrades. Not a bearded mullah, he is a math teacher.The protests I believe were filmed in 2003, but this movement against the Israeli theft of Palestinian land continues on the West Bank. Since it is rarely covered by the Western media, this film may be your only chance to get a good look at it.