The original promise, is a very balanced perspective on what kind of a country Israel is. A Canadian film maker interviewed many Israelis and asked them how they see Israel, what they thought of Israel before living there and how there perspective changed once they moved there or at least arrived in Israel. They also interviewed people on the street outside of Israel (propbably in Vancouver, or perhaps in Toronto) and asked them several perception questions about Israel such as, “Do you think the Israeli governments efforts are moving closer or further away from peace?” or, “Can you name any inventions that have come out of Israel?” Therefore it was an excellant promotional film about Israel. The concluding comments at the end, I think sum it up very well. Every country has problems but if the media is always focusing only on the negative, then of course people’s ideas about such a place will be negative.”

Those who were intereviewed were almost strictly Jewish or Muslim. Although they showed some Christians (priests and Messianic style people worshipping), the core of the interviewees were not trying to promote one religious side over another. In fact, they showed a commercial done in Israel that is not well liked by Israelis because it deals with an Israeli soldier and a Palestinian teenager boy and how they exchange what appears will be something very violent, but turns out to be a skeet shooting exercise and then it switches it into a baseball-like fun time. I got from that, that although people wear uniforms, or are filled with dogma from their parents’ prejudice, deep inside, some people really don’t want any war and are just as congenial and friendly as if those two same young people had been raised in any other country of the world who turn sticks and stones into sporting utensils.

It brought back memories of the one time I had been to Israel. I went there thinking it would be very dangerous and most people I told that I was going there, thought I was crazy lest I get killed too by some stray bullet or whatever. However, when I arrived in Tel Aviv, I saw a few Israeli soldier with guns on their backs. One of them had a girl friend fawning all over him and in that moment, I suddenly realized, “If they are not concerned about the fact there are people with guns walking around, then neither should I be concerned.” I then proceeded to have a wonderful month of touring and thoroughly enjoyed myself.

It was the premier showing, so if you have a chance to see it, it’s about one hour and very good.