violence has no beginning, no end

Rating: 8/10 (2 April 2007)

I had put off seeing this for a long time, scared off by the length (2 hrs 40 min). But there are so many internal stories and so much to consider about the consequences of what is happening, it is really served by demanding your attention at length. The particular events surrounding Black September are incredibly rich and powerful, but the bigger impact is knowing that they are not isolated acts of honor, rebellion, and revenge, that the same conflict is fueling unimaginable suffering today, as it has for centuries. Not just in the Israeli Palestinian conflict, but in any clash where violence is answered with violence. Aside from being a great film, it is an interesting exercise to take three hours and focus on the cycle of violence that occurs with acts of terrorism and retaliation.