Shattered Dreams - Picking up the Pieces

A piercing reflection about the steady collapse of the dream envisaged by the generation that founded Israel in 1948: a balanced and peaceful society based on trust, tolerance and united labour.
By doing interviews and showing recent shots, intersected now and than by material from files, Schonfeld and Millstone outline in 8 chapters in what way 40 years of military preparedness, thousands of dead people, and hostility towards Arabs in the country and abroad have morally ruined Israel. One of the most horrible milestones in that process was Israel's tolerating the mass-murder of 5000 Palestinian refugees by Phalangists at Sabra and Chatila.
Concentrating, on the one hand, on the minority of peace-organizations and anti- racist groups and, on the other hand, paying attention to the fanatical extremely right wing nationalism led by Rabbi Meir Kahane, the film makers interview people with varying political and religious viewpoints. Among those still believing in a solution the opinions about a possible way to achieve that are very divided. One wants immediate military requital, the other swears by a more peaceful attitude that can lead to reconciliation. With this documentary, Schonfeld above all wanted to give publicity to the group of people that wants to improve the situation with the aid of democratic and peaceful methods. Thus, he hopes to dispel the one-sided view that, he thinks, a part of the outside world has about the Israeli population.