Written, Directed, Produced by: Marc Radomsky
Narrated by: Hugo Weaving
Narrated by Hugo Weaving, Tackling Peace is the inspirational story
of Israeli and Palestinian youths who unite over the game of Australian
Rules football.
Tackling Peace goes behind the scenes as
young men from different sides of a bloody political war set aside a
lifetime of prejudice and hostility to compete as a team in the
Australian Football League’s International Cup. Few of the aspirant
players had ever heard of the game and none imagined befriending
teammates from across the political divide.
The brainchild of
Sydney-based footy mum Tanya Oziel, the Peace Team is an initiative of
the not-for-profit Peres Center for Peace, which works towards peace in
the Middle East.
The team includes 18-year-old Israeli Yonatan
Belik who had never met a Palestinian before he started training with
the side. His prejudices challenged and his endurance tested, he will
forge friendships with his Arab teammates before returning to Israel for
compulsory military service. His close mate on the team is 16-year-old
Leith Jaber who comes from a highly politicised Palestinian family. Then
there’s Naser Gous, a former Palestinian resistance fighter who spent
three years in an Israeli jail after an attack on Israeli soldiers.
While he believes peace is possible, Naser knows any collaboration with
Israel can be seen as a betrayal and Palestinian players may be risking
their lives.
Getting to the International Cup is a logistical
nightmare. It can take hours for Palestinian players to cross
checkpoints into Israel, the training ground does not have AFL goal
posts, players have never seen the game played, they speak different
languages – Hebrew, Arabic and English – and have complicated Kosher or
Halal food requirements.
Featuring legendary footballers Kevin
Sheehan, Ron Barassi and Robert ‘Dipper’ DiPierdomenico, Tackling Peace
follows this group of Israelis and Palestinians in their quest to make
it to Australia and play together against the world.
|
