Jeremy Hardy vs. the Israeli Army

Comedians often get stuck looking for new material, but only Jeremy would get himself shot at ... well done. Mark Steel

Jeremy Hardy vs. the Israeli Army is a feature length documentary following the work of the International Solidarity Movement through the eyes of political comedian and astute social commentator Jeremy Hardy. The film follows Jeremy as he sceptically meets the activists in Bethlehem - he says, "I think that most of them are crazy". But Hardy eventually becomes more enthusiastic and he too becomes 'crazy' enough to confront an Israeli tank.

Hardy travelled to Bethlehem in April 2002, right after the siege of the Church of the Nativity. For Hardy, it was either going to Palestine or spending his holiday with his in-laws in Florida. "Palestine won," he says. Once there, Hardy learns the principles of non-violent resistance and how to dismantle the Israeli system of control. Given a tour by the mayor of Bethlehem, he sees first hand the bullet-pocked statue of the Virgin Mary in front of a maternity hospital.

And then things begin to heat up for Hardy. Although the project had already encountered some problems - the film crew couldn't get in to the city so they had to enlist the help of a wedding photographer - a curfew is announced while Hardy is served tea at the house of one of the director's relatives.

The film's release coincides with growing media interest in the work of the International Solidarity Movement following the death in March of American student Rachel Corrie and the critical wounding of British activist Tom Hurndall in Gaza on April 11th.

The film features stunning footage from the siege of Bethlehem. It is an entirely independent Anglo-Palestinian production revealing unreported stories behind the news headlines. It is an unlikely journey of an unlikely witness from onlooker to human shield.

What they said about the film...
Jeremy Hardy versus the Israeli Army is a vivid, stirring and ultimately moving account of how ordinary people from around the world can take a non-violent stand against one of the world's most powerful armies and achieve tangible positive results. It is a testament to the power of the white flag against the gun, and to the bravery and resolve possessed by the most surprising people.

We are used to greeting news from the Middle East with a mixture of outrage and apathy. Global horrors enrage and disempower us at a stroke. This film demonstrates how, if you care enough, you can engage yourself in the most complex and frightening of international issues, and do good. For most viewers, myself included, this is a shocking and inspiring revelation. The film stands to become a key document in the new political engagement, as spearheaded by Naomi Klein's No Logo, and demands to be seen.
William Sutcliffe

Funny, moving, humane and, at times, terrifying, Leila Sansour's film is both an impressive record of events and a quirky attempt to intervene in an international calamity. It depicts a desperate situation without ever falling prey to despair - on the contrary, it is uplifting and inspirational. Geoff Dyer