Blu-ray Review: Powerful ‘The Gatekeepers’ Dissects History From Within

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Average: 4 (1 vote)

CHICAGO – Dror Moreh’s “The Gatekeepers” stands among the best documentaries of the last several years, warranting comparison to the film that its director admits most inspired its existence, Errol Morris’ amazing “The Fog of War.” They’re both must-sees and Morris’ film dissects the American approach to warfare over the last century and Moreh’s serves as a fascinating and powerful Israeli counterpart.

HollywoodChicago.com Blu-ray rating: 4.5/5.0
Rating: 4.5/5.0

Six former heads of Shin Bet, the Israeli equivalent of the CIA, detail their times in charge of one of the most important organizations in the world over a period of time in which approachs to terrorism in the Middle East were changing on a nearly day to day basis. The formation of Shin Bet served a much different purpose than how the organization was forced to operate when the press became involved or when it entered the period in which assassination of the country’s leader was a very real possibility. The brilliance of “The Gatekeepers” is in Moreh’s clear fascination with the issues that face Shin Bet, and the world, that have no clear answer — the grays and not the blacks or whites. For example, if Shin Bet kills a terrorist before he can commit his crime but, in doing so, turns him into a martyr that inspires more terrorists, how is that cycle ever ended? And the movie has some amazing dissection of the concept of collateral damage. If taking out a terrorist saves thousands in the long run but kills a dozen innocents, is that a cost we need to be willing to pay? Don’t miss this film. You’ll be talking about it for months. I know I have.

The Gatekeepers was released on Blu-ray and DVD on July 9, 2013
The Gatekeepers was released on Blu-ray and DVD on July 9, 2013
Photo credit: Sony

Synopsis:
Charged with overseeing Israel’s war on terror-both Palestinian and Jewish- the head of the Shin Bet, Israel’s Secret Service is present at the crossroads of every decision made. For the first time ever six former heads of the agency agreed to share their insights and reflect publicly on their actions and decisions. The Gatekeepers offers an exclusive account of the sum of their successes and failures. It validates the reasons that each man individually and the six as a group came to reconsider their hard-line positions and advocate a conciliatory approach toward their enemies based on a two-state solution.

Special Features:
o Commentary and Q&A with Director Dror Moreh

“The Gatekeepers” was directed by Dror Moreh and was released on Blu-ray and DVD on July 9, 2013.

HollywoodChicago.com content director Brian Tallerico

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

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