War. It's something that we as Australians feel (usually) quite distanced from. It is almost impossible to imagine what it is like living with the constant fears of government, espionage and immanent death. But this becomes a commonplace way of life for people in these situations – as unbelievable as it may be the people leading factions of these wars are almost just the same as the people who are being affected by them. So what and how do these people in deal with their situation?
Meet The Green Prince (Mosab Hassan Yousef). He is the son of the leader of Hamas, has been raised to hate the Israelis, the country that oppresses him, and as the eldest son has the expectations to follow in his father's footsteps. While remaining relatively ignorant of the extent of his father's "work" as a child, he is arrested and in an extraordinary turn of events (and a highly volatile one), he turns informant.
'THE GREEN PRINCE' TRAILER
I don’t profess to know too much about the conflict in Gaza, and to be honest there is so much history involved with that conflict that it would be impossible to cover in what is essentially a two-hour documentary. What this film has done is focus on the human aspect of the situation. What Mosab Hassan Yousef actually has to say about why he made the decision to turn against his beliefs and family is truly the epicentre of this documentary. This man was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for the greater good and this has been a question that has haunted me since. Would I be strong enough if I were in his shoes?
What this film has done is focus on the human aspect of the situation.
Fast-paced editing interspersed with archival footage and recreations allow for the flow of the film never to be interrupted. What comes out is a real sense of danger, but also the amazing strength of humanity to oppose violence and become champions of peace. The relationship between Mosab and his handler from the Israeli Secret Police, Gonen Ben Yitzhak, is one of the more touching strands of the rich tapestry this film weaves. When Mosab left Palestine, exiled to the United States, Gonen was the only voice of support at a time when Mosab had been renounced by everything and everyone he knew.
A dangerous undertaking, 'The Green Prince' is a gripping documentary. If you are anything like me, it will leave you not only feeling a little more educated on the situation in Gaza but also deeply introspective about how you might have react if you were in that situation. Are you strong enough?