In the Line of Fire

In the Line of Fire investigates the claims of film and photojournalists working on the West Bank that say they are threatened and shot at by Israeli colonisers and soldiers. To protect each other, they have mutually agreed to start filming as soon as an incident occurs. From the footage that this arrangement produced, In the Line of Fire shows a morbid summary of intimidations, injuries and murders. The shocking low is formed by the images of a Palestinian photographer, lying on the ground severely bleeding, who is shot two more times. The desperate screaming by fellow journalists at the soldiers is of no avail. In addition, the documentary contains speeded-up images of dozens of bullet scars on the bodies of journalists. We see the men at home with their children, who are afraid that daddy will not come home in the evening. A voice-over provides the information we cannot see: backgrounds, statistics, and dates. The Israeli army has not or only superficially investigated the many incidents. So far, only one Israeli soldier has received a public reprimand for shooting an American journalist, and only after intense diplomatic pressure by the US. Despite their right to protection under the Geneva Convention, the Israelis regard Palestinian journalists differently. As long as they are considered second-rate citizens and enemies instead of independent journalists, they remain outlaws. (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam)