Innocence

Making a war is a storyteller’s job. A good story is crucial to legitimise the use of military force. That’s why militaries need strong promotion and Israel is a model country in promoting its military ventures. We’ve successfully colonised, occupied and overgrown, and only got stronger and more accepted amongst the nations. Our history as persecuted Jews, our enlightened democracy are both in use in our solid PR kit. But before pitching our story to the world, we need to pitch it to our children. As moral corruption linked with apartheid thrives, avoiding service becomes a threat. For some children we’ll offer benefits, for most we’ll sell fictitious promises. Every child is screened to serve with bearable pressure and an adjusted amount of exposure to violence.
Innocence tells the story of children who resisted to be enlisted but capitulated. Their stories were never told as they died during their service. Through a narration based on their haunting diaries, the film depicts their inner turmoil. It interweaves first-hand military images, key moments from childhood until enlistment and home videos of the deceased soldiers whose stories are silenced and seen as a national threat.

Nothing touches me more than a child’s sensitivity when they discover the world and nothing hurts me more than seeing it getting crushed. Israel is not a place that values innocence. Its militarised identity requires the breaking down and distorting of the gentle lines of childhood. This commitment to violence has many victims, but there’s also a hidden tragedy – the collapse of parenthood. Every war relies on parents’ betrayal of their children. But in a militarised society, even the most free-spirited parents are doomed to fail to protect the spirit of their children. I still believe that if we put our love for our children first, it shall overwhelm the strongest political, economic powers.

PRODUCTION 1: Sigrid Dyekjaer – Danish Documentary Production
Kvaesthusgade 5C, 1st.
1251 – Kbh. K, Denmark
Tel. +45 26162535
sigrid@reallava.com
http://www.danishdocumentary.com

PRODUCTION 2: Hilla Medalia – Medalia Productions
2 Barzilay Street, suite 16, 3rd floor
6511304 – Tel Aviv, Israel
Tel. +972 544791124
hilla@medaliaproductions.com
www.medaliaproductions.com

PRODUCTION 3: Kaarle Aho – Making Movies Oy
Torkkelinkatu 3
00500 – Helsinki, Finland
Tel. +358 407253936
kaarle.aho@mamo.fi
www.mamo.fi

PRODUCTION 4: Real Lava
Peblinge Dossering 14, 3th.
2200 – Kbh. N, Denmark
Tel. +45 26162535
sigrid@reallava.com
http://www.reallava.com

OTHER COPRODUCTIONS: Margreth Jonasdottir – Sagafilms

WORLD SALES: Salma Abdalla – Autlook Film Sales
Spittelberggasse 3/14
1070 – Vienna, Austria
Tel. +43 6702087881
Mob. +43 6769003771
welcome@autlookfilms.com
http://www.autlookfilms.com

PRESS OFFICE: Freddy Neumann – Neumann Strategy Communication
Nyvej 10A, 3. Tv
1851 – Frederiksberg, Denmark
Tel. +45 20467846
neumann@mail.dk
http://www.freddyneumann.dk