Born without an immune system, four-month-old Palestinian boy Mohammad Abu Mustafa will die without a bone marrow transplant, a procedure that can only be done in an Israeli hospital. A desperate plea from his doctor to save Mohammad’s life leads Israeli journalist Shlomi Eldar to document this complex and emotional story. As Israeli and Palestinian doctors put aside their differences to protect the child, we are forced to confront the more personal ramifications of the embargo of Gaza. Mohammad’s mother, Raida, struggles to address both her desperate desire to protect her son and harsh criticisms from her Gazan community. Her friends and family believe that allowing Jewish doctors, reporters and donors to help her baby marks an affront to their religion. To complicate matters further, Raida fully endorses the use of suicide bombing as a legitimate tool of Palestinian resistance. This forces Eldar – and we as the audience – to grapple with the intricate moral dilemma of saving a child who, later in life, may very well be encouraged to sacrifice his life to kill others. A film about hope for peace in the Middle East, Precious Life also conveys the universal desire to protect our children and improve their quality of life. Precious Life premiered at Jerusalem Film Festival and won acclaim for its raw depiction of courage and the fight for the safety of a family, regardless of religion and politics.
Wybrane nagrody i festiwale /Selected festivals and awards: 2010 – MFF Toronto/Toronto IFF, 2010 – FF Jerozolima/Jerusalem FF.