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THE GATEKEEPERS – The Review – We Are Movie Geeks

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THE GATEKEEPERS – The Review

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Gatekeepers

Conflicts in the Middle East became the inspiration for two of the Best Feature Film nominated movies this past year with ZERO DARK THIRTY and, the eventual winner, ARGO. Another powerful film was nominated over in the Best Documentary Feature category that is perhaps just as compelling as those dramatic interpretations. SEARCHING FOR SUGARMAN took home the Oscar in that race, but THE GATEKEEPERS received much critical acclaim, and now it has being released to more US markets. There have been several films over the years that have dealt with this global hotspot, but this new film offers a unique perspective and a rare glimpse of an elite agency that has operated in the shadows for a long, long time.

Director Droh Moreh takes us inside the operations of Israel’s secret service agency the Shin Bet (I had heard of the Mosaad thanks in part to Steven Spielberg’s MUNICH, but was unfamiliar with this group). Moreh was able to get six former heads of Shin Bet sit before the cameras and discuss their history (none had talked publicly about their work prior to this). The film jumps about the history of the country as it focuses on the different problems and challenges each of them have faced. The post World War II formation of the country utilizes great old newsreel footage. More news images are used to discuss the Six Day War and the subsequent occupation of the West Bank. This takes the film into Shin Bet’s first big challenge in dealing with the Palestinian forces. Policies of interrogation (including torture) and recruitment (enlisting Palestinian informants) are discussed. The controversy surrounding the 300 bus hijacking and the execution of two terrorists is one of the film’s major highlights. Later, after the Oslo Accords in the 1990’s, Shin Bet had more problems to face. Islamic jhiadists and Hamas operatives seeped into Israel, and carried out suicide bombings throughout the cities. The agency also had to deal with Jewish terrorists who planned attacks on public transportation and succeeded in assassinating a prominent politician. It’s a wonder that each of these men lasted more than a couple of years in this high pressure position.

Many documentaries are criticized for relying on “talking head” sequences (the camera fixed on the face of a person being interviewed off-camera), but this method is the greatest strength of this film. Most of these men seem eager to explain their actions, although we do occasionally hear the voice of Moreh attempt to prod them as a few become tight-lipped and obstinate about some “touchy” topics. A couple of these topics are being debated in the US these days. One is whether torture works in extracting valuable information (a major plot point in ZERO DARK THIRTY). Another is collateral damage as they now rely on targeted assassinations using satellite images to strike against possible threats (much like the drone discussions here). All the men are filmed against a backdrop simulating a base of operations with multiple screens and monitors displaying constant images and information (and, yes, the film is subtitled). But Moreh does break up the interview scenes with some great selected news footage (so many sad scenes of people wailing over countless broken bodies). The sequence devoted to the 300 bus hijacking has some astounding computer animation work (created by the French effects house Mac Guff) that allows us to zip in and around historic photographs and news film. The most powerful images may be the mostly silent black and white images shot from above as they track suspected terrorist agents. We hear snippets of chatter and wait to witness the blasts. THE GATEKEEPERS is an expertly produced investigative documentary that is essential viewing for anyone wanting to know more about a part of the world that seems to be in constant turmoil. It’s surprising that the constant pressure of heading Shin Bet allowed these men to reach middle age and beyond.

4 Out of 5 Stars

THE GATEKEEPERS screens exclusively in the St. Louis area at Landmark’s Plaza Frontenac Cinemas

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Jim Batts was a contestant on the movie edition of TV's "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" in 2009 and has been a member of the St. Louis Film Critics organization since 2013.