Notes to Eternity (2016) User Reviews

Beautiful, Thoughtful, and Unique

[guppy_fish · 9/10 · 4 June 2016]

I was extremely impressed by this documentary, which surveyed the thoughts of four intellectuals on the Israel-Palestine issue. Chomsky, Fisk, Finkelstein, and Roy were a great focus for this film, giving the audience four different and enlightening viewpoints, told in their own words. Their backgrounds and emotional investments in the issue, as well as the fact that no simple narrative was given to the audience to push them into some simple, 1-dimensional way of thinking, gave the film a feeling of authenticity I have hardly experienced in any other film.

Rather than appeal to anger over the issue, and persuade its audience to choose one side over another, the film brilliantly conveys a deep sadness at the complicated reality of the issue, giving the audience a vehicle by which they can understand not only the issue itself from many perspectives, but the main four characters and how it has deeply affected them in their own lives. In the end, I was left feeling very thankful to have experienced the movie, the thoughts of these four incredible people, and interestingly, my own thoughts and a newly-acquired inquisitiveness on the issue and these people that had not previously been present.

The film also spoke to a higher respect for the audience than can be seen in most other documentaries. It made me feel a part of the film, rather than an audience member whose views perhaps needed to be molded to choose one side over another, or that I should think in a certain way. This style very much appealed to me.

Highly recommended.

excellent film

[gillbailey-92925 · 10/10 · 9 June 2016]

Under the superb direction of Sarah Cordery, who is also the producer and script writer, this is an exceptional film, not only for the viewpoints of Noam Chomsky, Norman Finkelstein, Sara Roy, Robert Fisk and local Palestinian Moussa Abu Hash Hash, but for the way we meet each character in a personal way. This is not a series of stark interviews but an insight into the feelings of each about the Israel-Palestine issue. There is anger, compassion and humour. There is a human touch as we visit each at home and at work. It is rare to see a documentary that has so much warmth.

Cinematographer Alun Bollinger brilliantly focuses not only on the personality of each character but on place, both local and distant - from Beirut and Hebron to New York and Edinburgh.

Ant Sang's animation adds another dimension that makes this film a 'must-see'.

Highly recommended.

Interesting but way overlong

[tenshi_ippikiookami · 5/10 · 18 May 2016]

"Notes to Eternity" is a movie that offers a critical view of the Israel-Palestine conflict through the eyes of four critics of Israeli policies. It is an interesting subject, and the movie brings lots of ideas and perspectives, but it is also a convoluted, bloated affair, that needs a better editing hand, or a more strict one.

The movie offers almost non-stop dialogue for 2 hours and a half, which makes it drag a lot, and the viewer will, not feel bored, but tired and disconnect more than once from what is going on, losing pieces of dialogue. A director may be extremely passionate about a subject, and that is great, but if the viewer loses information because it has not a chance to breath, it is not a good method. That the movie doesn't follow a typical narrative of a problem isn't bad, but it is not especially original in that aspect either.

There are a couple of more problems with the movie. The first is with the animations, which are too many, too long, and sometimes inscrutable, which is still OK, because it's part of its point to be difficult to understand. The second one is that the characters sometimes come as a little bit of snobs. Being right about something doesn't mean that they should behave or come out as feeling superior. It may be a problem of the editing, or of the person, though, so it is difficult to point how much of a problem with the movie or its ideas this is.

Beautiful, moving and inspiring film - Notes to Eternity. Highly recommended!

[kathryn-58499 · 10/10 · 1 June 2016]

I was moved by the sensitivity and empathy of Notes To Eternity. Especially the very personal memories shared by Chomsky, Fisk, Roy, Moussa Hashash, Finkelstein and other lovely people. Their individual stories have made their work come alive for me.

In this film, history can also be seen as something deeply personal - more than just ideas, or information. Notes to Eternity helped me to feel the courage and caring each of them shares for the future, as each walks their own difficult path with hope.

This film is also extremely informative -- while the reason I consider it a truly great work of art, is the exploration of question common to all human beings. Especially, how to transcend trauma, to seek dignity and empathy. A beautiful exploration of these themes. Essential viewing for us all!