The Gatekeepers blew my mind. This is a powerful documentary that interviews all of the heads of Shin Bet, the Israeli version of the CIA and Homeland Security combined. The subjects were frank, honest, sometimes critical, sometimes defensive, but always willing to take a fresh look back at the history of unrest in the Gaza Strip and West Bank and call into question any number of choices made by themselves and others over the course of five decades.
It reminded me of Errol Morris' Fog of War, but with a whole chorus of people to play off of one another. Their various disagreements and corroborations build a really interesting drama around the analysis of a political situation gone horribly wrong.
Additionally, the production design that went into presenting the historic stills and video footage was really top notch. They created entire "3D" reenactments out of still photos and set up elaborate virtual stages that contributed to the feeling of looking in on a world that few are meant to see.
I left feeling that I had learned something new, been challenged in my own thinking and been entertained a bit in the process. This translates to high marks for a documentary; I would definitely recommend The Gatekeepers.
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