Ford Transit

Saw this at the Sundance FF and had the privilege of sitting through a Q&A with the director, early one morning (a good time to attend films at Sundance, everyone else is asleep until noon."

I can tell you that not absolutely everything in this documentary is completely "unscripted," but the substance absolutely is. Most documentaries are like that.

A great look at life in occupied Palestinian. Answers the question: "what's it like to get to work through road blocks (through which you cannot drive a car) every 5 miles or so..." Interesting, sad, funny - you will laugh out loud, also hopeful, human, tragic.

Follows the life of a "taxi" driver, but several notable Palestinian and other figures are interviewed (in the back of the taxi).

A story you will hear nowhere else.

I recommend it!

Very inspiring film. Three years ago I visited Ramallah with no idea what the conditions of the city were or the political atmosphere. Just by chance, I stumbled upon this film on the sundance channel and quickly noticed where it was set. Ford Transit does justice on showing the audience the hardships and inconveinences that Palestinians face on a day to day basis just getting around. I recall from my trip hearing the stories of going through checkpoints and then finally going through several myself. Its interesting to watch this film then watch Paradise Now or Rana's Wedding to draw the parallels from creation to actual. Also, a savvy viewer will notice that many of the passengers in the Ford vans are famous Palestinian and Israeli celebrities and politicians.

A fine documentary on the people who ride with a Palistian "Transit" driver. A deep in-site in to the people, and their thoughts and feelings on day to day life. From the smuggling of cucumbers and CD's, the roadblocks, to their views on Bush, terrorists, Israel, and the rest of the world.

A very enjoyable and entertaining journey. Each rider has a tale to tell, and the driver has many. Interviews with the mother of suicide bomber, to people who just want to get from point a to point b, and don't care about the political issues.

I came away from this film feeling that "everybody is wrong, and nobody is right" about the Middle East. A 5 star film.

Sad, tense, but also often funny examination of Palestinian/Israeli relations, all told by interviews in a passenger van that serves as a cab service in Palestine.

This was embraced when it was first released, then later attacked by some critics because it's not a 'true' documentary, and some incidents are staged.

But that didn't seem like a problem to me, because it often seems openly more like docu-drama then pure documentary. I certainly didn't feel misled.

I did feel entertained, informed and touched, even if I wasn't quite as moved as by the very best films on this subject, and a few of the arguments started to repeat themselves.

Certainly worth seeking out if you're interested in the subject matter. While not available on DVD, it has run on occasion on the Sundance Channel.

Although a little dated by now, this documentary is a must see for those who are interested in finding out how Palestinians live and survive in the occupied territories. The action is live, there is no professional actor, nothing is made up or scripted and we come along for a ride from the territories to Israel and how the driver must weasel and hustle his way around concrete barriers, the Israeli military and general traffic hassle. The Ford Transit is the vehicle of choice and ironically, as explained in the film, was given by the Israeli police department to the Palestinian Authority for its population' s transportation needs. I strongly recommend this documentary for anyone interested in the events in the Middle East and an insight into daily Palestinians' lives.