Israelism
A politically urgent documentary follows young American Jews as encounters with Palestinian suffering transform their understanding of Israel, Zionism, and Jewish identity.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- urgent
- confrontational
- reflective
- political discussion night
- documentary viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a forceful challenge to American Jewish pro-Israel narratives, while some find its treatment of the wider conflict repetitive or insufficiently nuanced.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Young American Jews reconsider unconditional support for Israel after witnessing treatment of Palestinians and hearing dissenting perspectives.
The subjects’ changing views expose a widening divide over Jewish identity and relationships to Israel.
American Jewish education, Zionist advocacy, and activism are presented as forces shaping the subjects’ understanding of Israel and Palestine.
Simone Zimmerman, Peter Beinart, Noura Erakat, Noam Chomsky, Baha Hilo, and Sami Awad provide contrasting perspectives on the conflict and its ideological framing.
Films like Israelism, and why
The Gatekeepers
political documentary examining the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through testimony, activism, and competing historical narratives
The Occupation of the American Mind
documentary critique of Israeli state policy and its effects on Palestinians, combining interviews with political analysis
5 Broken Cameras
politically charged documentary about Israel and Palestine that foregrounds contested identity, ideology, and human rights
The Settlers
personal and historical documentary inquiry into Zionism, Jewish identity, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Movie Details
- Directors
- Erin Axelman, Sam Eilertsen
- Release Date
- 2023-02-23
- Runtime
- 84 min
- Rating
- 8.2 / 10 (20)
Cast
- Simone Zimmerman
- Peter Beinart
- Noura Erakat
- Noam Chomsky
- Baha Hilo
- Sami Awad
- Cornel West
- Abraham Foxman
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- OVID, DocuramaFilms Amazon Channel, Cineverse Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Israelism about?
- A politically urgent documentary follows young American Jews as encounters with Palestinian suffering transform their understanding of Israel, Zionism, and Jewish identity.
- What is Israelism like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Israelism as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Israelism violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Israelism as mild.
- What did critics think of Israelism?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a forceful challenge to American Jewish pro-Israel narratives, while some find its treatment of the wider conflict repetitive or insufficiently nuanced.
- Which films are like Israelism?
- Films with a similar feel include The Gatekeepers, The Occupation of the American Mind, 5 Broken Cameras, and The Settlers.
- How long is Israelism?
- Israelism runs 84 minutes.
- Where can I watch Israelism?
- In United States, Israelism streams on OVID, DocuramaFilms Amazon Channel, Cineverse Amazon Channel.
