Susan Sontag's Promised Lands

The late author Sontag's 1974 documentary was produced in the aftermath of the 1973 Yom Kippur War and was initially banned in Israel. Incorporating many scenes without commentary or narration, Sontag sets a somber mood via a haunting musical score and panoramic shots of bleak landscapes. There are also images of shoppers, people in the streets, war dead, and Israeli soldiers on patrol. A speaker reads from Arab school texts calling for taking back Israel, while Jews are shown worshipping at the Wailing Wall. Another speaker explains that this clash was just the latest in a series of conflicts stretching back to the early 19th century, with both Jews and Arabs believing their stance is the right one. The film moves slowly, and much of the content is dated, though the inevitability and constancy of war in the region would belie its lack of currency. The film's theme of peace being illusive for the region has been borne out in the ensuing decades. As a historical document and a work of an important 20th-century writer, this program is recommended for viewers interested in both the Middle East and Sontag.—Lawrence R. Maxted, Gannon Univ. Lib., Erie, PA