THE ALPHA DIARIES

An unprecedented, groundbreaking and voyeuristic look into military reserve life inIsrael, this film was shot over a 5 year period in director and reserve soldier YanivBerman's life. A soldier in the Israeli army reserves, Alpha Company, Berman hadunparalleled access and filmed the soldiers as they went about their military serviceday and night. Crossing over to the Palestinian border the camera capturedremarkably every movement of the soldiers from the frenetic night-time house arreststo the quiet moments of self reflection and despair. Capturing the humiliation of boththe Palestinians who are subject to the house arrests as well as the Israeli soldierswho had to carry them out, this documentary is the unique story of those who every 30days in the year drop their normal lives and under the guise of the olive green uniform,perform the toughest, most unsettling tasks, in the heart of an urban Palestinian town.The camera penetrates the steely barriers of the military barracks and gains freshinsight into the views of the soldiers who speak frankly and uncompromisingly on arange of issues including the occupation, the conflict and the Army. A sensitiveexploration of the conflict done first hand from an individual caught in the midst of theaction, Berman's film leaves us with no doubt that war leaves scars and victims onboth sides of the camp.