The Middle East peace process has long proved to be an elusive riddle for dignitaries and denizens alike. Dror Moreh’s “The Human Factor” seeks to demystify decades of negotiations through the eyes of those who were there.
Focusing on the past 25 years, this film is an unprecedented look into how close the world has come to what is commonly touted as an unattainable goal. Negotiators Dennis Ross, Martin Indyk, Gamal Helal, Aaron David Miller, Daniel Kurtzer, and Robert Malley help put the historic moments in perspective as they represent different administrations. “They are human beings just like us, motivated by the same things. The difference between us and them is that their decisions affect millions of lives,” the director said in a 2019 Los Angeles Times interview.
Criticisms of the project have largely focused on the angles presented. Viewpoints overtly hinge on American negotiators, a problematic aspect of its overall message. The Playlist’s own Warren Cantrell noted, “Members of the Israeli and Palestinian delegations don’t get much time to weigh in on events, nor do representatives from other allied nations, which might have added broader international context to the events covered. “ A more inclusive approach could extend the scope, yet it would be difficult to completely convey those details in a standard running time.
Moreh is no stranger to the unique political and sociological factors at play among Israeli relations. 2012’s “The Gatekeepers” gave the director another outlet for laser focused socio-political cinema. The acclaimed film’s exploration of Israel’s Shin Bet proved to be a critical hit, ultimately receiving a Best Documentary Feature Academy Award nomination.
For ‘Factor’, Moreh is joined once again by ‘Gatekeepers’ editor Oron Adar; the project also adds Adar as a co-writer. The release date for “The Human Factor” is currently listed as January 2021, and the film’s official trailer, below, gives viewers a glimpse into what to expect.
