BERLIN -- "Death in Gaza" began as a straightforward documentary about Palestinian children suffering from the Israeli army's violent incursions into the Gaza Strip.
That subject is poignant enough. But the film took on an extra, even sadder dimension when its British director, James Miller, was shot and killed by Israeli forces while exiting from a house waving a white flag.
The film was completed by producer-writer Saira Shah ("Beneath the Veil," "Unholy War," both with Miller), who was working with Miller when he was shot. Shah weaves the story of Miller's death into the story as a testament to his bravery and professionalism. But "Death in Gaza" also fulfills its original mandate to show the plight of Palestinian children. On one hand, they're continually harassed by Israeli tanks, and on the other, they're used as expendable spies by the Palestinian paramilitaries.
The result is a moving, informative film that has more than enough emotional muscle and controversy to fill art house theaters worldwide. The film was produced for HBO and premiered at this year's Berlin International Film Festival.
The film starts with Shah explaining the nature of Miller's death and telling the audience that as a mark of respect, they've left his vocal instructions to the film crew in the final mix. Things then focus on children in the Palestinian town of Rafah, in Gaza. Tanks rush groups of Israeli boys, while young girls mourn family members killed by the Israeli army. Kids discuss the nature of martyrdom. In the Gaza Strip, those killed by the Israelis are venerated like rock stars. Miller, who also planned a similar film about Israeli children, talks to paramilitaries, who are casual about their use of children in the conflict.
While conducting an interview at night, Miller and his crew realize they are caught too far inside an Israeli military operation. Miller decides to lead his crew out from the house in which they are sheltered. Footage filmed by a crew member who remained at the house shows that, though a white flag is clearly visible, and Miller can be heard shouting, "We are British journalists," an Israeli tank opens fire on Miller and kills him.
Shah says the reason she left Miller's vocal instructions on the soundtrack was to show that he was a careful professional rather than a reckless thrill-seeker. A final twist is that in spite of requests to the contrary by his family, Miller was celebrated as a martyr in Rafah. A further sad moment occurred at the Berlin screening, when Miller's widow delivered a speech saying that the Israeli authorities had failed to launch any kind of investigation into the death of her husband.
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