BLUE BOX
by Michal Weits
SYNOPSIS
The Jewish National Fund’s (JNF) beloved Blue Box campaign was internationally successful in raising support for the purchase and forestation of land in Palestine. The trees have since spread their roots, but evidence remains of the Palestinian communities displaced by the once-fragile seedlings. Joseph Weits, filmmaker Michal Weits’ great-grandfather, was a key figure in the organization. His private diaries reveal the story of the massive land takeover that led to the creation of the State of Israel. In conversations with her family, she questions his actions, which result in an exploration of Israel’s past and an uncomfortable truth.
DETAILS
82 mins
2021
Israel, Canada, Belgium
Hebrew
TRAILER
CREDITS
Director: Michal Weits
Producer: Assaf Amir, Ina Fichman, Eric Goossens, Frederik Nicolai, Uri Smoly
Production Company: Norma Productions, Intuitive Pictures, Off World Productions, yesDocu
Editor: Doron Djerassi, Erez Laufer
Director of Photography: Daniel Kedem, Avner Shahaf, Daniel Miller
Visual Researcher: Lily Yudinsky
Sound Design: Benoit Dame
Composer: Benoit Charest
With NHK, Radio-Canada, Knowledge Network, Umedia/Ufund, VRT, VPRO, RTS
Supported by New Fund for Cinema and Television, IFC, Rogers Documentary Fund, SODEC, Canada Media Fund, Hot Docs, Flanders Audio, Mifal Hapais
BIOGRAPHY
DIRECTOR - MICHAEL WEITS
Michal Weits is an Israeli documentary director and producer. She studied at the Sam Spiegel Film School and was formerly Head Producer of the Israeli documentary Channel 8. In 2013, Weits founded 'Tape Runners,' an independent production company, in which she produced "WALL" (Moran Ifergan, winner of Docaviv 2017).
SELECT FESTIVALS
HOT DOCS 2021〡DOCAVIV 2021 - RESEARCH AWARD〡VANCOUVER IFF 2021 - IMPACT AWARD〡DOKUFEST 2021〡OTHER ISRAEL FILM FESTIVAL 2021〡FIPADOC 2022〡FIFDH 2022〡ATLANTA JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL - SPECIAL JURY PRIZE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS〡
PRESS
"Nuanced, candid"
- Alissa Simon, Variety
"Compelling and fascinatingly elusive"
- Davide Abbatescianni, Cineuropa
"Blue Box interrogates a family’s history—and Israel’s history—through an inspired personal approach."
- Liam Lacey, POV Magazine
"Revelations of uncomfortable family details often make for the best documentaries, and filmmaker Michal Weits’ detailed and absorbing film Blue Box has all of the elements for debate, controversy and angst as she delves into the diaries of her long-revered great grandfather hailed as one of the heroic pioneers of Israel."
- Nick Cunningham, Business Doc Europe