Review of ‘The Long Way Home’ (1997) ★★★★½

"We have wandered enough. We have worked and struggled too long on the lands of other peoples. Now we must build a land of our own."

THE LONG WAY HOME (1997, Oscar 1997 Documentary winner):

This documentary is narrated by Morgan Freeman.

Before I start, I think everyone of us knows how WW2 ended for Jew - 6 million dead, remaining surviving majority nearly malnourished or with diseases in concentration camps. This movie is about all the key incidents, difficulties, evolving behaviours of various nations towards Jews from the end of WW2 in 1945 to official creation of the Jewish state in 1948.

With WW2 at an end and Allied soldiers seeing suffering of Jews, everyone began to wonder if these Jews were human anymore. Jews had no physical home, property (looted or burnt) and no family left (exterminated in concentration camps or killed for fun by enemies). They were tormented behind repair. Allies were worried that they can't be left free in German streets. They would either murder Germans (for revenge) or get murdered. Hence US decided to keep them in unhygienic Displaced Persons camps, which were similar to guarded concentration camp only difference being that they were not exterminated. All European nations continued to view them with disgust.

Meantime the peaceful & civilian Jewish groups in Palestine demands that European Jews should be allowed to settle in the Holy Land in and around Jerusalem aka the Eretz Israel as Europe "had murdered them and failed to protect." Now Britain confirmed various Arab states including Palestine. However, Britain had its own motive in Arab - with their economy down due to WW2 they wanted oil. Hence they can't anger Arabs by asking them for a Jewish refugee settlement. Therefore, Britain kept declining transferring large Jews and restricted them even by force.

This led various factions of Jews across world to unite & let Britain know their presence and voice. And now they demanded a separate state for Jews in Palestine. Meanwhile in Eastern Europe, Jews were being murdered by militia ruthlessly when they returned from Germany camps. Hence, even more and more Jews started moving towards Germany (under Allies occupation) and France. Hence, this led to swelling of Jewish refugees in Europe and demand for Jewish state. President Truman-led America was quick to understand the situation and there was no other option for Truman but to ask British to let Palestine doors be open to Jews. British kept on declining.

Hence, guerrilla attacks against Arabs and British started in Palestine. Hebrew Resistance Movement was formed to carry on with violence in Palestine given that Britain denied admission of 100000 European Jews to Palestine. Bombing of British locations in Palestine killing soldiers, civilians, destruction of strategic and tactical locations. British struck back by sending 80000 troops to Palestine and control Jew terrorism. The most ardent of all was the bombing of British Army HQ in Palestine itself killing 91. In 1947 after countless attacks British neared their breaking point - revolts in India, Egypt, Palestine etc made them rethink.

This did not stop Jews from entering illegally, in thousands they took a journey barefoot illegally from Germany to Austria through Italy Alpine passes and a across various nations to reach Palestine.

Hence, downtrodden British sent the Palestine question to the UN. Now comes the diplomatic and strategic angle. Jews tried to influence nation by nation especially France which would dictate how other West European nations' respond in voting. Though US, under President Truman, was the flag bearer of new Jewish state, it was ultimately the nations' votes which led to acception of a divided Palestine - one Jews controlled and an Arab controlled.

This baffled Arabs who thought it would not pass in UN. Hence guerrilla and terrorism against Jewish people started by the Arabs. Bombing and violence led to killing of large number of Jews who neither had a separate boundary or an army yet. Arabs were simply powerful. Britain simply chose not to intervene now and starts retreating and pulling out its troops from Palestine. Meanwhile Truman supporters turned against him because they know that "the yet to be organized Jews cannot control organized and much powerful Arabs." Still, it filled down and Jews started working tirelessly and selflessly for this new home.

Meanwhile leaders of Jewish state meet to declare statehood Israel in June 1948. US became the 1st country to accept that. The order was being gradually established.

One of the most expansive, elaborate, thought-provoking and seamless movies ever seen (even being a documentary it's exceptional because of all features!). One of the best documentaries. 120 minutes of greatness.