CONFLATION
Since the formation of the State of Israel, many British Jews grew up believing that Israel was a sanctuary to be defended at all costs, and it was the only place we could ever be safe if our home country turned on us. Anyone who questioned this philosophy was told they were playing into the hands of anti-Semites and making the world more dangerous for Jews.
However, conflict between Israel and the Palestinians never stopped and prospects for peace seem worse than ever. This has led some in the British Jewish community to challenge the idea of blindly supporting Israel, even feeling a lack of connection with the state.
We’ve found it fascinating to see how much mainstream British culture has connected Israel to Jewish identity, and how this has led to many assumptions about British Jews. It’s this conflation of cultural identity with a foreign nation that has us intrigued and often frustrated. In addition, we believe Israel has inadvertently promoted this fusion of identity and nationalism: criticism of Jews hidden behind criticism of Israel, in tandem with the dismissal of discussion of Israeli policy as antisemitic.
Set against the backdrop of the war in Gaza following the October 7th attacks, 'From the River' follows the emotional and ideological fault lines emerging within Jewish communities in the UK.
As accusations of betrayal and debates over what it means to be “a real Jew” surface, the film captures a profound and painful reckoning. 'From the River' explores identity, morality, and division within British Jewish communities, from the National Marches for Palestine to student protests in Oxford. The film examines how deeply held values - truth, justice, peace, and altruism - collide with political realities, revealing a community grappling with itself.