ammarshk *** This review may contain spoilers ***Norman Finkelstein may indeed be a 'self-made pariah' of his time but this is not in vain and his resonance will likely have a positive enduring influence well beyond his time. Why isn't this obvious to everyone?People can't really find Finkelstein wrong, they just don't want him to speak. Norman here offers informed, truthful discussion and so many people rail against his desire for his clear, open dialogue. It's as though we're so mired in our hypocrisy just speaking the truth is banned. This is a terrible life situation made clear several times in the content of this well-made documentary. This man is tirelessly and unrelentingly committed to logical clarity and humaneness concerning the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Why is that even 'radical' and not common sense?This film about Professor Finkelstein's 'radical' activism has value. Watching and hearing people trying to bring him down It is difficult not to feel extreme disappointment in our fellow man's principles and character, yet despite this I want to dig deep and find more determination for what hope humanity may have left. So there's a notably positive net result to the Professor's cause. I felt a similar mixture of despair and defiance - even faith? - once while visiting the concentration camp memorial in Dachau, Germany. 'We're terrible at our worst, yet we're all One, and must somehow continue as one' was my galvanizing thought about humanity as I wandered, dazed in that horrifying place.Norman Finkelstein has a particular gift - he immediately inspires many people to think and speak, humanely. That's far from a futile waste of anyone's time, and well worth the trouble it gets him.

Sean Lamberger A quick bio of Finkelstein, an outspoken Jew with bones to pick in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and an overview of the troubles spawned by his controversial stances. He's a rare voice in the sense that his opinions place him at-odds with his religious homeland, decrying the lack of a Palestinian state and brow-beating the Israeli government for their part in allegedly whitewashing the conflict. It should come as no surprise that such a vocal, incendiary stance has made him all manner of powerful enemies, and his sharp, confrontational personal nature does him no further favors in that respect. Finkelstein at his best is intriguing, an engaging speaker with a fiery streak and the credentials, both personal and scholastic, to back him up against any opponent. Sadly, he also seems doomed to a fate of self-contradiction. He often employs the very same methods in his own tricky public speaking engagements that he vehemently decries in the opposition, even if this documentary does try its very best to clip and trim around such moments. It's just one side of a very complicated debate, and while he does make some convincing points that refute the official story from the United States and Israel, it can be difficult to accept his story and make a judgment without an equally eloquent counterpoint in play.

karimguy This is a film that is long overdue. A film about a great ordinary man. A man of courage,a man of deep honesty and integrity.A real Mensch.A person with all the human troubles,failures, successes and doubts that make a principled individual so precious. Sadly this film,though well intentioned,does not do neither Norman Finkelstein nor his cause justice.It superficially follows his career and his various speaking tours, showing the strong emotions that the Israel Palestine conflict can raise,while interviewing friends,critics and family.What emerges is never fully rounded, giving only a glimpse and never explaining to those unfamiliar with both the Israel Palestine conflict or Finkelstein what his work is about. Those familiar with Finkelsteins careers are mostly aware that nothing he says is actually controversial. The recent Goldstone report only cemented this fact.In fact what distinguishes Finkelsteins style is that he is in reality extremely moderate,rarely venturing outside the safe territory of internationally accepted and undisputed law, even refusing to consider the more and more popular One-state solution. Radical is only a description, as Finkelstein explains in the film,of someone seeking radical justice in a radically unjust world.There is nothing really radical about that.Another problem of the film are the uncommented interviews with his critics,especially Dershowitz. In a rather humorous scene Dershowitz suggests that Finkelstein probably has a deep-seated problem with his Judaism.Unlike Dershowitz of course.Gulp. Another rather strange candidate to interview is a childhood friend, who from the comfort of her Telaviv home seems perplexed why Finkelstein,as she puts it,chose Jewish lawyers as the target of his"strange hate".Poor Jewish lawyers.Needless to say, the value of her opinions are rather questionable. To come to the point, nothing short of the Nobelpeace price could do this man justice. We are all in your debt Norman.Obama you sucker, move over. Here is a real Mensch.

Wouter This documentary shows the uphill struggle of an outstanding man. Norman Finkelstein is arguably the only one who is bent on resolving the Isreal-Palestine conflict. In his methodical research, he focuses on what the United Nations say, what international law says, what people and organizations in Israel and Palestine say. His conclusion is that -contrary to popular belief- the conflict is not overly complicated nor controversial: Israel, backed by the United States and European governments, simply does not adhere to international law and blocks a peaceful settlement of the agreement. Watch a two hour lecture on YouTube, and decide for yourself how strong his case is.That is exactly the weak point of the documentary: it shows someone who swims against the current, but why this man keeps going is not well shown. You get the feeling that Finkelstein had better let it go since it is no use fighting. But had the film maker even only briefly summarized the content of Finkelsteins case, it would be clear why. And the audience would bond with him. I think that is a missed opportunity.Of course the film makers had to stop somewhere, but the sad fact is that since the assault on Gaza, end of 2008, and the shameful treatment of the Goldstone report, international public opinion has shifted significantly and a lot has happened. Our governments are pressuring Israel to stop the settlements and to change its course. People see through the 'anti-semite' or 'self hating Jew'-argument, with which some try to divert all critique of Israel. The documentary does not touch on that, which calls for a sequel!All in all very interesting, but investing two hours on YouTube to watch a lecture is many times more powerful and enlightening.PS: I saw this movie at the IDFA in Amsterdam.