Dispossessed Israeli documentary spotlights the plight of illegal Palestinian laborers. Michael Fox Special to the Jewish News workers with whom they share a make- shift, rough-hewn camp. It's an illegal settlement, essentially, an irony that will rom Mexico to Turkey to the not escape some viewers. Philippines to the West Bank, 9 Star Hotel alternates between the tens of thousands of people Palestinians' exhausting work in Modi'in leave their homes every year seeking during the day and their evenings at the menial jobs in developed countries. encampment spent making dinner over They are nearly always propelled a fire, carrying on homesick conversa- by economic necessity, but all tions and keeping an eye those individual decisions have Abo ye: peeled for the border police an aggregate political effect. One A s cene from or the army. consequence is that pundits and 9 S tar Hotel It's a difficult, spirit-crush- politicians make points often by ing life that requires excep- misrepresenting the reality of poor tional sacrifices and leaves (and often illegal) immigrants' lives. no margin for error. Trying to evade the In his unvarnished documentary 9 police, Ahmed trips and injures his foot. Star Hotel, Israeli filmmaker Ido Haar This is catastrophic, for Ahmed is not goes beyond the headlines, the speeches only the sole breadwinner in his family: and the propaganda to shine a stark light He's about to get married and start a on a few illegal Palestinian laborers. With new family. no editorializing but with unmistakable What makes 9 Star Hotel so effective sympathy, Haar provides a rare glimpse is that it is shot entirely from the point of Israel that will nonetheless strike of view of the Palestinians. We never many Americans as oddly familiar. see the bosses who avail themselves of The setting is Modi'in, a planned city their cheap labor or the Israeli families around 20 miles southeast of Tel Aviv and office workers who occupy the and roughly the same distance west of finished buildings. For once, the tables Jerusalem. The well-known architect are turned; usually it is the Palestinian Moshe Safdie designed the concrete workers who are invisible. burg, which began going up in the early The 50-minute film, which played a '90s. few Jewish festivals and received a New Palestinians were employed to do York theatrical release, is more con- the construction work, and they would cerned (to the degree that any Israeli commute to the site from their homes documentary can be) with social reality in the West Bank. But in the wake of than a political agenda. Its subjects — as the second intifada, Israel tightened the border police whom we occasionally the border and drastically reduced the glimpse or overhear recognize — are number of Palestinians allowed through not terrorists or even activists. checkpoints. They are simply ordinary people try- As the film begins, on the cusp of ing to get by. There are no heroes, no vil- winter, the construction of Modi'in lains and, for the viewer, no catharsis. I continues apace. Palestinian laborers are still employed by Israeli contractors. However, because they don't have work permits and can't cross freely into Israel, 9 Star Hotel airs nationwide 10 p.m. dozens live in the country illegally, just a Tuesday, July 22, as part of PBS's few kilometers away in the rock-strewn summer documentary series P.O.V. hills. (check local listings). On Detroit The film focuses on Ahmed and Public Television-Channel 56, it can Muhammad and the small group of co- be seen 11:30 p.m. Sunday, July 27. F Low Price Guarantee Shop our site of over 13,C00 wines for The lowest prices found anywhere in etropol i tan Detroit. We will beat any Retail price! Email: george@winebuys.com Why buy wine on the Internet from Winebuys.com ? Need help selecting or ordering? Call George at 248-658-1081 Convenience and selection: We have over 13,000 wines to choose from, the best customer service on the Internet, and we're local. We will deliver to your door, and the prices are great. E-mail your wine questions to George at George@winebuys.com Wine Buy of theWeek Guado al Melo Bolgheri 2004 $29.28 (Regular retail price $34.99) 91 Points, James Suckling/Wine Spectator. Shows beautiful aromas of sandalwood and raspberry, with just a hint of flowers. Full-bodied, with fine tannins and a long, fruity finish. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. MATURE VINTAGE REDS Sterling Merlot Napa Valley Three Palms Vineyard 1997 - $65.00 - 6 bottles available Oakville Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 1997 - $110.00 - 3 bottles available Oakville Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 1996 - $75.00 - 3 bottles available Chateau Tayac Cotes de Bourg Prestige 1995 - $50.00 - 12 bottles available Attention all Jewish non-profits Let WineBuys show you how to use wine in your fundraiser and receive monthly income Email Michael@winebuys.com Winebum Call or E-mail George Heritier 248-658-1081 George@winebuys.com July 17 A 2008 C11