Along a stretch of the Israel-Palestine border, the Israeli government is building a wall that cuts through several Palestinian communities, including the agricultural West Bank village of Budrus (population: 1,500). An unlikely hero emerges to protect the village’s interests: unassuming family man turned activist Ayed Morrar has decided that nonviolence is the answer. Acting like a Palestinian Martin Luther King, Morrar organizes an impressively diverse coalition to stage a nonviolent protest, uniting disparate Palestinian political factions as well as Israeli and international objectors. Morrar’s fifteen-year-old daughter joins effort as well, rallying the town’s women to the front lines. Director Julia Bacha’s portrait of communities that band together and peaceably fight for the common good in one of the most politically divided areas in the world is one of this year’s great and most hopeful documentaries. Part of the Film Forum series. In Person: Director Julia Bacha

Michigan Premiere | Not rated

Sponsored by Higher Grounds Trading Co. (Wednesday, State Theatre)
Sponsored by ShoreTrips (Wednesday, Old Town Playhouse)