Disasters of the Century

Home is the most important place in the world. In every culture it is a space for our most intimate human needs. It is the place where we crave safety and security. This is a story of homes in Israel and Palestine. It is a story of people working together to share the Holy Land as a homeland for two communities.

'Hideko', tells the story behind the filmmaker's mother's multiple name changes. This personal narrative gives a glimpse into the life of one woman living through the tumultuous years of political changes in Taiwan from Japanese occupation until the end of WWII and Chiang Kai Shek takeover of this small island nation after the war.

In Liberia, three former child soldiers invite us into their lives and show us how challenging it is for them to reintegrate the post civil war society. As they struggle to fight a discrimination which is rarely talked about, they stand as an example of how hope is a major key to success. In the outskirts of Paris, a young generation fears for its future. Its unemployment rate is twice as high as in the city centre. In October and November 2005, young people witnessed and acted in riots of protest against racial and social discrimination. This film puts into perspective two youths struggling for integration, exposing the thin line separating the tendency for criminality from the will to integrate.

During the Algerian War between 1954-1962 few young Frenchmen defaulted on military service. These draft dodgers believed in non-violence. Some fled to Switzerland where they received help from Swiss citizens.