Bread and Butter

Overview

The film captures the Palestinian workers commuting from their homes to workplaces in Israel. For work permit holders, the day starts with long hours of waiting in line, humiliating body searches with sniffer dogs, and the risk of suffocation at densely crowded checkpoints. Workers unable to obtain work permits, in contrast, must sneak into Israel with the help of smugglers - a dangerous gamble to earn a living. We accompany workers on their respective routes and capture hair-raising risks, random stops, daily threats, and the looming spectre of Covid with no guarantee of getting home again or of receiving proper medication. The film also highlights the leadership and courage of Palestinian women attempting to compensate for a husband’s long absence from home: The challenges of pursuing alternative sources of income and keeping vigil over the roads while the men sneak out to reach their jobs.

Genres