Wars and major political events get most of the attention in the history books and the movies, but what happens in between can be just as interesting, if not as spectacular. The period between the end of the American War for Independence (1783) and the ratification of the Constitution (1789) is such a period. So is the period between the end of World War II (1945) and the establishment of the state of Israel (1948). That is the time covered by The Long Way Home.

Everyone knows what happened during World War II from lots of war movies and from more specific movies such as Schindler's List. The history of Israel since its founding hasn't been as thoroughly covered, but movies such as Munich help. The only other movie I know of that covers the 1945 - 1948 period is Exodus.

Some of the points covered by this movie are surprising. The opposition both to the creation of Israel and to Jews in general was widespread, not just in Germany but also in Britain and even in America. The comments of Ernest Bevin and George Patton are shocking. President Truman was one of the few people in the country who supported Israel. One wonders what would have happened if Roosevelt had still been President.

This story is told from the Israeli point of view. The arguments of the Arabs (e.g. that they shouldn't bear the burden of Germany's policies) are mentioned, but just in passing. Although the movie isn't balanced, it's still a reasonably fair presentation of the history of the foundation of Israel.

It was very moving and emotional to see that the agony of the Holocaust didn't stop with the end of WWII. I learned a lot of history and think even more of President Truman than I did before. Conversely, I think less of Patton, Marshall and England for their behavior. It is a tremendous statement of the human spirit and the triumph of Will over Circumstance!

Now, I will start by saying that I'm biased. I am Jewish AND an Israeli. But in the face of such a well-told story I could not remain unmoved. Obviously I know the story, the story of the Jewish people from the almost complete annihilation in Europe of the early 40's to the creation of a Jewish state in Israel, and from knowing it all your life you think you understand. Well, you DO, but it takes such a well-made documentary, in its very simple way of telling a telling story, to actually FEEL it. I cried at the end. Morgan Freeman's excellent narration, with voices of fine actors and especially with the participation of excellent witness who can tell their story in such an engaging way make this a gripping history lesson. Though made by "our team" Two Jews, one of them being a Rabbi...) it maintains a fair standing in the delicate issues of the Jewish-Arab conflict in Palestine. It tells a human story and when put as it outs the story in perspective it gives the simple unfolding of the historical events an epic depth. One cannot stop and wonder how the same story may look so trivial in a day-to-day life (as it looks to me normally). A movie like this simply makes it clearer. I actually got several insightful observations that were really new to me. Note Clark Clifford, a White House counsel at the time in the Truman administration. He hardly has a voice by now, but he is as vivid in his details as he would be telling the details of one of the most important story of his life. And perhaps it was for him.