Why This Film, and Why Now?
Reflections from the Global Screening of There Is Another Way
“I don’t know what words to use. Sometimes when something is that special it transcends words.”
“The documentary may be about Israeli/Palestinians – but the film has lessons that are universally applicable – If you widen the lens – it's an invitation to be the love you want to see in the world.”
What just happened?
On June 12, thousands of people from 46 countries around the world gathered in a shared moment of humanity. They came to listen, to feel, and to explore what peace might look like across seemingly insurmountable differences. They showed up—to engage with a vision of possibility.
Why this film?
There Is Another Way continues the work of Disturbing the Peace, illuminating the path of Combatants for Peace—a bi-national movement of former Israeli and Palestinian fighters choosing a different way forward. For over a decade, Reconsider has witnessed and recorded their courageous efforts. Director Stephen Apkon had once hoped the first film would be enough. But the ongoing need for reconciliation called for a new creative offering to honor and reflect their continued commitment.
Why does this matter?
Because this story reaches beyond borders, it is Universal. It reveals what is possible when we are willing to pause to examine the narratives we’ve inherited; and choose to see one another's humanity. We hold more similarities than differences, including the pain we inflict upon one another. This film invites reflection and offers a third perspective, one that does not divide us but unites us.
- What stories shape my life?
- What relationships help me see new perspectives?
- Why are we not choosing peace?
- How are each of us accountable for the peace we seek in the world?
What does it mean to stand for peace?
To stand for peace is to be willing to put yourself in the shoes of the other. To listen. To listen to their experiences. To stay curious and honor multiple perspectives. Peace is a practice that begins within and reaches outward.There are extremists and hate in every culture, religion and country and inside of each of us. When we look only outward towards other people's shadow, we often miss seeing our own. All of us can be proud of who we are, where we are from, what we believe. and at the same time hold each other’s ways in honor, in a shared humanity.
Differences are not the problem, they are our strength.
So what now?
At Reconsider, we believe humanity is living far below its potential and we know that our personal actions, responses and perspectives are at the core of the world we are living in. We focus on making the unconscious conscious so we, together, can create lives and a world that we all want to live in. Transformation often begins with curiosity. And curiosity begins with a question. At Reconsider, we create spaces where we meet and question what is possible.
At Reconsider, we use The Playbook for Life which offers a way to explore what is possible. It consists of five core movements designed to connect to an inner knowing, shared dialogue, and courageous co-creation. It allows us a safe way to explore and question.
There Is Another Way offers a living example of these movements in action:
It begins with Curiosity—asking how did we get where we are right now? How does it make sense that we are willing to hurt one another? What ways am I open to learning, to asking questions, to being curious?
It invites deep Awareness—Where does my narrative come from? What ways have I learned to believe what I believe? What keeps me from stepping out and leaning more about how someone else sees things?
It calls for each person to Own Their Creation—How am I participating in shaping our world as it is right now? What do I say? What do I do? Who do I support? Are my actions inline with the world I want to live in?
It models Reimagining—What could our world look like? What might be ways that we shift our ways of being and seeing one another? What might be possible?
And it demonstrates Manifesting What do I do with my ideas? Where do I share them? When do I support other ideas that might be different? What allows me to step out and create with others, together?
The journey of those documented in There is Another Way embodies these movements.. The film and the Reconsider Playbook invite each of us to participate—by both watching, and by choosing.
We are all in this world together and There is Another Way beyond hate and war… many are already walking it—together. We all matter, come join us.
To learn more about There Is Another Way
thereisanotherwayfilm.com
