Bet Herut

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Bet Herut
Directed by Eran Preis and K.M. Winikur
Produced by Eran Preis and K.M. Winikur
Release date(s) 2004 (USA)
Running time 53 mins.
Country Israel
Official website
IMDb profile

Bet Herut is a 2004 documentary made by Fulbright recipient Eran Preis about the unraveling of Bet Herut, an Israeli moshav. Preis grew up in Bet Herut but moved to America as soon as he was old enough to live on his own. He was in America when Bet Herut's founder, Nachi Ariel, was involved in a murder suicide that devastated the community. With a sense of attachment to Ariel - who had once been a paternal authority figure to him - Preis returns to the place of his childhood to reconsile his past and evaluate Bet Herut's slow deterioration.

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In its beginning, Bet Herut embodied the idealism it strove for. A film, made when the commune started, shows strong able-bodied men happily working the fields in the warm sun. “Everybody was family here,” one commune member says, “you felt as if you were part of a good family.” Men and women came from all over the world to raise children that were all Israeli. They divided resources equally and were full of enthusiasm and hard work. But as time passed, hardships tested them. Guaranteed the same wage regardless of the work put forth, their work ethic slowly declined. Families began to complain that the monthly stipend they were given wasn't enough to “finish the month,” so they started their own side projects to earn money.

“The old and the good Bet Herut is gone,” a community leader at the town hall meeting declares, “we are now fighting to pay off the debts of that Bet Herut.” The suntanned images of farmers smiling in their fields at the commune's beginning juxtaposes the fluorescent lighting and bitterness the modern generation endures while sitting on metal folding chairs, discussing their massive debt.

a resident of Bet Herut
a resident of Bet Herut

Bet Herut takes a long look at the ugly underbelly of idealism. The documentary blends Eran's personal experiences in Bet Herut with a broad historical look at the farming community that was started by Nachman Ariel. Both Nachman and Eran held the community in high regards only to be disappointed by it. Eran's negative experiences drove him to America, while Nachman's mistrust resulted in murder and suicide.

Eran says he doesn't want to make a pro-capitalist film, but documenting the failings of the socialist system has that implication. When asked about his thoughts on capitalism, one community leader points to the fact that America won the First World War, the Second World War and is the world's leading power. Instead of fighting against it, Israel must adapt. “It's just too god damn bad” another commune member pines, “when people said socialism is against human nature, I used to say change human nature.” Shaking his head with a sad smile he continues, “now I say you can't change human nature.”

Bet Herut offers an insiders look at the commune. Eran's brother inherited his family's farm and never left, while his sister moved to live just outside of it. Their stories expand on the documentary's broad understanding of Bet Herut; and they, along with everyone else who's interviewed, speak freely because of their personal connections to Eran. Instead of editing themselves in front of the camera, they joke with Eran and feel comfortable expressing their unpopular beliefs.

Every year the people of Bet Herut assemble for a group photograph. The documentary corresponds with the commune's 70th anniversary, but, because of their financial turmoil amongst them, leaders expect a low turnout for the photograph. Instead of remaining behind the camera, Eran jaunts into up the bleachers to let his face be captured amongst the others. For years he tried to distance himself from Bet Herut, but he explains that returning allowed him to realize it was never a perfect collective, but an imperfect, living community that defy convention and strove for something better.

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