The Gatekeepers

Name: The Gatekeepers
Genre: Documentary
Released: February 1, 2013
Duration: 101 min
Rating: 91
Cast: Ami Ayalon, Avi Dichter, Avraham Shalom, Carmi Gillon, Yaakov Peri

2013

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 27 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 32 Ratings

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6.8

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6.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 32 Ratings

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The Gatekeepers

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Movie Details & Credits

Sony Pictures Classics | Release Date: February 1, 2013 | PG-13

Starring: Ami Ayalon, Avi Dichter, Avraham Shalom, Carmi Gillon, Yaakov Peri, Yuval Diskin

Summary: A documentary by the Israeli director Dror Moreh which consists of interviews with six surviving former heads of Shin Bet, the Israeli security agency established in 1949 which has engaged in counter-terrorism and intelligence gathering, among other things.

Director: Dror Moreh

Genre(s): Documentary

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 101 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Marc Mohan

Feb 16, 2013

For a film that consists largely of a series of talking-head interviews, The Gatekeepers is a riveting a documentary. Read full review

100

Film.com Laremy Legel

Feb 26, 2013

There are many films that rail against the inherent injustices of any given power structure. Much rarer are the documentaries like The Gatekeepers which expose that the faithful stewards of a certain foreign policy no longer believe in said policy. This is an important film, showing the constant reaction and counter-reaction of each side. Read full review

100

Empire David Hughes

Apr 8, 2013

Insightful, revelatory and profound, Moreh's Oscar-nominated documentary combines riveting interviews, archive footage and - yes - state-of-the-art photographic effects to offer a unique perspective on the Israel-Palestine issue. Read full review

Scott Tobias

Jan 30, 2013

The six men have different personalities that suggest varying styles of leadership, but what's remarkable about The Gatekeepers is how they speak in one voice about the moral complexities of their former jobs and their extreme pessimism about the future. Read full review

Calvin Wilson

Mar 14, 2013

Although The Gatekeepers lacks the stylistic inventiveness of “Fog,” it is nonetheless a compelling account of what can go wrong when power is unrestrained. Read full review

Farran Smith Nehme

Nov 26, 2012

The filmmaker doesn't speculate about why these men are talking, but he leaves you with an excellent guess. Read full review

Joe Neumaier

Nov 29, 2012

A fascinating and informative, if sometimes stodgy, documentary about the most secret wing of Israel's anti-espionage unit. Read full review

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User Reviews

Isaac_adhd

Feb 4, 2013

Still, for all the exploits and moments of success, the prevailing tone at the end is one of near-despair over the future of Israel on the part of knowledgeable patriots who have spent their lives manning the ramparts. The climactic comments of all six participants lament weak-willedStill, for all the exploits and moments of success, the prevailing tone at the end is one of near-despair over the future of Israel on the part of knowledgeable patriots who have spent their lives manning the ramparts. The climactic comments of all six participants lament weak-willed leadership, an Israel that's become a “police state,” and a point at which “We've become...cruel.”… Expand

4 of 4 users found this helpful40

DanDC

Mar 2, 2013

Outstanding documentary. Essential viewing for those who care about the future of Israel (as opposed to those who prefer to score cheap points by taking an easy position on Israel-Palestine). Compelling, frightening, and very insightful. One of the most memorable films I've seen in years.Outstanding documentary. Essential viewing for those who care about the future of Israel (as opposed to those who prefer to score cheap points by taking an easy position on Israel-Palestine). Compelling, frightening, and very insightful. One of the most memorable films I've seen in years. The humanity and the internal conflict of the interviewees shines through.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

jeremyp

Mar 16, 2013

An absolute must for anyone who has followed the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, but from the mouth of one side looking back on history, and from people who should know, and who are amazingly frank and self reflective. Former leaders of Shin Bet, the Israeli secret service, are interviewed andAn absolute must for anyone who has followed the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, but from the mouth of one side looking back on history, and from people who should know, and who are amazingly frank and self reflective. Former leaders of Shin Bet, the Israeli secret service, are interviewed and are surprisingly candid, wise, philosophic and even rueful about their business. A cautionary tale indeed and quite appropriate in this day of occupation,drones and special ops. Now if we could only get something similar from the other side!… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

Bestpony

Jul 22, 2013

I'd recommend this film to anyone interested in the gray areas of modern democracies. It's not just about the Shin Bet, or Israel, or the Middle Eastern situation. Ultimately, it's about any country that has to straddle the line between transparency and human rights on the one hand, and theI'd recommend this film to anyone interested in the gray areas of modern democracies. It's not just about the Shin Bet, or Israel, or the Middle Eastern situation. Ultimately, it's about any country that has to straddle the line between transparency and human rights on the one hand, and the safety of its citizens on the other. The real strength of the film and its main selling point is that Moreh mostly lets these men talk, and the interviews offer brutally honest confessions and profound questions that you just won't get from someone who hasn't spent years steeped in the conflict.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MarcDoyle

Feb 4, 2013

I thought that I knew a little something about the internal politics of Israel. Obviously not enough. This is an incredibly interesting look into an organization from the men who ran it during very difficult periods of recent history. Shockingly candid accounts with at least someI thought that I knew a little something about the internal politics of Israel. Obviously not enough. This is an incredibly interesting look into an organization from the men who ran it during very difficult periods of recent history. Shockingly candid accounts with at least some perspective on and temporal distance from the events. This may strike many as minor, but the only aspect of the film that rubs me the wrong way is the way the filmmakers use what looks like video-game graphics to fill-in or connect the very famous photographs from these conflicts. For such an austere conversation, it pulls me out of the moment.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Tyranian

Dec 22, 2019

Fascinating documentary that condemns Israel's counter-terrorism measures but doesn't delve too deeply into why they might be necessary.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MorriBey

Jul 19, 2013

Dramatic documentary about colonial occupation and murder of indigenous inhabitants told without remorse. Its a movie one would expect in a parallel universe where the bad guys won but horrifying it exists in ours.

3 of 5 users found this helpful32

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