Hotline

ThewomenfromtheTelAvivhotlineforrefugeesandmigrantsworkaroundtheclock.Theylookaftertherightsofpeoplewithoutpapers,givelegaladvice,gotogovernmentofficesontheirbehalfanddopublicrelationsfortheircause.<br/>　　Thecameracatapultsusrightintothemidstoftheaction.Beforeanenragedcrowd,awomanactivistcallsfortherefugeesfromSudanandEritreabroughttoSinaibyEgyptiantraffickersandnowstrandedinIsraeltobegivenresidencepermits.Sheismetwithvehementresistanceandisverballyandnearlyphysicallyattacked.Buttheorganisationdoesn’tjusthavetofightthexenophobicmoodinthepopulation,butalsoabrandoflegislationthattreatsanyillegalbordercrossingasacriminaloffence.TherefugeeprisonsneartheEgyptianborderareconstantlybeingexpanded.Thedirectorisdeniedaccess.SilvinaLandsmanntakesthevieweralongtothevarioussettings–governmentoffices,courts,theKnesset–andeditstogetherhermaterialinsuchawaythatitbecomesclearwhatthestruggleforhumanrightsconsistsof:talking,mobilising,documentingandpersuading.berlinale2015