Move over William Hurt and Hank Azaria - another Tufts graduate has made it in the film industry. Justine Shapiro, a 1985 Tufts graduate who studied theater and history while in Medford, earned an Oscar nomination for her documentary feature Promises, based on interviews with Israeli and Palestinian children on their feelings about the peace process. Though the Academy Award was given instead to Murder on a Sunday Morning, Shapiro has earned acclaim and awards for her work.
TheNew York Times calls Promises "an intensely personal and insightful documentary that demonstrates the unusual power of thoughtful, subjective filmmaking." The Jerusalem Post has praised Promises for offering a glimmer of hope in the difficult struggle in the Mideast. Shapiro's use of children in her documentary has been hailed as particularly innovative and very revealing about the way information is processed by the youth caught in the crossfire of the conflict.
Shapiro and her colleagues focused on seven children from both sides of Jerusalem. Shapiro was able to portray the many dimensions and complexities of the children by becoming a part of their daily lives. Her work is considered an impressive portrayal of the children as individuals, rather than as cultural stereotypes. The project has struck a chord with many who are concerned with the Middle East - The Promises Film Advisory Board is supported by a number of prominent figures, including Richard Dreyfuss, Norman Lear, and Debra Winger.
Many critics were surprised at the documentary's failure to earn the Oscar, particularly in light of its critical acclaim. Promises earned top honors at International Film Festivals in San Francisco, Munich, Jerusalem, Locarno, Vancouver, Valladolid, and Sao Paolo. And Promises is the first documentary to ever win top honors at the Netherlands' Rotterdam Film Festival.
"Good documentary films reveal what is under the surface of a situation or a person," Shapiro told PBS. "It is the process of unearthing these complexities that motivates me. Ultimately, I believe that life is all about learning something more about oneself and the world around us." Shapiro can regularly be seen as the host of "Lonely Planet," an adventure show on the Travel Channel. Promises can be viewed at the Coolidge Corner Theater in Boston, MA.
