June, 1967. Egypt and Syria have joined forces in an effort to destroy the State of Israel. In a television interview, Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Dayan appears confident, even smiling.

Six weeks later, Israel has completely routed its enemies and taken control of West Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Golan Heights. In another TV interview, a grinning Dayan dismisses calls for a long-term solution to the occupation: "As far as I am concerned we are just happy as it is now."

SLAVES OF THE SWORD - MOSHE DAYAN captures the controversial Israeli general and politician's transformation from farmer to war hero to international icon - and, eventually, to object of derision.

Using archival footage from Israeli military campaigns, pop culture takes on Dayan (political cartoons, TV satire, and even runway models) as well as interviews with critics and those closest to him, this documentary offers a strikingly intimate portrait of a man who usually showed only his swaggering side to the cameras.

To his son Avi, Dayan was like a Clint Eastwood character. To his ex-wife Ruth, he was always primarily a farmer. Even his enemies offer Dayan - who grew up among Arabs and spoke Arabic - a grudging measure of respect. As Palestinian leader Haider Abd al Shafi puts it, "Dayan did not try to simulate any other attitude than his real one."

"Highly Recommended! A key strength... is its effort to provide a balanced view of these Israeli leaders. Friends, family members, allies, and critics provide their perspectives... In addition, the films are visually appealing. Overall, this [film] provides greater insight into the foreign and domestic policy choices of the Israeli government. It assists in understanding the mindset and decisions made by these political leaders."—Educational Media Reviews Online