Jun 2, 2017
Don’t Miss East Jerusalem/West Jerusalem
Join the Miami Jewish Film Festival and Federation’s Jewish Community Relations Council for a screening of East Jerusalem/West Jerusalem at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 13 at O Cinema Miami Beach. The documentary film explores Israeli singer-songwriter David Broza’s 2013 album of the same name, which he spent eight days recording in East Jerusalem. Working for almost 40 years to challenge people’s perceptions and beliefs, and to connect adversaries through melodies and lyrics, Broza has always believed in the power of music to transform political and social realities. Following his lifelong dream, Broza gathered musicians of every faith in the studio of Sabreen, a Palestinian band, to participate in an unprecedented creative collaboration between Israeli and Palestinian musicians.
Broza recruited four-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and American activist Steve Earle; renowned Israeli Arab singer, actor and activist Mira Awad; Palestinian cinematographer Issa Freij; Palestinian hip hop artist from the Shuaafat refugee camp Muhammad Mughrabi; Israeli musicians Jean Paul Zimbris, Alon Nadel and Gadi Seri; as well as other American, Israeli and Palestinian participants. During the extensive sessions, they enjoyed special dinners, which offered them opportunities to share their life stories and learn surprising truths about each other. The ever-curious Broza was eager to explore a part of the world that is so close to his home in Tel Aviv, yet so remote.
While the harmonious experience in the studio is reflected in the recordings of both cover songs and original material, including “East Jerusalem/West Jerusalem,” written by Broza and Wyclef Jean, the situation in East Jerusalem is far from peaceful. Still, Broza and his fellow musicians are committed to establishing dialogue and finding common ground.
