To Die in Jerusalem
Synopsis
Ever since 17-year-old Rachel Levy, an Israeli, was killed four years ago in Jerusalem by a Palestinian suicide bomber, her mother, Abigail, has hardly found a moment’s peace. Levy’s killer was Ayat al-Akhras, also 17, a schoolgirl from a Palestinian refugee camp several miles away. The two young women looked remarkably alike. Through the personal stories of the two families’ losses, the film explores their mutual pain, despite differences in cultural and religious beliefs, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and ultimately the hope for peace. The film’s most revealing moment is in an emotionally-charged meeting between the mothers of the two dead girls.
*Winner* of Peabody Award.
Credits
Director(s)
Hila Medalia
Producer(s)
Ed Priddy, Hilla Medalia, John Priddy, Keren Ratenbach
Cinematography
Ran Shitrit, Ramez Kazmouz
Editor
Geof Bartz, Shlomi Shalom
Original Music
Issar Schulman
Original Language
Hebrew, Arabic, English
Subtitles
English
Festival Highlights
-
Audience Award
Best DocumentaryJewish Motifs Warsaw Flm Festival2008 -
Emmy Awards Nominaiton
for Best Documentary2008 -
Winner
Peabody Award2007
Kimball Theater Film Festival, USA, 2007
SIU Radio & TV Film Festival, USA, 2007
Washington Jewish Film Festival, USA, 2007
Jewish Community Center of Staten Island, USA, 2007
Washington University Film Festival, USA, 2007
University of Iowa Film Festival, USA, 2007
Young Israel of St. Luis Film Festival, USA, 2007
Duke Conversations Film Festival, USA, 2007
Hillel of St. Luis Film Festival, USA, 2007
Jewish Community Center in Manhattan Film Festival, USA, 2008
Georgetown University Film Festival, USA, 2008
Detroit Jewish Film Festival, USA, 2008