To Die in Jerusalem
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To Die in Jerusalem
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.
Festivals and Awards:
Full list of festivals; Peabody Award; 3 Emmy Nominations; Audience Award for Best Documentary at the Jewish Motifs Warsaw Flm Festival, Poland, 2008; 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
Director: Hila Medalia
Producer: Ed Priddy, Hilla Medalia, John Priddy, Keren Ratenbach
Production Company: EJH Productions
Cinematographer: Ran Shitrit, Ramez Kazmouz
Editor: Geof Bartz, Shlomi Shalom
Original Soundtrack: Issar Schulman
Supporter(s): The New Fund for Cinema and Television, Yes Docu, HBO
Distributor: Dragoman Films
Subtitles: Hebrew, English
Film Name in Hebrew: למות בירושלים
Category: Children and Youth / Family / Israeli-Palestinian Conflict / Jerusalem / Women
Tag Words: Family Israeli Palestinian conflict Jerusalem palestinian peace refugee camp suicide bomber teenagers tragedy
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.
Festivals and Awards:
Full list of festivals; Peabody Award; 3 Emmy Nominations; Audience Award for Best Documentary at the Jewish Motifs Warsaw Flm Festival, Poland, 2008; 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
Director: Hila Medalia
Producer: Ed Priddy, Hilla Medalia, John Priddy, Keren Ratenbach
Production Company: EJH Productions
Cinematographer: Ran Shitrit, Ramez Kazmouz
Editor: Geof Bartz, Shlomi Shalom
Original Soundtrack: Issar Schulman
Supporter(s): The New Fund for Cinema and Television, Yes Docu, HBO
Distributor: Dragoman Films
Subtitles: Hebrew, English
Film Name in Hebrew: למות בירושלים
Category: Children and Youth / Family / Israeli-Palestinian Conflict / Jerusalem / Women
Tag Words: Family Israeli Palestinian conflict Jerusalem palestinian peace refugee camp suicide bomber teenagers tragedy
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With the support of the Ministry of Culture - The Israel Film Council