Archives

In the Sabra Land

The first of two chronological episodes introducing us to the ways in which Israeli art has defined and re-defined its “Israeli ness”. The episode covers the period of the birth and consolidation of a characteristically Hebrew-Israeli art: from the founding of the Bezalel Academy of Art by Boris Schatz, and up until the beginning of the 1960s.

Artists in the chapter (in an alphabetical order): Abel Pann, Arie Aroch, Avigdor Stematsky, Avraham Ofek, Avshalom Okashi, Effi & Amir, Eliyahou Eric Bokobza, Friedel Stern, Gershon Knispel, Jean David, Joseph Budko, Lea Nikel, Leopold Krakauer, Marcel Janco, Miron Sima, Mordechai Ardon, Moshe Gat, Shimon Tsabar, Yaacov Agam, Yehezkel Streichman, Yitzhak Danziger, Yohanan Simon, Ziona Tager, Zvi Meirovitch.

Fifteen Minutes of Fame

The episode discusses the definition of success in the world of art. On what does success depend – on aesthetics, or cash? On the verdict of the critics, or popularity among the general public? In today’s world, larger and more commercial than ever, everyone has a different answer and the question of success becomes more and more complex.

Artists in the chapter (in alphabetical order): Adina Bar On, Avigdor Arikha, Bianca Eshel-Gershuni, Boaz Arad, Chana Orloff, David Gerstein, David Hendler, Dov Feigin, Eliezer Sonnenschien, Gabriel Cohen, Isaac Frenkel, Leon Engelsberg, Michal Rovner, Mordecai Ardon, Moshe Elnatan, Moshe Mokadi, Osias Hofstatter, Rita Alima, Rudy Lehmann, Shalom of Safed, Tamar Raban, Yehoshua Grossbard, Zadok Ben David, Zvi Goldstein.

Taqasim

A voyage to the hidden treasures of classical Arabic music, and to the participation of Jewish musicians in this cultural heritage.

Taqasim draws a unique portrait of the Middle East in the 30’s, a region that shared mutual culture, language and economy. With stylishly shot music segments, along with unforgettable “back-ally” jam sessions played by Felix Mizrachi, Zehava Ben, Abraham Salman, and more. The film was shot in Cairo.

Words

The commandment “Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image” has had a great impact on Jewish culture, resulting in a clear preference for words over images. In this chapter we explore the tension between this commandment and the profession that depends so on the visual image.

Artists in the chapter (in an alphabetical order): Avraham Ofek, Anisa Ashkar, Arie Aroch, David Tartakover, David Reeb, Hila Lulu Lin, Jennifer Bar Lev, Meir Gur Arie, Michael Sgan Cohen, Michail Grobman, Michal Na’aman, Mordechai Ardon, Moshe Castel, Moshe Gershuni, Nachum Tevet, Raffi Lavie, Yair Garbuz, Ze’ev Raban and others.

Radio Daze

The amazing story of a Radio-addict, the queen of music trivia, Rebbeca DeSolarsky. Her home is decorated with knitted pictures, porcelain dolls and plastic flowers.

At night, when she goes out “clubbing” she wears lace-gloves and dazzling neck-ties. A true portrait from the decaying inner-city of Tel Aviv.

Witness – No Longer Achmed

Achmed Hamdoon, a young Arab Bedouin, was raised in the family tin hut, a few meters away from the locked gate of Kibbutz “Lotem” in West Galilee, Northern Israel. Having longed for the kibbutz life most of his youth, he finally pulls out and moves to “Lotem”, changing his name to the typically Israeli name Meidan Sade. The clan is outraged and sees him as a “traitor”. But Meidan, no longer Achmed, feels he cannot access better opportunities in the Israeli society as a Bedouin. Indeed, he becomes “the first Hamdoon” to carry ammunition while guarding the Kibbutz, completes his high school degree, and finds a new Jewish “cultural” mother. The price, however, is high. Meidan is lonely, unable to find a Jewish girl who will accept him as he is, nor a Bedouin girl who will not frown on his extreme crossing of ways.