O Jerusalem (film)
| O Jerusalem | |
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| Directed by | Elie Chouraqui |
| Written by | |
| Produced by | Jeffrey Konvitz |
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O Jerusalem is a 2006 drama film directed by Elie Chouraqui. It is based on the historical documentary novel of the same name, written by Dominique Lapierre and Larry Collins.
It stars JJ Feild and Saïd Taghmaoui as the protagonists, with Ian Holm and Tovah Feldshuh portraying Israeli political figures, David Ben Gurion and Golda Meir. It is Felshuh's second time portraying Meir, having taken the titular role in the play Golda's Balcony in 2003.[1]
The working title for release in the US is Beyond Friendship. It was produced for US distribution by Jeffrey Konvitz.
Plot
[edit]The film begins with footage from the Battle of Berlin and then the liberation of Dachau concentration camp. Bobby Goldman (Feild), an American Jewish soldier who helped liberate Dachau strikes up a friendship in post-war New York City and Said Chahine (Taghmaoui), a wealthy Palestinian student from Jerusalem. As the United Nations votes for the creation of the state of Israel, both are pulled into conflict, their involvement taking them from New York City to Jerusalem, where they risk their lives for what they each believe in. It depicts the 1947–1949 Palestine war and the end of the British mandate of Palestine.[2]
Cast
[edit]- JJ Feild – Bobby Goldman
- Saïd Taghmaoui – Saïd Chahine
- Maria Papas – Hadassah
- Patrick Bruel – David Levin
- Ian Holm – David Ben Gurion
- Tovah Feldshuh – Golda Meir
- Mel Raido – Jacob
- Cécile Cassel – Jane
- Mhairi Steenbock – Cathy
- Tom Conti – Sir Cunningham
- Shirel – Yaël
- Peter Polycarpou – Abdel Khader
- Yonatan Uziel as Post manager
Production
[edit]According to Feldshuh, the film faced significant budget restraints, with two of her scenes cut and Chouraqui needing to rely on stock documentary footage and spare editing.[3]
Critical reception
[edit]On Rotten Tomatoes, the film received a 36% approval rating based on 22 reviews, indicating a generally negative reception and the site consensus being "Though a noble effort, O Jerusalem fails to combine this history lesson and human drama into a coherent cinematic piece."[4]
However, film critic, Stephen Farber was more positive, writing for The Hollywood Reporter: "It is admirable in trying to be fair to the Israeli and Arab perspectives while lamenting the enmity that endures to this day."[1]
Jeannette Catsoulis wrote in The New York Times wrote a negative review of the film describing it as a "middle school history lesson — complete with textbook dialogue and strained neutrality."[5]
John Anderson wrote in Variety that "There’s a great movie inside “O Jerusalem” that wants freedom and independence, but is suppressed by an earnestness that’s practically colonial."[6]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Farber, Stephen (23 October 2007). O Jerusalem The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved on 13 July 2025
- ^ Kline, Brett (25 October 2006). ‘O Jerusalem’ comes to big screen Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved on 13 July 2025
- ^ Oy vey Jerusalem Progressive Israel. Retrieved on 13 July 2025
- ^ O Jerusalem (2007)
- ^ Catsoulis, Jeannette (17 October 2007). Carefully Taking a Cool Look at a Topic That’s Always Hot The New York Times. Retrieved on 13 July 2025
- ^ Anderson, John (24 October 2007). O Jerusalem Variety. Retrieved on 13 July 2025
External links
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