Over a period of nearly two decades, Nissim Mossek filmed two families living on Haladiya Street in the Moslem Quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City. The dark red blood stains on the cobble stones of tense street still bear silent witness to the violence that has occurred here. And more than once. This is a human, touching and painful film whose power lies in the direct, straightforward manner with which the director has treated a complex story. The family of Abu Bassam, long-time Moslem residents and the family of Danny Robbins, Jewish settlers, live close to each and their lives reflect the events that have occurred on Haladiya Street. Is it possible for two men and their families to live together on Haladiya Street, given the street’s history and the background of conflict, murder, and hate? Filmed over 18 years, the Shalom Abu Bassem film is a rare opportunity to see how the lives of Jewish and Moslem residents have intertwined on an unforgettable street in the Moslem Section of the Old City. With the pathos of real people, living under extremely difficult conditions, the film Shalom Abu Bassem will make you more aware of the complexity of the conflict between the two peoples. Shalom Abu Bassem will touch your mind. And your heart!


Shalom Abu Bassem

Doc, Long Version: 73 min; Short Version: 52 min, 2004

Written & Directed by: Nissim Mossek
Produced by: Sharon Schaveet - Biblic Productions
Sponsored by: The New Foundation for Cinema & TV and The 2nd Authority for Radio & TV
Co-produced by: Lichtpunt, Belgium & Vision TV, Canada

DVD - For Home Use Only :
$29.90

Synopsis


Over a period of nearly two decades, Nissim Mossek filmed two families living on Haladiya Street in the Moslem Quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City. The dark red blood stains on the cobble stones of tense street still bear silent witness to the violence that has occurred here. And more than once. This is a human, touching and painful film whose power lies in the direct, straightforward manner with which the director has treated a complex story. The family of Abu Bassam, long-time Moslem residents and the family of Danny Robbins, Jewish settlers, live close to each and their lives reflect the events that have occurred on Haladiya Street. Is it...

Awards

  • Best Editing Award – Haifa International Film Festival, 2004.

Festivals

  • Warsaw Jewish Film Festival, 2006
  • Munich International Documentary Film Festival, Germany, 2006
  • Haifa International Film Festival, 2004

Additional info

Gallery

Press & Links:

  • Web Links:

    Shalom Abu Bassem at the Munich International Documentary Film Festival. For More information click here


    From the Press:

    “A thousand political discussion TV programs will not succeed in extinguishing the anger and hatred existing between religious Jews and Arab Moslems. On the other hand, just as a picture is worth a thousand words, one documentary is worth a hundred years of conflict. Even if I were to study the history of Jerusalem with Professor Meshulam or with one of the followers of Baruch Marzel, I would learn much more from the watching the expressive faces of Danny Robins or Abu Bassam the heroes of the film "Shalom Abu Bassem".
    Walla Internet, October, 2005

    “…The pictures, the sounds, the colors, the characters, the messages, the dialogues, and the monologues of the film sent shivers up my spine. A piece of reality with no reasonable future solutions for the head or the heart. Mossek has brought to us on late night television what we would never dare to think about in morning daylight. The place is dangerous, and explosive…”
    Walla Internet, October, 2005

Festivals

  • Warsaw Jewish Film Festival, 2006
  • Munich International Documentary Film Festival, Germany, 2006
  • Haifa International Film Festival, 2004

Educational

  • University of Texas at Austin
  • Duke University
  • Ohio State University

Awards

  • Best Editing Award – Haifa International Film Festival, 2004.