There is a unique quality of light in Jerusalem, created when the setting sun reflects off the iconic Jerusalem stone that clads most of the city’s buildings, both old and new. This ethereal beauty was preserved during the British Mandate (1922–1948), when authorities required all building exteriors to be faced with the distinctive stone, echoing traditional Palestinian architecture and giving the city a sense of visual continuity. After Israel’s victory in the 1967 Six-Day War, Jerusalem was unified, and the stone façade helped sustain the illusion of one city shared by two peoples. Under the ambitious leadership of Mayor Teddy Kollek, renowned architects were enlisted to redesign Jerusalem—a process that led to the destruction, appropriation, and displacement of many native Palestinian homes. The city’s master plan aimed to blur neighborhood boundaries, creating an appearance of integration. Raised in Jerusalem, filmmaker Danae Elon reflects on the city’s expansion and questions the architects who implemented government policy, probing whether they hold any moral responsibility. —Janis Plotkin
United States Premiere