93 min
Connie Field
Documentary
2014 - Palestine, USA
Toronto Premiere
Featuring Ramzi Maqdisi, Georgina Asfour, Mohammed Al-Basha and many more
Al Helm (The Dream) follows a group of African-American gospel singers on their first trip to Palestine. There they join the Palestinian National Theatre Company to mount a touring play about Martin Luther King Jr. and the US civil rights movement. During the play’s rehearsals, impassioned cultural exchanges ensue between the choir and the theatre company over how best to tell Dr. King’s story to a Palestinian audience. However, art and life merge when at the end of the tour tragedy strikes the Jenin Freedom Theatre bringing the portrayal of Dr. King in Palestine into stark focus. This powerful film reveals the role of art as a communication tool within cultures and across cultures, and the importance of fostering connections to other social justice struggles. As they visit different parts of the West Bank and learn more about the lives of the Palestinian actors, the choir members are exposed to the harsh realities of life under occupation that challenge and change their understanding of Palestine.
Awards:
Audience Award, Mill Valley International Film Festival, Justic Matters Award, DC Filmest
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Co-presented by Mayworks Festival of Working People and the Arts.
Screened with Al Sheesha