East Jerusalem West Jerusalem

Co-directors Erez Miller and Henrique Cymerman capture an eight-day recording session in which Israeli and Palestinian musicians came together in solidarity. Israeli singer-songwriter David Broza spearheaded the 2013 gathering, which resulted in the album East Jerusalem/West Jerusalem. Broza was born in Haifa, but grew up in Madrid, returning to Israel at the age of 19 to serve his mandatory military service. In the army, Broza spent most of his time playing music, but his firsthand experience with armed conflict in the first Lebanon War of 1982 encouraged him to shift specifically towards protest music. While recording, Broza shares vocal duties with producer Steve Earle, Israeli-Palestinian Mira Awad, and Palestinian Muhammad Mughrabi (a member of the hip-hop group G-Town). Mughrabi, who grew up in a refugee camp as a result of the 1967 Six-Day War, feels isolated from both Israelis and Palestinians. "I don't know what I am," he says with a resigned smile. Other players include Palestinian guitarist Issa Freij, Israeli drummer Alon Nadel, Israeli-Palestinian oud player Elias Wakileh, and Israeli percussionist Gadi Seri. Awad believes that the differences in inflection between Arabic and Hebrew actually reinforce cultural misunderstandings. "In a weird way," she notes, "English—of the British colonies—has become the bridging language between Arabs and Jews." The group's repertoire, a mix of old and new songs, incorporates all three languages, with the most recognizable tunes including Earle's "Jerusalem" and Nick Lowe's "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding." The vibe here is so relaxed that it comes as a surprise to hear right-wing youth yelling anti-Arab slogans on the streets during Jerusalem Day. But Broza's project serves as a hopeful sign that such sentiments may someday become outdated. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)