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FROM THE BIG STAGE TO THE BIG SCREEN
Provocative Feature Film Wrestling Jerusalem Has New York Premiere
There’s something about a play being reworked into a film that calls for special attention. Take Romeo and Juliet, A Streetcar Named Desire, or even The Boys in the Band. Here’s a provocative new film to feed your guilty pleasures.
Aaron Davidman’s innovative one-man play Wrestling Jerusalem, which has toured North America for four years including multiple sold-out performances at 59E59 in New York City in 2016, has made the leap to the silver screen in a film directed by Dylan Kussman and will have its New York theatrical premiere at the Leonard Nimoy Thalia at Symphony Space September 12-18.
In a tour-de-force performance, writer-actor Aaron Davidman embodies and gives voice to an astonishing host of characters on all sides of the existential divide — 17 in all — deftly moving between male and female, Jewish and Muslim, Israeli and Arab, each one embodying the frustrations, hopes, dreams and fears ever present in this long-running conflict.
“In these times of extreme polarization,” said Davidman, “I wanted to make a film that would challenge those on the left, right and center to encounter nuanced multiple-perspectives in one sitting, so that we might reconnect to the shared humanity that lives at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”
This timely cinematic adaption and tour-de-force performance brings necessary life to the ancient question… Why can’t we have peace?
Wrestling Jerusalem’s return to New York gives those who were unable to snag tickets to the sold-out performances at 59E59 a chance to catch this provocative film on the big screen.
Following many of the screenings, there will be a panel with different community partners with the director and star, as well as other experts and faith leaders (full details below).
Tickets can be purchased at: https://www.symphonyspace.org/event/9715/Film/wrestling-jerusalem-new-york-premiere.
PANEL DISCUSSIONS FOLLOWING SCREENINGS INCLUDE:
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 12
Ethan Bronner leads a conversation with director Dylan Kussman, writer/actor Aaron Davidman and executive producer Jeannie Blaustein. Ethan Bronner is a senior editor at Bloomberg News focused on analytical and investigative pieces. He spent 17 years at The New York Times, including serving as Jerusalem bureau chief. He was also based in Jerusalem for The Boston Globe in the early 90s and for Reuters in the mid-80s.
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 15
Ari Roth, artistic director of Mosaic Theatre of DC, leads a conversation with other artists, including Philip Himberg, artistic director of the Sundance Institute Theatre Program.
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 16
Editor-in-Chief Jane Eisner of The Forward and columnist Peter Beinart, a commentator on CNN and other broadcasts as well as a writer for Haaretz, the Atlantic and other publications.
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 17
Rabbi Amichai Lay-Lavi leads faith leaders from Jewish, Muslim and Christian traditions in a discussion of the film.