The film draws from 700 hours of original footage and some rare archive material. Open bethlehem is a deeply personal film that has been 10 years in the making. How bedlam became a palace for lunatics when it was rebuilt in 1676, london s bethlem hospital was the most opulent mental asylum the world had ever seen from the outside. London film director leila sansour returns to bethlehem to make a film about her home town, soon to be encircled by a wall. Rick larson to show what he found when he searched for clues about the star of bethlehem.
This documentary film, by leila sansour, is part of a larger campaign of the same name to raise awareness about the crisis facing the palestinian city. Bethlehem is much more than a precious world heritage. I am delighted that tipping point has become the home of my film in the uk. It was shown at the telluride film festival and 20 toronto international film festival. Could the imprisonment of bethlehem serve as a window into palestine the problems and the solutions. She left the city as a teenager thinking that bethlehem was too small and provincial. One of the most remarkable and moving documentaries i have seen. Well refund your credit card or we can credit your fandango account to use for another movie. Community screenings of open bethlehem can be booked at bullfrog communities. The film follows palestinian director leila sansours journey to the legendary city of bethlehem, the place where she grew up. Open bethlehem screened across uk, usa, middle east tipping. Open bethlehem director leila sansour in attendance.
This documentary is a personal story filmed over four critical years in the life of bethlehem. Open bethlehem film documents fight against wall, settlements. We are now screening the film, jeremy hardy versus the israeli army, in honour of the great comedian and activist, and our friend, jeremy hardy. Open bethlehem details leila sansours decadelong campaign to bring down the wall around her city. The kennington bethlehem link presents a special christmas screening of leila sansours acclaimed documentary film open bethlehem 2014. Bbc travel a new side to the holy city of bethlehem. Description we are pleased to announce a screening of the acclaimed film open bethlehem 90 mins, followed by a discussion between palestinian filmmaker leila sansour and the dean of kings college london, revd canon prof. Review and listings for open bethlehem, a film by leila sansour starring. Get your swag on with discounted movies to stream at home, exclusive movie gear, access to advanced screenings and discounts galore. Filmed over seven years, the initial construction of the wall that divides israel and palestine is shown for what it is. Iambic dream films is thrilled to present a film that jon snow calls. Open bethlehem screening at arthouse crouch end, london.
Open bethlehem film times in london cinema guide from all in. She makes an exception to film a tribute to her late father, the founder of bethlehem university, who is widely regarded as a hero by his friends and neighbours. Armed with a camera and a family car that keeps breaking down, she sets out to make an intimate portrait of a historical town in peril. For more information on films about palestine, the palestine film festival curates a huge library of films and organises an annual festival in london. Why open bethlehem is the one film you should watch this week. Throughout 2017 our open bethlehem film continued to be screened in. Why open bethlehem is the one film you should watch this. Leila sansour, daughter of the founder of bethlehem university, created the film open bethlehem. Bethlehem is the worlds most famous little town home. Palestine solidarity campaign box bm psa london wc1n 3xx.
Bbc culture how bedlam became a palace for lunatics. A very special day for bethlehem with prince charles visit. A film by award winning palestinian documentarymaker. The star of bethlehem is a 2007 documentary by frederick a. The film will be screened next tuesday as part of a special tribute to jeremy hardy. Charting the history of the town and focusing on daytoday life over seven years of filming, open bethlehem becomes a call for peace in the middle east, showing a multicultural society who can live together. This film shows how sansour comes to bethlehem with her husband, novelist nicholas blincoe, with a bold, imaginative plan in mind. Open bethlehem gives a realistic picture of aspects of palestinian life under occupation in the special circumstances of bethlehem.
Open bethlehem film documents fight against wall, settlements sarah irving arts and culture 30 august 2014 the trailer has been released for open bethlehem, a new film by palestinian documentarymaker leila sansour which calls for an international response to. This most famous little town also happens to be leila sansours hometown. Open bethlehem screening and reception palestine solidarity. Open bethlehem s vision is to see bethlehem without the israeli wall stifling its population. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. At times funny, always passionate, this film paints the portrait of bthlehem as it has never been seen before. September 26, 1926 october 18, 2000 was an american singer and actress, whose career spanned more than 40 years. Available screening formats, in case the film was accepted. Open bethlehem 2014 follows palestinian director leila sansours extraordinary journey to the legendary city of bethlehem, the place where she grew up. Bethlehem is the worlds most famous little town home to the majority of palestines christians. Bethlehem is a police procedural set in the west bank city of the title, and it delves into the world of the israeli secret service and their extensive use of palestinian informants.
The film spans seven momentous years in the life of bethlehem, revealing a city of astonishing beauty and political strife under occupation. Sansours film, which follows her attempts to unite. Leila sansours documentary open bethlehem follows her campaign to stop occupying israeli forces encircling her hometown with a concrete. Open bethlehem is a documentary about the building of the wall dividing the state of israel from the palestinian territories, and its effect in particular upon the town of bethlehem. Larson used the starry night astronomy computer program along with an article written by astronomer craig. The luna cinema is the countrys leading open air cinema, showcasing new and classic films across the country. She never wanted to return but this time she is making an exception. I couldnt have a better partner in my journey to bring the story. Filmmaker leila sansour, founder of open bethlehem, will present a unique evening of film, strategy and debate, at amnesty international uks human rights action centreon tuesday 31 march, 1725 new inn yard, london ec2a 3ea, from 78. It chronicles leilas mission to ensure that bethlehem is a. Bethlehem palestine visiting christs birthplace by. The tragedy of the palestinians encapsulated in the life of one town bethlehem.
Her film open bethlehem is not just another documentary. Open bethlehem, a documentary film detailing the effects of the israeli occupation on the ancient biblical city, is due to premiere in the united kingdom this week. Leila has documented her campaign of open bethlehem in a film that explores the. If your local group or cinema would like to screen the film then please get in touch. You may exchange or request a refund for your entire order, less the convenience fee, through fandango up until the posted showtime. Bet lehem is a 20 israeli drama film directed by yuval adler. Open bethlehem follows palestinian director leila sansours extraordinary journey to the legendary city of bethlehem, the place where she grew up. Shuttling back and forth between conflicting points of view, the film is a raw portrayal of characters torn apart by competing loyalties and impossible moral dilemmas, giving an unparalleled glimpse into the dark and fascinating world of human intelligence. Little did she anticipate that as an adult, she would move back to the middle east to film a documentary over a span of more than half a decade. Youll have to complete your refund and exchange before the posted showtime indicated on your ticket. When film maker leila sansour returned to bethlehem in 2005, she planned to make a documentary about the palestinian city she couldnt wait to leave as a. Film director leila sansour left bethlehem as a teenager and vowed never to return to a city she considered provincial. We had a brilliant time making this movie in silicon valley, and i.
Its famous history has inspired several horror books, films and tv series, most notably bedlam, a 1946 film with boris karloff. If you book with tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. We recommend booking bethlehem museum tours ahead of time to secure your spot. Screening of the acclaimed film open bethlehem 90 mins, followed by a discussion between palestinian film maker leila sansour and the dean of kings college london, revd canon prof. Playing both sides in any conflict is risky, even potentially souldestroying, especially with a history crammed full of accumulated grievances and resentment. The team is currently campaigning for the recognition of palestine by the british government. Lodestars is a brand new showcase honouring the bright futures of 25 innovative filmmakers and craftspeople from across the capital. Bethlehem museum 2020 all you need to know before you go. In fact the making of this film has led to the creation of the largest visual archive of bethlehem in the world and plans are currently being discussed with university college london ucl to turn the collection into a museum. Open bethlehem spans seven momentous years in the life of bethlehem, revealing a city of astonishing beauty and political. The film spans seven momentous years in the life of bethlehem, revealing a city of. With its somewhat scandalous history it came to represent all institutions of its kind in the public imagination. Bethlem royal hospital, also known as st mary bethlehem, bethlehem hospital and bedlam, is a psychiatric hospital in london.
Open bethlehem partnered event moco voices from the holy land film series 2017. Watch open bethlehem english version online vimeo on. This film would be useful for classes or groups with little previous knowledge of the palestinian plight. The film crew also conducted 150 interviews in the streets of london. This organisation, founded by bethlehem film director leila sansour who currently runs it in coordination with the bethlehem governorate and the holy land trust, has a mission to awaken people to bethlehem s plight. Bombast with a side of bleakness in open bethlehem film sarah irving the electronic intifada 11 december 2014 as a set of street interviews which accompany the closing credits of open bethlehem show, plenty of people in the modern west have no idea where or what bethlehem is. Jon snow open bethlehem is a deeply personal film that has been 10 years in the making.
It was screened at the venice days section of the 20 venice film festival where it won the top prize. Open bethlehem is a story of a homecoming to the worlds most famous little town. Open bethlehemthe film on london screens the london post. Open bethlehem partnered event moco voices from the. The film spans ten momentous years in the life of bethlehem, revealing a city of astonishing beauty and political strife under occupation. Book movie tickets online or crowd source your own cinema screenings. Open bethlehem september 27, 2017 in documentary, films by ala. The film follows palestinian director leila sansours extraordinary journey to the legendary city of bethlehem, the place where she grew up. As bethlehem faces being hemmed in by a dividing wall, filmmaker leila sansour returns to her hometown to document the change in one of the worlds most legendary towns. Bethlehem tells the story of the complex relationship between an israeli secret service officer and his teenage palestinian informant. The pff is a nonprofit initiative which seeks to develop an audience for and to encourage the development of a palestinian cinema and cinema related to.
This is an opportunity to see this critically acclaimed film, hear from prominent supporters, become an ambassador and get involved. See the film, then go to bethlehem and see for yourself. Bombast with a side of bleakness in open bethlehem film the. If london was the cradle of the industrial revolution, then san francisco is the bethlehem of the digital one, said boyle. In this personal doc, filmmaker leila sansour returns to the go to the content go to the footer. Open bethlehem, a 2014 documentary by leila sansour who handed out cheeky bethlehemite passports at viewings the first to pope benedict xvi, has shown at film. From bethlehem to bedlam englands first mental institution this section explains the origins of the bethlem, englands first hospital for the mentally ill. Buy tickets join the guestlist for a memorial screening. The kennington bethlehem link is a local group working to create a formal, longlasting friendship between kennington and bethlehem through education, faith, music, art and sport. Armed with watch open bethlehem english version online vimeo on demand on vimeo. The awardwinning film open bethlehem will be screened at friends house, euston on the evening of tuesday 12 september. Bombast with a side of bleakness in open bethlehem film. There he met with leila sansours, director of open bethlehem, cousin who told him about her work for the palestine heirloom seed library.
Palestinian director leila sansour has made a fierce, poignant film about her family and her hometown of bethlehem, now in palestinian territory but progressively stifled by the israeli governments antiterrorist barrier. This event is being supported by quakers in britain. Join facebook to connect with leila sansour and others you may know. This most famous little town also happens to be leila sansour s hometown.
The film uses a great deal of real news footage, depicting relations between israel and the palestinians, stretching back to 1947. Bethlehem, organizing highprofile campaign events in london and washington. Open bethlehem is an organisation that promotes global engagement with bethlehem as a doorway into palestine. Leila sansours documentary open bethlehem follows her campaign to stop occupying israeli forces encircling her hometown with a concrete wall. Open bethlehem follows palestinian director leila sansours extraordinary journey to the legendary city.