KNOWLEDGE IS THE BEGINNING
Deutschland 2006 – Director: Paul Smaczny – Original language: English, German, Hebrew – Subtitles: German – Length: 115 min.
Set against the backdrop of escalating violence in the Middle East, this documentary follows a unique collaboration between young musicians from both sides of the divide. The brainchild of Israeli conductor Daniel Barenboim and Palestinian writer Edward Said, the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, founded in 1999, has been a controversial project. Dedicated to fostering peaceful coexistence in the Middle East, the orchestra has been an overwhelming success, gaining the accolade "the peace orchestra" and furthering its founders' hopes that music can promote understanding and tolerance of different beliefs and cultures.
Director Paul Smaczy follows the orchestra from its creation; from the summer workshops to the 2005 European tour and Barenboim's visit to Ramallah and Jerusalem in 2004. We see footage of the late Said who described the project as "one of the most important things I have done in my life". The orchestra stands as a metaphor for what could be achieved in the Middle East. In the words of Barenboim: "The impossible is much easier than the difficult..."
Award: Emmy Award 2006
Camera: Nyika Jancso, Michael Boomers, Yoram Millo. Sound: Toine Mertens, Georg Obermayer, Andreas Köppen, Charly Mutschler, Joachim Müller. Editing: Herrmann Steffen. Music: Tchaikovsky, Schumann, Beethoven, Debussy. Production: EuroArts Music International GmbH. Producer: Paul Smaczny. International Sales: EuroArts Music International GmbH
