James’ Journey to Jerusalem

In the imaginary village of Entshongweni, very far from western civilization,  the young James is chosen to undertake a mission - a pilgrimage to holy Jerusalem. 

But Israel is no longer the Holy Land that James and his people imagined. At the airport, James is suspected of trying to infiltrate the country in order to work illegally. He is jailed and destined for deportation.

Inside the dark cell, as James prays to God to allow him to complete his mission, a miracle occurs. A mysterious stranger posts bail for him. But it soon becomes clear that James' freedom has come at a price - his savior is a manpower agent, who rescues illegal migrant workers in exchange for employing them in hard labor jobs.

From then on, James' journey to Jerusalem turns into an unpredictable journey through the cruel heart of our economic system. With good teachers, a bit of luck and some lateral thinking, James learns the tricks of the game and plays it towards an inevitable end.



Cast

James Siyabonga Melongisi Shibe  

Salah Arie Elias

Shimi Salim Daw

Rachel Sandra Schonwald

Skomboze Hugh Masebenza

Pastor David Nabegamabo

Re’uma Florence Bloch

Job Pascal I. Newton

Police Officer Ya’acov Ronen Morad

Feda Gregory Tal

Immigration Officer Yael Levental


Crew

Directed by Ra’anan Alexandrowicz

Produced by Amir Harel 

Written by Ra’anan Alexandrowicz & Sammi Duenias

Director of Photography - Shark (Sharon) De-Mayo

Editor - Ron Goldman

Original Music  - Ehud Banay with Gil Smetana & Noam Halevi

Casting Director - Orit Azoulay

Art Director - Amir Dov Pick

Costume Design - Maya Barsky

Sound Engineer - David Lis

Sound Design - Ronen Nagel


Details

Drama/ Comedy, 87 min.

35 mm

Language: Hebrew, English, Zulu

Subtitles: English

Lama Films, ID Distribution, The Rabinovich Foundation for the Arts – Cinema Project, Israel Film Fund, The Makor Foundation for Israeli Films



Festivals & Awards

Quinzaine des Realisateurs, Cannes 2003

Best film & Fipresci prize – Oslo 

Best film – Valencia

Most promising director – New Delhi

Best original score – Israeli Ofir (Academy Awards)

Bangkok International Film Festival 

Mar del Plata International Film Festival 



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