Watch Bridge Over the Wadi

Bridge Over the Wadi is a 2006 Israeli documentary film that explores the relationship between two different cultures - Jewish and Arab - who live in a small Israeli town of Tira in the Galilee region. The film was directed by Barak and Tomer Heymann, and it was released in Israel in 2006. The documentary focuses on the efforts of a joint Jewish-Arab school, which is built over a bridge that crosses the Wadi Ara, the valley that separates Jewish and Arab towns in the area. The school aims to create a dialogue between the Jewish and Arab residents of the area and to promote coexistence and tolerance.

The film follows the story of the school's principal, a Jewish woman named Karen Tal, and the Arab building contractor, Mohammad Bakri, who built the bridge that spans the wadi. Narrated by Bakri himself, the film takes a critical approach towards the Israeli state's policies towards the Arab minority, while at the same time, it shows the obstacles that Karen Tal and her Jewish colleagues face in their efforts to create a bilingual and multicultural school.

Throughout the film, the viewer is introduced to a wide range of characters, both Jewish and Arab, who study and work at the school. Among them are a Jewish teacher named Vered, who struggles to teach Hebrew to Arab students who consider it as a foreign language; an Arab girl named Reem, who tries to balance her Palestinian heritage and her Israeli citizenship; and an Arab boy named Mahdi, who dreams of becoming a famous soccer player but faces opposition from his conservative family.

The film also shows the challenges faced by the school in the outside world. On one occasion, the school is visited by a group of Jewish extremist settlers who oppose the coexistence initiatives and try to provoke tensions between Jewish and Arab students. On another occasion, the school is forced to close down for a day due to a sorrowful incident between Jewish and Arab workers at the industrial zone near the school.

Despite these obstacles, the documentary emphasizes the positive effects of the school's efforts towards coexistence. The film shows how the joint school leads to friendship and cooperation between Jewish and Arab students, who learn from each other's language, culture, and history. It also shows how the school helps to break down stereotypes and leads to a more empathetic understanding of the other's situation.

Bridge Over the Wadi is not just a story about a particular school but rather a story that explores the complexities of coexistence in the Israeli society. The film raises many questions about identity, nationality, and prejudice, and it provides a nuanced and poignant portrayal of the issues that face the Arab minority in Israel.

In conclusion, Bridge Over the Wadi is a thought-provoking and inspiring documentary that sheds light on the efforts of a joint Jewish-Arab school to promote coexistence and tolerance in the Israeli society. Through its characters and storylines, the film shows the human impact of the ongoing conflict between Jews and Arabs in Israel, and it provides a glimmer of hope for a better future.