Watch Wrestling Jerusalem

Wrestling Jerusalem is a highly acclaimed stage production turned film, presented by writer, actor, and performer Aaron Davidman. The film revolves around a solo performer who takes on the role of multiple characters, each with their own experiences surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The main goal of Davidman's performance is to provide a platform for a more profound understanding of the root causes of this seemingly endless conflict that has been ongoing for decades.

The movie is highly topical, given recent developments in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Wrestling Jerusalem can be considered as a thought-provoking theatrical experience that will touch the hearts of audiences by addressing the different parties' respective stances on the conflict. The film showcases a series of monologues that speak directly to the audience, each one transitioning seamlessly into the next, with Davidman delivering them masterfully as a character actor.

The impact of intractable violence is one of the film's most significant themes. Davidman's performance is intense, emotional, and thought-provoking. He shifts between different viewpoints within the conflict, exploring the nuances of each perspective. He encompasses the perspectives of a diverse array of people involved in the conflict, from Israeli settlers and Palestinian refugees to American Jews, serving soldiers, and religious figures. One of the most fascinating aspects of the film is that Davidman portrays all of these characters, each with his or her own accents, body language, and tone of voice.

The film captures the different dimensions of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that are often swept under the rug by traditional media outlets. The film's setting is the Middle East, a region with a rich history of interethnic conflicts, and it takes a deep dive into the complexity of these conflicts through the eyes of a diverse cast of characters. Davidman's writing is poignant and powerful, allowing viewers to experience the conflict's human dimension through the eyes of people from varying backgrounds.

Wrestling Jerusalem provides a platform for bringing people together on a subject matter that has created deep divisions. Davidman presents the different narratives of the conflict without taking sides or advocating for any solution. Instead, he provides a window into the human experience surrounding this conflict. By exploring the narratives rather than the solutions, Davidman, with his powerful performance, encourages his audience to consider multiple perspectives and the complexity of an issue in a world increasingly susceptible to binary, partisan thinking.

The film is entirely shot using a minimalistic approach, with only Davidman performing and delivering all of the monologues. The camera is barely visible, providing an immersive and intimate look into Davidman's performance. The monologues are beautifully written, each one evocative, intense, and moving in their way, capturing the nuance and complexity of the individuals Davidman is portraying.

Overall, Wrestling Jerusalem is an incredibly powerful, thought-provoking, and emotional film. It provides a platform for discussions surrounding a significant human problem that has defied resolution for what seems like an eternity. The film goes beneath the surface level discussions usually presented on the news, providing a window into the human experience surrounding this longstanding conflict. Davidman's masterful performance keeps viewers fixed, providing a platform that goes far beyond the scope of the issue itself. It's a film that can inspire people to come together despite their differences and have nuanced discussions that will help bridge divides, and that is something that we need more of in today's world.

Wrestling Jerusalem is a 2016 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.4.