User Reviews

This is a film that is made great by conductor Daniel Barenboim's musical genius and by his vision of peace for the Middle East. The film is also a tribute to the talents of an exceptional group of Arab and Israeli youngsters. The first two/thirds of the film is inspiring; it provides a genuine antidote for a very troubled and divided world. And, then, near the end of the film, Barenboim's partisan view of the Arab/Israel conflict ruins his worthy effort. During the first part of the film, Barenboim keeps reiterating the fact that he is completely non-political but, in the end, while accepting an award for his efforts, he make a clearly political statement when, in fact, his entire project is made worthwhile by the fact that music is apolitical. Music crosses political divides and has the power to bring people together. It is a shame.

Great and moving picture.

Following Barenboim, Said and musicians from West and East over a several years period.

Interesting as a documentary for the contemporary state of the world alone - but more.

Watch out, that you get the longer version - with the occurrences around the Ramallah Concert 08/2005. The shorter version I know too, ends with the coming up of the idea and its effect on the group (and some takes from a concert).

As you see, I voted 10/10. This not only because of the political content - "knowing each other as the beginning of understanding - not necessarily loving but respecting each other",

but also because of the cut, the good interviews and recordings, the outspoken statements of the participants, the insights in different views and (music)worlds - as a non-musician, the emotions which got transported through this authentic method - as for a skeptic, the sympathetic participants from Arab and non-Arab States you see grow (older, too) in the picture and feeling their daily sorrows on the several sides and last not least because of the sound and picture quality, too.