Jerusalem My Love

Colour, 35 mm
Denmark, 2003, 73 min
Section: Documentary Competition

Synopsis

This supremely personal journey, in which the director follows the trail of his extinguished faith, gradually turns into an engaging portrait of Jerusalem, a city he communicates with as if with a living organism. Director Jeppe focuses on three different “prophets” for his story of a town both hated and beloved, and follows their sojourn through an atmosphere thick with violence. The young man shares his deepest doubts and his desire to once again return to his lost faith with each of the three seemingly different “holy men” who represent the three monotheistic faiths founded in Jerusalem. The modern Jewish hermit Israel is involved in charity while Muhammad, a Muslim, looks after recovering addicts. The trio is rounded out by a street preacher named Ted, a native of the United States. A hypnotic séance frames these three fundamental meetings in Jeppe’s life and is the means by which the director returns to Jerusalem, a fascinating city, but one which deprived him of his faith.

About the director

Jeppe Rønde (b. 1973) is a director, cameraman, and composer who graduated in film science and art history from university in Copenhagen. Jerusalem My Love is his first feature-length documentary.