Jerusalem (2013 film)

2013 film

Jerusalem

Film poster

Directed by| Daniel Ferguson
Written by| Daniel Ferguson
Produced by|

* Jake Eberts
* Taran Davies
* George Duffield
* Daniel Ferguson

Narrated by| Benedict Cumberbatch
Cinematography| Reed Smoot
Edited by|

* Jean-Marie Drot
* Bob Eisenhardt
* Doug O'Connor

Music by| Michael Brook

Production
companies

* Cosmic Picture
* Arcane Pictures

Distributed by| National Geographic Entertainment

Release date

* September 20, 2013 (2013-09-20)

Running time

| 45 minutes
Countries|

* United States
* United Kingdom

Language| English
Box office| $8 million[1]

Jerusalem is a 2013 documentary film about the ancient city of Jerusalem.[2] It was produced by Cosmic Picture and Arcane Pictures and distributed by National Geographic Cinema Ventures in IMAX and giant screen theatres.

## Background and film synopsis

[edit]

The film is narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch.[3][4][5] It had a US$8 million production budget and some of the profits from the distribution of the film are to be given to projects in the city that promote co-existence.[6]

A stated aim of the 45-minute film is to show the diversity of Jerusalem[7] and to promote understanding of the different cultures[6][8][9] in Jerusalem.

The film-makers were given special access to holy sites and several of the little-known parts of the city. They were permitted to film aerial shots of areas normally treated as no-fly zones. The filmmakers formed an advisory panel that includes academic and theological experts.[8][10][11] Jerusalem presents the city through the eyes of three teenagers – a Jew, Christian and Muslim - and the archaeologist Dr Jodi Magness, of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.[12] The teenagers are Farah Ammouri, Nadia Tadros, and Revital Zacharie.[13] The film shows how the teenagers live in Jerusalem, where they go and how the city is important to them.[6][7] Dr Magness uses archaeology to understand the past in Jerusalem.[10]

## Production

[edit]

Jerusalem was a joint production between Cosmic Picture based in New York City, United States, and Arcane Pictures based in London, United Kingdom.[8][14][15] Jake Eberts was the executive producer until his death in September 2012.[16] He described the city of Jerusalem as, "The beating heart of our world today.[7]" Jerusalem was produced by Taran Davies and George Duffield.[5][17] Daniel Ferguson was producer, writer and director.[5][18] Dominic Cunningham Reid is also an executive producer. The Director of Photography was Reed Smoot.

## Reviews

[edit]

The Washington Post described the panoramic photography as "at once awe-inspiring and intimate" and said watching the film "may be as close as a person can get to praying at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Western Wall, without actually going there".[5] It was described by NBC as "an eye-popping travelogue",[19] and "sure to enthral and educate" in The Washington Times.[20]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Jerusalem (2013)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
2. ^ National Geographic Cinema Ventures to Distribute ‘Jerusalem’ for Release to Giant Screens and Digital 3-D Cinemas Worldwide – National Geographic Society Press Room
3. ^ Actor Benedict Cumberbatch Narrates ‘Jerusalem,’ New Theatrical Release from National Geographic Cinema Ventures – National Geographic Society Press Room
4. ^ Article on CBS News
5. ^ a b c d Article in the Washington Post
6. ^ a b c "Article on Canadian Newswire". Archived from the original on 2014-02-02. Retrieved 2014-01-21.
7. ^ a b c Article in Canadian Jewish News
8. ^ a b c "Islam Today website". Archived from the original on 2016-08-09. Retrieved 2014-01-21.
9. ^ Article from the Montreal Gazette Archived 2014-02-02 at the Wayback Machine
10. ^ a b "Article by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill". Archived from the original on 2014-02-03. Retrieved 2014-01-21.
11. ^ "Article on i-tau website". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2014-01-21.
12. ^ Article on University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill website
13. ^ Article in Boston Globe
14. ^ Film entry on Cosmic Picture website Archived 2014-02-03 at the Wayback Machine
15. ^ "Film entry on Arcane Pictures website". Archived from the original on 2015-04-22. Retrieved 2014-01-21.
16. ^ "Jake Eberts". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 2023-06-03.
17. ^ "Article on Puma website". Archived from the original on 2012-04-26. Retrieved 2014-01-21.
18. ^ Article in Stereoscopy News
19. ^ Article on NBC.com
20. ^ Article in Washington Times

## External links

[edit]

* Cosmic Picture website
* Jerusalem at IMDb
* Jerusalem at Box Office Mojo
* Jerusalem at Rotten Tomatoes
* Jerusalem at Metacritic