Ever since 17-year-old Rachel Levy, an Israeli, was killed five years ago in Jerusalem by a Palestinian suicide bomber, her mother Avigail has found hardly a moment’s peace. Levy’s killer was Ayat al-Akhras, also 17, a schoolgirl from a Palestinian refugee camp several miles away. The two young women looked unbelievably alike. The impact of the blast that killed them both remains as powerful today as it was the moment of the explosion.

The documentary film, TO DIE IN JERUSALEM, explores — through the two families’ personal losses and Avigail Levy’s search for answers — the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, mutual pain despite cultural differences and diverse perceptions of death; and ultimately, the hope for peace. The film’s most revealing moment is in an emotionally-charged meeting between the mothers of the two dead girls.

Director: Hilla Medalia

Awards:

George Foster Peabody Award, 3 Emmy Award Nominations, Paris Human Rights Film Festival Jury Award, Fipa Biarritz Jury Award, Golden Warsaw Phoenix Award, Faito Doc Grand Jury Award, and more

Film Festivals:
Input South Africa Film Festival
Johannesburg
Syracuse Film Festival
San Sebastian Human Rights Film Festival
Warsaw Jewish Motifs Festival
The International Human Rights Film Festival
Paris, France
Honk Kong International Film Festival
Sguardi Altrove Film Festival
Milano
Geneva Human Rights Film Festival
FIPA International Festival of Audiovisual Programs
Biarritz, France
Washington Jewish Film Festival
Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater

The News Coverage:

Jan Stewart, of Newsday, called it "one of the five films not to miss at the Hamtons Film festival today"! READ REVIEW >>

Heather Havrilesky, of Salon.com Heather Havrilesky calls it "Heartbreaking and Provocative" READ REVIEW >>

Marilyn Moss, of The Hollywood Reporter, calls it "Beautifully structured and emotionally devastating" READ REVIEW >>

Dave Biancullia, of NY Daily News, says "Filmmaker Hilla Medalia accompanies Rachel's mother, Abigail, but doesn't take sides. Instead, she serves as a witness, recording reactions as both mothers try to come to terms with their grief" and "But the second thing about peace, which To Die in Jerusalem suggests is even tougher, is listening" READ MORE >>