The War of the Sons of Light Against the Sons of Darkness

This poetically titled film experiment is a carefully crafted recording of the stage production of the same name, which was also directed by Gitai. Based on the story of the Jewish War by the Roman-Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, who lived in the first century AD, it depicts how the Judean Empire gradually lost its independence to the Romans. The tragedy is told in detail: the conquest of Jerusalem, the destruction of the Temple, the fall of Masada. Jeanne Moreau sits at a table in an abandoned quarry in southern Avignon and reads the text, accompanied by a cohort of actors and musicians. The performance builds a bridge between the historical text and today's political situation, which is reflected in the story. (Jurij Meden)
Copyright: Courtesy Jerusalem Cinematheque – Israel Film Archive