The first movie of ESRA’s Cinema Club 2007/8 was a dynamic success, with the film West Bank Story. The audience loved it and laughed from beginning to end. The story between two rival hummus and felafel stands in the West Bank, with a love story between the Israeli soldier (a real mensch) and the Arab girl who works in the Hummus Bar thrown in, was based on West Side Story.

This film has won a short film Oscar along with 28 other festival awards for its comedic content, and I wanted it to go on and on as it was so enjoyable. The exaggerated costumes and dialect were hilarious. The dancing and singing were delightful, and it was a real treat to see such a professional movie.

Yuval Ron, the film’s musical director, explained that too many Middle East stories are portrayed in a tragic way and director, Ari Sandel, wanted to make a movie that made people laugh, which he did, and to give a message of peace and hope. The film bent over backwards to make the storyline balanced and even and not favor either side, which made it such a unique film.

There was a lively Q & A after the film which has been shown in 28 different countries, including Turkey, Lebanon and UAE, and Yuval told us that the response from Jews and Arabs has been overwhelmingly positive.

Yuval gave a short recital playing his oud (an instrument similar to a lute) at the end of Q & A. He played music from the film and music that he performs with his ensemble of Jewish, Arab and Christian artists. A truly remarkable man who brought a group with him on a Peace Mission dedicated to fostering an understanding of Middle Eastern cultures and religions.