THE DOVE FLYER

Dir. Nissim Dayan (108min, Israel, 2014)
Judeo-Arabic and Hebrew with English Subtitles
Narrative
Mid-Atlantic Premiere

Based on the autobiographical blockbuster novel by Eli Amir, this sweeping epic recalls a lost and cherished time when over 125,000 Jews lived in Iraq. We follow the teenage Kabi as he navigates the final years of the community’s existence in Iraq, before its expulsion and resettlement to 1950s Israel. When his uncle Hizkel is imprisoned, Kabi sets off to find him, joining the Zionist underground movement. The film beautifully illustrates the complex existence of the Jewish community in Iraq, which had strong ties to the surrounding Muslim world and Arabic culture, yet simultaneously feared for its safety.

Co-presented by Israel Action Center at the JCRC of Greater Washington.

Edwin Shuker, Vice-President of the European Jewish Congress, will lead a discussion after both screenings.

Nissim Dayan was born in 1946 in Tel Aviv, Palestine (now Israel). He is a director and writer, known for Farewell Baghdad, Bonjour Monsieur Shlomi and Or Min Hahefker.

“The Dove Flyer isn’t just a history lesson; it’s an overdue declaration of independence.” -Fathom Journal