James’ Journey to Jerusalem

An insightful mix of social commentary and modern fairy tale, Israeli filmmaker Ra'anan Alexandrowicz's debut feature follows the adventures of James, a devout Christian making a pilgrimage from his African village to the Holy Land. He becomes part of the migrant labor workforce in Tel Aviv and pursues his religious quest — until he gets a little taste of fortune by turning the tables on his employers. With a moving and charismatic performance by South African actor Siyabonga Melongisi Shibe, James' Journey To Jerusalem is an astute exploration of the economic, moral, and spiritual hypocrisies of Western society filtered through an evocative portrait of modern Israel's cultural and generational divisions.