Legend of Destruction

Description

Official Selections
Stein DSMJ Film Series
Australia International Jewish Film Festival
New Jersey Jewish Film Festival
Miami Jewish Film Festival
Judy Levis Krug Boca Raton Jewish Film Festival
Philly Jewish Film and Media

Educators’ Choice
Dickinson College
University of Southern California
Walnut Street Minyan

Trailer

Synopsis

“A tale of a city gone mad, based on the historical events leading up to the destruction of the Second Jewish Temple in 70 CE, which changed the destiny of the Jewish people forever.”

The Land of Israel is under Roman rule. Social inequalities, corruption and injustices are rampant. The masses are crushed by imposing taxes, while the aristocracy lives a life of unimaginable wealth. Polarized Jerusalem is a powder keg about to explode; cries for freedom, justice, and equality in the name of God are prevalent. Secret groups of Zealots roam the streets, causing havoc and hatred. When the rebellion against the Roman oppressor breaks out, it swiftly escalates into a full-blown vicious civil war. A devastating famine, fueled by a quest for justice and revenge, cripples the city. When the Roman legions eventually unleash their wrath on emaciated Jerusalem, disaster is inevitable.

The film’s unique visual style was created with 1,500 original paintings by David Polonsky and Michael Faust, the artists behind the Oscar-nominated ‘Waltz with Bashir,’ while the original music and score written by Assaf Talmudi and Yonatan Albalak are nothing short of amazing.

Based on Talmudic legends and the accounts of Yosef Ben Matityahu (Josephus Flavius), LEGEND of DESTRUCTION depicts the dangers of greed, social injustices, corruption, polarization, political hubris, and, above all, religious fanaticism in the name of God. These events took place some 2000 years ago, yet the timeliness of this seminal story to the Jewish people is shocking.

Legend of Destruction is a winner of four Israeli Academy Awards.

Director

Gidi DAR

Screenwriter and director, spent the past eight years working on Legend of Destruction. His previous works include Eddie King (winner of the Bronze Leopard at the 1992 Locarno Film Festival), Ushpizin (2004), the series The Kids from Napoleon Hill (2001-2002, twice winner of the Israel Award for Best Children’s TV series), the series Deus (winner of the Israel Award for Best Children’s TV series), and the documentary films Shine (1999) and The Last Wilderness (2000).

Meet the Voices: LEGEND OF DESTRUCTION ft. Oscar Isaac, Evangeline Lilly, Elliott Gould & Billy Zane