Danae Elon’s Rule of Stone [+lire aussi :
bande-annonce
fiche film] will be world-premiered in the International Competition of this year’s IDFA, running in Amsterdam from 14-24 November.

In detail, the documentary feature exposes the power of architecture – aesthetically, ideologically and strategically – in the creation of modern Jerusalem. In 1967, Israel conquered East Jerusalem, including the Old City, where the Western Wall, the Temple Mount and Haram al-Sharif are located.

Almost immediately, the city was declared the united and indivisible capital of the State of Israel. And the goal became to make a re-division of the city not just materially impossible, but also aesthetically disruptive. The film takes the viewer on a journey to understand how design took part in the invisible war of annexation.

It shows how, like the British before them, Israelis mandated that the exterior of every building be clad in Jerusalem stone, simulating Palestinian architecture and making their domination over the city seem continuous, even inevitable. The film thus raises questions about the moral responsibility of architects and shows how beauty and abuse may go hand in hand.

Rule of Stone is a production by Paul Cadieux and Elon for Canada’s Entre Deux Mondes and Israel’s Lalibela Productions. Ron Ofer, of Israel’s Ofer Films, together with Maryse Rouillard, Maya Cadieux-Rouillard and Martin Cadieux Rouillard, of Canada’s Filmoption, served as the executive producers. Filmoption is also selling the feature worldwide.

Check out our exclusive trailer below: