Post-Production / Documentary / 70 minutes / HDV + HD

EDITOR: Teddy Powell
DIRECTOR: Golriz Kolahi
PRODUCER: David Alamouti

Press Release:

A portrait of Gilad’s life, music and writing, showing the contemporary jazz musician close-up and personal.

Gilad Atzmon is a gentle giant, warm, charismatic, even somewhat shy, highly likeable and charming, exceptionally witty, intellectual and a complex character. Serving briefly in the Israeli army during the Lebanon war of the eighties, Gilad exiled himself from Israel in his early thirties. Since then he has been plagued by anxieties, both artistic and politically – the two are virtually inseparable in Gilad’s life and personality.

He has produced some of the modern era’s greatest Jazz albums. In music he is a ‘feisty improviser’ as one critic puts it, comparing him to the likes of Charlie parker. In his political ideology he is a blunt and outspoken activist.

“Being an ex-Israeli I feel guilty for the suffering of the Palestinian people. Yet I aim to transform guilt into responsibility, and my music and writing are my vehicles.” I do not know what is more important; those different aspects of my activity are now integrated into a single act of resistance. And I am happy with it.”

His statements have made him many enemies; his essays are widely read by the Arab world and politicians have quoted him in the past.

“A world leader quoting an artist?” he laughs. “Isn’t that incredible? Not a singer, not even a fucking pianist, but a stupid fucking saxophonist! Ha!”

In this film Gilad takes his saxophone on a journey through his life, his art and the turbulence back in Palestine.