Knowledge Is the Beginning, Daniel Barenboim and the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra

Documentary. Conductor Daniel Barenboim and Palestinian writer Edward Said founded in 1999 the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra. This documentary follows the musical collaboration, bringing together young musicians from both sides of the divide: Syrians, Jordanians, Egyptians, Palestinians and Israelis. Director Paul Smaczny has followed the orchestra since its inception. The film chronicles all five summer workshops in Weimar and Seville, Barenboim’s visit to Ramallah and Jerusalem in 2004, as well as highlights of the European tour in 2005 and the orchestra's concert in Ramallah. Director: Paul Smaczny, 114 min. English, German, Hebrew and Arabic with English subtitles