Oscar-nominated film opens today

By Mary Kaye Ritz
Religion & Ethics Writer

Moishe, a Jewish boy living in the West Bank, is one of the children featured in "The Promises," an uncompromising documentary about the Middle East conflict through the eyes of children. Justine Shapiro

He wishes he could call his timing lucky, "but somehow I take no joy in the confluence of world events," he said.

The 90-minute documentary opens today at the Arthouse at Restaurant Row.

Though it lost out last month at the Oscars to "Murder on a Sunday Morning," "Promises" had been called "the film to beat in the best documentary Oscar race," by Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times. It was written, produced and directed by Justine Shapiro and B.Z. Goldberg, who linked up after discovering that they'd both independently come up with the idea of interviewing Israeli and Palestinian children about that chaotic political situation.

After the 7 p.m. showing on Monday, Hakim Ouansafi, head of the Muslim Association here, and Rabbi Morris Goldfarb will lead a panel discussion and question-and-answer period to discuss the film and the issues it raises.

For show times, call the theaters at 526-4171.