Rule of Stone

Rule of Stone is a documentary film that 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, Haram al-Sharif, are located. Almost immediately, the city was declared the united and indivisible capital of the State of Israel. The new goal was to make the redivision of the city not only materially impossible, but also aesthetically deterrent. 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 may hold hands with abuse.

Director: Danae Elon

Danae Elon has been living and working as a director and producer in Montreal, Quebec for the past ten years. Born in Israel, her films are an effort to tell stories about the Occupation through a deeply personal lens. Each of her films seeks truth, hypocrisy, and injustice through personal narrative, focusing on her own family and the city where she grew up: Jerusalem. Her films have been screened internationally at many prestigious festivals and have received numerous awards.