Global Voices "Promises"

Credit: PBS.org

What is it really like to live in Jerusalem?

Promises is a compelling and at times humorous look at the Middle East conflict through the eyes of seven children growing up in Jerusalem, living in separate worlds only 20 minutes apart. The film explores the lines that divide Palestinian and Israeli children, and shows what happens when a few dare to cross over and meet their neighbors.

Global Voices "Promises" airs Saturday, October 23 at 9 p.m. on WXXI World (cable 524/DT21.2).

Promises offers touching and fresh insight into the Middle East conflict when filmmakers Shaprio, Goldberg and Bolado travel to this complex and charged city to see what seven children — Palestinian and Israeli — think about war, peace and just growing up. Living within 20 minutes of each other, these children are nevertheless locked in separate worlds. Through candid interviews, the film explores a legacy of distrust and bitterness, but signs of hope emerge when some of the children dare to cross the checkpoints to meet one another.