James is a man who has a dream, but who is led by reality to lose his way toward its fulfillment without realizing what is happening to him. In a way, there is a bit of "James" in each and every one of us.
A film by Ra'anan Alexandrowicz
Drama/ Comedy, 87 min.
35 mm
Language: Hebrew, English, Zulu
Subtitles: English, French
StoryIn the imaginary village of Entshongweni, very far from western civilization, the young James is chosen to undertake a mission - a pilgrimage to holy Jerusalem.
But Israel is no longer the Holy Land that James and his people imagined. At the airport, James is suspected of trying to infiltrate the country in order to work illegally. He is jailed and destined for deportation.
Inside the dark cell, as James prays to God to allow him to complete his mission, a miracle occurs. A mysterious stranger posts bail for him. But it soon becomes clear that James' freedom has come at a price - his savior is a manpower agent, who rescues illegal migrant workers in exchange for employing them in hard labor jobs.
From then on, James' journey to Jerusalem turns into an unpredictable journey through the cruel heart of our economic system. With good teachers, a bit of luck and some lateral thinking, James learns the tricks of the game and plays it towards an inevitable end.
Directed by Ra'anan Alexandrowicz
Produced by Amir Harel
Written by Ra'anan Alexandrowicz & Sammi Duenias
Director of Photography: Shark (Sharon) De-Mayo
Editor: Ron Goldman
Original Music: Ehud Banay with Gil Smetana & Noam Halevi
Casting Director: Orit Azoulay
Art Director: Amir Dov Pick
Costume Design: Maya Barsky
Sound Engineer: David Lis
Sound Design: Ronen Nagel
Cast
James Siyabonga... Melongisi Shibe
Salah... Arie Elias
Shimi... Salim Daw
Rachel... Sandra Schonwald
Skomboze... Hugh Masebenza
Pastor... David Nabegamabo
Re'uma... Florence Bloch
Job... Pascal I. Newton
Police Officer... Ya'acov Ronen Morad
Feda... Gregory Tal
Immigration Officer... Yael Levental
Production
Lama Films, ID Distribution, Cinema Project-Rabinowitz Fund, Israeli Film Fund, Makor Foundation for Israeli Films
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