SalutJerusalemTitleIntroduction

“Salut, Jérusalem” is a documentary by French director Henry Chapier about Israël, Jerusalem and its people, culture and religions. It tells the story of a young agnostic Israeli, a Catholic priest, and a boy who has come to seek peace, lingering over the panorama from the Mount of Olives. From their gestures, their words, their communion with nature, a song of love and brotherhood is born, a sort of poem glorifying the 'heavenly Jerusalem' that lives again in their hearts. Chapier captures the spirit that blows over Jerusalem, a high place of reflection and meditation, an 'inspired hill' with mystical crossroads, a city destined to unite all people of good faith.

"Salut, Jérusalem" was selected for the Venice Film Festival of 1972, and it took 40 years after its original production to become available to a wider audience with the release of a DVD. Without a soundtrack release, the only way to hear Vangelis' original score is to watch the documentary itself.

Before “Salut, Jérusalem” Vangelis had already worked with Henry Chapier on his film "Sex Power" (1970), and one year later Vangelis would provide the score for Henry Chapier's last film "Amore" (1973).

 

SalutJerusalemCreditDetails and credits

  • Title: Salut, Jérusalem
  • Year: 1972
  • Country: France
  • Length: 72 minutes
  • Released in France on June 6th, 1972.
  • Directed by: Henry Chapier
  • Assistant director: Hubert Watrinet
  • Scenario: Henry Chapier
  • Music: Vangelis Papathanassiou
  • Narration: Maurice Clavel
  • Assistent operator: Daniel Vigne
  • Sound: Elie Reichman
  • Sound engineer Europa-Sonor: Claude Martenot
  • Montage: Françoise Duez and Dominique Engerer
  • Mixing engineer: Paul Bertault (Antégor)
  • Cinematography: Anne de Gasperi and Willy Kurant
  • Producer: Paul Veillon
  • Produced by Les Films Marceau (Paris) and Filmsonor

SalutJerusalemHenryChapierCast

  • Joseph Kessel

 

Media

Forty years after its original production, Henry Chapier's documentary "Salut, Jérusalem" was officially released:

DVD

  • Henry Chapier Cinéaste, includes “Amore” and “Salut, Jérusalem” (BQHL Éditions) France (2012)

 

Recording studio

The music for "Salut, Jerusalem" is recorded at Europa-Sonor Studio in Paris, France. This is the same studio where Vangelis also recorded the albums "666" by Aphrodite's Child (1972), "Fais Que Ton Rêve Soit Plus Long Que La Nuit” (1972) and "Earth" (1973).

 

HenryChapierCineasteSynopsis

“This documentary takes as its subject and inspiration the land of Israel, its citizens and its connection to Hebrew identity. The film begins with an introduction by Joseph Kessel: evocations of youthful memories, contemporaries of the Zionist dream and the story of his first trip to Israel. Then, the film opens with an evocation of Genesis (flying over Mount Sinai, recalling the burning bush, silhouettes of the patriarchs and the Apostles). We then plunge into the setting of Judea: as in the time of the Prophets, pilgrims climb towards Jerusalem, following in the footsteps of the Zealots, the Maccabees or the Apostles, to forget all quarrels of race, nation or religion. They are twelve characters, priests, hippies or anarchists in search of an oasis of Peace. They symbolize the twelve tribes of Israel, or the twelve Apostles. The discovery of Israel begins on the Day of Atonement, when life in the country stops: adults are in synagogues, the deserted streets are abandoned to children's games. After evoking the ritual of Jewish holidays, the film returns to biblical Judea: where the vineyard, the herd, the water, the well have retained the primitive and intimate character of yesteryear. Away from 20th-century technology, Arabs and Bedouins respect their age-old traditions; this will be the second stop for our pilgrims: Jericho. Tragically abandoned so many times over the centuries, the city is a symbol of hope erasing the memory of all exoduses. Dimona. A report on the Black Hebrews, who came from America, through Liberia; a frenzied claim to Hebrew identity. The journey continues to Jerusalem, where we arrive for the boys' communion, an archaic ceremony. The pilgrimage continues toward the Monastery of Saint Sava, in the desert, where the rage of the Prophets still echoes. It is also the discovery of Neveh-Shalom, a future community of three religions where the city is being built where Jews, Christians, and Muslims will live together. A scene of the Apostles' meal and arrival at the banks of the Jordan, where Black people receive the new Baptism. The film ends with a vision of the Heavenly Jerusalem, a land where the hope of a new life is still possible."

 

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