My hometown, Haifa, in Israel, is very proud of its legacy of peaceful coexistence between Jews and Arabs. But I think it is more divided than it can seem. For example, as a Jew I don’t remember ever chatting with my Arab neighbors growing up. But I knew there had to be arenas in this city where the different groups intersected, connected through the simple rituals of everyday life. I decided to try and find them.
So I made this documentary about a special hair salon called Fifi’s, which is owned by two Christian Arab women and is beloved by Jewish and Arab women alike. To make the film, I sought a place where I could easily build intimacy with my subjects, and the idea of working for a hairdresser seemed perfect because of the physical connection with the women and the wide array of clientele that such a place offers. I began to work at the salon, chatting with its patrons as I washed their hair.
Read Full Article »