The Israel Film Service Collection

Song of Acco

14 Minutes, 1964
Genre:
Documentary

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Directed by: Wim van Leer
Production:Willy Gafni
Production Company:Israel Film Service
Photographer: Georges Pessis
Language: Arabic
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Subtitles: English, Hebrew

A film produced by the Hasbarah Authroity. Under the dome of the ancient hamam in Akko (also Akka or Acre), six musicians gather: Oud player Sudqi Shukri, Qanun player Ibrahim Salman, Daf player Bibi Samir, Darbuqah player Abu Niyat, flutist Khaled Nayef and vocalist Suheil Nasser. They perform a recording intended for the Arabic Language radio station of Kol Yisrael. The camera follows them also as they go through their daily lives: Abu Niyat (mistakingly referred to as “Abu”) is a welder at an industrial facility. Shuqri teaches music at a Haifa culture center, while Nayef performs at weddings. The film ends with footage of Nasser as he walks about the peninsula of old Akko.