Ursulimum

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Trailer:

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Echoing science fiction films, Ursulimum’s starting point is history. Facing the unknown, blindfolded under his helmet, a seven year old boy allegorically sets out to explore the deep magnetic force fields in the city which is considered the holiest in the globe. A psychological journey, perhaps a fantasy, perhaps machine or a seraph in a breached temple. Just as he lifts the cloth that covers his eyes to see, the film ends and re-loops suggesting an expedition without a beginning nor end, a recurring loop suspended in time.

Ursulimum is the first reference to Jerusalem in ancient Egyptian records dating back to 1330 BCE.
The “Second Temple” was destroyed in the year 70 CE. A third temple which is known to never have been built is possibly found underground. The Temple Mount, known in Hebrew (and in Judaism) as Har Habayit and in Arabic (and in Islam) as the Haram Ash-Sharif (Arabic: Noble Sanctuary), is one of the most important religious sites in the Old City of Jerusalem. It has been used as a religious site for thousands of years. At least four religions are known to have used the Temple Mount: Judaism, Christianity, Roman paganism, and Islam. It is believed to be the Bellybutton of the world, traditionally where the creation of the world began from the Foundation Stone at the peak of the mountain. Later on, the “Holy of Holies” – the core and heart of the First and Second Temple – were built around the “Foundation Stone”. It has been the object of the most sought after and coveted location for sacrifice and worship for the four religions over history. Historically, Jerusalem has been destroyed, besieged, attacked, captured and recaptured recurrently. New conquers of the city built new streets on top of the existing streets without destroying the former, resulting in layers that accumulated over time and formed a huge buried archeological city maze. Large portions of the these are still undiscovered and excavations are continuously carried.

Director/director of photography/editor/post production/sound designer Ran Slavin
Supported by The New Fund for Cinema and Television
Sound Mastering Miguel Carvalhais
Cast: Yonathan Gilad
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Shown previously here:
Times square New York City
Beta Gallery, Jerusalem
The Bangkok Underground Film Festival
The Jerusalem Film Festival
Centre Des Arts Enghiem Le Bains / FRANCE
Private Nationalism, Dresden
m21 Gallery, Zsolnay Cultural Quarter Pecs, Hungary
Ursulimum installations at Mediations Biennale, Poznan Polin
FILE/ Ruth Cardoso Cultural Center, Sao Paulo, Brazil
“New Codes” The Athens Video Art festival
Prix de Creation, Videoformes, France
Regional Museum of Baroque, Noto, Italy
Cosmopolitan Stranger/Hotel de inmigrantes, Manifesta 9, Hasselt, Belgium
Museum on the Seam (Mots) Jerusalem
Givon Gallery Tel Aviv, Israel

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References and research: