Event

Rock in the Red Zone

Rock in the Red Zone is a personal view from the ground on the frontlines of an endless war, and a powerful exploration into the lives and art of musicians struggling to create in a conflict zone.

On the edge of Israels Negev Desert lies Sderot, a city of factory workers and rock musicians the children of refugees from North Africa and the Middle East. Despite being pummeled for years by homemade missiles, the people of Sderot persevere.

In raucous Moroccan celebrations, they embrace newcomers. In quiet family dinners, they voice their dreams. And in underground bomb shelters, they create music a unique Sderot sound that has transformed Israeli music by injecting Middle Eastern influences into traditional Western beats. Into this intense cauldron of art, sand and bloodshed comes an American woman with a camera. Searching for a story about music, filmmaker Laura Bialis encounters a creative community that captivates her, leads her to love and changes the course of her life. Rock in the Red Zone demonstrates the power of artistic creation to transcend even the most challenging circumstances. It also reminds us that sometimes in the least expected places, we can find magic.