AllMovie

Jerusalem is a city largely defined by differences between Israelis and Palestinians and Jews and Muslims, but for a time there was one place in the city where a variety of people would set aside their differences and embrace a community that brought them together. Shushan was Jerusalem's only gay bar (owned by Sa'ar Netanel, the first openly gay man elected to public office in the city), and homosexuals and lesbians from both the Israeli and Palestinian territories would gather there to enjoy an oasis of freedom. Homophobia is widespread on all sides of the cultural divide in Jerusalem, and Shushan was one of the few public places where gays and lesbians could openly discuss and celebrate their sexuality. Filmmaker Yun Suh profiles Jerusalem's GLBT community and the bar that became their meeting place in the documentary City of Borders, which focuses on Netanels efforts to keep Shushan open and four of his regular customers. Adam Russo is a gay Israeli who was attacked with a knife while taking part in a Gay Pride Parade; Boody is a deeply religious Muslim of Palestinian heritage who performs in a drag revue at Shushan and is considering moving to the United States to be able to live more openly; and Samira Saraya is a Palestinian lesbian who lives with her partner Ravit Geva, an Israeli Jew. City of Borders received a special audience award for best GLBT-themed film at the 2009 Berlin International Film Festival.