Choices Announces New DVD Release: 'SAZ, the Palestinian Rapper for Change'

From the streets of Tel Aviv comes a bold portrait of rising rap superstar Samekh Zakhut (a.k.a. SAZ), an Arab-Israeli rapper who uses music to express his frustrations at the strained relations in his country. From the clubs of Tel Aviv, Haifa and London, Saz uses his music as a starting point for discussion with Israeli and Arab youth who have grown further apart since the recent Intifada. But despite their differing ideologies, Saz hopes his message will inspire others to work for change. "I don't see my Palestine being built by blood," says Saz, "It should be built by negotiations, not bombings in Tel Aviv. My bullets are my rhymes. My M-16 is my microphone."

Los ANgeles, CA (PRWEB) November 7, 2006 -- Choices, Inc. proudly announces the release of "SAZ: The Palestinian Rapper for Change." This provocative new documentary by Gil Karni goes behind the ghetto walls of the Israeli city of Ramlah to bring us a year in the life of budding Palestinian hip-hop star Sameh Zakout, a.k.a. Saz. In this year we will see him transform from a young unknown rap singer into an international success, his youthful quest for identity transformed into the voice of a struggling nation. The film also focuses on his relationship with his aging grandfather, an Israeli-Arab communist and a refugee of the 1948 war. Their conversations reveal their differing ideologies: "I don't see my Palestine being built by blood," says Saz. "It should be built by negotiations, not bombings. My bullets are my rhymes. My M-16 is my microphone."

Hailed by Entertainment Weekly as "a unique portrait of Arab life inside Israel," the film explores Saz's use of music to confront the age-old tensions in his homeland. Through his songs, Saz tells the story of the Palestinian tragedy. Growing up in a Jewish neighborhood with three generations of a politically moderate family, he was raised on values of equality and brotherhood between nations. Sameh was very much involved in Israeli society, dating Jewish girls and hanging out with Jewish friends. But three years ago, when the Intifada started, he began to ask himself questions about his identity, about what it means to be an Arab-Israeli in Israel. A visit with his grandfather Abdullah back to the grandfather's home city of Isdud raises strong feelings of connection to his people and their land. Suddenly Sameh wants to react, to express the pain and frustration that he feels. He identifies deeply with the Palestinians and he feels that now is the time to rise up and speak out.

Saz delivers his message through his music, using it as a starting point for discussion with Israeli and Arab youth who have grown further apart since the Intifada. He is influenced and inspired by the success of African-American rappers who protested about the poverty and misery of their lives in the slums and ghettos of the U.S., a situation that Saz can relate to his experiences in Ramleh. His lyrics are blunt and direct, urging Palestinians to fight for their heritage, remember their history, and take pride in Palestinian nationality. At the same time, he criticizes his Arab neighbors in Ramleh for turning to drugs and violence instead of protecting their future by getting an education. Saz believes in his music, and in his own ability to make a difference by giving hope and pride to Palestinians all over the world. His Palestinian audiences feel that finally someone is expressing their feelings, shouting proudly what they have wanted to say for years.

Larry Rattner, co-president of Choices, commented, "We look forward to bringing this important film to a larger audience." Choices, Inc. will release "SAZ" on DVD November 14, 2006. The DVD's special features include bonus audio tracks from Saz's new upcoming album, and a lesson plan/guidebook for educators. The film is available online at www.choicesvideo.net. SRP is $49.95.

About Choices: Choices, Inc. is a specialty distributor of quality documentaries, educational programming, and feature films. The company believes that documentaries are highly effective teaching tools, and provides both lesson plans and guidebooks as a resource for educators. More information is available online at www.choicesvideo.net.

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