Ink of Yam

A bang. Silence. Sirens. Windows wobble, but the needle keeps poking ink under the skin. Ink of Yam tells stories from one of the oldest tattoo parlors in Jerusalem. While the two Russian-born tattoo artists Poko and Daniel tattoo motifs such as the Virgin Mary, a kitchen knife or the Star of David, various clients tell about their lives. In this traditional business away from the traditions, the most different people come together. Everybody is welcome, no matter what origin or religion: The atheistic cook, who doesn't cook kosher even on the Sabbath, his Christian-Arab colleague from Bethlehem, who wants to go out into the kitchens of the world, the philosophizing tour guide from an orthodox house and the pious photographer with theological education. Under pain on the tattoo chair, Jews, Christians, Muslims and atheists experience a catharsis, open their hearts and tell of their life in Jerusalem, of wishes, hopes and fears. The small tattoo studio of Poko and Daniel becomes a connecting place for people who are otherwise hostile to each other in this great, ancient and conflict-ridden city. BIZZART is one of the oldest tattoo studios in Jerusalem. In this traditional business away from the traditions the most different people come together. While Poko and Daniel, the owners of the studio, are tattooing, the people talk about their fears, personal crises, hopes, about religions and attitudes, about the complex life in Jerusalem in particular and the young society in Israel under the humming of the tattoo needle.