Pitchfork

Just over a year ago, the Red Sea parted and hell froze over as the once reclusive David Berman and his Silver Jews announced their first ever tour. The whirlwind inaugural jaunt, 15 years in the making, put Berman and band before sell-out crowds across the North America and Europe-- including a headlining spot in front of 15,000+ Pitchfork Festival attendees last summer-- and even took these wandering Jews all the way to Israel.

Director Michael Tully captures the Middle Eastern leg of the Jews' tour in the new documentary Silver Jew, following Berman, his wife Cassie, and the rest of the band-- keyboardist Tony Crow, drummer Brian Kotzur, and guitarists Peyton Pinkerton and William Tyler-- around at two Tel Aviv gigs and a trip to Jerusalem. The 51-minute film, edited by Jane Rizzo and produced by Matthew Robison for Nashville's Walter O. Robison Productions, premieres at SXSW in Austin (March 9-17, exact screenings TBA).

Silver Jew then hits up the Sarasota Film Festival (April), the Nashville Film Festival (April 23), and the Independent Film Festival of Boston. Plans for overseas screenings and a DVD release are in the works.

So what can fans expect? As Tully told Pitchfork, "It's a hard one to describe, because it incorporates so many different elements. Yes, it's a tour document, and, yes, it's a travelogue, but ultimately it's the story of an individual who has found peace within himself, with the help of newfound faith, a loving wife, and creativity.

"If you're hoping for a 'history of the band' type of thing, that's not what this is. Sorry, all you 'Behind the Music' junkies."

If Tully's name sounds familiar, you may recall he directed the video for Tanglewood Numbers' "I'm Getting Back Into Getting Back Into You", also shot in Jerusalem. His first feature film, Cocaine Angel, debuted at SXSW last year.

As for the Silver Jews themselves, they're presently "winterizing" following some cancelled tour dates, as David perpares to write the next album.

Check out the Silver Jew trailer below.