The Ornament of the World tells the story of a remarkable time in history when the Muslims, Christians and Jews forged a common cultural identity that frequently transcended their religious differences. Ornament will retrace a nearly 800-year period in medieval Spain, from the 8th through 15th centuries, during which the three cultures, though they competed and sometimes fought, managed to sustain relationships that enabled them to coexist, collaborate and flourish.

The film blends evocative location cinematography with dramatic and lifelike animation to take viewers on a fascinating journey through the cities at the center of the story: Cordoba, Seville, Toledo, and Granada. We will discover what made this rare and fruitful collaboration possible and what ultimately tore it apart.

Comments by Director Michael Scharz and NYU’s Abigail Krasner Balbale and S.J. Pearce will accompany the screening.