Robert Siegel talks to Riklis about critics of his film's portrayals of Israeli characters, the burdens of being an artist in the region and whether collaboration between Israeli and Palestinian filmmakers is possible.

NPR: 'Syrian Bride' Reflects Fractured Lives

He dealth with some nasty characters, like Ivan Boesky and Victor Posner and Meshulam Riklis, but from his trading desk in Beverly Hills he also raised billions of dollars for Turner Broadcasting, MCI, Time Warner, Medco, McCaw Cellular and Rupert Murdoch's enterprises.

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"The first two lines I wrote for this script were 'Mona's wedding day was the saddest day of her life' and 'She knew that once she crosses the border she will never be able to come back to her family in the Golan Heights, '" director Riklis recalls.

NPR: 'Syrian Bride' Reflects Fractured Lives