Paul Smaczny has accompanied the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, founded in 1999 by Edward W. Said and Daniel Barenboim, for five years. What has resulted is a must-see cinematic work of art because it - as was the case with the film about the Berliner Philharmoniker, 'Rhythm Is It'- succeeded in conveying a great portion of the explosive joie-de-vivre of its amateur performers. ...
"Additional features include sensational documentary footage of Barenboim's appearance in the Israeli Knesset in 2004, of his concerts in Jerusalem and Ramallah, of his meetings and conversations with Said.
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 20/08/2005

Il faut regarder Knowledge Is The Beginning, le documentaire exceptionnel de Paul Smaczny...
Le Monde, 25/08/2006

This is not a simple feel-good story...Rather the film is almost an instruction manual of how much cultural good can be done in the worst of political times. …
Music is a bit subversive, Said says in a filmed conversation with Barenboim, at the same time that music seems harmless. The comment could also apply to this documentary.
The Boston Globe, 04/06/2007

"Knowledge is the Beginning wurde nun in New York sehr zu Recht mit dem International Emmy Award geehrt.
Süddeutsche Zeitung, 22/11/2006

More than anything else, it's a film about the universality and power of music.
Daily Star (Beirut), 08/11/2007

The film "Knowledge is the Beginning" was shown in Beirut last week, and it had a wonderful reception even in the Arab press. When do they write about something positive that happens with the Israelis? Never!
Interview with Daniel Barenboim
Telegraph, 14 /11/2007