There’s a long list of documentaries about architects produced by the architect’s children, but seldom do they center women architects. Stardust did that, and so does Ada: My Mother the Architect. Ada, as the title suggests, is about architect Ada Karmi-Melamede. It was made by the architect’s daughter, Academy Award–winning producer Yael Melamede. The viewer’s own disposition toward the state of Israel will determine how they judge the film. Ada follows Karmi-Melamede’s journey designing Jerusalem’s Supreme Court, Ben Gurion Airport, among other civic landmarks. The film follows her mother’s journey designing buildings in New York and Israel. (Courtesy Ada Karmi-Melamede) Karmi-Melamede practiced and taught in New York. While at Columbia GSAPP, she worked on the Con Edison master plan, the 1978 housing competition for Roosevelt Island, and the Second Avenue Subway. In the film, Karmi-Melamede revisits her projects, including Jerusalem’s Supreme Court, where we overhear a tour guide tell guests a completely different interpretation of the architecture, one that’s charged with chauvinist, nationalist fervor. This is different from how she envisioned it, she said. A number of architecture luminaries appear in the film, among these Frank Gehry and Paul Goldberger. Goldberger is critical of Israel’s shifting politics. Yael Melamede wants Ada to showcase her mother’s achievements, but also a few other things: She said she hopes it can spark conversations about Israel in a “post-October 7th context.” Melamede also said the timely film explores themes related to “architecture as identity,” “women and nation-building,” and relaying “personal stories in political contexts.” Accompanying the film screenings will be Q&A sessions between Melamede and relevant interlocutors. Barbara Bestor was already in conversation with the producer at Wende Museum on May 1. The film was released at the 2024 Architecture and Design Film Festival. Now ahead of Mother’s Day Weekend, Ada will be on screen on May 9 at Angelika. Following the May 9 screening, Paul Goldberger will speak at Angelika about the film. On May 14, Martino Stierli and Billie Tsien will also meet at Angelika for a talk. On May 15, Ada will debut in Los Angeles at Laemmle Royal.