The 1,500 guests who arrived at the Beverly Hills Temple of the Arts on Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills in mid-October had to pass through armed guards, pass through metal detectors, and have their IDs checked before taking their seats. Had to check. Inside the Saban Theater.
Security was a fitting introduction to what they were about to see on screen, which had its American premiere. List of Oz, Journey to Oz DavidianAn Israeli-made documentary about the October 7, 2023 terrorist attack on Israel that ignited the current Middle East conflict.
The one-hour, made-for-TV Hebrew-language film follows the story of a 53-year-old farmer and lawyer – named O-zehz – who sacrificed his life to save nearly 120 young Israelis. . Hundreds of Hamas terrorists shot, raped, tortured, killed and held hostage anyone who sat in their guns on what was a peaceful music festival.
An Israeli government-issued Mitsubishi 4×4 truck (equipped with automatic front and rear cameras) assigned to him in his role as liaison to the Bedouin community, Davidian carries a handgun for security and Picked up a clip of ammo as he navigated the back roads. Sometimes used for grazing sheep. He made about 15 trips that day to rescue terrified concertgoers and return them to their anxiously waiting families, his truck often ringing with gunfire from terrorists.
Many at the Saban Theater were apparently moved by the film, which retraces Davidian’s actions on that terrible, horrific day and includes original footage from his truck cams. “It was an amazing story,” said one audience member. “Especially where he had to go through and see all the people who had died. It took a lot of courage to do what he did.”
And yet, despite the film’s positive global reception — and its brave, inspiring message — the documentary by Israeli TV station Rashet 13 and others will be shown again in the U.S., broadcast on American television or Let alone broadcasting.
“There are people who have balls and there are people who don’t, especially when it comes to touching on material on the Middle East,” observes producer Bill Mechanic, a veteran of the current political climate in Hollywood. “. “So, people afraid of their own shadows, who live to protect their jobs, don’t want to take any chances.”
Those concerns have just cast a wide shadow — and you can’t entirely blame the city for treading carefully around the subject. In many ways, it has become a third rail in the entertainment industry, a radioactive topic that has already burned many who have bravely – or foolishly – broached it.
After learning in September that Hamas had killed six Israeli hostages, WME agent Brandt Joel angrily wrote on a pro-Israel WhatsApp group, “Kill everyone from the left.” Brandt quickly deleted the post and explained to colleagues in a Zoom call that he had only meant to “kill” Hamas members, but the damage had been done: one of his top clients, Mahershala Ali, had abruptly fired him. .
On the other side of the political divide, actress Susan Sarandon, who has a long history of activism, was dropped by her talent agency after announcing at an anti-Israel rally that Jews were facing a rise in anti-Semitism. . This is what it feels like to be a Muslim in America.
Polarized views on the topic have also made old material, released before the Hamas invasion and Israel’s invasion of Gaza, newly controversial. Netflix series FudaFor example, which won praise for its strong storytelling when it premiered in 2016, faced criticism in its fourth season, which began in 2023, for glorifying the occupation of Palestinian lands. Capture of the American MindA 2016 documentary about how the Israeli government uses its influence to shape American media has drawn recent fire from both sides, with Jewish critics calling it anti-Semitic and anti-Arab. Claims that this defeats their purpose. Ditto the 2018 Egyptian spy thriller AngelSet during the Six Day War in 1967, it depicts explosions from both sides.
In such a cautious climate, it’s hard to imagine what a new documentary is like. List of Oz Could possibly find a home in Hollywood. “We’re in a chaotic world,” says Garth Ancier, a TV executive who worked at NBC and Fox and headed BBC America. Ancier says that he has both Jewish and Arab friends and what they have in common is that both are very narrow in their vision, looking only in one direction. “I try to talk to them,” he says. “But it’s tough. And it’s going to get tougher because of the way it’s going down.”
to be fair, Oz There are issues other than politics that make it a tough sell in Hollywood. For one thing, it is a Hebrew language document. For another, it is extremely violent.
“Obviously the content of this video is graphic,” says streaming media consultant Dan Rayburn. “So, you’re going to see more pushback from these streaming services. You’re showing bodies on the ground. It’s not really something they want on their platform. Even 60 minuteswho does some great stories like this, you’ll notice they’re not showing anything that graphic.”
“And what about his ranking, right?” He added. “Is it NC 17? It gets very difficult when you’re talking about war and showing real-life dead people on the street.
OzOf Lists The producers are clearly aware of the uphill battle to get their documentary to screens in the U.S. but are currently working on assembling an “international” version that they hope will have a better chance. . “We can change the narrative to English or put in some new photos so we can make a bigger impression in terms of selling it,” says Yossi Eli, Israel’s war correspondent. List of Oz without compensation.
Ely says he’s also considering a feature film, which could eventually be a “stand-alone drama” different from the documentary.
Submission efforts are also ongoing. List of Oz for the awards and festivities, led by LA filmmakers Dan and Zahra Israel, who produced Dadnow streaming on Amazon.
Davidian, meanwhile, has returned to living his low-profile life with his wife and four daughters. He agreed to collaborate with the documentary at the urging of many of the people he saved, with whom he has kept in touch. In the documentary, several people are quoted as thanking him and hailing him as a hero.
He also made a rare public appearance on October 30 at a new awards ceremony held at the residence of Israeli President Isaac Herzog. Davidian was among those who received the state’s highest civilian award for extraordinary bravery.
Several honors were presented posthumously.
Credit : www.hollywoodreporter.com
