Sixteen-year-old Dar returns to her kibbutz in search of her missing dog amid a wave of terror, as she encounters the disaster unfolding beyond the fence, caught between those seeking revenge and those who retain faith in humanity.
It could be one of the thousands of stories of the survivors of the Hamas attack on October 7, but it is the synopsis of Of Dogs and Men, the latest film by Israeli director Dani Rosenberg, which premiered at the prestigious Venice Film FestivalThis is a fictional story but is inspired by the tragic events of October 7, 2023.
When the programme for this year's Venice Film Festival was announced, Rosenberg faced criticism from many sections of the public and several attempts to boycott the screening of the film.
However, the director defended the opportunity to present the film in the midst of the ongoing conflict. For Rosenberg, it is the responsibility of filmmakers to “open a window to reality to allow a ray of humanity to enter.” Furthermore, the director said that he believes that those who reject him have not seen the film, but that ultimately he has the same goal: the end of the war.
The film, starring 18-year-old actress Ori Avinoam, is being screened in the festival's Horizons section, which runs parallel to the main competition.
Attacking Gazs is not revenge, it is full humanity: giving victory to civilization by ending terrorism.