Israeli Filmmakers Bring the Gaza War to the Venice Film Festival: “Of Dogs and Men” Faces Controversy

Edited by: TJVNews.com

As the first anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel approaches, Israeli filmmakers have brought the harrowing events of the Gaza war to the Venice Film Festival, showcasing films that confront the ongoing conflict. According to a Reuters report, one of the most talked-about films at the festival is Of Dogs and Men, directed by Dani Rosenberg, which takes a deeply personal approach to the aftermath of the Hamas assault on Israel.

Of Dogs and Men is more than just a war film—it’s a portrayal of survival, trauma, and the lingering scars of conflict. The story centers on a young girl who lived through the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, an assault that claimed the lives of around 1,200 people, the majority of whom were civilians, and resulted in the kidnapping of 251 individuals by Hamas, as was reported by Reuters. Days after the massacre, the protagonist, still reeling from the horrors she witnessed, embarks on a quest to find her dog, a symbol of the fragile innocence shattered by the violence around her.

Rosenberg, and the small crew of just seven people set out to create a deeply immersive experience, a goal they achieved by embedding themselves in the kibbutz that serves as the setting for the story. The only professional actress in the film, 18-year-old Ori Avinoam, portrays the main character.

The minimalist production was an integral part of the filmmaking process. With a skeleton crew and real-life locals, Of Dogs and Men blurs the line between fiction and reality, allowing the audience to feel fully immersed in the protagonist’s world.

As the girl searches for her dog in her broken community, the film juxtaposes her personal tragedy with the larger-scale war unfolding in Gaza. From a distance, she watches as Israeli forces strike the coastal enclave in retaliation for the terrorist attack, highlighting the devastating toll the conflict has taken on both sides of the border, as was indicated in the Reuters report. Rosenberg’s film captures the intense human emotions that come with such loss, focusing on the deeply personal aspects of war rather than the political narrative.

This pared-down approach allowed the actors and filmmakers to adapt quickly to their environment and fostered a collaborative atmosphere where improvisation and spontaneity were encouraged. The Reuters report said that by casting real-life locals in supporting roles, Rosenberg ensured that the film would be grounded in the authentic emotions of those who had lived through the conflict, giving Of Dogs and Men an added layer of credibility and raw emotional power.

Avinoam described the experience as transformative. “It was just a very immersive experience for all of us because we’re such a small crew, maybe like seven people,” Avinoam explained when speaking with Reuters. “It’s something I didn’t think I would be able to experience so young as an actor.”

Rosenberg is no stranger to making films that grapple with difficult, real-world issues. Despite some suggestions that it might be too soon to create a fictional portrayal of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Rosenberg was adamant that the time was right to tell this story, the Reuters report said. Speaking before the world premiere of his film, Rosenberg explained, “I felt very strongly that it was the right time to tell the story. I think it’s our job, as filmmakers, to open a window onto reality in order, perhaps, to allow for a ray of humanity to enter.”

In discussing the role of art in responding to war, Rosenberg expressed a certain skepticism about its potential to drive societal shifts. “I don’t think that in the immediate term cinema can bring about change, you know, even Guernica in the end, which is maybe the most significant piece of art about the horrors of war, didn’t change the situation in Spain,” Rosenberg told Reuters, referencing Pablo Picasso’s iconic painting that powerfully depicted the atrocities of the Spanish Civil War.

However, Rosenberg believes that art, especially cinema, plays a crucial role in preserving the memory of the events it portrays. “But I do think that in the long run, it will leave a memory of the terrible reality we were in,” he added. This sentiment echoes the idea that while cinema may not be able to halt a war or alter political landscapes in the immediate sense, it serves as a lasting testament to the experiences of those who lived through such conflicts. Through films like Of Dogs and Men, future generations will be able to understand the emotional and psychological impact of these events long after they have passed.

For Rosenberg, Of Dogs and Men is not merely about the war, but about the human connections that persist amid destruction and tragedy. Reuters noted that he sees his role as a filmmaker as one that opens audiences to the emotional and psychological realities of war, offering a window into the personal impacts of a conflict that continues to devastate both Israelis and Palestinians.

Despite the film’s attempt to bring humanity to the story of the October 7th attack, Of Dogs and Men has not been without controversy. The Reuters report revealed that on the opening day of the Venice Film Festival, over 300 filmmakers, actors, writers, and musicians signed a letter condemning the inclusion of Rosenberg’s film, as well as another Israeli film, Why War. The signatories argued that Israeli production houses are complicit in the “oppression of Palestinians,” calling for a boycott of the films.

Rosenberg dismissed the boycott, noting that those calling for the exclusion of his film had not even seen it. “Ultimately, my aspiration is for the war to end, and their aspiration is also for the war to end,” Rosenberg said, as was reported by Reuters. “Meaning, in that sense, we share the same goal. I just don’t agree with their way of promoting it.”

The boycott reflects broader tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly within the global arts community, where political divisions often come to the fore. Rosenberg’s film, which focuses on the personal tragedy of a single girl rather than overt political messaging, seeks to transcend these divides by focusing on the human cost of war. Nonetheless, the opposition to the film highlights the difficulty of addressing such a contentious issue without controversy.

Of Dogs and Men stands out not only for its powerful narrative but also for its method of production and its immersive, deeply emotional portrayal of life in the aftermath of war. While Rosenberg is realistic about the limitations of cinema in bringing about immediate change, he remains committed to the idea that films like his serve as a window onto the painful realities of conflict, ensuring that the personal stories of those affected by war are not forgotten.