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JERUSALEM — The National Library of Israel’s Docu.Text Festival witnessed an emotional moment on Sunday night as the documentary film We Will Dance Again received a standing ovation.
The film, directed by Yariv Mozer, delves into the harrowing events of the Supernova festival massacre that occurred on October 7, 2023.
The premiere was unique in that it featured survivors, their families, and relatives of the victims taking the stage after the screening.
The tragedy, perpetrated by Hamas, claimed the lives of over 360 attendees and staff from the festival, with about 40 individuals taken hostage, some of whom remain captive in Gaza.
The massacre affected over 10% of the festival’s participants, a staggering statistic that highlights the depth of the tragedy.
Mozer, known for his previous works such as The Devil’s Confession: The Lost Eichmann Tapes, faced an unprecedented challenge.
Unlike traditional documentaries that require extensive research, Mozer had to sift through an overwhelming amount of video footage and personal accounts to craft a coherent narrative.
This abundance of material, due to the prevalence of cell phones among the festival-goers, made the task both daunting and profoundly impactful.
The result is a 90-minute film that has been described as compelling, harrowing, and heartbreaking.
Unlike earlier, shorter documentaries on the same topic, We Will Dance Again provides a real-time experience, immersing viewers in the tragedy with a level of detail and emotional depth that sets it apart.
The film has already garnered critical acclaim, winning two awards at the Doc Edge Festival.
Scheduled for release on Hot 8 in Israel in late September, the film will also be shown in theaters across the country.
Internationally, it will debut in Los Angeles on August 23, with additional screenings in the United States on August 29 and September 1.
In the fall, the film will be available on Paramount+ in the US, BBC in the UK, and the Nine Network in Australia.
The screening at the National Library of Israel was attended by notable figures, including Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion and former chief of staff and current MK Gadi Eizenkot.
Their presence underscored the film’s significance as a poignant reflection on the impact of the massacre on Israeli society.
The film’s format includes a clear identification of each interviewee, aiding viewers amidst the intense emotional engagement.
It opens with the story of Eitan, a young survivor whose reflections encapsulate the film’s central theme: the irrevocable change brought about by the October 7 attack.
Eitan’s statement, “I’m never going to be the person that I was before the seventh of October, and I’m trying to figure out who I’m going to be now,” reflects the broader Israeli experience of grappling with the aftermath of the tragedy.
We Will Dance Again stands as a testament to the resilience of those affected and serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing struggle to make sense of a devastating event that has forever altered lives.