Tel Aviv and October 7 | DW Documentary

The Hamas terror attack of 7 October 2023 has had profound consequences in Israel, Gaza and beyond. This film asks how those in Tel Aviv have reacted to the subsequent war, and what they expect the future will bring.

In the summer of 2023, DW’s Kai Steinecke was in Tel Aviv filming a lifestyle series. He met nightclub owners, creatives, restaurateurs, LGBTQ activists and architects, all working in what was a lively, liberal metropolis. Then came October 7th, and everything changed.

In May of 2024, the same people return to speak about their experiences in the wake of the attack, how daily life has changed for them, and what the future may hold for their country.

The result is a moving personal documentary and a portrait of a very different city to the one that was recorded a year ago. The square in front of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art has been renamed "Hostages Square", with empty chairs commemorating the kidnapped. At the once-bustling Carmel Market, many stalls are now deserted. And cultural center Habima Square, famous for its theatre and orchestra, now has a large illuminated sign stating: "Bring them home”.

We accompany several people into their personal spaces as they show us how their individual, day-to-day lives have changed. The documentary lays these contrasts bare by juxtaposing present-day scenes with those filmed before October 7th, back when Tel Aviv was the "capital of cool" — a world-famous party city with the Middle East’s largest spaces devoted to queer life and culture. Now, the city and the country are in shock.

One example is fun-loving bureka vendor Kobi Shmuel, who was drafted into the army and had to close his stall at Carmel Market. He was initially deployed in the Gaza Strip, where one of his comrades was killed.

Or architect Shiraz Solomon, who showed us last year how she turned an old Templar building into luxury housing. Now the architect is helping others build bunkers for Israelis and accessible apartments for those injured in the war. The Palestinian workers that used to work on her construction sites are no longer allowed to enter the country.

Muhammad Zoabi, a university student and LGBTQ activist from an Arab-Muslim family, is dealing with the fact that a friend and fellow student was kidnapped at the Nova Festival on October 7th and has not been heard from since.

Shani Goldstein had led DW host Kai Steinecke through Tel Aviv in the original 2023 production. But now, because of the October 7th attack, the co-presenter has lost her jobs as a model and radio host. She doesn’t understand why Israel is becoming increasingly internationally isolated as an agressor.

These stories and others provide personal insights into a traumatized society. The film is a contemporary document that, despite deep sadness, also offers hope for a time after the war.

#documentary #dwdocumentary
______

DW Documentary gives you knowledge beyond the headlines. Watch top documentaries from German broadcasters and international production companies. Meet intriguing people, travel to distant lands, get a look behind the complexities of daily life and build a deeper understanding of current affairs and global events. Subscribe and explore the world around you with DW Documentary.

Subscribe to:

[HomelessRomantic]

it doesn't provide historical context about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict or the conditions in Gaza that preceded October 7th.

[bbb]

Their own government let this attack happen. That's what you should do a documentary about.

[HomelessRomantic]

The documentary appears to focus heavily on Israeli experiences and perspectives, with little to no representation of Palestinian voices or experiences.

[HomelessRomantic]

While mentioning Israeli casualties and trauma, there's no equivalent discussion of the much higher Palestinian death toll or the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

[nordinhaidry]

The land owners were living in a nightmare for about a century, and still.

[vannkamp]

I want to give Michal a huge hug so bad. You can definitely feel the sadness inside her of being an anti-Zionist Jew who just wants peace and harmony, but who feels that everyone who is supposed to understand her situation, Non-Jewish anti-Zionists, shames her for just being a Jew who's only known 'Israel' as her only home in her lifetime so far.

[jossykuriakose]

Egypt warned Israel 3 days prior to the attack and Israel just ignored it

[johnnybravo]

How many innocent men, women and children have been analived, disabled and displaced since October 7th?

[EMINADO..]

I saw the whole October 7th Attack...it was just Terrible.
God remember Us.

[MS-ujds]

There is one key point people need to understand: the Israeli government does not prioritize its own citizens or any other nation. If they could acquire more land by sacrificing 10, 000 Israelis, they would do it without hesitation.

Hamas or Hezbollah does not prioritize Palestinian or Lebanese people

Iran definitely doesn't care about their own citizens.

There is constantly war going on because everyone is winning (except local civilians). Especially arms dealers.

Also, do you know the top 2 arms dealers?
USA and Russia

[katitza]

so this guy can still go visit tel aviv, what about people wanting to visit their friends and family in gaza?

[babosing]

How is it possible that Israel intelligence or mossad can target hamas, hezbollah, iran leaders, distributed telecommunication equipment with bombs, but they didn't have information that hamas was going to strike on 7 october.

[Elatenl]

Wild how DW (a German public broadcaster) feels obligated to keep sharing a one sided story only because of what happened in the 40s.

[JaneDoe-emzi]

This is horrible. No one wins in war. This has to stop. The poor people who have lost lives, limbs, loved ones, homes. Political leaders never go into war with a conscience. 😔 🙏🏽 Peace y'all. ❤

[joegovanni]

So sad how people loose their lives to other greed and psychopathic power and control over what they cannot take beyond the grave...

[Human-Failure]

Very telling doku, showing the bubble that people was living in, some people living their best life while their neighbours were living a nightmare. Peace will arrive when all people have equality

[UrgentAction]

The whole world must immediately know the truth and take urgent actions to avoid the upcoming apocalypse.

[johndewey]

Wow, ❤ what a great documentary on this very important day that violence of Oct 7, not only impacted the Palestinians and Israelis, but also the rest of the world. From a distance when I see the horrific crimes of Hamas and the Israeli responses, I ask myself, how can I help? Surely all the young kids that are fighting each other deserve a better world where they too can have families of their own, a home where they not only feel safe in, but a sacred space where they can raise their children and share in their happy moments and grow together as families and society of human beings. Life is too short, each one of us should lend a helping hand and peacefully encourage all sides to come together and create a breathing space for peace, life and a positive future. Thank you for creating this heartfelt documentary that shows us as outsiders, what is really going on in the hearts of Israelis.

[mahipalsakila]

How does DW documentary call them educational information media?
information only involves one party, and that party is the criminal.

[mariabart]

Incredible, stunning, factual, fair and honest - love this documentary. So elegant way to express truth ❤