Director: | Dani Rosenberg |
---|---|
Production: | Laila Films (Itai Tamir, Alexander Rodnyansky), Stemal Entertainment (Donatella Palermo) con Rai Cinema |
Running Time: | 82' |
Language: | Hebrew |
Country: | Israel, Italy |
Main Cast: | Ori Avinoam, Natan Bahat, Nora Lifshitz, Yamit Avital |
Screenplay: | Dani Rosenberg, Ori Avinoam, Itai Tamir |
Cinematographer: | Ziv Berkovich |
Editor: | Nili Feller |
Music: | Yuval Semo |
Sound: | Itzik Cohen, Neal Gibbs, Oz Sicherman |
Al klavim veanashim (Of dogs and men)
synopsis
As dawn breaks, 16-year-old Dar returns to her kibbutz in search of her missing dog, lost during the massacre she survived days earlier. She confronts the horrors etched into the place and the faces of those around her, and witnesses the stark reality of the tragedy unfolding across the fence in Gaza. Caught between those seeking revenge and those whose faith in humankind remains unwavering, Dar tries to find her own voice.
director's statement
The horrific attack on 7th October and the ensuing war unleashed unimaginable suffering, defying comprehension. The humanity, or denial of humanity, within them is profoundly disturbing. Can these events even be represented, recounted, narrated? This was our daunting question as we began filming in late October, acutely aware that cinema had crashed into the wall of reality. Theodor Adorno’s post-Auschwitz assertion—that to write poetry, to represent the unrepresentable, is barbaric—echoed my sentiments in the early days of this terrible, unrelenting conflict. As time passed and the images became part of our collective consciousness, I felt compelled to bear witness to reality firsthand. I sought to open a window onto these experiences and to try to tell a story about those trapped in the relentless cycle of bloodshed. We began shooting on Kibbutz Nir Oz, a community devastated by the killing and kidnapping of more than a quarter of its members, and alongside the Gaza border. Our choice to film with a small crew and a lightweight camera supports the blurring of boundaries between fictional cinema and the documentation of reality. We filmed those present within the war zone, following a single protagonist navigating this tortured terrain, which shaped the narrative of the film. Adorno’s later reconsideration—that enduring suffering deserves expression as much as a tortured soul deserves to scream—guides our filmmaking. We aim to honour the experiences of all who endure the ravages of war, striving to portray their humanity amidst the darkness.
PRODUCTION/DISTRIBUTION
PRODUCTION 1: Itai Tamir, Alexander Rodnyansky - LAILA FILMS
20 Ben Avigdor street
6721844, Tel Aviv, Israel
Tel. 972 54564144
Mob. 33 618436019
itai@laila-films.com
PRODUCTION 2: Donatella Palermo - Stemal Entertainment
via Caio Mario 7
00192, Roma, Italy
Tel. 39 06 39750019
stemal.entertainment@gmail.com
PRODUCTION 3: Rai Cinema
piazza Adriana 12
00193, Roma, Italy
Tel. 39 0633179601
produzione@raicinema.it
WORLD SALES: Fulvio Firrito - Rai Cinema International Distribution
piazza Adriana 12
00193, Roma, Italy
Tel. 39 0633179601
fulvio.firrito@raicinema.it
WORLD PRESS OFFICE: DDA – Dana Archer
OfDogsandMen@ddaglobal.com
PRESS OFFICE ITALY: Flavia Schiavi e Olivia Alighiero
PUNTOeVIRGOLA
Via Natale Del Grande, 40
00153, Roma, Italy
Tel. 6 45763506
info@studiopuntoevirgola.com