- September 24, 2024
- 10:52 pm
- World News
Israeli Embassy in Moscow in collaboration with the Moscow Film School plans to hold a show two short films by Israeli directors: Neurim (2020) by Shaili Atari and The Boy (2023) by Yahav Winner.
What is especially cynical is that at the time when the director of these films, Yahav Winner, was killed in the Hamas terrorist attack on Kibbutz Kfar Aza, a meeting with representatives of Hamas and Hezbollah was taking place in Moscow..
This underscores the absurdity of the situation: Israeli diplomacy, in the shadow of the threat from terrorist organizations, continues to seek common ground with a regime that is openly hostile to Israel.
This event raises serious questions, especially in light of current geopolitical realities.
Russia is waging a brutal and aggressive war against Ukraine, destroying cities, killing civilians and supporting terrorism around the world, including Hamas and Hezbollah, Israel's main enemies.
At the same time, the Israeli embassy, representing the Israeli government, organizes cultural events in Moscow, ignoring the fact that Russia is actively helping those who seek to destroy the Jewish state.
One should not forget the recent meetings between Russian officials and the leaders of Hamas, Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations. These contacts openly demonstrate that Moscow is a strategic ally of these groups. Russia provides them with political and diplomatic support, and perhaps also material support. In a situation where terrorists who attack Israel receive such support from Moscow, the question arises: why is the Israeli embassy involved in such cultural initiatives?
This looks like a slap in the face to those Israelis whose families have suffered at the hands of terrorists.related to Russia.
Shaili Atari and Yahav Winner are filmmakers who lived in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, on the border with the Gaza Strip. Their films explore the daily lives of people under constant threat, focusing on the communication within the community and the internal conflicts of the characters. But the tragic story of this couple shows how cruel reality is: on October 7, 2023, Hamas attacked the kibbutz, killing Yahav Winner. Shaili and her newborn daughter miraculously escaped.
The short films to be screened at the Moscow Film School are the work of Israeli directors Shaili Atari and Yahav Winner, who were a married couple and were active in the film industry. Both directors lived in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, located on the border with the Gaza Strip, and their work often touched on the complex themes of everyday life in conditions of instability and conflict.
- “Neurim” (2020): This film explores life on a kibbutz, emphasizing not only its collective aspect, but also the internal conflicts that its inhabitants face. The film focuses on communication between people and shows how everyday interactions and routines can exist against the backdrop of the threat of violence. The film is a mosaic portrait of life in conditions of constant anxiety and expectation.
- “The Boy” (2023): Winner's more recent work focuses on childhood experiences and inner worlds, reflecting on the impact of environment and conflict on the younger generation. The film raises questions about childhood vulnerability and emotional trauma associated with violence and conflict. It also seeks to show how children try to find their place in a world full of chaos.
Both films showcase Atari and Winner's signature approach to storytelling, which emphasizes emotion and human connection. However, despite their artistic merit, it is important to remember that these films are being shown against the backdrop of tragedy: Yahav Winner was killed in a Hamas attack on their kibbutz, and Shayli Atari and their newborn daughter witnessed the horror.
Showing these works in Russia, a country that supports terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah, looks like a provocation and a complete disregard for the reality that Israelis find themselves in.
And now, just months after that horrific attack, their films are being shown in the country that supported the terrorists who killed her husband, raising questions about the moral and political responsibility of the organisers.
It is also important to note that other democratic countries are not currently involved in cultural exchanges with Russia. The EU, the US, Canada, Australia and many others have condemned Russia's actions and imposed harsh sanctions, including the cessation of cultural cooperation. Only dictatorial regimes like Russia continue to exchange cultural projects, be it films, exhibitions or concerts. Israel, with its democratic values and desire for freedom and security, joins these regimes in sending films to Russia.
The situation looks especially absurd against the backdrop of the current Russian aggression in Ukraine. Russian troops are destroying cities, destroying houses, schools, hospitals and killing civilians. Ukraine, which continues to fight for its independence, including receiving aid from Israel, but this contradicts the actions of the Israeli government, which not only avoids strongly condemning Russian aggression, but also sends cultural events to the aggressor country.
The event paints a bleak picture. While Israeli families continue to suffer at the hands of Russian-backed terrorists, Israeli films are being screened in Moscow.
