October 7, 2023, is a date that will go down in history as one of the darkest days for Israel and the world. On that fateful day, Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israel by land, air, and sea with thousands of terrorists and rockets, carrying out the third-deadliest and deadliest per capita terrorist attack in the world since 1970, as data shows from the Center for Strategic and International Studies. As US President Biden invoked, it is as if 40,000 to 50,000 Americans had died on 9/11.
The multi-layered assault targeted army bases, the NOVA music festival, and over two dozen villages and cities, resulting in the murder of thousands of Israelis and non-Israeli civilians, several tens of thousands injured, and hundreds kidnapped, with many still being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza today.
Among the hardest-hit communities was Kibbutz Kfar Aza, located just 2 kilometers from the Gaza border, resulting in the murder of over 63 innocent civilians, 19 kidnapped, of which some are still in captivity a year on. It was here that Maya and Dvir Rosenfeld, a young couple with a baby boy, narrowly escaped with their lives after hiding in their safe room for over 24 hours. Tragically, Dvir's sister, Hadar, and her husband, Itay Berdichevsky, were brutally murdered in their home, leaving behind two 10-month-old orphaned twins in the crib next to the lifeless, bloody body of their father. The Rosenfelds' harrowing story of survival and the heartbreaking loss of their loved ones is just one of countless tales of devastation that emerged from that horrific day.
Despite the shocking silence from many worldwide musicians and celebrities on this savage massacre, certain righteous artists across various disciplines have stepped forward to process the collective trauma and preserve the truth of what happened on that horrific day. These courageous individuals have embarked on a crucial ethnographic mission, creating a time capsule to ensure that the world not only never forgets the savagery committed but also bears witness to the factual truth and reality of the attack through the eyewitness accounts of those who lived through this terrible massacre. Their work serves as a vital defense against the erasure of history and the distortion of facts, ensuring that the voices of the victims and survivors are heard and that the memory of those lost is honored.
One such artist is Abby Walla, an American actress, writer, and entrepreneur who has taken on the challenging task of documenting Maya and Dvir Rosenfeld's story in the film (still in production) "For Ziv." Walla, known for her roles in TV shows like "Girls Code," "Dear White People," and "Veep," has ventured into the realm of documentary filmmaking to shed light on the human impact of the October 7 attacks and the remarkable strength and perseverance of those who survived.
The power of personal connection
Walla shares a deepening personal connection to the Rosenfeld family's experience. "When I visited Israel just a couple months after October 7, I walked through the destruction in Kfar Aza, met members of the kibbutz displaced in Shefayim, and even though I didn't meet Maya and Dvir, I heard the horrifying story of Dvir's sister and her 10-month old babies used as bait by Hamas. What I saw in the kibbutz shook me to my core in a way I'll never forget".
However, during an event in Los Angeles, a chance encounter with Maya and Dvir solidified Walla's commitment to telling their story. "There was immediately something so relatable and 'normal' about them and I could see the way that they communicated sparked such a visceral response in people," she explains. A conversation with Maya about their son Ziv's role in their survival and the importance of documenting his story for the future struck a chord with Walla, and "For Ziv" was set in motion.
"I just have had a gut feeling since I met Maya and Dvir that I needed to tell their story," Walla shares. "As much craziness has been thrown my way as I've taken this on, something within me just keeps pulling me forward, and I haven't second-guessed it." There's something about Maya and Dvir that is hard to put a finger on, but they seem relatable in a way that draws people in. Even though their story is one of unimaginable horror, they humbly say, "Our story isn't the worst story." This humility and resilience in the face of tragedy is what Walla aims to capture as she follows Maya and Dvir over the course of an entire year.
"For Ziv" is not just about documenting the events of October 7; it's about chronicling what life is like for survivors in the aftermath of a traumatic event or terror attack. It's about witnessing their healing process as the camera rolls over an extended period, watching them rebuild their lives and find the strength to move forward.
Walla approaches this project with a deep sense of responsibility – to film and honor Maya and Dvir's story, but also to produce art that matters. She is not trying to tell a political story or even speak in a political way. Instead, she aims to create a film that feels welcoming and accessible to people of different perspectives, inviting them to follow one family's journey without feeling like they must choose sides in the larger Israel-Palestine conflict.
At its core, "For Ziv" is a story of resilience, of how to move beyond tragedy. It just happens to be set in Israel, but its themes are universal. It's about people who actively make the choice, day by day, to get up and make the best out of the life they have been given despite their fate. It's a story that is both inspiring and one we can all learn from.
Navigating the challenges of documenting war
Filming in an active conflict zone presents immense challenges, from issues of access and security to the ethical imperatives of trauma-informed storytelling and protecting the privacy of vulnerable subjects. Walla acknowledges the constant evaluation required to navigate these complexities while prioritizing the safety, dignity, and well-being of survivors and her crew.
"It's been a deeply humbling experience that they've entrusted me with their story and allowed me into such intimate personal moments with a camera crew," Walla shares. "It's important to remember that they are not public personas or reality TV stars trying to be celebrities. They are very normal, private people who are incredibly brave in sharing the realities of what they and their loved ones went through and continue to go through."
Walla also discusses the emotional toll of working with a crew of Israelis who were themselves impacted by the war, noting that "everyone knows someone who was killed on October 7." Despite the challenges, Walla finds a sense of purpose in the chaos. Intergenerational trauma is a theme that runs through the project, both in front of the camera and behind it.
The role of artists in times of conflict
The controversial stances taken by some high-profile Hollywood figures on the October 7 attacks, with some appearing to support Hamas' actions as "resistance," or at least denying the correct empathy for Israel's victims and the ongoing hostage crisis, have been a source of heartbreak for many, including Walla.
As an artist herself, Walla grapples with the responsibility public figures have in shaping narratives around such events. "I am someone who values having difficult conversations approached with nuance and compassion, and am not naive enough to feel we all have to agree on all the same things," Walla explains. "With that being said, I do think anyone with a large platform has a responsibility to do their due diligence before diving into the deep end on topics that have real-life repercussions on people's lives."
Working on "For Ziv" has deepened Walla's perspective on the role and responsibility of artists in times of conflict or tragedy. She often reflects on Elie Wiesel's quote, "For the dead and the living, we must bear witness. For not only are we responsible for the memories of the dead, we are also responsible for what we are doing with those memories." This serves as her north star, guiding her to channel her pain into action through storytelling.
"I felt totally helpless after October 7," Walla shares. "I realized I needed to find a way to use my skills and channel my pain into action, which is how this project came to be since my skill happens to be in storytelling. I had other projects that were very important to me that I was working on and just shifted my career trajectory to prioritize this documentary because I felt the responsibility to do my part."
Breaking through the echo chamber
In the face of competing narratives and entrenched preconceptions, Walla approaches the task of communicating the Israeli experience to a global audience by focusing on the universal themes of grief, tragedy, and perseverance. "This is not a political film," she emphasizes. "While October 7 is the event that propels this documentary, I don't see this as a film specifically about October 7, and I'm not trying to 'convince' anyone about the legitimacies of the level of brutality and atrocities."
Walla's vision for "For Ziv" is to reach beyond the Jewish community and break through the echo chamber, exposing a wider audience to a story they may not see on social media. "Most of my friends and people in my daily community are not Jewish. While they're curious, smart, empathetic people who stay up on the news, they are not being exposed to a fraction of these stories about October 7 that the Jewish community is because the algorithm just doesn't show it to them," she explains.
By sharing Maya and Dvir's story through universal, relatable themes, Walla aims to be a bridge between communities and educate on an Israeli experience that transcends political divisions. "My goal is to reach these people in the middle because they're the ones most open to listening and seeking commonality rather than focusing on the things that divide us," she says.
The power of documentary film
In an age of misinformation and competing narratives, documentaries like "For Ziv" serve as a crucial tool for preserving history and countering the denial or erasure of truth. By presenting the human stories behind the headlines, these films can shape public understanding and memory of events in a way that news reports and political rhetoric often cannot.
As Walla continues production on "For Ziv" and seeks further investment to bring the project to a global audience, her vision for the documentary's impact is clear. "While I do hope that this is a story that Jewish people relate to and perhaps find some healing in the experience watching it, my main goal is to reach beyond the Jewish community to show a story they aren't seeing on social media," she says.
One year after the October 7 attacks, the power of art to facilitate healing and preserve memory is more evident than ever. From public art installations and social media content to exhibits like the NOVA exhibition and the famous hostage posters, artists have played a vital role in processing the collective trauma and ensuring that the truth of what happened is never forgotten.
Through her documentary "For Ziv," Abby Walla not only documents the story of Maya and Dvir Rosenfeld but also shines a light on the ongoing impact of the attacks on survivors and their families. Importantly, she reminds us that this is not just a story of the past but a reality that continues to unfold in the present.
In a world where misinformation and competing narratives threaten to obscure the truth, projects like "For Ziv" are a powerful reminder of the importance of documenting history through art and using storytelling to foster empathy so that we may find a path toward understanding and healing.
