We Will Dance Again is a 2024 documentary film written and directed by Yariv Mozer. It focuses on the Nova music festival massacre and abductions to the Gaza Strip during the Hamas-led attack on Israel, on 7 October 2023. It is an international co-production between the United States (Paramount+), the United Kingdom (BBC) and Israel (Hot).
| We Will Dance Again | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster | |
| Directed by | Yariv Mozer |
| Written by | Yariv Mozer |
| Produced by | Susan Zirinsky (executive producer) |
| Cinematography | Shahar Reznik Nir Maman |
| Edited by | Yasmin Novak Roi Belbirski |
| Music by | Tal Yardeni |
| Distributed by | Paramount+ (United States) BBC (United Kingdom) Hot 8 (Israel) |
Release date |
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Running time | 90 mins |
| Countries | United States United Kingdom Israel |
| Languages | Hebrew English |
Background
editOn 7 October 2023, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian nationalist political organization Hamas, initiated a sudden attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip. As part of the attack, 364 individuals, mostly civilians, were killed and many more wounded at the Supernova Sukkot Gathering, an open-air music festival during the Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret near kibbutz Re'im. Hamas also took 40 people hostage, and men and women were reportedly subject to sexual and gender-based violence.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]
Synopsis
editThe film reconstructs the October 7 attack through a series of interviews with survivors of the massacre at the Nova Festival.[8] Phone videos and footage taken by Hamas is also used to create a timeline of the massacre. The killing of Aner Shapira and the abductions of Hersh Goldberg-Polin and Shani Louk are also told in the film.[9][10][11]
The film begins in the evening of 6 October in the Negev Desert, where thousands gather for the music festival. Rockets mistaken for fireworks begin to appear in the sky as the party continues at 6.30 am. Confusion reigns and fear mounts as Hamas arrive at the festival and begin to murder the festival-goers.[12]
Release
editIn the United States, the film had a two-day theatrical run at select theaters nationwide on 29 August and 1 September.[13] In addition it received a week-long theatrical run in Los Angeles.[13] The film was released by streamer Paramount+ in the United States on 24 September 2024.[10]
Executive producer, Susan Zirinsky favored a streaming release over broadcast television: “Ultimately, I thought we could not [run it on CBS] because there’s no way possible to break for commercial,” continuing “With streaming, you’re making a conscious choice to put this on.”[14]
In Israel, the film premiered on 25 September on Hot 8.[15]
In the United Kingdom, the film was broadcast on BBC Two on 26 September 2024, before becoming available for streaming on iPlayer.[12]
The film has also been broadcast in other territories, such as Australia, where it became available for streaming through the Nine Network.[16][17] The film premiered in Germany on 2 October on the RTL network.[18][14]
The film has also received a number of special screenings. It received its London premiere at the JW3 Jewish community centre. Emma Barnett, a BBC journalist, hosted a post-screening panel with Mozer and festival survivors, as well as the father of murdered festival-goer, Aner Shapira, whose story is featured in the film.[9]
Reception
editRachel Aroesti gave the film 4 out of 5 stars in her review for The Guardian. Aroesti wrote: "the documentary’s focus is very clear: it tells the story of these Israeli citizens – utterly defenceless in the face of Hamas’ indiscriminate onslaught – and it does so unflinchingly, exhaustively and movingly."[19]
Ben Kenigsberg reviewed film positively in his New York Times review, praising the lucidity of the interviews and concluding that "if the shock of that day’s violence has faded after a year, “We Will Dance Again” aims to keep it visible, and to memorialize it viscerally."[20]
Ricardo de Querol wrote about the film for El País in Spain: "It is not an easy experience to endure, nor advisable for sensitive people, but as a historical and journalistic document, it is very valuable."[21]
Rachel Cooke wrote about the film for the New Statesman as an impactful viewing experience: "It will destroy you; sleep was impossible for me afterwards. But it is an astonishing thing, almost beyond description." Cooke added, "It is like the Book of Exodus. Someone says it, but I’m already thinking it."[22]
American actor and director, Sean Penn has spoken in favor of the film: "We bandy about the term ‘must-see film,’ and yet rarely do films live up to that in any literal sense. As heartbreaking as it is revelatory, ‘We Will Dance Again’ is truly a must-see film in our time,".[23]
Film director, actress and singer, Barbra Streisand wrote about the film in an Instagram post, where she described it as "a powerful documentary", continuing, "The stories from survivors of the massacre that day were powerful, heartbreaking and amazing. While it is sometimes painful to watch, it is important to never forget."[24]
Awards and nominations
edit- Wins
- Nominations
- Outstanding Producer of Documentary Motion Picture – Producers Guild of America (pending)[25]
References
edit- ^ "Death count from Re'im music festival massacre reportedly updated to 364 — a third of Oct. 7 fatalities". The Times of Israel. 17 November 2023. Archived from the original on 17 November 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
- ^ "New footage shows British-Israeli soldier toss grenades back at Hamas". Sky News. 15 November 2023. Archived from the original on 21 November 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
- ^ "Cpl. Liel Vainshtein, 19: Former child star slain at music festival". The Times of Israel. 30 October 2023. Archived from the original on 16 November 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
- ^ Gillett, Francesca (8 October 2023). "How an Israel music festival turned into a nightmare after Hamas attack". BBC News. Archived from the original on 8 October 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
- ^ Tabachnick, Cara (8 October 2023). "Israelis search for loved ones with posts and pleas on social media". CBS News. Archived from the original on 8 October 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
- ^ Thousands flee rocket and gunfire at all-night desert ‘Nature Party’; dozens missing Archived 7 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine The Times of Israel. 7 October 2023
- ^ Israel releases horrific eyewitness account of rape carried out by Hamas Archived 20 November 2023 at the Wayback Machine The Forward. 8 November 2023
- ^ Documentary "We Will Dance Again" shares survival stories from Nova Music Festival attack Archived 24 December 2024 at the Wayback Machine CBS News. 23 September 2024
- ^ a b “I Want the Whole World to See It”: Victim’s Father, Hostage’s Partner Speak at London Premiere of Oct. 7 Doc ‘We Will Dance Again’ The Hollywood Reporter. 25 September 2024
- ^ a b Paramount+ Sets Premiere for ‘We Will Dance Again’ Documentary About Oct. 7 Hamas Terrorist Attack Archived 24 December 2024 at the Wayback Machine The Hollywood Reporter. 5 September 2024
- ^ ‘We Will Dance Again’ Goes Deep Into the Hell of the Oct. 7 Nova Music Festival Massacre Archived 24 December 2024 at the Wayback Machine The Hollywood Reporter. 23 September 2024
- ^ a b Surviving October 7th: We Will Dance Again Archived 24 December 2024 at the Wayback Machine BBC. Retrieved on 24 December 2024
- ^ a b Iconic Events Releasing brings documentary ‘We Will Dance Again’ to select theaters Archived 30 August 2024 at the Wayback Machine Jewish News Syndicate. 28 August 2024
- ^ a b ‘We Will Dance Again’ Producer Susan Zirinsky Says Oct. 7 Doc Too Intense for Broadcast TV Archived 7 October 2024 at the Wayback Machine The Hollywood Reporter. 24 September 2024
- ^ Supernova music festival documentary debuts on TV Archived 24 December 2024 at the Wayback Machine The Jerusalem Post. 25 September 2024
- ^ When terror stole their freedom Archived 24 December 2024 at the Wayback Machine The Australian Jewish News. 26 September 2024
- ^ Australia’s Nine Network Latest To Buy Israeli Doc ‘We Will Dance Again’ Archived 24 December 2024 at the Wayback Machine Deadline. 6 August 2024
- ^ RTL Picks Up We Will Dance Again Documentary World Screen. 12 September 2024
- ^ Surviving October 7th: We Will Dance Again review – an unflinching, moving account of Hamas’ attack The Guardian. 27 September 2024
- ^ ‘We Will Dance Again’ Review: Remembering Oct. 7 Archived 24 December 2024 at the Wayback Machine The New York Times. 24 September 2024
- ^ La película del ataque de Hamás al festival Nova es difícil de soportar. Todo es real El País. 10 October 2024
- ^ The horrors of Storyville’s Surviving October 7th: We Will Dance Again Archived 2 October 2024 at the Wayback Machine The New Statesman. 27 September 2024
- ^ Industry Heavyweights Aim to Drive Oscar FYC Buzz for ‘We Will Dance Again’ Nova Music Festival Documentary Archived 24 December 2024 at the Wayback Machine Variety. 7 December 2024
- ^ Barbra Steisand post on We Will Dance Again Instagram. 23 October 2024
- ^ a b c Producers Guild Feature Documentary Nominees Include ‘Super/Man,’ ‘Mountain Queen,’ ‘Porcelain War’ Archived 17 December 2024 at the Wayback Machine Variety. 10 December 2024
- ^ a b We Will Dance Again Archived 10 September 2024 at the Wayback Machine Doc Edge. Retrieved on 24 December 2024