Holding Liat

During the October 7 attacks, Liat Beinin Atzili and her husband Aviv were abducted from their kibbutz home near the border. Yehuda and Chaya Beinin are consumed by fear for their daughter's fate as the family confronts this sudden crisis. The kidnapping also catalyzes public dissatisfaction with the government's handling of hostages.

As the crisis unfolds, Yehuda Beinin grows more vocal, leading a public campaign against the Gaza war and the government's inaction on hostages. He publicly questions the state's response and rallies supporters to demand action. The pressure extends beyond his family, shaping political debate.

Yehuda travels with his younger daughter Tal to the United States to seek international support against perceived inaction. They encounter sympathy for Israel in some circles, but also exposure to American political dynamics. The trip reveals the complexities of foreign backing for Netanyahu's government.

In Portland, demonstrations call for a ceasefire while American academics contextualize the conflict. Joel Beinin delivers a lecture about the Nakba, highlighting competing historical narratives. A video chat between the brothers uncovers a long-standing disagreement over the state’s founding principles.

A body found at the kibbutz is confirmed to be Aviv's, though his exact location and fate remain unresolved. The community mourns a lost life while the authorities struggle to locate the body and provide closure. The revelation intensifies the national sense of loss and outrage.

Members of the kibbutz and broader Israeli society grieve Aviv and the other victims, yet outrage persists over the war's human cost. The tragedy fuels protests, debates, and continued demands for accountability. The atmosphere is charged with sorrow mixed with anger.

The first ceasefire is announced, offering a temporary pause in hostilities. Relatives of the hostages await the final list of those who will be released, hopeful yet anxious about the fate of their loved ones. Public life shifts as people recalibrate expectations around negotiations.

Tal Beinin expresses dissatisfaction with both Israeli and American positions during a public meeting about the ceasefire. She uses the platform to voice concerns about the handling of hostages and diplomacy. Her stance underscores the generational and political tensions surrounding the conflict.

Liat Beinin Atzili is released by Hamas, marking a turning point for her family and the kibbutz. The delay and uncertainty surrounding Aviv's fate remain a source of lingering fear even as Liat returns home. Her release also tests the dynamics of the ceasefire talks and public optimism.

President Joe Biden reaches out to Yehuda and Chaya, offering support and expressing condolences. The family responds with gratitude, a moment that underscores Washington's engagement with the hostage crisis. The call also highlights the international diplomacy surrounding the conflict.

Liat reunites with her parents at the hospital, where she conveys a troubling sense that Aviv's fate is dire. The moment blends relief from Liat's release with sorrow for her husband's possible death. The family confronts the personal cost of the war.

At Aviv's funeral, Liat delivers a heartfelt speech and the family dances in memory of the lost husband and father. The ceremony consolidates communal grief and resilience. The event marks a somber milestone in their shared ordeal.

Back at the kibbutz, Liat watches ceasefire demonstrations in Tel Aviv on television, connecting the local tragedy to the wider national debate. The scene contrasts personal loss with ongoing political movements. The memory of Aviv shapes her view of the conflict's future.

Three months after the events, during a Holocaust memorial, Liat contemplates the ongoing war and the lives of Palestinians on the other side of the fence. The ceremony becomes a moment of moral reckoning and personal introspection. The film closes on a note of unresolved tension and empathy.