Holding Liat

During the October 7 attacks, Liat Beinin Atzili and her husband Aviv Atzili are abducted from their kibbutz near the border. Their families are plunged into fear as news of their disappearance spreads and questions about their fate loom large.

Liat's parents, Yehuda and Chaya Beinin, grapple with the uncertainty of their daughter's fate and the political pressures surrounding the hostage crisis. Public debates and protests intensify as the Israeli government faces criticism for its handling of the war and the hostages.

Seeking international support, Yehuda travels with his youngest daughter Tal to the United States. They hope to rally opposition to government inaction and to press for a more forceful response to the hostage crisis.

In Portland, ceasefire demonstrations gather protesters who demand an immediate halt to the fighting. Joel Beinin, Yehuda's brother, delivers a lecture about the Nakba, framing the conflict in historical terms and challenging mainstream narratives.

Through a video chat, Yehuda and his brother Joel reveal their long-standing disagreement over the basic principles of the state of Israel. Joel contends that the kibbutz' socialist ideals were co-opted by a colonialist agenda, adding a personal dimension to the political debate.

Investigators confirm that the blood found at the kibbutz belongs to Aviv, but his body location remains unknown. The confirmation deepens the community's grief and raises questions about whether his remains will ever be recovered.

Kibbutz members mourn their losses, and a broader Israeli society expresses anger over the war and the hostage situation. The emotional weight of the crisis fuels demands for accountability and humanitarian relief as ceasefire talks stall.

A first ceasefire is announced, but families wait for the final list of hostages to be released. The uncertainty intensifies the fear and grief for Yehuda, Chaya, and other relatives.

Tal Beinin publicly voices dissatisfaction with both Israeli and American positions during a public meeting about the ceasefire. She questions the humanitarian costs of the conflict and the slow progress toward a real peace.

Liat is ultimately released by Hamas, ending her period of captivity. Her release brings relief but interrupts the family's sense of ongoing grief as they confront Aviv's ongoing fate.

Shortly after Liat's release, the Beinin family receives a phone call from U.S. President Joe Biden, who offers condolences and expresses support. The call provides a rare moment of international acknowledgment amid a personal tragedy.

Liat reunites with Yehuda and Chaya at the hospital and tells them she suspects Aviv’s fate is grave. The moment is heavy with relief, worry, and the dawning realization of what happened to Aviv.

At Aviv's funeral, Liat gives a heartfelt speech and the family dances in memory of the fallen husband and father. The ceremony marks a turning point as the family honors him and begins to confront the future without him.

Returning to her kibbutz, Liat watches ceasefire demonstrations in Tel Aviv on television. The scenes underscore the continuing political struggle and the human cost of the conflict on all sides.

Three months later, at a Holocaust memorial, Liat weighs the ongoing war and the Palestinian lives on the 'other side of the fence.' The memorial prompts a somber meditation on memory, trauma, and the price of conflict.