Oz’s List, The Journey of Oz Davidian is an Israeli-made documentary about the Oct. 7, 2023 terrorist attack on Israel that ignited the current Middle East conflict.

Driving an Israeli government issued Mitsubishi 4×4 truck (equipped with automatic cameras) assigned to him as liaison to the Bedouin community, Davidian carried single handgun and one clip of ammo for protection as he navigated back roads. He made about 15 trips that long day to rescue terrified concertgoers and return them to anxiously waiting families, with terrorist bullets whizzed by his truck.

And yet, despite the film’s positive reception — and its heroic inspirational message — it’s unlikely this documentary by Israeli TV station Reshet will ever be screened again, let alone broadcast or streamed.

“There are people who’ve got balls and there are people who ain’t got balls,” observes vet producer Bill Mechanic of the current political climate in Hollywood, when it comes to the Middle East. “People afraid of their shadows, who live to protect their jobs, are not going to want to take a chance.”

After Hamas had killed six Israeli hostages, WME Agent Brandt Joel wrote on pro-Israel WhatsApp group, “Screw the left kill all.” Brandt quickly deleted the post and explained in a Zoom that he only meant “kill” members of Hamas, but the damage had been done; his top clients, Mahershala Ali, fired him.

The 2016 Netflix series Fauda, for instance, which earned praise for strong storytelling, has faced criticism in its fourth season, which began in 2023, for glorifying the occupation of Palestinian lands. The Occupation of the American Mind, a 2016 documentary delving into how Israeli government uses its influence to shape American media, has drawn recent fire from both sides, with Jewish critics calling it anti-Semitic and Arabs claiming it distorts their cause. Likewise, the 2018 Egyptian spy thriller The Angel, set during the Six Day War in 1967, has been blasted by both sides.

Oz has other issues apart from politics that make it a tough sell in Hollywood. It’s in Hebrew and it’s extremely violent.

“And what about rating it?” he adds. “Is this NC 17? That gets very tricky when you’re talking about war and showing dead people on the street.”

Oz’s Lists’ producers are aware of the uphill battle to get their documentary on screens in the U.S. But they’re working on assembling a version that will stand a better chance. “We may change the narration to English or insert some new images,” says Yossi Eli, Israeli war correspondent who made Oz’s List without compensation.

Efforts are also underway to submit Oz’s List for awards and festivals, led by L.A. filmmakers Dan and Zahara Israely, who produced Papa, now airing on Amazon.

Davidian has returned to living his low-profile life with his wife and four daughters. He agreed to cooperate with this documentary at the urging of those he rescued, who he has kept in touch with. Several are quoted in the documentary expressing their thanks and calling him a hero.

He also made rare public appearance on Oct. 30 at new awards ceremony held by Israel’s President Isaac Herzog. Davidian was among those who received the state’s highest civilian award for extraordinary heroism.  Many of the honors were presented posthumously.