The Palestinian-Israeli conflict impacted the Toronto Film Fest in both disruptive and important ways as a once-canceled film about Oct. 7 made its premiere to nearly 2,000 ticketbuyers amid various protests.
Barry Avrich‘s The Road Between Us is a heroic tale of fight and survival, focusing on one Israeli grandfather’s attempt to rescue his family, which was trapped in a Hamas-occupied kibbutz on that fateful day.
The grandfather, a retired Israeli general named Noam Tibon, recreates the harrowing journey he took, facing heavy fire while rescuing civilians from a murderous fate, including his son, daughter-in-law and two toddler granddaughters in the besieged Nahal Oz kibbutz at the Gaza border.
“Family is the most important thing we’ve got,” Tibon told the audience after the screening. “This is universal.”
He had been racked by doubt as he navigated numerous gun battles to reach the kibbutz. “I kept thinking ‘what if I get there and they’re all dead?’ But then I had to push the thought out of my mind because I wouldn’t have been able to go on.”
For much of the screening and its aftermath, rousing cheers could be heard as Tibon and his wife went along on their dangerous mission.
Festival organizers brought on CTV chief anchor Lisa LaFlamme to moderate a panel with filmmakers and subjects. LaFlamme’s presence did not go over well, however, when she noted that “Israel’s response has an aspect of revenge because of the humiliation of that day” and cited the “overwhelming use of force and over 64,000 estimated Palestinian deaths.” Loud jeers rained down from various sections of the theater.
The film was given only one screening, contrary to the custom of offering at least two public screenings and one press screening. Organizers have not explained the decision, but given the protests and security issues, it became clear why they might want one big event instead of several smaller ones.
“What a screening, we arrived here today, and we will release this film internationally,” the director said to loud cheers. The film is seeking distribution, which means that for now this was the only audience to see it.
There were several dozen pro-Palestinian protesters who called out anti-IDF messages and accused Israel of genocide, with pro-Israel protesters loudly volleying back.
“The war on Gaza should have stopped a long time ago,” Gali Tibon said to the pro-Israel crowd in the venue. “I hope it’s not too late. We could still end the war and bring the hostages back and bring peace upon the region.”
She said that “on Oct. 6, 2023, the kibbutzim were filled with young families and children along the border. This will be the real victory of Israel. Not how many bombs we shelled, but how many families will live on the border with their children.”
Noam Tibon concluded, “I hope my granddaughters will live in a flourishing Israel. A living country, a living democracy. Two years of war is a long time.”
