Who’s sorry now? Inside Israeli cinema’s Yom Kippur-inspired stories of guilt and redemption

Ahead of Yom Kippur 2026, this feature examines how Israeli cinema has explored themes of guilt, atonement, and redemption. It surveys films by directors including Avi Nesher, Ari Folman, and Nadav Lapid, analyzing how personal, political, and national guilt are portrayed. The piece highlights Nesher's upcoming film 'Our Loves,' about a retired general seeking redemption by rescuing his daughter during the October 7 attacks, and connects it to broader trends in Israeli filmmaking.

Ahead of Yom Kippur 2026, this feature examines how Israeli cinema has explored themes of guilt, atonement, and redemption. The piece surveys films by directors including Avi Nesher, Ari Folman, Eytan Fox, Samuel Maoz, Nadav Lapid, Ayelet Menahemi, and Esty Shushan, analyzing how personal, political, and national guilt are portrayed. The article highlights Nesher's upcoming film 'Our Loves,' to be released on October 15, 2026, which will open the Haifa International Film Festival. The film centers on Shabi (Shalom Michaelshwilli), a retired general who abandoned his family and seeks redemption by rescuing his daughter Liri (Noa Cohen) during the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attacks. The piece connects this to Nesher's earlier works, including 'The Other Story' (2018), 'The Secrets' (2007), 'Past Life' (2016), and 'The Matchmaker' (2010). It also discusses Folman's 'Waltz with Bashir' (2008) about the Sabra and Shatila massacre, Fox's 'Walk on Water' (2004), Maoz's 'Foxtrot' (2017), and Lapid's 'Synonyms' (2019). Women directors' approaches are noted through Menahemi's 'Seven Blessings' and Shushan's 'The Book of Ruth'. The article concludes that Israeli filmmakers are likely to keep exploring these themes as more stories about October 7 come to light.