Documentary 'Holding Liat' Examines Israeli Family's Trauma After Hamas Attack

The documentary film 'Holding Liat,' directed by Brandon Kramer, provides an intimate portrayal of the Atzili family following the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. The film focuses on Liat Atzili and her husband Aviv, who were abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz. Over nearly two years, Kramer followed the family, capturing their grief and political divisions. Liat was released after 54 days in captivity, but Aviv did not survive. The documentary, which won the best documentary award at the Berlinale last year, premiered in theaters on April 1. It highlights the family's left-leaning beliefs and their advocacy for peace and reconciliation with Palestinians. Key figures include Yehuda, Liat's father and a U.S. citizen, who traveled to Washington to lobby American politicians, and Netta, the couple's younger son, who survived the attack. The film explores themes of violence, coexistence, and the impact of political strategies on personal trauma. Kramer aims to humanize the victims and contribute to ending cycles of violence.