The documentary Screams Before Silence isn’t for the weakhearted. The 56-minute-long movie, available on YouTube for free, details numerous cases of sexual violence on Oct. 7, using testimonies of survivors and first responders, videos and photos taken by the attackers, and new footage of the destruction left in the wake of the attack.
The movie was produced by Sheryl Sandberg, a prominent and successful high-tech executive who has made it her mission to raise awareness of the atrocities, including acts of sexual violence, carried out by Hamas on Oct. 7.
Many extreme anti-Israel activists deny that sexual violence occurred on Oct. 7, and even feminist groups like UN Women took months to acknowledge the violence against women that happened on that day. Given that background, a movie that spreads awareness about violence and might even change minds is uniquely important.
Shortly before the Israeli premiere of Screams Before Silence at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem, first lady Michal Herzog addressed the crowd. In her remarks, she described the choice to view the movie as “an act of courage, one that matters deeply.”
Nova festival survivor Michal Ohana (L) and first lady Michal Herzog meet at the Israeli premiere of “Screams Before Silence” at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem. (Courtesy Michal Ohana)
“Most of the victims of the crimes that are the subject of this documentary cannot speak,” Herzog said. “They cannot speak because, along with their dignity, their lives were taken from them, too, in the most brutal ways imaginable. But here, now, we hear them. We hear them through the live voices of witnesses that survived. Witnesses who have come out of the heavy shadows of silence with unthinkable courage to be agents of truth.”
Anat Stalinsky, the movie’s director, told The Media Line that making Screams Before Silence was the most important project of her life.
Making this movie showed me what kind of evil humanity can reach, but it also gave me hope that maybe we can stop history from repeating itself
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Stalinsky expressed her disappointment with feminist groups that did not speak out about the violence faced by Israeli women. “Feminist groups ignoring the suffering of Jewish women is probably the most hurtful for many survivors to experience,” she said. “Recently, the world witnessed the #MeToo movement come out in defense of women who were abused. However, if you’re a Jew, your suffering is worth less. It’s #MeToo unless you’re a Jew.”
She hopes that the movie will change the minds of those who are still doubtful as to whether sexual violence took place on Oct. 7. “People who watch the movie will be exposed to the level of the atrocities and how they planned in advance the use of sexual violence on Oct. 7 as a weapon,” she said. “We explain things that many people didn’t see or know before. Hopefully, this will allow them to understand the situation better and maybe even change their minds entirely.”
According to Stalinsky, test viewings with multiple demographic groups have shown “encouraging” results.
This movie isn’t meant for a specific audience. I hope it will be seen worldwide, in the Middle East and everywhere. No one needs to agree to the policies of any government, but the fact that Hamas is a terror organization should be clear to everyone.
“This movie isn’t meant for a specific audience,” she said. “I hope it will be seen worldwide, in the Middle East and everywhere. No one needs to agree to the policies of any government, but the fact that Hamas is a terror organization should be clear to everyone.”
Michal Ohana, a survivor of the Nova rave massacre, told The Media Line that the film “perfectly reflects” her own experiences and those of other survivors.
Michal Ohana, in the film “Screams Before Silence.” (Courtesy Michal Ohana)
“The film is difficult to watch, but it is powerful and depicts unbelievable evil. I think this movie can educate people on the events of Oct. 7. The world needs to see it,” said Ohana, who lives in Portugal and was visiting family in Israel when the attacks took place.
She highlighted the testimony of three girls who were held in Hamas captivity. “After such a testimony, no one can insinuate it didn’t happen,” she said.
Ohana believes that Screams Before Silence can change the minds of those whose anti-Israel stance comes from being uneducated or falling prey to Hamas propaganda. “Maybe the most radicalized people won’t change their minds with this movie, but these are the most extremist and probably support terrorism,” she said.
For Ohana, the dismissal of Jewish victims is nothing new. “As Jews, we’ve faced antisemitism for generations, and sadly, this hatred persists even today,” she said. “Regardless of what we endure, the world ignores what happens to us. However, that’s precisely why we stand firm and refuse to be silenced until the truth is acknowledged.”