Tom Scholl’s documentary, Letter to David, and the intimate and heartbreaking expression of David Kunio, a hostage lured to Hamas at Kibbutz Neil Oz on October 7, was on the Berlin International Film Festival on Friday. It premiered at Berlin No. 75, and the director talked about him. I hope David will quickly return to his household.
“It’s David’s love letter,” Shoval stated in a pre-screening interview with the documentary produced by Nancy Spielberg. “There is a superb nobleman of spirit and energy all through the Kunio household. They gave me their belief and cooperation to inform me their tales.”
Ariel, considered one of David’s brothers, has additionally been taken hostage and continues to be in detention. Neither David nor Ariel are scheduled to be launched within the present hostage commerce. David was invited to his spouse and twin daughters, launched in November 2023, whereas Ariel was taken alongside together with his accomplice, Abel Yehod, launched in January 2025.
This screening of this extraordinary documentary, held in entrance of a Rapt viewers, had deep resonance for a number of causes, as he wore a yellow ribbon pin that symbolized hostages.
The first is that David has a particular connection to Berlin. Because as a younger non-expert, he appeared in Shoal’s first function movie, Youth, together with twin brother Eitan Kunio, which premiered on the competition in 2013. , Julia von Heinz, Alice Brauner and Duzen Tekkal are attending the purple carpet of the opening gala on the seventy fifth Berlin International Film Festival held in Berlin on February 13, 2025. Holding a photograph of Kunio. ))
International Notes
It attracted worldwide consideration, and David praised his efficiency. It is the darkish story of two brothers whose household is in a depressing financial strait, the place a rich woman makes the false resolution to lure her to try to pay her father’s money owed. The angle of the enchanting, which was violent and upset 12 years in the past, now appears unusual and ironic.
“When I noticed the movie once more after October seventh, I felt that actuality was luring my movie,” Shoval stated. “I now noticed David as a hostage, not as a temptation.”
In 2012, the younger director approached his actors. The documentary could be very emotional. Because David is greater than his headline. He shed tears throughout our interview whereas speaking about David and his household.
“When I first met David and Eitan and met their household, I felt an entire a part of it. The Cunio household, there’s one thing so robust about their love, and also you see it within the movie. The embrace. is a hug with them… They embrace like their lives rely on it,” he stated Q and the movie.
Speaking concerning the embrace between the brothers proven within the movie, he stated, “Every time I see this embrace [while working on the documentary]I needed to proceed doing it, and I assumed this was a picture of hope. ”
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Shoval acknowledged how a lot Cunio Brothers contributed to the youth and his profession. “To at the present time, I cherish their look in my movies as probably the most beneficiant present I’ve ever obtained. It gave me a occupation,” Shoval additionally spoke of David. did. Young individuals who extra skilled actors might dream of have chosen to not pursue performing and have become electricians.
Asked why David made this resolution, the sneakers smiled and advised an anecdote highlighting the deep connection between the dual brothers and the ache of their separation. “David requested me about going to behave.
He thought that was one thing he and Eitan might do collectively. But I defined, no, they need to work individually. There could be very little half for the siblings. That’s all. They had been solely fascinated by performing if they might do it collectively. ”
Eitan tells the story of a member of the family burning out in a protected room to demise, however the documentary won’t use information footage from October seventh.
“The information was filled with photographs of graphic violence and worry,” Shoval stated. “But I did not need to use it as a result of I feel I’m blind to it… I needed to make use of the flicks I had from them and the fabric I had, so I stated, He tried to create a path in order that you possibly can see humanity and life.”
The letter to David is usually composed of latest interviews together with his household with Eitan, in addition to auditions for Cunio Brothers and a accomplished younger man scene. When he labored on younger individuals, Shoval discovered one thing fascinating: footage of David and Eitan from a documentary he made about his life on Nir Oz in 2012 could also be utilized in behind-the-scenes function movies. I assumed that wasn’t, however it had been forgotten till now. .
The footage consists of scenes from Kibbutz Nir Oz
The footage consists of scenes of the Kibbutz brothers, roaming and celebrating particular events with immigrant households in Argentine.
Another treasure on this found footage is the 2012 scene of Siri and Yaden Vivas. Ciri was lured to Gaza alongside along with her younger sons, Kufiel and Ariel, and was seen on October seventh in some of the upset clips Hamas made. Her youngsters are terrified.
However, in a letter to David, she is shining and relaxed, speaking about her reference to Kunio, the place she grew up. Her husband, Yalden Bibas, who was invited and launched earlier this month, additionally appears to be like younger and completely satisfied within the documentary clip. Around 30 different Nir Oz residents who had been killed and 70 individuals who had been lured out are seen on a cheerful day.
Another necessary side of the Berlin screening was that it was merely finished in any respect and the viewers was respectful. When Israeli director Amos Gitai’s newest movie, Sikun, was screened in the identical auditorium the place a letter to David was proven in Berlin in 2024, the viewers repeatedly suspended Q and A and entered a ceasefire. I cried out for it.
However, the viewers within the letter to David quietly heard the scarf between Q and A and talked about their issues concerning the hostages.
Michael Stütz, co-director of Berlinale Film Programming, who interviewed Shoval between Q and A, stated he was very grateful to Shoval for bringing a letter to David. “I do know I missed a terrific alternative to point out solidarity and empathy final 12 months.”
Berlin’s new director, Tricia Tuttle, launched the letter to David, a key assertion of assist at a competition with tons of of movies. She additionally took half in a purple carpet vigil in quest of the discharge of David and all the opposite hostages.
The second very totally different movie about hostages holding Brendon Kramer’s Liat is scheduled to be screened on the competition early subsequent week, and the movie sheds much more mild on the hostage light-like type.
Shoval stated that letters to David might be seen everywhere in the world, and that each Kunio, who’re being held hostage, are hoping to remain house together with his household within the close to future.
“I promised Eitan that that is an limitless movie. When David and Ariel come again, I’ll shoot the ending, so to smell out loud applause, Shoval stated.