The documentary The First 54 Years - My War With Israel, directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, has officially entered the main competition at the 81st Venice Film Festival. the film, which examines the killings of Palestinian civilians, is the sole documentary vying for the prestigious Golden Lion award this year.
An echo of Kaouther Ben Hania’s Silver Lion win
The 81st Venice International Film Festival is positioning itself as a critical venue for films that tackle the intense complexities of Middle Eastern geopolitics . this follows a precedent set by previous winners who used the platform to highlight Palestinian narratives. for instance, last year the festival awarded a Silver Lion to Kaouther Ben Hania’s Four Daughters, which centered on the death of a Palestinian girl.
By including The First 54 Years - My War With Israel in its main competition, the festival organizers are continuing a trend of elevating works that bridge the gap between cinema and political testimony. This inclusion suggests that the jury is prepared to engage with heavy, investigative subject matter that challenges traditional narratiive structures.
Tel Aviv rooftops and the investigative roots of the film
The visual and narrative foundation of the documentary is deeply rooted in investigative journalism. As the report indicates, the film builds upon extensive reporting from +972 Magazine, Local Call, and The Guardian. This journalistic pedigree provides a layer of evidentiary weight to the film's exploration of Palestinian civilian killings.
Directors Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor utilized a unique filming perspective, capturing much of the footage from Tel Aviv rooftops. This choice of location offers a specific, localized vantage point that distinguishes the film's aesthetic from standard news reportage, turning investigative data into a cinematic experience.
Maggie Gyllenhaal’s jury and the Golden Lion race
The competition for the Golden Lion is uniquely structured this year, as The First 54 Years - My War With Israel is the only documentary contending for the top prize in the main competition. This isolation in the category places a significant spotlight on the film, as it must compete directly against high-budget narrative features for the festival's highest honor.
The responsibility for evaluating these entries falls to a jury headed by Maggie Gyllenhaal. According to festival organizers, the jury will review the competing entries and announce the winners on September 12. The outcome will likely be a major talking point for both the film industry and international political observers.
The 2019–2023 window and the missing post-October context
A defining characteristic of the film is its specific chronological scope, which captures a period of conflict spanning from 2019 to 2023. The documentary's narrative concludes just days before the October 2023 Hamas attack, providing a snapshot of the tensions that existed in the immediate lead-up to the current escalation.
However, the film's specific timeline leaves several questions unanswered for viewers. It remains unclear how the film addresses the aftermath of the October 2023 events, or if the documentary includes any formal responses from Israeli authorities regarding the civilian killings it documents. Because the source focuses on the film's entry into the festival,the depth of its political coounter-arguments remains unverified.
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