42 | SEPTEMBER 19 • 2024 J N A lthough the Hebrew- language film Kissufim was filmed before the attacks of Oct. 7, 2023, the streaming release on Netflix strikes a chord with viewers still feeling the impact of the terrible events that saw Israeli kibbutzim, including the real-life Kissufim, devastated by Hamas terrorists. Following the daily lives of a group of young soldiers and friends volunteering at Kissufim (in the northwestern Negev desert in Israel adjacent to the Gaza Strip), the film is set in 1977, just four years after the Yom Kippur War. Yet, its themes continue to hit hard today. In addition to mounting antisemitism and the enduring tension between Israel and its Arab neighbors felt both in the film and today’s world, the real Kissufim kibbutz was targeted by Hamas terrorists, who killed 14 members. Many of these individuals worked closely with the Kissifum film crew during filming, though the events to follow couldn’t have been predicted. With its sense of place, themes and geopolitical conflict relevant to today’s times, Kissufim sheds light on the decades of survival Israel has faced since becoming a nation in 1948. Still, despite its unprecedented connection to the modern age, Kissufim has a heartwarming and compelling story full of friendship, love, sexuality, morality, freedom and the end of innocence. The coming-of-age period film showcases the highs and the lows of life at Kissufim for young friends working at the kibbutz at the end of their army service. By day, they work hard in the fields, and at night they let loose and have fun. They even swim at the beach in Gaza, which, in 1977, was under Israeli control. Back then, Israelis would visit the Gaza Strip to shop and eat. However, as it does today, conflict ensues between Gazans and kibbutz residents. 1977 marked a pivotal year when then-Egyptian president Anwar Sadat visited Jerusalem, but the border region continued to exist in a state of crisis and tension. The story captures the tough reality of life on the border and the threats that civilians face on either side. Life in a war zone is full of danger and the 20-year-old soldiers come face-to-face with death on countless occasions. Kissufim is a powerful drama that may be fictional but is inspired by real events and people. Israeli writer-director Keren Nehmad’s father once volunteered at Kissufim as a soldier, and his memories helped create the backdrop of the film. Yet Nehmad’s feature debut instilled a more feminine narrative in which women hold the power both on screen and behind the camera. While we won’t reveal the dramatic ending, Kissufim has an eerie similarity to today’s kibbutzim and the dangers that still remain a part of everyday life for its hard- working citizens. Kissufim has already won Best Foreign Feature and Best Cinematography at the Orlando Film Festival. It also won the Golden Aphrodite, Best Score and Best Editing at the Cyprus Film Festival. Its Netflix debut is in its original Hebrew language but includes English subtitles. Dazed and Confused with an Israeli twist, Kissufim pulls at the heartstrings for more reasons than one — though its connection and semblance to the Oct. 7 events may be extraordinary. A must-watch film, Kissufim is a potent reminder of both the beauty of life and its fragility. ARTS&LIFE FILM REVIEW Now streaming on Netflix, Kissufim has an eerie resemblance to today’s events. Life on an Israeli Kibbutz ASHLEY ZLATOPOLSKY CONTRIBUTING WRITER BY LIGHT STREAM PRODUCTIONS Screenshot of Kissufim RATING: