Much will be written and many films will be made about the events triggered by the terrorist attacks of October 7, 2023, and the war in Gaza. The conflict continues and it is not clear how and when it will end (if it will ever end), and what is being written or filmed now are the first artistic reflections, which have the advantage of proximity to the events and the disadvantage of a lack of historical perspective. Too early? Perhaps it is never too early. ‘October 8‘, the production directed by Wendy Sachs, is one of the first such documentary films, dealing with the impact and echo of the events in the United States and especially on American universities, in the days and months that followed that infamous day of terror in the fall of 2023. The period covered is less than a year, as the filmmakers wanted the premiere to take place exactly one year after the events. Such a film cannot avoid controversy and the way it is seen and received also depends on the viewers, on their degree of familiarity with the events and their context, on their political opinions if any.
The authors do not hide their sympathies. The film begins with a brief recapitulation of the horrors of the morning of October 7. These will always be in the background and will be recalled several times throughout the film, with an emphasis on aspects related to the fate of the Israeli hostages or the unimaginable violence against women. The focus of the film’s authors’ was, however, directed to something else. What happened on October 8 (a metaphorical date for the entire period that followed)? How were the events received and how were the reactions in the media, in international organizations, in the artistic community and especially on American university campuses? Protests, accusations, attempts to blame Israel for the events appeared immediately, even before any Israeli response. Combining filmed images (most of them well-known) with testimonies and interviews involving students and professors, activists from international or Jewish organizations, artists and politicians, ‘October 8‘ builds a worrying picture of the influence of Hamas propaganda in Islamic organizations, of the protests that often took violent forms and paralyzed the activities in some American universities, of the atmosphere of threats and intimidation to which many Jewish students were victims. The general picture is worrying, but at the same time, the dignified attitude and bright figures of a few young people determined to respond courageously, firmly defending their rights, awaken hope.
‘October 8‘ manages to reveal many details about phenomena happening in America these years. I watched the film at a screening followed by a discussion with two of the authors. From what they said, I understood that the target audience is the American and international audience, less the Israeli audience, who should be more familiar with the facts. The film has clarity and clearly and convincingly exposes the positions of the authors and those interviewed, but I still think that it lacks a broader perspective on events and a presentation of other opinions. How does Palestinian propaganda manage to penetrate with such ease environments that should be armed with a basic education, such as universities? Interviews with professors or activists who would articulate (preferably with arguments) different positions would have been interesting. The different positions within the American Jewish community are also completely missing. ‘October 8‘ manages to be a manifesto film that convincingly conveys the message the authors wanted, but it fails to be an investigation that goes into depth to the causes of the phenomena exposed and presents them in a more diverse context. However, it will certainly be a film cited in the many future documentaries and books that will follow.