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Epoch Times
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Epoch Times
‘The Children of October 7': Testimony of Children-Hostages
NR | 36m | Documentary | 2025 During the filming of this documentary, psychologists specializing in youth trauma were always present, in case the interview subjects needed their services. It is easy to understand why, because what they endured was so inconceivably cruel. Hamas showed no regard when they took children-hostages during their Oct. 7 terrorist campaign. However, these young survivors wanted their testimonies to be heard, so they sat down with dancer-influencer-activist Montana Tucker to bear witness in Asaf Becker's short documentary, 'The Children of October 7.' Fighting anti-Semitism (probably better termed 'Jew-hatred') and championing the young victims of Hamas terrorism might have cost Tucker some followers, but it reflects her deeply held values, as the granddaughter of Jewish maternal grandparents who survived the Holocaust. Tucker considered this project an extension of her Holocaust remembrance efforts. Perhaps, even more importantly, Tucker is a sensitive listener, who quickly establishes a rapport with young people, as viewers easily see throughout this documentary. The eyewitness accounts they share with Tucker are truly harrowing. For instance, Rotem Matias, a mere 16-year-old on Oct. 7, hid beneath his mother's dead body for several hours. She shielded him from the barrage of bullets Hamas sprayed throughout their 'safe room,' which, tragically, was not safe enough. Related Stories 3/17/2025 6/5/2024 Matias noticed he had also been shot in the stomach. Yet, somehow, he found the strength to carry on because, as he explains, wasting his parents' sacrifice on his behalf would have been 'disrespectful.' Similarly, Yael Idan, a shockingly young 11 years at the time, witnessed the murder of her beloved older sister Maayan. Forced out of their insufficiently-safe room, Idan and her parents were tormented by Hamas kidnappers, who broadcast their sadism over her mother's Facebook page. Montana Tucker talks with Amit Cohen, a child-hostage in the documentary, "The Children of October 7." Paramount+ Ultimately, Yael was left behind, but her father Tsahi was abducted. During the filming, hope persisted he might still be alive, but his remains were subsequently released in late February. Eitan Yahalomi worried greatly for the health of his wounded father Ohad, while they were both held simultaneously but separately as Hamas's hostages. The younger Yahalomi was released as part of a hostages-for-imprisoned-terrorists swap, but his father died during his captive ordeal. From the teen's description of the conditions he endured in Gaza, it is only too easy to understand how his weakened father perished. When not confined to solitary isolation, young Yahalomi was forced to watch violent recordings of the Oct. 7 murders. His sporadic meals consisted of one piece of pita bread and perhaps a slice of pickle. Frankly, the savagery documented in this film would cause severe emotional distress for adults much older than the children interviewed by Tucker. For instance, Ella Shani, 14 years old that day, revisits her late father's house with Tucker, where she sees for the first time the blood-stained spot in the attic where he was executed. Media poster of Montana Tucker and Ella Shani, one of the children featured in the documentary, "The Children of October 7." Paramount+ Crimes Against Humanity It is vitally important to understand these young survivors want to explain what happened to them, to help 'process' their pain and hopefully attain some closure. They also want these crimes against humanity permanently entered into the public record, so they cannot be denied later. Viewers see the proof, like the chilling footage of Hamas terrorizing the Idan family, which they themselves recorded and disseminated. Hamas's apologists continue to deny the crimes the terrorists so documented. 'The Children of October 7' remains scrupulously nonpartisan and nonpolitical. The mere act of documenting these acts of terror provides a rebuke to the extremists hoping to obscure or even justify the carnage, for ideological reasons. Tucker and Becker simply let the youthful survivors speak for themselves. Hopefully, young people around the world will listen. Becker and Tucker could have easily collected considerably more survivor's accounts, but 'The Children of October 7' was deliberately kept short. The film is meant to appeal to the TikTok generation, who have been alarmingly susceptible to propaganda in general, and particularly with respect to Israel and anti-Semitic conspiracy theories. The resulting film is haunting. It is a documentary that needs to be seen because ignoring these horrors constitutes a form of complicity. It is quite remarkable to watch Tucker create an atmosphere of trust in which the survivors feel sufficiently comfortable to offer their devastating oral history. These are horrific atrocities that are deeply unsettling to face, but the assembled survivors will make you remember, through the honest power of their words. Very highly recommended. 'The Children of October 7' now streams on Paramount+. 'The Children of October 7' Documentary Director: Asaf Becker Running Time: 37 minutes Release Date: April 23, 2025 Rating: 4 stars out of 5 What arts and culture topics would you like us to cover? Please email ideas or feedback to
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
New doc focuses on Israeli children swept up in Oct. 7 attacks
(NewsNation) —TikTok creator Montana Tucker has a new documentary on Paramount+, 'The Children of October 7,' which tells the stories of children who survived the deadly 2023 Hamas incursion into Israel. 'We want this film to get outside of the echo chamber,' she tells 'CUOMO.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
TikToker Montana Tucker Gets Serious With ‘Children of October 7'
In the documentary The Children of October 7, which debuts Wednesday on Paramount+, performer and activist Montana Tucker sits down with young survivors of the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, to hear their emotional stories. Tucker was previously known for upbeat TikTok posts but has since focused her social media presence on advocating for those impacted by the attacks that left more than 1,200 Israelis dead. Producers for The Children of October 7 reached out to Tucker to lead the on-camera conversations with the young people, who describe being held captive during invasions of their homes and witnessing the loss of family members. More from The Hollywood Reporter Imax Posts Sharply Higher Quarterly Profit Amid Record China Box Office Europe Hits Meta, Apple With $790M in Antitrust Fines Annecy Unveils 2025 Lineup (Full List) During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter for director Asaf Becker's film that airs Thursday on MTV and is currently streaming on Paramount+, Tucker discusses how she approached her time with the children, the significance to its release date and why she believes the documentary can be appreciated without viewers needing to pick sides in the ongoing Gaza war. How did you get involved with this documentary? A production company from Israel reached out to me because I have done a lot of work with children. I've always had a very special connection with them, and this was the first time I did something that was so serious and so intense with children. Some of the kids knew me from seeing my TikTok dance videos, so they felt a bit more comfortable with me being the one to share their stories. When I got asked if I wanted to be a part of this project, it was an immediate yes. How did the production get in touch with these children? Every Jew around the world pretty much had a connection to somebody who was affected by October 7th. Everyone in Israel is just one big family, and everyone is connected to somebody, somehow. When finding the children to do this documentary, it was just a lot of people knowing people in Israel to make this come through, and the filmmakers did such an incredible job with the research and reaching out. On set, we had a psychologist there. We were very, very sensitive to the children and to their families and making sure that everything was approved by them and that they were comfortable. What stands out in your mind from speaking with the children? This film was mentally really tough on everybody. I certainly didn't sleep at all while I was filming. People ask me, 'How did you not break down in every moment while filming?' There are some moments in the film that I did break down, but what did keep me going is, I would look at these children in the eyes while I was interviewing them. If they were able to recount their testimony a year after it all happened, and they're able to look me in the eyes and stay strong, I have to be able to look them in the eyes and be strong for them. But definitely every night after filming, it was very emotional for me. These kids are so strong and incredible, and all they want is peace, and they want a future for themselves. What is your hope for the project? A few things. One, we have to note that it is coming out on April 23rd — which is Yom HaShoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day — and that is not by accident. We thought that was a very powerful date. And we need to make sure that people know this film is not political at all. We don't dive into the conflict. We don't ask people to take sides. These are just real testimonies from innocent children that had nothing to do with a conflict or a war or any politics, whatsoever. I hope that people really hear from these children and go into this film with an open mind and have empathy. It's a tough film to watch, but it's a really important film. I really recommend parents showing it to their children, specifically. After this year's Oscars, there has been debate surrounding the documentary win for . How do you feel about film and TV projects that have focused on the Gaza situation? Listen, this is such a sensitive subject, and I really do know that. There are always documentaries that come out after wars, and storytelling is so important. That's why I have been on the ground in Israel five times [since Oct. 7], and I continue to go and meet with survivors. My film specifically is told directly from the children. There's no questioning if this is political; this is just real-life testimonies. My grandparents gave their testimonies to Steven Spielberg's Shoah Foundation, where he interviewed Holocaust survivors. These are October 7th survivors sharing their testimonies, and that's it. Best of The Hollywood Reporter "A Nutless Monkey Could Do Your Job": From Abusive to Angst-Ridden, 16 Memorable Studio Exec Portrayals in Film and TV The 10 Best Baseball Movies of All Time, Ranked 20 Times the Oscars Got It Wrong
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Paramount+ Acquires ‘The Children of October 7' Documentary
Paramount+ has picked up the documentary The Children of October 7, which features Montana Tucker in conversation with Israeli children directly impacted by the Hamas attacks on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. The film will premiere April 23 on the studio's marquee streaming platform, to be followed with a linear TV run on MTV. Paramount+ launched another October 7 documentary, We Will Dance Again, in Sept. 2024. More from The Hollywood Reporter Academy "Refused" to Publicly Support Hamdan Ballal, Says 'No Other Land' Co-Director An Eyewitness Account of Oscar Winner Hamdan Ballal's Arrest: "Zip-Tied and Blindfolded While His Family Prayed" How New Documentary 'October 8' Is a Touchstone for People Worried About Antisemitism Shari Redstone, chair of Paramount Global, said in a statement: 'We have long been committed to sharing content that informs and educates. This documentary is a clear example in highlighting the terror that occurred on October 7 and the aftermath for thousands of children who will forever suffer from the impact of that day. Montana Tucker is doing extraordinary work, and by airing this documentary on Paramount + and MTV, we can bring it to audiences around the country.' The Children of October 7 is directed by Asaf Becker and produced by Kastina Communications. The documentary centers on Israeli children as they recount being held captive, witnessing the deaths of their parents and having their homes invaded by Hamas terrorists and their lives upturned. Israel's response to the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attacks sparked the ongoing Israeli-Gaza conflict. 'The Children of October 7 is one of the most important projects I've ever been part of. As the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, hearing these children share the horrors they endured — losing their families, their homes, and their innocence in a single morning — felt hauntingly familiar. I'm grateful they trusted me with their stories and that they have this platform to share their truth. Thanks to Paramount+ and MTV, the world will bear witness,' Tucker, a social media activist, said in her own statement. Producer credits on The Children of October 7 are shared by Eytan Schwartz, Meny Aviram, Mor Tregger, Zameret Alexaneroni, Jonathan Barsade and Rotem Alima. Best of The Hollywood Reporter The Cast of 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer,' Then and Now 'Yellowstone' and the Sprawling Dutton Family Tree, Explained A 'Star Wars' Timeline: All the Movies and TV Shows in the Franchise
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘The Children of October 7' Documentary to Premiere on Paramount+ in April
Paramount+ will be the home of 'The Children of October 7,' a documentary that will focus on the most vulnerable victims impacted by the 2023 Hamas attacks. The film will premiere on April 23 and will air linearly on MTV at a later date. 'The Children of October 7' is directed by Asaf Becker, known for his work on 'Screams Before Silence' and 'One Week With Tom Aharon.' It will feature social media activist Montana Tucker engaging in deeply sensitive conversations with a group of children who bravely share the unthinkable traumas they've endured. The documentary is told through the children's experiences of being held captive, witnessing the deaths of parents and loved ones and losing their homes. Of the estimated 1,200 Israelis who were murdered during the Oct. 7 attack, 37 were children. It's also been estimated that more than 100 children lost one parent during the attack, more than 20 lost both parents and more than 35 were kidnapped. This is without accounting for the hundreds of children who were injured and the thousands who were displaced from their homes. 'We have long been committed to sharing content that informs and educates. This documentary is a clear example in highlighting the terror that occurred on Oct. 7 and the aftermath for thousands of children who will forever suffer from the impact of that day,' Shari Redstone, chair of Paramount Global, said in a Wednesday statement to press. 'Montana Tucker is doing extraordinary work, and by airing this documentary on Paramount + and MTV, we can bring it to audiences around the country.' ''The Children of October 7' is one of the most important projects I've ever been part of. As the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, hearing these children share the horrors they endured — losing their families, their homes and their innocence in a single morning — felt hauntingly familiar,' Tucker said. 'I'm grateful they trusted me with their stories and that they have this platform to share their truth. Thanks to Paramount+ and MTV, the world will bear witness.' The documentary was produced by Eytan Schwartz, Meny Aviram, Mor Tregger, Zameret Alexaneroni, Jonathan Barsade and Rotem Alima. Sasha Gavrikov was responsible for cinematography and Yotam Katzor was responsible for editing. The post 'The Children of October 7' Documentary to Premiere on Paramount+ in April appeared first on TheWrap.
