When the Smoke Clears: A Story of Brotherhood, Resilience and Hope

When the Smoke Clears tells the true stories of young Israeli soldiers whose injuries leave them fighting for the strength to live. Making breakthroughs and finding meaning by reaching out to those in need, they discover that what didn’t kill them really did make them stronger.

Documentary    •     2017     •     70 Minutes     •     ENGLISH & HEBREW W/ENGLISH SUBTITLES

Synopsis

When the Smoke Clears: A Story of Brotherhood, Resilience and Hope tells the true stories of young Israeli soldiers whose injuries leave them fighting for the strength to live. Making breakthroughs and finding meaning by reaching out to those in need, they discover that what didn’t kill them really did make them stronger.

The film shares the accounts of Gil, Ofer, and Elad – young war veterans whose unthinkable battle experiences leave them with life-altering mental and physical scars. Returning to society, their trauma disconnects them from all they once valued, turning their lives upside down.

When all seems lost, a revolutionary idea gives them the hope, courage, tools and community to survive, and to embrace their identities as heroes both on and off the battlefield. Banding together in a family of wounded soldiers, they learn to face their obstacles together and discover that in conquering their pain, they might have more to offer than ever before.

When the Smoke Clears follows this band of brothers during the darkest times of their lives, and proves that massive growth and healing can come through giving to others, transforming them into heroes in their own lives and in the lives of those around them.

CREDITS

Executive Producers: Raphael Shore, Lori Komisar, Morrie Silverman
Producers: Raphael Shore, Rebecca Shore
Writers: Ryan Lifchitz, Fernanda Rossi, Rebecca Shore, Shalom Shore
Music: Ofer Hai Meyer, Liran Kehat
Editor: Ryan Lifchitz
Director of Photography: David Blumenfeld

AWARDS

Best Documentary Feature – GI Film Festival San Diego, 2018

Best Human Spirit Documentary – Chagrin Documentary Film Fest, 2018

Bronze Remi Award – Worldfest Houston, 2018

Best International Feature Documentary Film – Overcome Film Festival, 2018

Testimonials

"The film is heart wrenching yet so real. It touches on common feelings of loneliness, camaraderie and search for reason that transcend the given situation. It shows the faces, lives and humanity behind the statistical numbers. Beautifully done, eye opening, relatable, emotional and thought provoking."
Ezra Felder
Former IDF now student in University
"When the Smoke clears is an amazing and extremely important movie that I think everyone should watch. The importance of mental health has taken the world by storm and this movie is that much more relevant because of it."
Cindy Seni
Public Diplomacy and Academic Affairs Officer Consulate General of Israel
"We showed it and what a response we had! You could hear a pin drop and at the end the applause was deafening. Kol Hakavod you have produced a great piece of work. "
Auryt Jacobson
Principal, Masada College of Sydney Australia
"...When the Smoke Clears can touch hearts, change minds, and make a difference for Israel. Its profound themes and empathetic cast align seamlessly with our latest research on how to connect American Jews - and particularly millenials - to Israel. I believe it may be JU’s most impactful film to date, and that is saying a lot."
Fern Oppenheim
Brand Israel Group

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