Our Sons is a documentary about three volunteer soldiers that died in the line of duty. The new soldiers died next to each other on the first day in Gaza in Operation Eitan in 2014. The three heroes, Sean Carmeli, an American Israeli; Jordan Ben Simon, a French Jew; and Max Steinberg, from Los Angeles, were young men who had gone to fight the Hamas alongside the Israeli forces. The documentary follows their lives in their home countries, their upbringing, and the moments before joining the Israeli troops.
On the first day in Gaza, the Israeli army lost 16 soldiers. Three of them were our lone soldiers, Sean, Jordan, and Max. Over 30,000 Israelis attended the funeral of the slain Golani soldiers. One Israeli commander thought it was a coincidence that these soldiers from the same neighborhood in Israel died on the same night.
The documentary opens with a historical account of that fateful day and thereafter. It takes us to Jordan’s home in France, and his voice plays in the background. It says he wanted to join Aliyah when he was 15, but his mother didn’t allow it until a year later. The deceased’s mother goes on to narrate how the news of his son’s death caught him by surprise. Watch the documentary to know what his father, the most influential figure in Jordan’s life, said about his late son.
The following interview takes us to Max’s mom Elvie Steinberg, who narrates her hardship in conceiving Max. She recounts that she managed to get pregnant with the help of an Israeli doctor. It was also a doctor that broke the news to her that her son had been killed. The film tells us more about what Elvie knew about Israel and why she was not as surprised by her son’s death. Stuart Steinberg, Max’s father, narrates how overwhelming it was for him when his son decided to leave for Israel.
Alon Carmeli, Sean’s father, talks about how his son was extraordinary and always dreamed of vacationing in Israel and nowhere else. He loved surfing on the waves and was courageous, which cost him his life. The last statement of his father in this heartfelt interview will leave you speechless. There are also some heartfelt narrations by Darlia Carmeli, Sean’s mom, about her son and his life before joining the army.
The film takes us to Sean’s tomb with her mom, where she regrets allowing her son to join the Golani soldiers. It then goes on to narrate the last conversations between the parents of the soldiers and their sons before they met their tragic deaths.
We also hear from his Golani friends and their celebration of being officially accepted into the force. How did the parents react after hearing the news? Did the state of Israel honor the three soldiers? Our Sons gives answers to all these questions and more, showing us the plight of soldiers and what their loved ones go through. It offers an emotional insight into the effects of war on families and is something that will leave you with tears in your eyes.
What academic subjects would this film be suitable for?
Our Sons would be suitable in academic libraries for historical subjects and studies on war, its repercussions, and conflict resolution. The educational documentary is also good for subjects focusing on the psychological effects of war and those who lose their loved ones because of it.
What can this educational documentary be used as a resource for?
The armed forces can use the documentary to sensitize the proper preparation of the new soldiers to reduce unnecessary deaths in combat. The three soldiers were allegedly on their own and not with the other troops.
What type of library programming could use this title?
Any library programming that includes historical events, especially war, would benefit from this film; Our Sons discusses the Israeli war against Hamas in Gaza.