|Open the Field| Documentary Film - MENTAL HEALTH IN LONE SOLDIERS IN IDF

TRIGGER WARNING: Bomb Alarm siren; Suicide; War Imagery; PTSD
Open the Field |‏פותחים השטח|
Documentary Film-
Message from Creators: We are two international students currently residing in Israel. We moved from different countries and were met with several hardships and culture shocks. For us as students we greatly struggle from time to time, so we couldn’t even imagine the difficulties a Lone Soldier would experience in comparison; so our aim was to find that out. This is our first major project and although the content is not perfect, the message is there and we hope it translates well.
Watch as we follow the story of 4 different Lone Soldier Veterans of the Israeli Defense Force and their experience with mental health.
Lone Soldiers leave their home country to serve and protect the State of Israel, yet are not met without any tribulations. The cultural shock and stress experienced are a unique component of what it means to be a ‘Lone Soldier’. Israel has a mandatory draft that pertains to most of its citizens. With so many citizens serving (whether it be current or post service) Lone Soldiers are an afterthought. Although Lone Soldiers receive additional financial compensation and support compared to other soldiers, the mental toll moving to a new country without your family at a young age takes on the soldiers is oftentimes misunderstood- resulting in mental health issues going unnoticed.
As stated in the preface, the goal of the documentary does not aim to insult the IDF or persuade opinions but rather be used as a way to begin conversations and create space for open dialogue on a topic that is rather taboo in military settings.
Again, every story is different and this documentary does not speak to the experience of every Lone Soldier in service. We hope after watching this film that change can occur in the IDF revolving around the stigma mental health issues carry.
#documentary #israel #IDF #israelidefenseforce #lonesoldiers #studentfilmfestival
Like what you see? Follow the director’s Instagram: @sarits.world
for further updates regarding future projects.
B-Roll: IDF Official RUclips page, footage from soldiers in service, Instagram.
Director: Sarit Gad
Editors: Alan Azulay
Assistant Editor: Keren Peter Dekel