“How did you have the courage?”
“How did you feel when you finally arrived in Israel?”
“What did your family think of your actions?”
These were some of that questions that Abrah participants asked Ethiopian Prisoners of Zion, in front of the camera.
The filming took place after the students underwent training in interviewing and received an understanding of the historical background of the aliyah from Ethiopia to Israel, via Sudan. The students divided up into teams, and each team met personally with one of the Prisoners of Zion.
After learning their story and preparing questions to ask on their filming day, which each team scheduled a filming day with the Prisoners of Zion that they met. David Gavro, a professional filmaker, led these filming days. He taught the students about building a set and included them in the actual techniques of filming, sound and other equipment.
During these days, the students filmed and interviewed each Prisoner of Zion telling his story, as well as other signficant documents or photos that theactivists had to show them. They filmed them in their homes and in other significant places, such as a memorial for the Jews who perished in Sudan or a community center, and sometimes included other family members. They asked not only about the facts of the story but about feelings and reflections as well.
The footage will be edited by David Gavro into short films focusing on the stories of these aliyah activists.
