The Making Of


	Yael Klopmann shares her approach to filming STORM OF EMOTIONS: It is very important for the audience to realize that the movie was trying to document events, the history, the situation, and we did not take a side in this debate. That is why we did not change, modify, stage or direct any part of the movie.

Director Yael Klopmann talks about documenting the evacuation, its challenges and her motivation.

What led you to make this film?

What led me to make this movie was the dramatic and unprecedented decision by the Israeli government.

What were some of the challenges you faced in making this film?

The main challenge after getting the police approval was to choose the main characters whom we would be following for 24 hours and to get them to open up to the camera.

How did you gain the trust of the subjects in your film?

Every character had a crew who didn’t change throughout the whole period we were following them, which led to gaining their trust. The main target for us was that they would not feel the camera.

Did the crew ever feel in danger while filming?

Not at all.

What didn’t get included in your film that you would have liked to show?

There were nearly 300 hours of material and we chose what we strongly believed would reflect the situation.

Tell us about a scene in the film that especially moved or resonated with you.

The scenes in the synagogue in Neve Dekalim where the national anthem was sung by soldiers, policemen and settlers together.

Were there any technical challenges you faced while shooting, and if so, how did you resolve them?

Since I was nine months pregnant during the shooting, I had to manage the crews through radios. Every day I watched the material that came in and guided the crews for the next shooting day.

What has the audience response been so far? Have the people featured in the film seen it, and if so, what did they think?

The audience reactions were very emotional—tears and empathy with the characters and the situations they faced.

The independent film business is a difficult one. What keeps you motivated?

The love of filmmaking.

Why did you choose to present your film on public television?

In my opinion this movie reflects in a most accurate way the situations and concessions Israel had to make to move forward with the peace process. It also reflects the humanitarianism and sensitivity of the armed forces, contrary to common belief.