Israeli Helmer Dani Rosenberg Sets 'Of Dogs And Men' With AR Content

EXCLUSIVE: Israeli director Dani Rosenberg (The Death of Cinema and My Father Too, The Vanishing Soldier) has set his next film with Alexander Rodnyansky’s AR content. The film, which Rosenberg wrote with Ori Avinoam and Itai Tamir, is called Of Dogs and Men and AR Content will produce with Tamier (Under a Blue Sun) of Laila Films.

The story follows 16-year-old Dar, who returns to her kibbutz to look for her dog who was lost during the terror attack of October 7. She navigates through the horrors etched upon the place and on the faces of people she meets while encountering the stark reality of the unfolding disaster beyond the fence. Between those who seek revenge and those whose faith in mankind remains unwavering, Dar will try to find her own voice.

Financed by AR Content, Of Dogs and Men was shot in October and November 2023 in the kibbutzim lining the border with Gaza. Though the story is fictional, it stars non-actors and was shot on-location with a small crew who lived in or were present in the region at the time. To portray the reality of the region, it features a light camera, mostly improvised dialogue and no constructed sets.

“I have been living about a 50-minute drive away from hell on earth,” said Rosenberg. “A place where families were burned alive or buried under their houses, women were raped and kidnapped and babies die of starvation. A place where refugees roam without a future on the horizon. We started filming knowing one thing for certain – it wouldn’t be right to invent fictional characters or artificial sets. I decided to film real people who are essentially part of the locations and the real events and to improvise all interactions, so that I don’t put a single world into their mouths. The film has one anchor that connects it to the world of fiction: the protagonist, Dar, and her fictitious story, which is the frame for today’s unfolding reality.”

Rodnyansky added: “Throughout my career I have been supporting talented filmmakers and today I feel that it is important to help give voice to the Israeli artists and through their work fight the rising tide of global anti-semitism. Of Dogs and Men is a unique and beautiful film that focuses on the fragility of life and the horror of war. The reason I immediately fell in love with his film was that it provides a very humane message. Watching the film, it is obvious that while Dani, like many Israelis, is devastated by the tragedy of October 7th, he feels the pain of the innocent victims from both sides.”

Rosenberg’s debut feature, The Death of Cinema and My Father Too was part of the Official Selection in Cannes in 2020 and won the award for Best Israeli Feature at the Jerusalem Film Festival. His second feature film, The Vanishing Soldier, was part of the Official Selection at the Locarno Film Festival in 2023 and won the award for Best Israeli Feature Film at the Haifa Film Festival, the Critic Award at Cinemed, and lately has been distributed successfully around France in dozens of cinemas across the country, with raving reviews.

His short and medium length films have been shown in numerous international festivals including the Cannes Cinéfondation, Berlinale, HotDocs, and IDFA. His comedy-drama series “Milk & Honey” has been purchased for adaptation in Germany and France.

AR’s current slate includes: Kornel Mundruczó & Kata Wéber’s At the Sea starring Amy Adams, Laszlo Nemes’ Orphan, Myroslav Slaboshpytskyi’s Occupation, and Kantemir Balagov’s Butterfly Jam.