The makers of The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue, the heartfelt documentary that generated much controversy ahead of its slot at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on Wednesday, received nearly a three-minute standing ovation from the predominantly pro-Israel 1,800 audience members after its screening.
Canadian filmmaker Barry Avrich chronicles the story of Maj.-Gen. (ret.) Noam Tibon as he races from Tel Aviv to a kibbutz near the Gaza Strip to save his son and his family.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, for much of the screening, rousing cheers and heartfelt sniffles could be heard as Tibon and his wife, Gali, went on their dangerous and, at times, tragic mission.
In Toronto, a few dozen protesters carrying Palestinian flags and a handful of people supporting Israel demonstrated outside the screening. One person was arrested, according to Toronto Police.
An organizer of the pro-Palestinian protest against the TIFF world premiere told The Hollywood Reporter that they opposed what they regarded as Israeli propaganda.
“This protest is here to help educate people to what’s happening and to clarify the misinformation and the Israeli propaganda,” Anas, as the organizer identified himself, argued.
Tarek Haj Ebrahim, another pro-Palestinian protester, questioned the legitimacy of the film. “The whole movie is fake and false information. We’ve been in this conflict for 100 years. We know how they flip facts, how they falsify history,” Ebrahim told THR.
Winston Siegel, a pro-Israeli counter-protester, defended the Canadian documentary as it had a controversial world premiere at TIFF. “It’s a very legitimate story of a man trying to save his family under horrendous circumstances.
That’s the story they want to represent as propaganda,” Siegel told THR.
At a discussion onstage with the filmmakers and the subjects of the film, Avrich said he did not object to peaceful protests.
“I ultimately wish anybody that’s protesting this film watches it first. Then let’s have a conversation,” he said on the red carpet. “In the world right now, we need to hear stories of family and unity, and that’s what this movie is about.”
TIFF management initially canceled the screening, citing concerns about the filmmakers not getting permission for all the clips shown in the film, which Kan News said referred to obtaining permission from Hamas to include clips of the massacre that the terror group filmed and broadcast widely.
Avrich encourages healthy dialogue amid protests
The initial decision to pull the film from the lineup sparked worldwide outrage, including from Jewish groups and filmmakers around the world, and resultant negotiations between the filmmakers and the festival led TIFF to reinstate the film, albeit for one screening at the large Roy Thomson Hall.
The film makes extensive use of violent Hamas bodycam footage from October 7, interspersed with interviews with the Tibon family and other Israeli survivors.
The film is critical of Israeli leadership. “We failed tremendously on that day,” says Gali, who refers to the feeling that “your country abandoned you.” But it is Israelis with guns – security guards and current and former members of the military – who are depicted coming to the rescue.
“Two years after October 7, I still don’t believe it happened to us,” she said. “We are so joyful our family made it through, but our hearts are with the families that are grieving.”
Avrich, who had previously told THR he was unhappy with the decision to reduce the number of screenings to a single one, said that he was pleased with the reception.
“What a screening. Other films at TIFF might have had certain privileges. But I’m in Roy Thomson Hall… We arrived here today, and we will release this film internationally.”
The Tibons, in their remarks after the screening, reflected the deep division and trauma Israel has encountered since the October 7 massacre and Israel’s response in Gaza.
“The war on Gaza should have stopped a long time ago,” Gali Tibon said, to some if not full applause among the crowd. “I hope it’s not too late. We could still end the war and bring the hostages back and bring peace upon the region.”
Noam Tibon added, “ I hope my granddaughters will live in a flourishing Israel. A living country, a living democracy. Two years of war is a long time.”