In a recent interview with HT, director Amos Gitai discussed his upcoming film Why War?, which will premiere at the Venice Film Festival next month. The film explores the dark and complex nature of war, drawing inspiration from historical and intellectual sources.
Following the Hamas invasion of Israel on October 7 last year, Gitai sought solace in literature. He found comfort in books such as Why War? A Correspondence Between Albert Einstein and Sigmund Freud*, where the two intellectuals exchanged letters in the early 1930s to understand the reasons behind war. Gitai also explored Virginia Woolf’s Three Guineas and Susan Sontag’s Regarding the Pain of Others to further understand the themes of domination and the portrayal of war.
Why War? reflects on these intellectual discussions and attempts to explain the brutality of wars that continue to affect our world today. The film features a cast including Mathieu Amalric, Micha Lescot, Irène Jacob, Jérôme Kircher, Yael Abecassis, and Keren Mor. Gitai chose to avoid graphic depictions of war, instead focusing on the underlying causes and human experiences related to conflict.
The production of Why War? involved filming in Israel, Berlin, and Paris. Gitai aimed to create a narrative that examines war without showing its violence directly, using the correspondence between Einstein and Freud as a guiding framework.
Gitai’s previous works have tackled similar themes, and his experience with Israeli and Palestinian conflict deeply influences his approach. He sees cinema as a way to encourage dialogue and reflection, rather than to offer simple solutions.
Gitai’s belief in the power of art to bridge divides and promote peace remains central to his work. Despite the ongoing conflicts and challenges, he maintains hope that art can contribute to healing and understanding.
