The short animation film Superwoman is available to watch at the top of the page.
Following the massacre on October 7th and the abduction of Israeli citizens by Hamas, Yoni Goodman created a poignant short animated film titled Superwoman. The film encapsulates the Israeli people’s collective yearning for hope, inspired by a poem from Astar Shamir. Superwoman explores the depths of shared trauma, vividly illustrating the nation’s desire for superhuman power to surmount the challenges of war and to rescue the kidnapped Israeli men, women, and children from the terror tunnels of Hamas.
Superwomen | Astar Shamir
And at night I dream I am Superwoman
I enter the tunnels under the ground
And rescue the children
One by one
With all the adults around them.
And in the morning,
When they are still not here,
I memorize their names,
One by one
So I won’t leave anyone behind,
at night
Dreams often serve as a mirror to the soul, weaving narratives composed of our deepest fears and desires. They are imbued with the essence of our emotional and psychological landscapes, taking us on a surreal journey that presents us with fantastical and symbolic scenarios where anything is possible.
Goodman’s animated film, inspired by the poem Superwoman, depicts a woman who transforms into a superhero in her dream, soaring to Gaza and courageously delving into the earth’s depths to rescue the kidnaped Israeli children and adults. The poem, written and narrated by Shamir, captures a profound yearning to shield a nation that is wounded and bleeding and to ignite a flame of hope. The dream sensitively underscores an urgent need for ethical and brave leadership committed to doing everything possible to save those it failed to protect on October 7th and to reunite the hostages with their families. The film concludes with the woman’s stark return to the grim reality of the morning, with the hostages still absent, renewing fears for their well-being and a feeling of powerlessness. Standing before a wall adorned with posters of the kidnapped, the woman solemnly recites their names, symbolizing a national vow to remember and never forsake them.
In a way, the people of Israel relive the trauma of October 7th daily, as if trapped in a relentless nightmare. Each day, the national consciousness gathers testimonies from bereaved families, massacre survivors, soldiers and civilians who fought against the terrorists, and those who have returned from Hamas captivity. We recognize the historical significance of our times, where our shared, intergenerational trauma is continually refreshed by the ongoing ordeal of the hostages – spanning generations from grandparents to infants – who endure unspeakable horrors. Some have even witnessed the torture and execution of their loved ones before being forced into the grim confines of captivity.
Shamir’s poetry and Goodman’s animation intertwine to convey the complexity of a collective aspiration for hope, which appears elusive amidst the harsh realities of war. They highlight the ability of art to articulate profound emotions, to bring people together in their common experiences of grief and longing, and to inspire a feeling of unity and resilience even during the toughest moments. The dream of becoming a superhero, flying courageously into the heart of darkness to bring back the light, symbolizes the unbreakable spirit of a nation that refuses to be defined by the acts of massacre committed against it.
The heartfelt short film Superwoman is a gesture of solidarity with the families struggling for the release of the hostages and a call to the international community to recognize the October 7th massacre and demand their immediate release. It reinforces the idea that even amidst the gravest human atrocities, the collective longing for hope and unity can create a beacon of light in the darkest times.
The short animation film Superwoman is available to watch at the top of the page.
