1973’s Yom Kippur War is the focal point for HBO Max’s upcoming original series, “Valley of Tears.” Instead of creating a large scale approach to warfare, the creators—Ron Leshem, Amit Cohen, Yaron Zilberman, and Daniel Amse—are highlighting individual character arcs. The selected roles each draw attention to a seemingly forgotten segment of the conflict. Prominent aspects of the series include: “a famous bohemian television star in search of his estranged son, a newly enlisted soldier; a commander and his newly befriended intelligence analyst; tank crewman who represent Israel’s Black Panthers social justice reform movement; and a female officer who refuses to leave the battlefields, disobeying direct orders to evacuate.”
Israeli filmmaker Yaron Zilberman directs this exploration of a painful period. Before ‘Tears,’ the director helmed another historically centered project, “Incitement.” In that film, the character study instead chooses to follow an assassin before his eventual murder of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. For “Valley of Tears,” it was important to amp up the feelings of emotions and realism. The ten-episode series sets itself apart by choosing to film at the actual locations. Through that added touch of realism, the filmmaker as well as the creators are hoping to help audiences connect with the devastation related to the conflict and the toll it took on those involved.
The HBO Max original series is also presenting a first for the new streaming service; episodes will air on Israel’s KAN before arriving on Max. Under this joint agreement, the series premieres on November 12 in the US. Each week, viewers can stream two new episodes until the finale in December. Both Hebrew versions with subtitles and English dubbed episodes are available at the time of their premiere.
Realities of war and humanity collide in the series “Valley of Tears.” Lior Ashkenazi, Aviv Alush, Lee Biran, Shahar Taboch, Joy Rieger, Ofer Hayoun, Imri Biton, and Maor Schwitzer star in the production. Watch the series trailer below.