Happy You're Alive
Director Hilla Medalia
Countries Israel, United States
Duration 0 min
Synopsis
Happy You're Alive is an intimate look into the psychological effects of war on soldiers and the necessary healing process. It examines the dark, yet inevitable,fears and dilemmas that mark the wars of our times. As a society, we tend to merely count the wounded and the dead; it all becomes just numbers and figures. What we usually fail to take into account is the invisible piercing mental damage we inflict upon both our soldiers and our society. Happy You're Alive bravely poses the questions that a war-torn society does not dare to ask. The film tells the story of Kobi, an inspiring musician who embarks on a breakthrough journey to conquer the harsh scars of combat war. Creating a rock opera "MILHAMA" ("War") as his personal outlet to deal with his trauma, Kobi manages to draw the cast and audience into this journey. The film illustrates the connection between pain and its cure, between sounds of war and sounds of guitars. These illuminate the impact of art on social change as well as the collective healing process as a society. Profoundly affected by Kobi's journey is Naftali, Kobi's friend with whom he endured horrifying battles while they served in the same army unit. Subsequent to being rescued by Kobi during combat, Naftali suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). With Kobi's support and influence, Naftali decides to go for therapy with a PTSD expert psychiatrist. The film interwines a rare documentation of Naftali's therapy sessions and healing process, with Kobi's creative voyage towards recovery. Towards the end, Kobi realizes that his role in Jenin, where he battled, is not that of a soldier, but rather that of an artist and educator. This leads to his decision to return to this traumatic place, but this time only to teach kids music. Kobi and Naftali journey from the inferno of the battle field back to the ocean of life. Their stories expose the viewers to the traumatic effects of war, both on individuals and on society, raising the most important question of all: is the price paid by these soldiers necessary?
Happy You're Alive is an intimate look into the psychological effects of war on soldiers and the necessary healing process. It examines the dark, yet inevitable,fears and dilemmas that mark the wars of our times. As a society, we tend to merely count the wounded and the dead; it all becomes just numbers and figures. What we usually fail to take into account is the invisible piercing mental damage we inflict upon both our soldiers and our society. Happy You're Alive bravely poses the questions that a war-torn society does not dare to ask. The film tells the story of Kobi, an inspiring musician who embarks on a breakthrough journey to conquer the harsh scars of combat war. Creating a rock opera "MILHAMA" ("War") as his personal outlet to deal with his trauma, Kobi manages to draw the cast and audience into this journey. The film illustrates the connection between pain and its cure, between sounds of war and sounds of guitars. These illuminate the impact of art on social change as well as the collective healing process as a society. Profoundly affected by Kobi's journey is Naftali, Kobi's friend with whom he endured horrifying battles while they served in the same army unit. Subsequent to being rescued by Kobi during combat, Naftali suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). With Kobi's support and influence, Naftali decides to go for therapy with a PTSD expert psychiatrist. The film interwines a rare documentation of Naftali's therapy sessions and healing process, with Kobi's creative voyage towards recovery. Towards the end, Kobi realizes that his role in Jenin, where he battled, is not that of a soldier, but rather that of an artist and educator. This leads to his decision to return to this traumatic place, but this time only to teach kids music. Kobi and Naftali journey from the inferno of the battle field back to the ocean of life. Their stories expose the viewers to the traumatic effects of war, both on individuals and on society, raising the most important question of all: is the price paid by these soldiers necessary?