HBO purchases rights for Israeli TV series about Yom Kippur War
Kan’s ‘Valley of Tears’ tells fictionalized stories of soldiers during 1973 war, coming to Israeli screens on October 19
Jessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center
HBO Max acquired world rights for Israel’s newest and biggest budget TV series to date, Kan’s “Valley of Tears,” fictionalized soldiers’ stories of the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
The ten-part series tells the stories of four soldiers whose lives become intertwined in a final climactic battle. It will begin screening in Israel on October 19 on Kan 11.
The series was co-written by Ron Leshem (“Euphoria,” “No Man’s Land”) Amit Cohen (“False Flag”), Daniel Amsel and Yaron Zilberman (“A Late Quartet”), and is a co-production between WestEnd Films, United King, Israeli Broadcaster Kan 11, Endemol Shine Israel and HBO Max.
Actors include Lior Ashkenazi (“Foxtrot”), Aviv Alush (“Beauty and the Baker”), Lee Biran (“The Greenhouse”) Shahar Taboch (“Runaway”), Joy Rieger (“True Hero”), Ofer Hayoun (“Euphoria”) and Maor Schwitzer (Idelman in “Shtisel”).
The show, called “She’at Neila” in Hebrew, is named in English for the site of a major battle in the Golan Heights on October 6-9, 1973. Israeli forces were outnumbered and managed to hold their positions until the Syrians withdrew on the fourth day of the battle.
She’at neila also refers to the final service of Yom Kippur, when Jews pray for a good new year.
WestEnd is also producing a second Israeli series, the thriller-drama “Traitor,” with Ron Leshem and Amit Cohen; the show is in post-production.
