DocuText film ‘Safe Room’ tells moving account of how strangers transformed into family on Oct. 7
Safe Room is a moving film about a group of strangers who survived the October 7 attack by Hamas and came together in the safe room of Dr. Gedalya Fendel.
The documentary film "Safe Room" tells the true story of how strangers were transformed into a family during the October 7 Hamas attack. The award-winning American director, Haley Geffen, chose this intimate tale to convey the human impact of the tragedy. The film premiered at the National Library of Israel as part of the DocuText Festival.
Geffen met Dr. Gedalya Fendel on a 2024 trip to Israel and was captivated by his account of the extraordinary events that unfolded in his makeshift safe room. Combining death, survival, hope, beauty, love, and ultimately life, the story of the Fendel family and the other survivors touched Geffen deeply. She decided to focus on their story in the film, hoping it would help audiences set aside their biases and simply see people as individuals.
The film explores the concept of a safe room, which is explained extensively for American viewers, including by Brig.-Gen. Tzviki Tessler, a former Home Front Command spokesman. Geffen chose the title "Safe Room" deliberately, emphasizing that it is not a Jewish or Israeli story but a universal one.
As the war with Iran began in June 2025, Geffen shifted her focus to examine the concept of safe rooms in Israel. She began the film with videos of Israelis taking shelter during missile attacks, emphasizing the country's constant need for safe spaces. By showing the love and support that emerged during the crisis, Geffen aimed to reveal the resilience and unity of the Israeli people.
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