Love Conquers War: Capturing the Journey of a Unique Family in "Father Father"

Discover the heartwarming tale tucked into the tensions of Middle Eastern politics and war. "Father Father," a riveting documentary directed by reputed British documentarian Jake Witzenfeld, takes us on a rollercoaster journey with Jewish-Israeli Aviv and his Palestinian-Israeli husband, Khader, as they travel from Tel Aviv to Texas in their earnest pursuit to start a family.

In 2021, Khader, a familiar face from Witzenfeld's groundbreaking 2015 film "Oriented," disclosed his and Aviv's family plans. Intrigued by the refreshing perspective, Witzenfeld, then residing in London, pooled sufficient funds to begin documenting this unique tale of a multi-faith, same-sex couple in Tel Aviv aiming to start a family.

Production started when Israel was engulfed in political unrest with the return of Benjamin Netanyahu (aka Bibi), shifting the country's political landscape to the extreme right. The documentary explores the couple's resilience amidst this political turmoil, providing an almost poetic contrast between their personal hopes and the broader societal concerns.

Witzenfeld, dismissing the absurdity that the couple had to seek a surrogate in Texas due to restrictive state policies, discussed the paradox of liberal freedoms in Israel. He firmly believes in total freedom, a principle reflected vividly in the documentary.

The narrative encapsulates the couple's struggles for safety amid the impending judicial reforms threatening their existence as a gay couple in Israel. For Witzenfeld, a British Jew with deep connections with Israel, the project became a conduit for amplifying the experiences of Khader and Aviv, preserving the unique aspects that made Israel special in the past.

The documentary filming was designed to follow the couple's journey back to Tel Aviv after wrapping up the Texas shoot around their new-born baby Albi’s birth. However, Hamas' Oct. 7 attack compelled them to delay their trip, turning the film’s lens to record life in Texas for a month and intermittingly throughout the subsequent year.

Despite the extraordinary circumstances surrounding their path to parenthood – from surviving the COVID outbreak, to dealing with the extraordinarily expensive process, escalating conflicts, complex medical procedures, and finally, adjusting to the arrival of their newborn in the middle of a war – the couple’s loving bond managed to withstand the turmoil. This resilient journey is poignantly captured in the film, celebrating their acceptance of differences without necessarily resolving them – a life lesson everyone can benefit from.

The couple did face familial challenges, but acceptance and love prevailed ultimately. A moment that stands out in the documentary is the final scene - Khader's mother conversing happily with Aviv's brother, an AK-47 casually resting on his lap, overlooking their contrasting beliefs and worlds at that moment. The scene epitomizes the documentary's message, affirming that love can indeed conquer all.

In more ways than one, "Father Father" is an affirming tale of love and resilience against all odds. As Jake Witzenfeld tells Variety in his first interview for "Father Father" - it's about keeping alive the dream of love across differences, even in the darkest of times.