A new short film titled "Little Treasures" offers a rare glimpse into the lives of children from Kibbutz Re’im, a community near Israel’s Gaza border that was severely impacted by the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. The 30-minute film features local children, ages 9 to 11, who share their day-to-day experiences and memories as they navigate the aftermath of the violence while reclaiming their home environment.

Kibbutz Re’im, home to approximately 440 residents, was the site of a deadly incursion by Hamas militants during the assault on the nearby Nova festival. The attack resulted in the deaths of seven residents, including a Thai worker, as well as six soldiers and three police officers defending the area. Several people were taken hostage, though all hostages from Re’im were released during a cease-fire in November 2023. Following the attack, the community was evacuated and residents temporarily relocated to Tel Aviv, returning gradually to Re’im starting in June 2024.

“Little Treasures” is the product of a collaborative effort involving Dutch-Israeli filmmaker Sylvain Biegeleisen and Israeli director Maya Kenig. The project was supported by the New Fund for Cinema and Television and developed through regular workshops where children from the kibbutz worked with drama facilitators. Over several months, the participating children improvised and created scenes drawn directly from their own experiences, allowing them to express trauma, resilience, and everyday realities through storytelling.

The film’s narrative follows the children as they embark on a playful scavenger hunt around the kibbutz, collecting spent bullet casings they call “bullets”—remnants of the recent conflict. While the idea initially faced resistance from some adults, therapeutic advisors endorsed the approach, recognizing the symbolic power of transforming instruments of war into elements of a children’s game. This theme is reflected within the film through interactions between the children and adult figures, some of whom caution against playing with the dangerous reminders of violence.

Kenig explains that the children’s contributions influenced the script and performance heavily, with ongoing adjustments to dialogue to ensure authenticity. The young actors, all community members rather than professionals, often portrayed candid perspectives on their lives, including moments of fear, joy, and disconnection from the traumatic events they endured. The film captures a nuanced view of childhood in a post-conflict zone—where harsh realities are tempered by moments of laughter, friendship, and hope.

“Little Treasures” is part of a broader initiative documenting the experiences of children from several Gaza-border kibbutzim affected by the October attack. Other films are in progress or completed, including a project with children from Kibbutz Nirim and one being developed with children from Kibbutz Be’eri, a community that suffered some of the heaviest casualties during the assault.

The completed films are expected to be combined for presentations in schools and community programs, providing a peer-to-peer platform for dialogue and healing. Kenig emphasizes that while the films involve acting and storytelling, they convey deeply real emotions and perspectives. Beyond portraying trauma, the project highlights the children’s resilience and capacity for joy despite their difficult experiences.

Through a mixture of humor, playfulness, and reflection, “Little Treasures” offers audiences an intimate look at how children living on the front lines of conflict perceive and reclaim their world, underscoring their enduring vitality and hope for the future.