Valley of Tears (TV series)

Valley of Tears (Hebrew: עֵמֶק הַבָּכָא‎, Emek HaBakha), (Series original name: Hebrew: שְׁעַת נְעִילָה‎, Sh‘at Ne'ila - meaning "Ne'ila time") is an Israeli war series directed by Yaron Zilberman based on a screenplay by Ron Leshem and starring Aviv Alush, Joy Rieger and Lior Ashkenazi. Development of the series lasted about a decade and its filming took place over 52 days starting on July 21, 2019.[1] The premiere episode of the first season aired on Kan 11 on October 19, 2020.[2][3][4] It was subsequently licensed by HBO Max, airing on November 12, 2020.[5]

This article is about the television series. For the actual battle, see Valley of Tears.
Valley of Tears
GenreSerial drama, Tragedy and war
Created byRon Leshem
Based onreal events
Starringsee below
Country of originIsrael
Original languagesHebrew, Arabic
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes10
Production
Executive producerMoshe and Leon Edri
ProducerGil Zeyed
Production locationsGolan Heights, Israel
Production companies
DistributorUnited King
Release
Original networkKan 11
Picture formatHDTV 1080i
Audio formatDolby Digital 5.1
Original releaseOctober 19, 2020 (2020-10-19)

The series depicts the battles of the Yom Kippur War, with the first season focusing on the northern front of the war, and a second season focusing on the southern front of the fighting is also planned. The series has been described as one of the most expensive television series in Israel, with advanced technologies used to recreate the battles, including the Battle of the Valley of Tears, and the cost of each episode reaching one million dollars.

Synopsis

On October 6, 1973, the Yom Kippur War broke out, when Arab states led by Egypt and Syria launched a surprise invasion and almost defeated Israel on the holiest day in the Jewish calendar: Yom Kippur. The story is told from the perspective of three characters, thrown into the heart of battle and war, whose effects are intoxicating and addictive.[6]

Cast

Main

Recurring

Production

Production started on July 21, 2019, with filming in Hebrew. It was Israel's highest-budgeted program, with Deadline Hollywood reporting that each episode cost around $1 million.[6][7] A number of "the most prominent Israeli novelists in Israel" were involved in the script. It was produced by WestEnd Films, Endemol Shine Israel, United King and KAN. Before filming began, there were ten years of development with Moshe Edery at United King.[1] After the ten years needed to get the process fully financed, the filming took place in the Golan Heights. At one point, filming was stopped for three weeks due to nearby fighting in Syria.[8]

The cost was attributed to the battle scenes and also the creatives hired for the project.[6] For filming, Ron Leshem and Amit Cohen "studied Israeli army lingo and thousands of soldier testimonies. They also found and rehabilitated tanks that were actually used in the war with the help of Israel Defense Forces technicians, who outfitted them with new engines."[8]

Episodes
No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date [9]Israel viewers
(millions)
1"Pride Before A Fall"Yaron ZilbermanTBAOctober 19, 2020 (2020-10-19)N/A

Senior Israeli Defence Force officials do not seem worried about the prospect of war. Avinoam, a soldier in the intelligence unit at the Hermon outpost, hears a Syrian broadcast that convinces him that the Syrians will launch an attack. After his commander does not believe him, he discovers that Yoav, the post's combat officer, is leaving for a short vacation to be with his girlfriend, Dafna. Although Yoav does not believe him either, he misses the last ride out of the outpost and is stuck at the remote base for the weekend. In Jerusalem, Alush, a tank gunner, gathers his friend and fellow tanker Marco to return to their unit. Marco hates the establishment due to the poor quality of life of the Mizrahim compared to Ashkenazim and is considering defecting from the IDF. Marco does not know that Alush is in love with his sister. Learning that friend and fellow tanker Malachi was arrested at a violent protest, Alush convinces Marco to return to the unit to try and convince their commander, Aviram, to persuade the police to release Malachi. Aviram refuses to help Marco and Malachi's Black Panthers movement.

The next day, as the country (including on duty soldiers) are quietly praying and fasting for Yom Kippur, the Syrian launch an invasion of the Golan heights. Syrian commando helicopters have landed in Hermon, and the tank unit is bombarded by the Syrian air force. In Tel-Aviv, Menny Ben-Dror is woken by air raid sirens and a desperate call from his ex-wife, from Paris. The news has reported the war, and she wants him to take their son from the IDF and send him to Paris. Malachi escapes from his cell so he can get to his tank unit. Despite facing dozens of advancing Syrian tanks, Aviram's four-tank unit manages to hold their position by using their high terrain, repeatedly moving forward to fire and rolling back from the edge to confound the Syrians ability to see them.
2"The Heavens Are Watching"Yaron ZilbermanTBAOctober 19, 2020 (2020-10-19)N/A
Having eliminated 50 Syrian tanks, Aviram's four-tank unit suffers an ambush, and Aviram is killed by a sniper. Aviram's friend and second in command, Kaspi, is traumatized by his death and fires on an incoming APC, thinking it is a Syrian vehicle, but the unit discovers to their horror that they fired on a friendly IDF APC and killed IDF soldiers. With reinforcements hours away, Yoav leads his small unit in an against-all-odds fight to protect the untrained and ill-equipped Hermon intelligence soldiers. At a nearby base, Yoav’s girlfriend and fellow officer, Dafna, resists orders for all women to evacuate the frontlines. Meanwhile, the 87th is thrust into battle and suffers a devastating loss. Hoping to get back to his friends in the tank crew, Melakhi hitches a ride with Meni, who’s heading towards the Golan Heights in search of his son.
3"My Rock, My Fortress"TBATBAOctober 26, 2020 (2020-10-26)N/A
After Syrian forces infiltrate Hermon, Avinoam attempts to lead his fellow soldiers to safety through the facility’s secret tunnels. While Alush looks out for Yoni, a shell-shocked paratrooper, the 87th grows increasingly worried about the mental stability of their new commander, Caspi. Meni, Melakhi, and Dafna bond as they journey to the Golan Heights to find their loved ones.
4"Strength of My Foes"TBATBANovember 2, 2020 (2020-11-02)N/A
Beyond hope of rescue and with no way of returning to safety, Marco leads the 87th in a rebellion to subdue Caspi. At the foot of the mountain, Yoav, Avinoam, and the Hermon soldiers find themselves in a brutal ambush and, later, Avinoam makes an unlikely connection with a Syrian soldier. As communications begin to collapse, Dafna tries to restore order back at her tumultuous command post.
5"Stuck on the Hill"TBATBANovember 9, 2020 (2020-11-09)N/A
With Syrian forces advancing on their location, Marco tries to use a stranded pilot as leverage for a rescue mission. Meanwhile, Melakhi remains determined to find his friends, despite revelations from Meni about a possible informant in their inner-circle. Alone in Syrian-controlled territory, Avinoam and Yoav find a common bond in the most dangerous of circumstances.
6"Rain on Us!"TBATBANovember 16, 2020 (2020-11-16)N/A
At command, Meni challenges the army’s seeming indifference to his son’s fate, while Dafna takes on a mission no one else is willing to handle. Meanwhile, Avinoam does his best to bring a wounded and desperate Yoav to safety, and as the 87th tries to hold back the Syrian army, Melakhi confronts Alush for ratting him out to the police –but learns of an entirely different deception instead.
7"Night at the Bunker"TBATBANovember 23, 2020 (2020-11-23)N/A
At base, Avinoam faces questions from military police, who seem more concerned about the abandoned Hermon facility than rescuing Yoav. Trapped in a hilltop bunker as the Syrian army closes in, the 87th must decide who will make a crucial sacrifice. Nearby, Meni attempts to convince a tank crew to help him reach his son.
8"Preparing for the Big Battle"TBATBANovember 30, 2020 (2020-11-30)N/A
Despite their mental and physical wounds, Melakhi, Marco, and Yoni volunteer to head back into the inferno. As the hours tick down toward a massive armored battle, Melakhi turns his suspicions on Marco, while Dafna and Avinoam realize they have a shared connection.
9"The Abyss"TBATBADecember 7, 2020 (2020-12-07)N/A
Staring down hundreds of enemy tanks in a seemingly hopeless battle, Melakhi steps up to lead the 87th, forcing his crew to rethink their entire training in order to make it out alive. Meanwhile, when Avinoam surrenders himself to protect Dafna, his fears of captivity come to fruition. With their very survival in question, Meni and Yoni finally reconcile, and Marco looks to make amends with Melakhi.
10"Valley of Tears"TBATBADecember 7, 2020 (2020-12-07)N/A
In the brutal Valley of Tears battle, the tank crew faces impossible challenges and suffers heavy casualties at point-blank range. Meanwhile, a Syrian interrogator tests Avinoam’s determination to guard intelligence secrets.

Release

On October 13, 2020, distributor WestEnd Films announced it had sold global rights to the series to HBO Max.[10] It began streaming on HBO Max in the United States on November 12.[5]

Hollywood Suite announced in November 2020 that it had acquired broadcast rights to the series in Canada, with broadcasts beginning December 19.[11] This comes despite HBO Max's acquisition of global rights, as in most cases the Canadian rights to these programs are assumed by Crave.[12]

References
  1. Ghermezian, Shiryn (July 25, 2019). "Production Begins on New Israeli TV Series 'Valley of Tears,' Set Against Yom Kippur War". The Algemeiner.
  2. "Teaser Trailer on Facebook". Facebook. October 19, 2020.
  3. "שעת נעילה - המלחמה ששינתה הכול. בקרוב בכאן 11, Trailer". 2020.
  4. "הסדרה שמחברת בין משחקי הכס ומלחמת יום כיפור". Ynet. January 7, 2019.
  5. Riesman, Abraham (November 12, 2020). "Valley of Tears Is Historical Fiction for Today's Grim Reality". Vulture. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  6. Schleiera, Curt (August 21, 2019). "Production begins on 'Valley of Tears,' Israel's most ambitious TV show ever". Jerusalem Post.
  7. "הסדרה הישראלית היקרה אי פעם מחזירה את המלחמה לרמת הגולן". Haaretz. 2019.
  8. Friedman, Gabe (November 14, 2020). "New Israeli HBO series 'Valley of Tears' reopens wounds of the Yom Kippur War". The Times of Israel. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  9. "Valley of Tears – Listings". Next Episode. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  10. Grater, Tom (October 13, 2020). "HBO Max Swoops On Global Rights To Israel's Most Expensive TV Series 'Valley Of Tears' In Deal With WestEnd". Deadline. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  11. "Hollywood Suite To Premiere 'Valley of Tears' In Canada". VideoAge. November 24, 2020. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  12. White, Peter (October 30, 2019). "HBO Max Titles Including 'Gossip Girl' Reboot & Kaley Cuoco's 'The Flight Attendant' Head To Canada Via Extended Bell Media Deal". Deadline. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
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