Torn

In the aftermath of Hamas's mass kidnapping of Israeli civilians, a seemingly innocuous act of solidarity on New York City's walls sparked a maelstrom of conflict between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian communities. The "KIDNAPPED" poster campaign, born from grassroots activism, became a flashpoint that tore through the city's streets, leaving in its wake a complex web of motivations, identities, and conflicting values. Through the voices of artists, activists, and hostage families, TORN unflinchingly exposes the intricacies of this proxy war, played out on stickers, slogans, and torn paper. By illuminating how a distant war fragmented life in one of the world's most diverse cities, the film forces us to confront the challenges of empathy, free speech, and belonging in an era of polarization.