Israeli actress Swell Ariel Or is taking her advocacy for Israeli women to a new level with her role in the upcoming film 'Tankistas.' The movie, inspired by true events, centers on an all-female Israel Defense Forces (IDF) tank unit's 17-hour defense against Hamas militants during the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks.
Or, who served in the IDF before pursuing an acting career in Hollywood, portrays the unit's captain. She stated that her mission extends beyond traditional acting aspirations, focusing instead on authentic storytelling that accurately represents her people. "I care about honest representation of who we are," Or told Fox News Digital, emphasizing that her focus is not on awards or industry acceptance.
"Tankistas," directed by Ayelet Menahemi, is currently in post-production with both English and Hebrew versions slated for release next year. The film allowed Or and her fellow cast members to spend significant time with the real women soldiers upon whom their characters are based. Or highlighted the film's uniqueness, noting that it is a feminist story written by women, based on a true event, which contrasts with what she perceives as other media's often commercially driven portrayals of female heroes.
"This film is very unique because if it was an American film about an all-female team company in World War II or whatever, it checks all the boxes of everything the world wants to see. But this is a feminist film written by women, based on a true story that actually happened, but it's Israeli," she said. Or also stressed that the characters are based on diverse, human, and complex real women, offering a deeper understanding of Israeli women, particularly those in combat roles, which she feels is often misunderstood by the world.
Or has actively used her platform to discuss antisemitism and the importance of authentic representation for Jewish and Israeli women in entertainment. She has appeared on various podcasts, including "Stars of David with Elon Gold" and Tablet Magazine's "Unorthodox Podcast," to share her experiences and perspectives as an Israeli artist living abroad. ARISE for Israel has recognized her as "one of the most powerful voices for Israelis and Jews in Hollywood," and Roz Rothstein, CEO of StandWithUs, called her an "important voice for a new generation."
Beyond "Tankistas," Or is also featured in a new season of the Netflix series "The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem," which delves into the events of 1948 and the Israeli War of Independence. She has also completed filming her first short film, "The Divide," which is being developed into a feature-length project.
Or acknowledged facing backlash and hearing concerns regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. She recalled an encounter with a woman who, despite identifying as Palestinian, watched "The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem" to see the Jerusalem of that era, as her family had roots there. Or also shared her personal connection to the Oct. 7 attacks, stating that she knew six people who were murdered at the Nova music festival that day. "You can have debates from here ‘til Russia and back about what happened on October 7. But the festival, it's like something that you can't debate about," she said.
Or concluded by stating that her passion for storytelling has evolved into a necessity, particularly after Oct. 7. "It's been my goal even before October 7, but especially after, when I saw that it’s not just a passion of mine, but a necessity," she said. "That's the difference. Now it's a necessity."