The Bergmanns noted on Friday that this was their first film made in real time, and the focus of \u201cNoga\u201d shifted over the five years it was made, particularly after the bloody October 7, 2023, Hamas invasion, in which some 1,200 people in southern Israel were killed and 251 taken hostage.<\/p>\n
The documentary shows the duo\u2019s emerging stardom before October 7, as they were praised by Billie Eilish, collaborated with Missy Elliot, opened for Florence + the Machine at Madison Square Garden, and performed with Robbie Williams in his Tel Aviv show.<\/p>\n
\t Then the film takes a sharp turn, revealing the couple at hostage protests and anti-government rallies; as they performed their first Israeli concert after October 7, when they and their Israeli fans needed the outlet of a raucous show to make them feel normal once again; and on tour, performing at global festivals and arenas where they were greeted with anti-Israel shouts and slogans.<\/p>\n The duo and their band have continued performing around the world during a growing period of anti-Israel hatred.<\/p>\n Erez explains many aspects of that journey in this film, which is entirely in Hebrew with English subtitles.<\/p>\n She talks about her deep desire to make it as a musician outside of Israel, a task that became vastly more complicated after October 7 and the soft cultural boycott launched against Israeli entertainers.<\/p>\n She discusses how she and Rousso just want to make music but are forced time and again to discuss Israeli politics \u201cfor 90 percent\u201d of every interview and encounter.<\/p>\n At one moment in the film, Erez says, \u201cI\u2019m canceled inside Israel for being critical and outside for not being supportive enough of Palestinians.\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile, they want to tell their story from a musical perspective, but politics inhabits a large space in their rap-style lyrics.<\/p>\n Throughout the writing and recording of their five albums \u2014 the Bergmanns divided the film into five chapters, each named after one \u2014 Erez and Rousso kept returning home to Israel between tours because it\u2019s clear that their Israeli audience is what keeps them focused and balanced.<\/p>\n During the onstage conversation following Friday\u2019s screening, the directors noted that the world \u201cturned upside-down\u201d during the five years that they made the film.<\/p>\n \u201cEverything was unforeseen, but one thing remained constant,\u201d said Jono Bergmann. \u201cThat it\u2019s about Noga and Ori and their partnership and relationship.\u201d<\/p>\n The brothers said that in many ways, Erez and Rousso\u2019s creative and personal partnership mirrored their own, showing how partnership and love can coalesce in the creative process.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery scene in some way is about that,\u201d said Jono Bergmann.<\/p>\n \u201cIt means a lot to show this film here,\u201d said Benji Bergmann. \u201cIt\u2019s a place that means a lot to us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t The war with Iran has been draining for all of us in Israel. But when I heard about a high casualty incident \u2013 ballistic missile impacts in Arad and Dimona that left nearly 200 people wounded \u2013 I drank a cup of coffee, packed a bag, and headed south.<\/p>\n There, I spoke with Shilgit, the head of an after-school program for underprivileged youth. Standing outside her destroyed center, Shilgit said it was a miracle that no children were hurt and spoke about the community coming together in the hours since.<\/p>\n As a Times of Israel reporter, I\u2019m committed to telling stories of resilience like Shilgit\u2019s. But my colleagues and I can’t do this alone. If you value work like this,<\/strong> please consider joining our reader support group, The Times of Israel Community.<\/strong> Your financial support is essential to keep real human reporting like this going.<\/p>\n \u2014 Stav Levaton, military reporter<\/strong><\/p>\n \t\t\t
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/F240518AVS218-640x400.jpg\")
<\/a>
\n\t\tArtists Noga Erez and Ori Rousso perform at a rally calling for the release of Israelis held hostage by Hamas terrorists in Gaza in Tel Aviv, May 18, 2024. (Avshalom Sassoni\/Flash90)<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tWe can’t do this work alone.\t\t\t<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1783955895_689_Untitled-design-4-200x200.jpg\" "\\"\\"\/")
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tYes, I’ll join\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1783955896_315_334x334-200x200.png\" "\\"\\"\/")
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n