Saved by Lionel Messi: Documentary reveals how grandmother survived Hamas attack by mentioning Messi’s name. 

Esther Cuño, a 90-year-old Argentinian, was forced into posing for a viral picture with Hamas gunmen amid the destruction of her community in Nir Oz.  Eight of her extended family members were abducted to Gaza. Esther claims that mentioning she hailed from the same country as Lionel Messi spared her life. Her narrative is featured in a new Spanish-language documentary about the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023.

 

 

To view Trailer CLICK HERE.

On Oct. 6, a family of twenty Argentinian Israelis gathered for a joyous dinner in Nir Oz, their kibbutz home near the Gaza border. By the next day, only twelve of those who sat around the table remained unharmed.

Two of Esther Cuño’s grandchildren, David and Ariel, are still held hostage in Gaza months later.

David was abducted along with his wife and twin children, who were later released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

Images of the 90-year-old woman forced to cradle a weapon and pose with her masked Palestinian attacker went viral.

Two armed Palestinian assailants entered her home amid the onslaught on her community in which Hamas killed, kidnapped, or wounded about a quarter of all residents.

They demanded to know the whereabouts of family members, but she remained calm and steered talk toward soccer.

Esther credits her survival that day by conversing with the gunmen about soccer and explaining she was born in the same place as legendary Argentinian player Lionel Messi.

One of them said he liked Messi and then made her pose for the famous picture.

She was left alone after that.

Her remarkable experience is one of many in a new Spanish-language documentary, Voces del 7 de octubre – Latino Stories of Survival, that details the massacre through the eyes of Latino-Israelis.

The film seeks to explore themes of identity, belonging, and the human spirit’s capacity to endure in times of crisis.

It follows individuals and families as they describe in great detail the horrors they experienced, capturing both their struggles and resilience. Through immersive storytelling and evocative cinematography, the documentary takes audiences on an immigrant immersive journey, allowing them to witness the challenges and triumphs faced by Israeli-Latinos.

The film is under production now with Fuente Latina, the leading nonprofit for Spanish-speaking media covering Israel, together with director Tony Hernandez, founder of the award-winning Immigrant Archive Project, the oral and visual history project on the modern immigrant experience.

“This documentary is unique as it spotlights the Spanish-speaking community in Israel and conveys their stories of horror and heroism from the Hamas attack to millions of Hispanics worldwide,” said Leah Soibel, CEO and Founder of Fuente Latina. “The film is critical as it preserves these testimonies for future generations, ensuring the truth is not distorted or forgotten, as is the case with past events,” she said.

“Documenting the narratives of the October 7th Hamas attacks from the viewpoints of Spanish-speaking immigrants has been an extraordinary privilege. Our film aims to preserve the lessons of history, while leveraging the strength of our shared humanity in the battle against terrorism, said Tony Hernandez, the film’s director.

Dozens of survivors have been interviewed for the documentary. Funds are currently being raised to complete the post-production phase.

To support:  CLICK HERE

For more information and interviews, please contact:

Rafael Anibal

Chief Communications Officer

Fuente Latina

ra****@fu**********.org
+34 620 35 94 04

We respectfully ask media refrain from contacting Esther directly due to the circumstances.