Yitzhak Rabin, late Prime Minister of Israel. Photo: Wiki Commons.

JNS.org – A film by Israeli director Amos Gitai about the 1995 assassination of former Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin is competing for the Golden Lion award at the 72nd Venice Film Festival, held Sept. 2-12.

“Rabin, the Last Day” uses real live footage in combination with actors to tell the story of the last night of Rabin’s life through the rally during which he was shot by Jewish extremist Yigal Amir.

“It’s a portrait of Israeli society at that time and a lot of the figures are still active today,” Gitai told the Screen Daily.

“Israeli society is still feeling the shockwaves of his killing even if it’s already 20 years ago. It’s an open wound,” added Gitai.

Gitai’s film is competing against the Russian film “Francofonia” about the Louvre museum and the Italian vampire-themed movie “Blood of My Blood.” Another Israeli film being screened at the festival is “Mountain,” the story of religious Jewish woman living with her family on a desolate section of Jerusalem’s Mount of Olives.