Yesterday (Please Forgive Me)

Yesterday (Please Forgive Me) is a raw, deeply personal documentary by filmmaker Anna Zumwalt, capturing the weight of grief and despair in the aftermath of the Israeli strikes on Gaza’s Al Fakhoura School. At only 9 minutes long, this short offers a deeply emotional look into Zumwalt’s trauma, juxtaposing rough before-and-after footage to convey the devastating human cost of war. The film stands as both a tribute to the innocent lives lost and a plea for peace in a conflict that has claimed far too many.

The film’s lack of technical polish is immediately noticeable but, in many ways, this works to its advantage. It’s clear that Yesterday is not the product of an experienced filmmaker but of an educator mourning her students. The rough iPhone clips, Zoom recordings, and screen captures create an immediacy and urgency, driving home the message that the tragedy is happening in real-time. There is no attempt at cinematic gloss; this is not a polished, refined piece of art, but a raw, emotional reaction to senseless violence. In this way, Yesterday is profoundly effective, offering a real, unfiltered window into Zumwalt’s pain and the larger context of suffering in Gaza.

Despite its emotional impact, the film does have its shortcomings. The fragmented nature of the footage, jumping from one location to another without much narrative explanation, can make the film feel disjointed at times. As one review points out, this confusion might distance viewers unfamiliar with the background of the conflict. The film lacks context and clarity, which could have helped convey a more comprehensive understanding of the situation.

Moreover, there’s a noticeable imbalance in the portrayal of the children Zumwalt teaches. The documentary exclusively shows footage of boys, despite the credits indicating that the program is open to both boys and girls. This oversight, along with the absence of broader context about the school or the conflict, leaves the viewer with questions that the film doesn’t answer. However, it’s possible this wasn’t the film’s intention—Yesterday is more of a gut-wrenching outcry than an informative documentary.

What stands out most in Yesterday is its rawness. There’s no background music or cinematic flourish to manipulate the viewer’s emotions. It simply offers the images, the voices, and Zumwalt’s grief, allowing the weight of loss to speak for itself. In that simplicity, it manages to be powerful. The rough, unfiltered presentation feels like a cry for help—both for the students she mourns and for those still trapped in the conflict. As one reviewer noted, Zumwalt doesn’t attempt to position herself as the voice of these children but rather as a platform, amplifying their story for those willing to listen.

While Yesterday may lack the traditional craftsmanship of documentary filmmaking, it succeeds as a raw and affecting memorial. It forces viewers to confront the devastating human toll of conflict, even if it leaves them with more questions than answers. This is not a film designed to educate in a traditional sense but rather to bear witness to tragedy. It’s heartbreaking, unsettling, and, most importantly, necessary.

Yesterday (Please Forgive Me) is a poignant, unfiltered cry from a filmmaker grappling with unimaginable loss. While its technical roughness may detract from its overall cohesion, the raw emotional core of the film more than compensates. This documentary is an important, if imperfect, reminder of the souls lost in conflict and the urgency to end the violence.