‘No Other Land’: The movie no one wants you to see
When a movie receives the glowing praise bestowed upon the Oscar-nominated documentary “No Other Land,” you’d expect it to be widely available to American audiences. Sadly, that’s not the case. Instead, it’s been largely quashed in the United States by pro-Israeli factions who understandably seek to keep its shocking content under wraps. But no matter what position you take in the never-ending war between Israel and Palestine, the movie deserves to be seen and heard, if for no other reason than to relay the inspiring story of an unlikely friendship forged between Palestinian activist Basel Adra and Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham.
They are a microcosm of what’s achievable when centuries of hatred and division are vanquished by understanding and compassion. Their ability to put politics aside and perceive one another as human beings opens the door to all sorts of possibilities. Of course, establishing loving bonds between supposed enemies has never been a goal of the military-industrial complex. Bad blood is good business for the manufacturers of tanks, bombs and bullets, as well as pompous politicians who prioritize power over peace.
That hardline is what causes films like “No Other Land,” with its unflinching depictions of human rights abuses on the part of the Israeli government, to be seen as a threat to the status quo. No one dares disturb the balance, making “No Other Land” a prime target for censorship. At least that’s the case in the U.S., where, unlike nations such as the U.K. and France, you are purposely denied the opportunity to digest the film’s controversial subject matter.
So, how bad can the images be? Pretty horrifying. Filmed between the summer of 2019 and the winter of 2023, “No Other Land” chronicles the systematic bulldozing of Arab-owned homes, schools and businesses by the Israeli army in the West Bank region of Masafer Yatta. It’s a Supreme Court-approved land grab intended to evict Palestinian families from real estate they’ve owned since the 19th century. The false justification is that the properties are being converted into military training grounds. Yet, the only soldiers we see are those manning huge excavators unleashed on houses before the occupants have time to remove all their belongings.
Due to the combined efforts of Basel, an Arab, and Yuval, a Jew, we’re able to bear witness to the destruction of families and buildings by caravans of government troops and armed settlers. And for anyone brave enough to resist, you’ll be met either with arrest or, in the case of Harun Abu Aram, executed for merely attempting to prevent the seizure of a portable generator providing electrical power for his family.
It’s during one of these unsettling raids that Basel and Yaval meet, instantly connecting over their shared interest in making the world aware of this ongoing Apartheid. They, along with Hamdan Ballal and Rachel Azor, are the co-directors and cutting-edge editors of this colition to expose the heartless tactics of a U.S.-backed ally. As you’d expect, “No Other Land” evokes seething anger, but it also stirs moments of humor and joy as Basel and Yaval become fast friends and collaborators.
Their good-natured ribbing and unwavering emotional support prove quite moving, as well as revealing. The contrasts between the two men are striking. For example, Yuval enjoys the state-approved privilege of driving anywhere he pleases, given his Jewish status, while Basel cannot venture outside the West Bank, despite possessing Israeli citizenship. Then there’s the economic divide: Yuval resides in the prosperous city of Be’er Sheva, while Basel, the son of Nassar Adra, a gas station attendant, scrapes by in his hamlet in the hills – when he’s not being jailed for his militancy. Yuval also isn’t afraid to jokingly call out Basel on his poor taste in music.
None of that matters when the two join forces on the scene of numerous structures being razed, including a school in which the students are rushed outside and subjected to the trauma of seeing the classrooms they occupied only minutes earlier being reduced to rubble. Does the U.S. – heck, the world – condone such blatant acts of aggression aimed at creating fear and intimidation? The fact that no one outside of a handful of independent theaters in New York and Los Angeles will offer access to “No Other Land” pretty much says it all. Chalk it up to yet another victory for the proponents of see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.
Movie review
No Other Land
Rated: Not rated
Featuring: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Nassar Adra, Hamdan Ballal and Rachel Azor
Directors: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Hamdan Ballal and Rachel Azor
Runtime: 95 minutes
Where: In select theaters in New York City and Los Angeles starting Jan. 31
Grade: A-
