This is by far one of the most important and essential documentaries I have ever seen. No Other Land paints a meaningful portrait that blends elements of hope and faith. It goes into uncharted territory by showing the impact which exists today in the Occupied West Bank. Despite all the press, this documentary struggles to get attention. Even an Oscar win was not enough for it to receive the distribution it truly deserves. I do not believe there has been a release with so much controversy since the Michael Moore documentary Fahrenheit 9/11. However, the rights were acquired under the same distributor. Despite all the efforts, No Other Land isn’t getting to a wider audience. This is a pity, since it is a compelling and revealing film that taps into difficult emotions.

No Other Land is not a typical documentary, because it is about a real, ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. The film documents the issues surrounding the West Bank’s Masafer Yatta, a small, occupied area that is corrupted by politics and soldiers while families lose their homes. One man stands in the center to capture it all and tell his story…Basel Adra. He is living through the tensions and recording live conflicts betweenthe soldiers and the villagers. In many moments, he documents the horrid nightmare for residents living in Masafer Yatta. No Other Land is very real and hits its audiences hard. The harshness of the turmoil is shocking. Scenes that are hard to dismiss will lead to disbelief but will also take viewers breath away.

As the footage provides many B-roll moments, my gut was wrenching because of how hard-hitting reality is. The political climate and unexpected boundary changes come as punches to the face. At the same time, the film reminds audiences to have a heart and pray for those who are suffering. No Other Land is a rare example of cinematic film making. The presentation of extreme personal loss sparks deep empathy.

Through Basel’s experiences, his co-directors Yuval Abraham and Hamdan Ballal are with him. Yuval is the journalist. The land expulsions lead to increased fighting. The continued losses only serve to elevate the tension. When Basel gets out his camera and yells the words, “I’M FILMING YOU,” audiences see the courage that he has put forth to create the documentary. No Other Land is astounding. I was hooked, I was mortified, and I was astonished.  No Other Land is spellbinding. The film still has limited distribution, but I have faith that it will keep climbing the ladder to reach more new eyes. The story of corruption and poverty is pure adrenaline in No Other Land. Four out of four stars.