Justin Chang

It began shooting in 2019 and wrapped in October 2023, and so it feels in some ways like a pre-October 7th time capsule of the West Bank. It was directed by a team consisting of two Palestinian filmmakers, Basil Adra and Hamdan Balal, and two Israeli filmmakers, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Soar.

It began shooting in 2019 and wrapped in October 2023, and so it feels in some ways like a pre-October 7th time capsule of the West Bank. It was directed by a team consisting of two Palestinian filmmakers, Basil Adra and Hamdan Balal, and two Israeli filmmakers, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Soar.

It began shooting in 2019 and wrapped in October 2023, and so it feels in some ways like a pre-October 7th time capsule of the West Bank. It was directed by a team consisting of two Palestinian filmmakers, Basil Adra and Hamdan Balal, and two Israeli filmmakers, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Soar.

During the production, Basel, an activist and journalist who grew up in Masafaryata, became good friends with Yuval, a Jerusalem-based journalist who was covering the demolitions. Their relationship provides the movie's dramatic core.

During the production, Basel, an activist and journalist who grew up in Masafaryata, became good friends with Yuval, a Jerusalem-based journalist who was covering the demolitions. Their relationship provides the movie's dramatic core.

During the production, Basel, an activist and journalist who grew up in Masafaryata, became good friends with Yuval, a Jerusalem-based journalist who was covering the demolitions. Their relationship provides the movie's dramatic core.

Part of the unexpected charm of No Other Land is that it sometimes plays like a verite buddy movie, as Basel and Yuval navigate the initial awkwardness of their cross-cultural friendship. Yuval pitches in with efforts to rebuild homes, taking some good-natured ribbing for not being the handiest of helpers.

Part of the unexpected charm of No Other Land is that it sometimes plays like a verite buddy movie, as Basel and Yuval navigate the initial awkwardness of their cross-cultural friendship. Yuval pitches in with efforts to rebuild homes, taking some good-natured ribbing for not being the handiest of helpers.

Part of the unexpected charm of No Other Land is that it sometimes plays like a verite buddy movie, as Basel and Yuval navigate the initial awkwardness of their cross-cultural friendship. Yuval pitches in with efforts to rebuild homes, taking some good-natured ribbing for not being the handiest of helpers.

When Yuval complains that his articles about the conflict aren't getting enough clicks, Basel gently calls him out. You are enthusiastic, like you want to end the occupation in ten days, he says. This has been going on for decades. Nonetheless, Basel knows the importance of the role that journalism can play, and his and Yuval's combined efforts do succeed in drawing international media attention.

When Yuval complains that his articles about the conflict aren't getting enough clicks, Basel gently calls him out. You are enthusiastic, like you want to end the occupation in ten days, he says. This has been going on for decades. Nonetheless, Basel knows the importance of the role that journalism can play, and his and Yuval's combined efforts do succeed in drawing international media attention.

When Yuval complains that his articles about the conflict aren't getting enough clicks, Basel gently calls him out. You are enthusiastic, like you want to end the occupation in ten days, he says. This has been going on for decades. Nonetheless, Basel knows the importance of the role that journalism can play, and his and Yuval's combined efforts do succeed in drawing international media attention.

You can hear their voices speaking out in this montage of English-language interviews from the film. Basel speaks partway through. We hear Yuval at the end of the clip.

You can hear their voices speaking out in this montage of English-language interviews from the film. Basel speaks partway through. We hear Yuval at the end of the clip.

You can hear their voices speaking out in this montage of English-language interviews from the film. Basel speaks partway through. We hear Yuval at the end of the clip.

Safriyatta.

Safriyatta.

Safriyatta.

One of the major figures in No Other Land is Basel's father, Nasser, who has been arrested numerous times for protesting, an activist legacy that he has now passed on to his son. Basel feels ambivalent about inheriting that legacy and the exhaustion of having to spend your whole life fighting to protect your home.

One of the major figures in No Other Land is Basel's father, Nasser, who has been arrested numerous times for protesting, an activist legacy that he has now passed on to his son. Basel feels ambivalent about inheriting that legacy and the exhaustion of having to spend your whole life fighting to protect your home.