“They made us strangers in our own land.”
This haunting statement encompasses the story of No Other Land (2024), a powerful documentary that reveals the forced displacement of Palestinians in Masafer Yatta. It is a statement about the war itself and calls upon viewers to witness the harsh reality Palestinians go through on the daily. The movie, co-directed by Palestinian activist Basel Adra and Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham, shows raw footage of the devastating impact of home demolitions, military occupation, and the erasure of identity.
“I have no way to leave this place”
The movie focuses on the area, Masafer Yaffa, a community of multiple villages in the mountains of the West Bank. Bassel Adra is from there and it is where he met Yuval Abraham who was covering Israeli military policies in the area. Throughout Abraham’s work, he realizes the truth and harsh reality that Palestinians endure. Their shared goal of exposing the truth of the occupation led them to start working together in documenting the home demolitions, as well as deeply intimate and vulnerable moments of loss and resilience.
“An entire world built on division”
Over time, their professional relationship evolves into a friendship. This bond becomes a central theme to the film, since it explores the complex and painful relationship between Palestinians and Israelis under the systematic occupation. A reality where Israelis live in freedom, with no limitations around where they can travel, build, work, etc.… Whereas Palestinians are alienated on their own land.
“How can someone tell me this land is not mine?”
The documentary’s cinematography is striking, using handheld cameras to photograph the violence and the quiet devastation that follows it. The unscripted reactions of children crying as bulldozers annihilate homes, and elderly villagers watching their history getting erased in a cloud of dust show the war’s toll from the humanitarian side.
Such scenes embody the film’s emotional gravity, forcing audiences to confront the consequences of the occupation beyond the political rhetoric that mainstream media focuses on.
The minimalist soundtrack of the film that relies on the natural soundscape, silence, and soft instrumentals enriches the raw and intimate storytelling and atmosphere of the film. The soft Palestinian folk music amplifies the affected people’s resilience during moments of devastating silence, which in turn immerses the audience in the reality of forced displacement, loss, and resistance.
Music, in the context of this film, plays a pivotal role in emphasizing cultural preservation, at a time when their homes have been reduced to rubble, and is a way of holding onto their identity.
Despite the distressing themes of displacement and loss, No Other Land also shows the rare moments of happiness and normalcy amid turmoil. Scenes of children laughing and playing, families and friends sharing meals whilst engaging in everyday conversations, and celebrating family members returning from prison, remind viewers that life remains even under the occupation. These moments of warmth and resilience contrast with the destruction occurring around them, highlighting the humanity of those affected. By combining both suffering and small joys, the film paints a fuller and warm portrayal of life in Masafer Yatta—one that transcends tragedy to emphasize strength, love, and an unwavering connection to home, which I believe embodies the essence of the Palestinian identity.
The destruction of villages in Masafer Yatta reflects the larger Israelo-Palestinian conflict. As families are forced to flee, their struggle mirrors that of countless others in war-torn regions where displacement is weaponized. This resonates with me personally, as my grandparents themselves were forced to flee their village back in 1948 during the Nakba, scared for their safety. They left everything behind because they had no other choice. The film’s title, No Other Land, emphasizes the idea that, for the displaced, like my grandparents, there is no alternative—this is their home, and losing it means losing everything.
The film made its debut in the 74th Berlin International Film Festival in February of 2024, where it gained critical acclaim and accepted the Best Documentary Award. Additionally, Basel Adra has become the first Palestinian filmmaker to win an Oscar for best documentary feature film in the 2025 ceremony of the Oscars. In their acceptance speech, they emphasize how even though they live in the same region, they are unequal. Abraham is free under civilian laws, while Adra is oppressed under military laws. More than just a documentary, No Other Land is a testament to resilience, a call for justice, and a rare collaboration between two voices from opposite sides of a decades-long conflict.
At a time where wars are often reduced to statistics, No Other Land acts as a reminder to society that behind every conflict, there are real people with real losses. The documentary urges viewers to see war not through the lens of strategists or politicians, but through the eyes of those who endure it.
Sources:
The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/mar/03/no-other-land-wins-best-documentary-feature-oscar
New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/16/opinion/no-other-land-documentary-israel-gaza.html