‘Urgent and impactful’ documentary released for free in UK after it wins Oscar
It has also been labelled 'deeply moving' by viewers.
A documentary that won an Oscar overnight has now been made available to watch for free in the UK.
The film No Other Land was released last year and marked the directorial debut of Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor.
The group – a Palestinian-Israeli collective of four activists – described the project as an ‘act of resistance’ in the ongoing conflict in the region.
It follows Palestinian activist Adra, who has been pushing back against the forced displacement of his people by Israel’s military in Masafer Yatta, a region in the West Bank, since he was a child.
Throughout the film he charts the gradual demise of his homeland as soldiers tear down homes and evict communities so they can construct a military firing zone.
Along the way he becomes friends with Jewish-Israeli journalist Abraham, who commits to helping him.
No Other Land follows Palestinian activist Adra, who ispushing back against the forced displacement of his people (Picture: CPH:DOX, Higloss Entertainment)To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
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Previous Page Next PageThe pair quickly form a strong bond however their friendship faces difficulties mainly due to the fact Adra faces ongoing oppression while Abraham has his freedom and security.
Filmed over four years between 2019 and 2023, the film also utilised an archive of videos filmed by Adra’s family and neighbours over the course of 20 years.
After the film, which was called ‘deeply moving’ was released, it was met with critical acclaim and currently holds a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
‘A sobering offering for this politically urgent moment,’ The Hollywood Reporter wrote in its review.
‘With exceptional lucidity, No Other Land reminds us of the human stakes of Israel’s resettlement of the West Bank, and that fighting for justice starts from the ground up,’ Slant Magazine shared.
‘No Other Land, for its many images of despair, still offers a stirring vision for what could be,’ The Guardian added.
Israel’s military has torn down homes in his community in Masafer Yatta, a region in the West Bank (Picture: CPH:DOX, Higloss Entertainment)Meanwhile fans said it was ‘one of the most incredible documentaries’ they’d ever watched.
‘A must-see film that touches one to the core with every range of emotions. It’s very tough to watch expertly edited and crafted. Perhaps the most heart-wrenching documentary and an important expose on a specific community’s struggle. Whatever your political leanings this is an important documentary to see. Deserving of the Oscar nomination,’ Liz wrote on Rotten Tomatoes.
Overnight the film won the Oscar for best documentary feature. When accepting the award Adra spoke about how the film highlights the reality of life that Palestinians have been experiencing for decades.
‘About two months ago, I became a father, and my hope to my daughter that she will not have to live the same life I’m living now, always fearing settlers, violence, home demolitions and forcible displacements that my community is living and tasting every day under Israeli occupation,’ he said.
Meanwhile Abraham said that the film was made together as it made their voices stronger.
‘We see each other: The atrocious destruction of Gaza and its people which must end. Israeli hostages, brutally taken in the crime of October 7th, which must be freed,’ he said.
No Other Land won best documentary feature film at this week’s Oscars (Picture:John Salangsang/ BEI/ Shutterstock)
He then criticised the United State’s foreign policy which was ‘helping to block national rights for both of our people’.
Although the film has struggled to find a distributor in the US – and was screened for a week at the Lincoln Centre in November to qualify for the Oscars – it has been made available to watch for free in the UK by Channel 4.
Upon hearing the film was being released, many viewers also thanked the broadcaster for making it available here.
In addition to the Oscar, No Other Land also won won the audience award and documentary film award at the Berlin International Film Festival last year and the New York Film Critics Circle award for Best Non-Fiction Film.
No Other Land is streaming on Channel 4.
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