There was a breakthrough in the basement of the Peoria Public Library April 12 when about 100 souls experienced the Academy Award-winning documentary “No Other Land.”

“Just coming here is an act in itself,” instructed Zachary Gittrich, who helped promote the viewing of the feature film that cuts deep into the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land by Israel. “Unfortunately, this movie has been blacklisted across the U.S.”

Indeed, “No Other Land” was not distributed among the major movie houses in the United States. Even after its victory at this year’s Oscars, theater chains did not touch it.

“This movie shows scenes of ethnic cleansing,” is the warning before the saga of Palestinian journalist Basel Adra and Israeli accomplis Yusef Abraham reporting on the forced removal of native Palestinians from their West Bank homes as they witnessed the demolition and destruction of the Masafer Yatta community by Israeli authorities.

“No Other Land” puts human faces on the occupation — occupied and occupier. People argue. They fight. Humans are shot, severely wounded, treated like trash. Wake up, do it again. Agonizing.

The movie, though, enlivens a collective togetherness between the two journalists and the families involved.

Through found footage we see the history of Adra’s father, who operates a petrol station for his town. There’s video of the patriarch protesting against Israeli occupation and the arresting forces when he was Basel’s current age.

“People fighting for their life,” a place to exist, Adra laments. “Get used to failure. You are a loser.”

Local effort

Agitation Rising and Peorians for Palestine funded the effort for the viewing and questions and answers afterward with a big thanks to the Peoria Public Library. There have only been around 150 screenings nationwide.

“One of the very few screenings and all done by small groups like us,” Lawrence Maushard told the audience. “It’s a political statement by each and every one of you.”

Hind Abi-Akar helped lead the discussion with a European Union report that declared some 1,177 structures have been demolished or seized by Israeli forces. The Netanyahu government has declared this land military training grounds to justify the clearing. “This is all our dollars in action: Soldiers, equipment,” Abi-Akar said. “One hundred percent U.S. support. Why is this lawful?”

Upwind

The fact that the film broke through mainstream Hollywood is monumental in itself. It is the first Palestinian film to win an Oscar. Distribution is another mechanism in the machine that needs oiling. The local sponsors also held a screening at Illinois State University.

Basel Adra spoke first upon winning the Academy Award on March, 2, 2025:

“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 am living now, always fearing — always — always fearing settlers’ violence, home demolitions and forceful displacements that my community, Masafer Yatta, is living and facing every day under the Israeli occupation. ‘No Other Land’ reflects the harsh reality that we have been enduring for decades and still resist as we call on the world to take serious actions to stop the injustice and to stop the ethnic cleansing of Palestinian people.”

Then Yusef Abraham took the mic at Dolby Theater on Hollywood Boulevard. “We made this film, Palestinians and Israelis, because together our voices are stronger. We see each other — the atrocious destruction of Gaza and its people, which must end; the Israeli hostages brutally taken in the crime of October 7th, which must be freed.

“When I look at Basel, I see my brother. But we are unequal. We live in a regime where I am free under civilian law and Basel is under military laws that destroy his life and he cannot control. There is a different path: a political solution without ethnic supremacy, with national rights for both of our people.

“And I have to say: The foreign policy in this country is helping to block this path. And, ‘Why?’ Can’t you see that we are intertwined, that my people can be truly safe if Basel’s people are truly free and safe? There is another way.

“It’s not too late for life, for the living. There is no other way.”

— Brian Ludwig is Managing Editor of The Community Word