Controversial Israeli Documentary Tops Italian Box Office Amid Backlash
While Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor's film 'No Other Land' sparks fierce political controversy in Israel, it has topped the daily box office charts in Italy.
While the film "No Other Land" continues to spark intense public and political controversy in Israel, it is enjoying massive commercial success at the box office in Italy. Directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, the documentary premiered in the country this week and claimed the top spot in daily box office revenues, even outperforming a special theatrical re-release of "Avengers: Endgame".
Box Office Triumph in Italy
According to data from Cinetel, the film's cumulative earnings reached approximately 1.1 million euros after its first two days of distribution. On Tuesday alone, "No Other Land" grossed roughly 3.5 times more than the Marvel blockbuster. However, when factoring in the total cumulative earnings since the re-release began in Italy, the superhero epic still maintains a lead over the controversial documentary.
The Italian release was originally planned as a limited three-day event from September 28 to 30, distributed by I Wonder Pictures. The film was screened in more than 500 theaters, with several screenings selling out completely. Due to overwhelming public demand, reports from Italy indicate that the theatrical run will be extended beyond the initial schedule.
Controversy and International Acclamation
"No Other Land", an acronym for collateral damage, won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival earlier this month. The film features anonymous testimonies from individuals presented as Israeli soldiers and intelligence officers—a narrative that has drawn fierce criticism regarding its authenticity concerning IDF strike policies and civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip.
The IDF strongly rejected the allegations, stating that the identities and roles of the interviewees cannot be verified and emphasizing that targeting decisions are made by human operators in strict compliance with international law. The storm quickly spilled over into the political arena, where Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar sharply condemned the creators and vowed to pursue measures to strip them of their citizenship.
"This film serves up a golden opportunity for anyone looking to spread malicious libel against Israel and its soldiers," said bereaved mother Iris Haim through tears, adding, "We are the ones suffering the collateral damage; the film causes collateral damage and harms every family in the country."
Alongside the theatrical rollout, Abraham announced last week that the film will be made available for free streaming online starting in November, in partnership with The Guardian. He stated that the creators also offered Israeli cinemas the chance to screen the film free of charge to allow the local public to view it.
