Millions of People are Watching Our Story

No Other Land is important to the people of Masafer Yatta

The night after No Other Land won Best Documentary at the Academy Awards, about 14 or so people piled into the village council office to watch the film. A few of the village residents had been asking me to find a link to the film with English subtitles. I was so confused, “You know the film is in Arabic, right?”. The Palestinian activist explains to me that he wants the international activists to watch it too and to understand what is happening in the film. We finally find a link and manage to connect the computer to the television.

I’m sitting on the couch with several of the internationals. Next to us on plastic chairs and stools, are the Palestinian activists of the village. They have responded to nearly all the demolitions in the area, and provided footage for the movie, but they have not watched it yet. I’ve seen it three times already, but never is Masafer Yatta. Never with the people who’s story is being told. As we watch, the Palestinians talk to each other in Arabic, and then translate for us. They name every village we see on screen. The family of each home being destroyed on the screen and where they are living now. They point out soldiers that were at the demolitions the week before.

I am watching the documentary, but I am also watching the Palestinians watch the documentary. I’m sitting across from one of the local activists who juggles his activism with his full time job as a teacher. He is raptly focused on the film, not even turning his head to respond to his friends. I wonder what he is thinking. About his family member’s demolition last week? About the demolition being shown on the screen? The only hint as his emotions are the cigarettes he continues to light up and smoke.

Part way through the film, our main host walks in with his four year old. Almost never are we all sitting around watching a movie in the office. He ends up staying to watch. He handed over his phone to his four year old to watch truck cartoons in order to distract him from what was on screen. He immediately jumped into the rhythm of the conversation, pointing out which parts he had filmed. One of the other activists asked if it was ok that his son was in there and if he wanted her to take him out. We were assured that it was fine. He lives this every day. We had a dry laugh about this reality. But still, this was a rare moment when he got to hold his parents' phone.

After the movie, the Palestinians joked that this was everything we needed to know about Masafer Yatta. That we had gotten a month’s worth of experience just watching the film. As the joking subsided, we asked the Palestinians what they thought of the film. How did it feel to have their entire lives played out in front of them? One activist, known for his attendance at, and artistic recreations of, almost every demolition in the region, and who had his own home demolished over the summer, speaks first.

He talks about how powerful the film is. How meaningful it is to see the story of his people being told on a screen. The others agree. One notes that he has seen demolitions many times, but to have it all put in a story-with music, visuals, and narration, was incredibly powerful for him. It felt validating of their struggle. It felt like maybe, the world would understand the harsh conditions of this place. Maybe they would not have to struggle so much to find activists to stay with them. Maybe they could wake up one morning without worrying their home will be demolished. Maybe, just maybe, their children could go to school and come home and play surrounded by a feeling of safety and security.

The next day, the internet discourse began to change. Instead of sharing infographics and interviews from Masafer Yatta, people were instead discussing the Israeli director, his Oscar speech, and his political stance. That evening, my group went out to eat in Beit Jala and brought a Palestinian activists from Firing Zone 918 with us. Of course, talk quickly goes to The Oscars, the impact of the movie on the ground here, and what this activist thought of Yuval and the things being said about him.

He took his time to answer us thoughtfully. He asked us if we thought that Palestinians in Masafer Yatta had no brains or free will. That of course they were capable of exerting agency and were not simply just a puppet of the Israeli directors. He then told us about Yuval and the first time they met. He told us of the fundraisers he had helped with, the articles he wrote, and the short documentaries he had produced. He assured us that this Israeli did not just step into Masafer Yatta one day and start filming a movie. That like the rest of us in this work, he had to earn the trust and respect that he is given by the community. His serious face then cracked into a smile, “But yaani (I mean) if a settler from Havat Ma’on makes a film that shows about Masafer Yatta, we will celebrate them too”.

We all laugh at this idea, before getting serious again. He tells us about the various ways they have tried to share their stories about the plight of Masafer Yatta. Now, with this film and it’s Academy Award, millions of people know of the place Masafer Yatta. Millions of people know about the demolitions that are happening and of the sumud of the people who insist on remaining on their ancestral lands. This is what is most important. This is what the film is about. This is why I am.

What will you do to support the communities of Masafer Yatta? Well, go see the damn movie already Then donate to support the steadfastness of my wonderful hosts. And, maybe come here yourself and bear witness.