It’s easy to talk about war as if it’s just politics — maps, borders, governments and debates. However, the recent screening of “No Other Land” at College of DuPage (COD), hosted by UNICEF Unite, challenged that mindset. The film wasn’t just about abstract issues or disagreements. It is about people, and it’s about life.
“No Other Land” was co-directed by Palestinian activist Basel Adra and Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham, alongside Hamdan Ballal and Rachel Szor, marking this as their directorial debut. The documentary was filmed between 2019 and 2023, documenting the demolition of Palestinian homes in Masafer Yatta, a region in the West Bank. “No Other Land” won the Best Documentary Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards, along with recognition from the New York Film Critics Circle.
Before the documentary was shown, guest speakers reinforced the message that the documentary was about to convey to the audience.
Sawsan AbuBakar, co-founder of Advocates 4 Justice, spoke about her personal experiences in Palestine. AbuBakar encouraged the audience to take action and understand the situation occurring.
“The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) would throw tear gas and bombs at kids in order for them to not go to school.” AbuBakar said. “You are the new generation. You can step up and help those [who] are suffering.”
Deborah Adelman, former COD film studies faculty and representative for Jewish Voices for Peace, spoke alongside AbuBakar. Adelman highlighted that “No Other Land” was created through collaboration between Palestinians and Israelis, an effort that adds depth to the storytelling.
Along with giving a little backstory to the documentary, Adelman emphasized that the war is still ongoing. “The screen time has ended. [The] situation has not,” she said.
The documentary strips away the idea that global conflicts are removed from our everyday reality. It centers on human experiences with families trying to stay in their homes, communities facing uncertainty and fear, and children growing up in conditions they should not have to face.
The film makes it impossible to ignore the truth: behind every headline, there are real people whose basic rights and daily lives are affected.
What makes “No Other Land” so powerful is not just what it shows but how it shows it. There isn’t a single moment where your attention drifts because the storytelling is so seamless. Every scene holds weight. You don’t just watch from a distance — you feel pulled into the reality unfolding on the screen. The film doesn’t rely on exaggeration but reflects a reality that already exists.
At its core, the documentary pushes the audience to open their eyes. Necessities, such as water, electricity, education and safe housing, are taken for granted in our lives. However, not everybody has these essentials, highlighting the fragility and uncertainty these essentials can have for others. The documentary makes us understand that these essentials aren’t privileges. Rather, they are basic human rights that everyone deserves, regardless of where they live.
Together, the film and speakers pushed the audience to move beyond seeing this as just another political issue. Instead, they emphasized the human cost; the reality that children are growing up in instability, families are struggling and that everyday life can be shaped by forces far beyond individual control. Overall, UNICEF’s event left the audience with a difficult but necessary understanding of conflict. We are not just talking about politics; we are talking about human lives. We are grasping the concept that it is a universal right to live safely, with dignity and with basic necessities, no matter where you live or what beliefs you hold.
