The digital age has flooded us with misinformation, creating a culture where discussions about contentious issues, rather than fostering dialogue, often deepen our divisions. Instead of finding common ground, it is exceedingly easy to fall down a rabbit hole of what-about-ism when faced with a conflicting point of view, moving us farther away from the truth at hand.
This tension between truth and narrative is the heart of the controversy surrounding “No Other Land,” a new documentary coming to The Triplex this week. The story of Palestinian activist Basel Adra and his resistance against Israeli military displacement in the West Bank, the film has drawn criticism from all sides.
A collaboration between Palestinian and Israeli filmmakers, “No Other Land” was denounced by Israel’s Culture Minister as “sabotage” while also being rejected by leaders of the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions movement who opposed Israeli involvement. When Yuval Abraham, one of the film’s Israeli directors, used an award acceptance speech to call for equality for Palestinians, he was called antisemitic. And despite winning Best Documentary at the Academy Awards, the film struggled to secure U.S. distribution and recently sparked controversy when a Florida mayor threatened to pull funding from a theater for screening it.
Documentary filmmaking (and journalism as a whole) uses the same storytelling techniques as its fictional counterparts: When we frame a story, it means there is something past the edges not being seen—the author of a story is directing our attention to a specific place, leaving out some part of the larger context. That is why it is crucial to approach every narrative with both curiosity and discernment, recognizing that no single film can capture the full complexity of its subject.
While we need to bring critical thinking to every piece of content we encounter, we also need to listen when someone speaks their truth. Screening a film like “No Other Land” isn’t about endorsing a singular perspective—it is about making space for stories that might otherwise go unheard. While “No Other Land” isn’t a comprehensive history of the Israel-Palestine conflict, it does offer a window into one man’s lived experience.
How—or if—we integrate his reality into our own is a choice each of us has to make.
Now Playing
“Holland”
Special preview screening and Q&A!
Don’t miss your chance to see the new movie “Holland,” starring Nicole Kidman, Matthew Macfadyen, and Gael García Bernal on the big screen when The Triplex hosts a special preview screening of the new Amazon movie with screenwriter and executive producer Andrew Sodroski on March 22!
A twisted tale of a teacher (Kidman) who upends her picture-perfect life while investigating a mysterious secret with her colleague (García Bernal), join Andrew Sodroski and Triplex Creative Director Ben Elliott as they sit down after the screening to discuss “Holland,” Andrew’s acclaimed script, and the long journey it took to make it to the big screen!
March 22, at 7 p.m.
“Snow White”
A live-action musical remake of the beloved animated classic.
Hi ho! The first feature-length animated movie gets the live-action treatment in “Snow White”! Rachel Zegler (“West Side Story”) steps into the iconic blue-and-yellow ensemble as the wayward princess who takes up with a septet of dwarves after her evil stepmother (Gal Gadot) tries to have her killed in an attempt to remain “the fairest of all.”
Starts Friday.
“Black Bag”
A stylish spy thriller from Steven Soderbergh.
Pair “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” with the cool British sensibility of “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,” and you will get Steven Soderbergh’s “Black Bag”! When legendary spy Kathryn Woodhouse (Cate Blanchett) is accused of treason, her husband and fellow intelligence officer, George (Michael Fassbender), is assigned to investigate her—testing George’s loyalty to his marriage and his country.
“Withnail and I”
A Boondocks Film Society Special Event!
Get in the back of the van! We are teaming up with our friends at Boondocks Film Society for a screening of “Withnail and I,” one of the all-time great British comedies. Based on writer-director Bruce Robinson’s experiences in late 1960s London, “Withnail and I” follows its titular duo (Richard E. Grant and Paul McGann) of alcoholic, unemployed actors as they decide to go on a very poorly planned holiday. An influence on everything from “Pineapple Express” and “Sideways” to “Alien 3,” don’t miss your chance to see this cult classic in an immersive experience with live music and food from The Prairie Whale!
March 25, at 6:30 p.m. (film starts at 8 p.m.).
Coming Soon
“Thank You Very Much”
One of the most influential and enigmatic comedians of all time, we are still trying to figure out what made Andy Kaufman tick over 40 years after his untimely death. Combining interviews with friends, colleagues, and family members, director Alex Braverman takes you inside the life of the late comedic genius in “Thank You Very Much.”
Part of our Limited Engagement series, “Thank You Very Much” comes to The Triplex for one week starting March 28.
“Mulholland Drive”
A swirling mystery that explores the darkness that lurks around the edges of Hollywood glamour, “Mulholland Drive” plays as part of “Time to Wake Up: A Tribute to David Lynch” on March 29! Naomi Watts stars as Betty, a young actress who stumbles across the amnesiac Rita (Laura Harring) upon her arrival in Los Angeles. As Betty and Rita set off to uncover Rita’s history, they soon discover that nothing is at seems.
March 29, at 8 p.m.
