The power of cinema: From No Man’s Land to No Other Land

My Bosnian neighbours Karim and Selma invited me to view No Man’s Land during my 2010 work tenure in Sarajevo, as the movie reflected their own experiences deeply. Through its depiction of the Bosnian War (1992-1995), the film demonstrated both the senseless tragedy and the devastating impact on their homeland and identity. Their eyes filled with tears as memories of enduring the siege and constant battle for survival came flooding back during the movie. Their existence in a supposed “No Man’s Land” extended far beyond cinematic depiction, because it was their lived experience.

At the end of the movie, Selma turned to me as the credits rolled, her voice heavy with emotion.

“Elif, do you see?” she asked. “This is our story. We lived this.”

“I see it, Selma,” I replied. “And I see the pain still in your eyes. But you survived. You’re still here.”

“Survived? Maybe. But is it really survival when everything is taken from you? When you can never return to what once was?”

Last year saw No Other Land get its premiere, taking the spotlight for portraying a similar tale of endurance and adversity set in occupied Palestine. The film brought memories of Sarajevo evenings to mind and made me realise how history repeats itself.

Both Palestine and Bosnia have experienced long periods of ethnic cleansing along with extensive population displacement and institutionalised oppression. The flight of Palestinians from their homes during the 1948 Nakba was replicated in the Bosnian displacement in the 1990s. Israel’s ongoing blockade turns Gaza into a modern version of Sarajevo under siege, as food and medicine shortages persist, and resistance continues.

The film industry’s promotion of these stories through movies like No Man’s Land and No Other Land is essential.

With its ability to tell important stories very powerfully, cinema is a medium that can compel global audiences to face difficult truths. These films serve as both historical records and a platform for silenced voices, while highlighting frequently overlooked injustices. The Oscar recognition for No Other Land represents more than an award, because it acknowledges Palestine’s struggle and presents it to the world in a similar way to the highlighting of Bosnia’s suffering in No Man’s Land.

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In my work as both a journalist and researcher, I have toured war-ravaged cities including Sarajevo, Aleppo and Gaza to see history repeat its brutal stories across time and place. I witnessed Syrian families having to escape from their homes following the same pattern that Bosnians experienced twenty years earlier. The patterns of occupation coupled with war and the silence of the international community repeat themselves as I observe the situation in Palestine. Peace agreements such as Dayton for Bosnia and Oslo for Palestine have failed to deliver authentic stability and justice for either. The political situation remains unresolved in both places, because external negotiations have consistently failed to address the underlying causes of the wars and thus have failed to deliver permanent peace.

These lands transcend the name of “No Man’s Lands” because for their inhabitants they represent “No Other Lands” which cannot be forsaken as homes or forgotten as histories, while their futures demand reclamation. Karim and Selma fought to preserve their existence and demonstrated resistance and rebuilding efforts similar to those of the Palestinians in Gaza and Syrians in Aleppo.

During a heated argument between two individuals on the London Underground Jubilee Line this week I observed a Jewish man and an Arab Muslim who remained ignorant of each other’s cultural backgrounds. The absurdity of our divided world became clear when two people entangled in historical grievances remained unaware of their possible common ground.

Humanity encompasses these people who remain blameless within a materialistic system designed to create conflict between them.

Through the films No Man’s Land and No Other Land, cinema has demonstrated its ability to illuminate forgotten conflicts. The film industry pays tribute to important histories that require preservation by giving due recognition to these films. Will the international community persist in treating Bosnia and Palestine as political states in limbo, I wonder, or will it at last recognise them as territories belonging to their respective native populations? That remains the unanswered question.

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The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.