Venice Film Festival Criticized for Screening "NAZA"

A scathing review has slammed the film "NAZA," which was included in the main program of the Venice Film Festival, calling it a "journalistic work that is boring, talentless, and completely unsubstantiated, having no relation to cinema." The film reportedly features two individuals on a rooftop in darkness, with one interviewing an anonymous Israeli military figure. This figure allegedly recounts experiencing pleasure in combat and intentionally bombing civilian areas, while also claiming that Hamas also killed children and abducted civilians on October 7th.

The reviewer criticizes the film for lacking any verifiable evidence, such as orders, correspondence, or recordings, to support the anonymous soldier's claims. The identity and service record of the interviewee are not revealed, making it impossible to verify his account. The reviewer suggests this reliance on an unverifiable, anonymous source is a tactic used by "leftists" to present "truth" under the guise of darkness.

"NAZA" reportedly intersperses the interview with nighttime views of Israel and archival footage from the 1920s, including early Tel Aviv. It also includes brief segments featuring Benjamin Netanyahu. A scene depicting a bombed house in Gaza and a grieving owner is presented without any journalistic investigation into the circumstances of the strike, such as whether the house had Hamas connections or if the strike was an error.

The reviewer argues that such content, if intended as an investigation, should be supported by evidence and could lead to defamation lawsuits. If considered an artistic statement, the reviewer finds the film lacking in cinematic qualities like narrative, rhythm, and character development, reducing it to mere "rooftop and a light switch." The article expresses disbelief that such a film was accepted into the main competition at Venice, questioning who lobbied for its inclusion. The reviewer notes the audience's 24-minute standing ovation, calling it a sign of professionals applauding something they understand is not cinema and not a journalistic investigation.