Israeli Film 'Nez'a' Tops Box Office in Italy Amid Controversy
The Israeli film 'Nez'a,' which has sparked public and political controversy in Israel, is achieving significant box office success in Italy. Directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Shore, the film premiered in Italy this week and immediately claimed the top spot in daily box office rankings, surpassing even a re-release of Marvel's 'Avengers: Endgame.' In its first two days, 'Nez'a' grossed approximately 1.1 million euros, with its Tuesday earnings being about 3.5 times that of the Marvel film. However, 'Avengers' still holds a cumulative lead since its re-release.
The film's distribution in Italy was initially planned as a limited three-day event from September 28-30, showing in over 500 theaters through I Wonder Pictures. Due to high demand, screenings are reportedly being extended beyond the initial schedule. 'Nez'a,' whose title is an acronym for 'Accidental Damage,' recently received a special jury prize at the Venice Film Festival.
The documentary presents anonymous testimonies from individuals identified as Israeli soldiers and intelligence personnel, detailing alleged Israeli military conduct and civilian harm in Gaza. The film has faced accusations regarding the veracity of its narrative and its portrayal of IDF operations. The IDF has previously stated that the identities and roles of the interviewees cannot be verified and emphasized that strike decisions are made by humans in accordance with international law.
The controversy has extended to the political sphere in Israel, with Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar condemning the filmmakers and vowing to pursue the revocation of their citizenship. Abraham announced that the film would be available for free online starting in November, in collaboration with The Guardian, and that the filmmakers had offered to screen it for free in Israeli cinemas.
Iris Haim, a bereaved mother, expressed her distress over the film, stating it aids those seeking to defame Israel and its soldiers, causing harm to Israeli families.
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