Israeli Documentary 'NezA' Tops Italian Box Office, Outperforms Marvel

The Israeli documentary "NezA," directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Shore, has achieved significant success in Italy, topping the box office charts and surpassing the re-release of Marvel's "Avengers: Endgame." The film, which has not yet been released in Israel, earned approximately 1.1 million euros in its first two days of wide release in Italy, significantly outperforming the "Avengers" re-release which grossed 356,000 euros in the same period. Initial plans for a three-day theatrical run in Italy were extended due to enthusiastic audience reception and strong advance ticket sales.

"NezA" premiered in the United States this week and is slated for release in over 50 countries. The film, which was involved in its production by The Guardian, will be available for free viewing on the British newspaper's website in November. The documentary features testimonies from 24 Israeli soldiers and officers discussing the war in Gaza, with the filmmakers describing it as "genocide" and offering sharp criticism of the Israeli military and government.

The identities of the interviewees are concealed, their voices altered, and interviews were filmed at night in near-total darkness on rooftops in Tel Aviv. Some testimonies reportedly compare the IDF's actions to the Holocaust and historical processes of dehumanization. The filmmakers have offered the film to Israeli cinemas free of charge, but its release in Israel has not yet been confirmed.

The documentary previously won the Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival earlier in September. The filmmakers, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Shore, are known for their critical stance on Israeli military actions.