Coexistence, My Ass!
Amber Fares / United States & France / 2025 / 95 min
With humor as her weapon of choice, Israeli comedian Noam Shuster Eliassi has provoked strong reactions with her mission for freedom and justice. A goal that suddenly needs to be defended like never before.
‘Coexistence, My Ass!’ follows Israeli activist-comedian Noam Shuster Eliassi as she creates a comedy show by the same name. Shot over five tumultuous years, the film traces Noam’s personal, professional and political journey in tandem with the region’s steady deterioration. Raised in a bilingual Israeli-Palestinian village — the only intentionally integrated community in the country — Noam grows disillusioned with traditional peace activism. She pivots to stand-up and quickly attracts attention across the Middle East. But as her star rises, everything around her falls apart. With biting satire, Noam pushes her audiences to face difficult truths that aren’t always funny but do remind us that another reality is possible.