Movies

In turnaround, Miami Beach mayor backs down from threatening theater over ‘No Other Land’

BBG News

As a passionate film enthusiast, I’ve found myself right in the middle of an intriguing cinematic debate. The screening of the thought-provoking documentary “No Other Land” at a quaint art-house theater on Miami Beach has ignited a whirlwind of discussion.

Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner wrote a letter dated March 5th to O Cinema, requesting them to reconsider screening a film that has recently won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. The mayor expressed concern that the film presents a biased, negative portrayal of Jewish people, which he believes contradicts the values and beliefs of Miami Beach and its community.

When the theater chose to show the movie against his objections, Meiner proposed a formal motion to the city commission: firstly, to stop providing grants to the theater, and secondly, to end the theater’s lease at its current location on city-owned land.

However, surprisingly, the mayor chose not to put his proposal forward for voting during the city commission meeting held on Wednesday morning. Instead, he withdrew it himself.

Meiner stated that he reacted in this manner because he considered it a necessary step for ensuring public safety,”

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“He explained that his immediate action was taken to promote public safety.”

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“In his explanation, Meiner mentioned that his response was intended as a precautionary measure for public safety.

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This Academy Award-nominated documentary was created by a collaborative effort between activist filmmakers from both Palestine and Israel. It offers a glimpse into daily life in a tiny West Bank village while living under military rule.

My addition was, “I must also express my gratitude towards my fellow team members. We were united in our efforts. Unity doesn’t necessarily mean we all agree on every policy move. It means we’re working towards what’s best for our city and community. Some have humorously suggested that my actions boosted the movie’s popularity more than the Academy Awards did, and they may very well be correct. That was not my goal. I knew this decision would spark conversation.

The mayor’s decisions have sparked significant press attention regarding the future of the Florida theater. In a press conference on Tuesday, Vivian Martel, CEO of O Cinema, stated, “O Cinema refuses to be silenced, and neither will our community. This isn’t only about a movie; it’s about upholding the basic right of free expression, maintaining artistic integrity, and preserving the role that independent cinemas play within our community.

Last week, during an interview, Kareem Tabsch – co-founder of O Cinema and chair of its board – expressed astonishment over the mayor’s actions, stating, “I’m at a loss for words. This is something we’ve never encountered before in the 15 years that O Cinema has been active. No elected official has ever commented on or questioned our programming, let alone threatened any action against films we screened. So, it was disconcerting because we were simply continuing with our usual practices.

Since 2019, the Cinema has been holding its ground at its current location, and Tabsch expressed doubt that the organization could find a suitable venue in Miami Beach elsewhere.

Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of UC Berkeley’s law school, stated, “It infringes upon the 1st Amendment.” In simpler terms, this means that the government, whether it be a city or any other entity, is not allowed to censor speech based on its content. For example, could they claim your movies have a liberal bias and subsequently revoke your ability to screen them? Or perhaps they disapprove of your movies’ portrayal or endorsement of Donald Trump and decide to withdraw your license as a result? The government is prohibited from making such decisions based on the speech’s viewpoint or topic.

The documentary ‘No Other Land’, created by a collaborative team consisting of two Israeli and two Palestinian filmmakers, offers a poignant portrayal of the hardships experienced in Masafer Yatta, a region of the West Bank. Here, Israeli settlers and soldiers make efforts to displace local inhabitants from their homes and land. The movie also delves into the blossoming camaraderie between two of its creators, Basel Adra, a Palestinian, and Yuval Abraham, an Israeli.

Additionally, Tabsch is recognized as a movie director who collaborated with Cristina Costantini on the co-directed film “Mucho Mucho Amor: The Legend of Walter Mercado,” which debuted at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. As of Tuesday, their open letter in support of O Cinema, which was also signed by esteemed filmmakers such as Michael Moore, Barry Jenkins, Phil Lord, Laura Poitras, Ezra Edelman, Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, and Alex Gibney, has amassed over 750 signatures.

In a city such as Miami, which is home to many refugees, it’s heart-wrenching to witness the suppression of free speech, much like what these individuals have fled from under dictatorships and tyrants. It’s only natural that we should strive to counteract this, as I believe our efforts are crucial.

Last week, Fumero stated, “This move is a significant setback for that city.” He added, “It carries consequences beyond what the mayor seems to understand, and it will negatively impact not only O Cinema, but also the residents of Miami.

In a recent newsletter, Mayor Meiner labeled “No Other Land” as “blatantly anti-Semitic.” Efforts to reach out to him for further clarification on this matter have remained unanswered, including an inquiry regarding his viewing location and time of the movie.

In his statement, Abraham expressed concern about the mayor using the term ‘antisemitism’ to stifle Palestinians and Israelis who openly resist occupation and apartheid, championing fairness and equality. He finds this action to be highly risky, as it seems to dilute the significance of the word.

Abraham’s argument was clear: “Censorship is never right.” He created this movie intending to resonate with diverse political perspectives within the U.S. audience. He strongly believes that after witnessing the brutal reality of occupation in Masafer Yatta, West Bank, one cannot justify it. This is why the mayor fears ‘No Other Land.’ However, suppressing a film only fuels curiosity and determination among people to watch it.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida and the Community Justice Project were speaking on behalf of Cinema during the proceedings.

Daniel Tilley, the legal director of the ACLU of Florida, expressed his concern that it’s regrettable that certain politicians appear to interpret our present situation as a license for them to act lawlessly without facing any repercussions.

Tilley stated, “I don’t have the right to dictate someone’s emotions towards the film, and neither does the government. While the government can express its own opinion, it doesn’t give them the authority to control how people feel about a movie or restrict their access to different viewpoints.

Chemerinsky stated, “The mayor is free to express strong disapproval towards this film and its theater owner vocally. However, the mayor does not have the authority to penalize the cinema for the content it displays.

Initially, when the mayor wrote to the theater asking them not to screen “No Other Land” before any performances had taken place, Martel initially stated they would withdraw the movie. However, after careful thought and consulting with the board and other parties, they ultimately chose to proceed with the screening of the film.

Tabsch stated, “I don’t presume to tell anyone how they should perceive a movie or the emotions it leaves them with. Our role as an arts organization is to display films that are captivating, stimulating, thought-provoking, and spark conversation. These are movies that receive acclaim and that audiences might not have access to otherwise. ‘No Other Land’ fits perfectly into all these categories.

The screenings of “No Other Land” set for Wednesday and Thursday appear to be proceeding as intended. All tickets for the movie’s showings at O Cinema were snapped up ahead of time.

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2025-03-19 20:31

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