Sundance 2025: Coexistence, My Ass! (dir. Amber Fares) | Review

There are people we wish we could cling to in our darkest hours—individuals who refuse to betray their ethical and moral compass, even when it relegates them to the margins of society. Noam Shuster Eliassi is one of those rare souls. This young Israeli Jewish woman of Iranian descent, a former diplomat turned comedian, is an anomaly in a system that, blinded by its quest for security, has normalized the denial and oppression of an entire people.

Premiering in the World Cinema Documentary section of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, Coexistence, My Ass! by director Amber Fares takes its title from the one-woman show written and performed by Noam, the film’s central figure. Through Noam’s razor-sharp humor and fearless voice, the film offers an arresting, eye-opening, and deeply moving perspective on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

From an early age, Noam was raised in a unique environment: the village of Neve Shalom, also known as the “Oasis of Peace.” This rare social experiment in Israel brought Jews and Arabs together to live, grow, and coexist, proving that peaceful cohabitation is possible—far from the divisive rhetoric and policies perpetuated by successive Israeli governments, particularly under the current prime minister. Anchored by her upbringing, Noam has steadfastly pursued the dream of reconciliation: a vision of Jews and Palestinians living as equals on shared land, where diversity and interconnectedness transform the region into a peaceful, multicultural haven.

Amber Fares’ documentary illustrates how this seemingly natural and desirable ideal remains a marginalized voice in Israeli society. By chronicling Noam’s life over several months—and perhaps years—the film offers an intimate portrait of an intractable conflict. Weaving in footage of Noam’s comedy performances, the narrative follows her journey as she recounts the milestones of her activism, her boldest media stunts, and her incisive critiques of Israeli policies. These moments are interspersed with cinéma vérité scenes, capturing her interactions with family, friends—including her Arab best friend—and a society deeply resistant to her ideals.

Noam’s reflections are raw and honest: she questions how best to expose the colonization, apartheid, and military impunity that underpin the ongoing negation of Palestinian existence. While she acknowledges that she does not share the same suffering as the Palestinian people, she carries the weight of her convictions, choosing the hard path of dissent against the society she inhabits. With humor, intelligence, and unyielding moral clarity, she denounces the systemic injustice that underlies Israeli society, even at great personal cost.

What makes the film remarkable is its deliberate choice to focus on the contemporary rather than engaging in the endless cycle of historical justifications. Fares avoids delving into the historical back-and-forth of grievances and retaliations, recognizing that such narratives often serve to excuse or obscure the absurdity and extremity of the current situation. By anchoring her lens firmly in the present, she dismantles the idea that the conflict’s complexity lies in its history, instead exposing the stark realities and moral clarity of today’s injustices.

Through Noam’s eyes and voice, the documentary confronts the normalization of injustice and apartheid within Israeli society. One of the most striking scenes takes place during an anti-Netanyahu protest. Here, Noam confronts demonstrators, exposing their hypocrisy: while they decry the prime minister’s corruption, many remain complicit in the colonization of Palestinian territories. The scene devolves into heated exchanges, a sobering testament to the polarization and the unbridgeable divide between Noam’s vision and the majority view. Her position is painfully clear: a society that condones a two-tiered humanity has lost its way.

Noam and her friends, representing a leftist vision that champions Palestinian rights, are deeply moving. These are individuals who refuse to compromise their humanity, who resist the slide into fascism and darkness. Noam herself is a beacon of light in the obscurity consuming Israeli society—a rare, resilient, and essential voice. Despite relentless attacks and insults, she persists, challenging the system with courage and determination. The film reveals the toll of her activism, showing moments of doubt and hesitation, but also her unwavering resolve to confront the injustice at the heart of her society.

While Coexistence, My Ass! often leans into the comedic brilliance of Noam’s performances, its final act takes a harrowing turn, reflecting the gravity of the situation. The film concludes with a devastating and unforgettable finale that will leave audiences shaken. Far from mere polemic, the documentary is a powerful indictment of the forces driving colonization—and now genocide—in Gaza.

One particularly heartbreaking moment captures Noam’s reaction to the Israeli government’s response to the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks. As Israel launched a brutal, disproportionate assault on Gaza, Noam is visibly shattered: “It’s impossible to grieve for so many people we know while knowing that what Israel is doing now in Gaza is exactly what brought us to this point to begin with.” This single statement sums everything up: the futility of Israel’s approach, juxtaposed with Noam’s unflinching humanity.

Amber Fares has crafted an essential and profoundly contemporary film about a decades-long conflict. Clinical and devastating, the documentary refuses to compromise its moral compass, standing as a testament to the courage of truth. It is a film that moves viewers to tears, demanding empathy and action from anyone who believes in peace.

The Film Fest Report team is an accredited media at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Expect substantial coverage from Park City, Utah, as the festival unfolds from January 23 to February 2, 2025.