Coexistence, My Ass!

Raised by an Iranian Jewish mom and Romanian Jewish father, Noam Shuster-Eliassi was born into activism and the pursuit of equal human rights in Israel/Palestine. She grew up in Neve Shalom, an intentionally integrated “oasis of peace”, spent her teen years advocating for peace and after college became a co-director of a UN peace-building organisation.

Dissatisfied with the impact of her work there and invited by Harvard to create a peace project, she chose to craft a comedy show, thinking that the stage will help amplify her voice and cause.

Director Amber Fares previously filmed Noam in the Al Jazeera-produced Reckoning with Laughter mini documentary and in Coexistence, My Ass! follows her on this deeply personal and political journey, as she effectively uses acumen and satire to navigate difficult territory even as dire events unfold at home and any humour feels like a bad joke. Noam’s message never wavers in its intent to voice resistance, and she clearly outlines a simple truth: coexistence can only happen between equals.

Coexistence, My Ass! won the World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Freedom of Expression at Sundance 2025, and the Human Rights in Motion Award, presented by the Council of Europe.

Complete the viewing of Coexistence, My Ass! with our interview of director Amber Fares as part of DOC DAY Online.

This film is eligible for the Best Documentary Award/Gradam na Féile do Scannáin Faisnéise.