From UN Peacebuilder to Political Comedian
In the late 2010s, Noam Shuster Eliassi experienced a career epiphany while working at the United Nations. Witnessing Volodymyr Zelenskyy's transition from comedian to Ukrainian president inspired her to channel political activism through humour. This realisation marked the beginning of an unconventional journey that would eventually become the documentary Coexistence, My Ass!, directed by Amber Fares.
The Making of a Radical Comedy Show
Shuster Eliassi's unique background positioned her perfectly for political comedy. Fluent in Hebrew, Arabic, and English, she grew up in Neve Shalom / Wahat as-Salam, one of Israel's few joint Israeli-Palestinian communities. Her parents, described as 'woke, progressive leftists' who believed in equal human rights for both Israelis and Palestinians, raised her as a literal poster child for peace efforts.
The comedian developed her full stand-up routine at Harvard in 2019, using self-deprecating humour to deconstruct the concept of coexistence. 'It has been so frustrating to always see this notion of coexistence used repeatedly as a nice decoration,' she explained. Her performance ranged from lighthearted anecdotes about asking Palestinian neighbours for kebabs on Israeli independence day to more pointed political commentary.
Confronting the Elephant in the Room
When Shuster Eliassi performed her complete routine in Montreal in September 2023, the political landscape had dramatically shifted. 'It used to be the occupation,' she told audiences. 'Now, the elephant in the room is genocide.'
The documentary, filmed over five turbulent years, captures both the development of her comedy and the devastating collapse of peace prospects following the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attacks and Israel's retaliatory destruction of Gaza, which killed over 71,000 Palestinians.
Director Amber Fares noted the project's unexpected transformation: 'I thought the film was going to be about Noam trying to be a comedian in the US... And the film just took an entirely different turn.'
Challenging Audiences and Principles
As her profile grew, Shuster Eliassi faced increasing pressure to compromise her political messaging. She secured a regular television gig post-Covid and created 'Dubai Dubai', a viral music video mocking Arab countries for normalising relations with Israel while Palestine suffered.
However, she found herself increasingly isolated within Israel's comedy scene. 'Some comedians in Israel are like, 'oh here's Noam, she's the one who talks about the occupation - why can't you do, like, Tinder jokes and stuff?'' she recalled.
At pro-democracy protests against Benjamin Netanyahu's government, she repeatedly questioned liberal Israelis about connecting their demonstrations to Palestinian rights. Most denied any connection, revealing what Shuster Eliassi described as a fundamental avoidance of responsibility.
Life After 7 October
The documentary consciously avoids showing graphic footage from either the 7 October attacks or Gaza's destruction. Instead, it focuses on Shuster Eliassi's personal experiences, including attending the funeral of peace activist Vivian Silver and her growing despair at the escalating violence.
Her comedy career in Israel has significantly diminished since the attacks, partly due to dwindling audiences and venues unwilling to book her, and partly because she's expecting her first child. She expressed disappointment with comedians who've used their platforms differently during the conflict.
'It's like American comedians who contributed to the re-election of Trump,' she said. 'You're like, 'Oh my god, this is how you're using this tool that was designed to fight against fascism?''
A Message to International Audiences
While facing challenges at home, Shuster Eliassi has found more receptive audiences abroad. The documentary premiered at Sundance and opened the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, presented jointly with the Arab Film & Media Institute.
Yet she remains critical of why her message might resonate differently: 'A lot of what we're saying in this film, Palestinians have been saying for a really long time. And I say to the audiences, that if they feel relieved or reassured because they hear it from an Israeli Jew - why don't you believe Palestinians?'
In conversations after a ceasefire was announced - which still hadn't stopped the killing in Gaza - Shuster Eliassi reflected on her unusual upbringing and the potential for different realities. 'I often think about how I just got lucky, to have this opportunity to exist with Palestinians... It's extraordinary to me how ordinary it could be.'
Despite the grim circumstances, she finds persistence in hope, comparing it to the resilience of Palestinians surviving current atrocities and her grandmother surviving Nazi camps. 'There is something irrational about hope,' she observed. 'And it's very similar to coexistence - these are what our human tendencies can lead to, if we are dedicated to humanity.'
Coexistence, My Ass! is currently showing in select US cinemas with UK dates to be announced.
