What Next - He Made 2026's "Most Controversial Film"

In this episode of *What Next*, host Mary Harris interviews Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid about his controversial new film, *Yes*, which explores post-October 7th Israel through a surreal, satirical lens. The film, described as a 'bomb' of cinematic provocation, juxtaposes hedonistic party scenes in Tel Aviv with harrowing depictions of Gaza’s destruction, using absurdity and dark comedy to expose the moral contradictions within Israeli society. Lapid reveals that the film was born from his personal reckoning after returning to Israel following the October 7th attacks, where he witnessed both profound national agony and a dangerous thirst for revenge. He recounts how children’s songs glorifying violence became a catalyst for the film, and how real footage from Gaza—complete with live gunfire—was incorporated into the narrative to underscore the film’s emotional and ethical gravity. The conversation delves into the film’s central thesis: that understanding history requires confronting not just victims, but the 'predators' who perpetuate violence, even as they claim moral superiority. The episode also examines the fierce backlash Lapid has faced in Israel, including condemnation from the Minister of Culture, who publicly vowed to cut funding and branded him an enemy of the state. Yet Lapid remains defiant, framing his work as an act of love—a painful, necessary reckoning with a nation he still calls home. He emphasizes that *Yes* is not an attack on Israel, but a mirror held up to its own soul, urging Israelis to confront their complicity and internal contradictions. The film, he argues, is not about external enemies, but about the internal crisis of identity, normalcy, and moral decay. Ultimately, the episode positions *Yes* as a pivotal cultural moment—one that forces a difficult, overdue conversation about what kind of society Israel wants to be.