Spokane, Wash. – The Magic Lantern Theatre, one of the few venues in Washington still showing the documentary film Naza, has been inundated with email complaints from viewers who object to the film’s focus on Israeli military actions in Gaza.
Manager Joe Sheehan told reporters that the theater received “two or three” messages on the first day of the run, followed by a “flood of 20” emails within minutes on the second day. He said many of the messages were identical, suggesting a coordinated copy‑and‑paste effort aimed at multiple theaters showing the film.
“Some of them are exactly the same, word for word,” Sheehan explained. “It was like a copy and paste to, I assume, the other theatres that are showing this.”
When NonStop Local reached out to other Washington theaters that have scheduled screenings, one venue reported receiving “upwards of 2,000” similar emails, indicating the campaign may be broader than the Magic Lantern’s inbox.
Sheehan noted that this is the first time a film on this subject matter has provoked such a response. “This is not the first film I’ve shown on this subject matter,” he said, adding that previous documentaries on related topics did not generate organized email campaigns.
Alternative viewing options
For audiences seeking a different perspective, a video titled Naza: The Real Story is available on YouTube. The original documentary Naza continues to play in select theaters across the state.
The situation highlights the challenges local cultural venues face when presenting controversial content. While the Magic Lantern Theatre remains committed to offering a range of viewpoints, the theater’s staff is monitoring the situation and evaluating whether additional security or communication measures are needed.
Community members who wish to discuss the film or express concerns are encouraged to contact the theater directly. The Magic Lantern hopes that open dialogue, rather than mass email blasts, will foster a more constructive conversation about the complex issues raised by the documentary.
Original reporting: KHQ Spokane (news) — read the source article.
