PALESTINE 36 (فلسطين ٣٦) World Cinema

Annemarie Jacir’s sweeping, timely and deeply affecting historical epic brings to life a pivotal period in Palestinian history that has rarely been represented on film. Set during the British Mandate for Palestine in the months leading up to the Arab Revolt of 1936, the film charts the rising tensions wrought by colonial rule, the influx of Jewish immigrants escaping antisemitism in Europe and the internal divisions within the Palestinian community through the eyes of Yusuf (Karim Daoud Anaya), a farmer’s son caught between his traditional village and the rapidly changing urban landscape of Jerusalem, where he works as a driver for Amir (Dhafer L’Abidine), a prominent Palestinian journalist and political operative. A rich tapestry of perspectives unfolds alongside Yusuf’s story — from fellow villagers trying to navigate the rapidly changing environment and dispossession of land, to struggling dock workers drawn into the uprising by economic pressures, to journalists documenting the upheaval and British soldiers and officials with differing sympathies and allegiances. Weaving together multiple plot lines, tones and frames of reference, Jacir deftly balances intimate human stories with sweeping political history, using rare archival footage to ground the narrative in historical reality and expertly directing a stellar ensemble cast that includes emerging talents alongside veteran actors Hiam Abbass, Jeremy Irons and Saleh Bakri. Richly researched, morally urgent and unflinching in its portrayal of dispossession, PALESTINE 36 illuminates an often-overlooked moment in the shaping of modern Palestine, while drawing striking parallels to the present. –Abbie Algar