Palestine 36, directed by Annemarie Jacir, recounts the story of a Palestinian village revolt against British colonial rule in the thirties. It was chosen as Palestine’s official selection for the Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards.
The film starring Hiam Abbass, Kamel El Basha as Abu Rabab, Yasmine Al Massri, Karim Daoud Anaya, Jeremy Irons, Liam Cunningham and Robert Aramayo, premiered in the Gala Presentations section of the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival. A U.S. release date is not currently available.
The historical drama follows Yusuf, a young man torn between the familiarity of his rural home and the restless energy of Jerusalem. Yusuf dreams of escaping the growing turmoil, but history catches up to him as waves of Jewish refugees arrive from Europe and Britain’s hold on the region tightens.
While the political drama unfolds on a historic scale, the film remains rooted in the friendships, losses and decisions that define the characters’ reality. Through its intertwined stories, the film ponders on what happens when ordinary people are swept up by events they never chose, and how does one survive, or resist, when the future is so uncertain?
In an interview with Deadline, Jacir said, “I think this approach gives the bigger story a more intimate feel. This is a big epic film, but I also feel like it’s personal, small and intimate. It’s about these moments in each of their lives where they’re confronted with something; make a decision, and that decision changes everything else for them.”
In response to the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Jacir goes on to say, “When everything fell apart and the genocide began, we found ourselves in a new situation. One we never imagined we’d be in. We were devastated, and yet we knew the only thing to do was to keep on.”
Watch the official trailer for Palestine 36 above.
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