SHREWSBURY FILM SOCIETY
| Director | Annemarie Jacir |
|---|---|
| Country | Palestine |
| Year | 2025 |
Palestine 36 is an ambitious historical drama from Palestinian director Annemarie Jacir, set during the 1936–39 Arab Revolt against British rule in Mandatory Palestine. Blending personal stories with political upheaval, the film follows ordinary Palestinians caught between colonial power, displacement and resistance. Critics have praised its scale, emotional force and historical urgency.
Palestine 36 is an ambitious historical drama from Palestinian director Annemarie Jacir, set during the 1936–39 Arab Revolt against British rule in Mandatory Palestine. Blending personal stories with political upheaval, the film follows ordinary Palestinians caught between colonial power, displacement and resistance. Critics have praised its scale, emotional force and historical urgency.
Writing in The Guardian, Peter Bradshaw described it as “a vehement reminder of what doesn’t get taught in British schools.” The Hollywood Reporter called it “a story of national identity and resistance with contemporary resonance,” while highlighting its strong ensemble cast.
Reviewers frequently noted the film’s relevance to present-day events. RogerEbert.com praised the film for centring “the Palestinian perspective” in what it called an “essential endeavour,” while the Financial Times concluded that it “leaves us both troubled and informed”.
Featuring performances from Hiam Abbass, Saleh Bakri and Jeremy Irons, the film combines sweeping historical drama with archival footage to create what several critics called both an education and an act of cinematic remembrance.
In an effort to reduce our paper usage, we are no longer offering printed copies of our popular Film Notes at our screenings.
If you wish to read the notes just before or just after the film, and also minimise your paper consumption, then you can scan the QR code to your phone and then download the webpage.
