Palestine 36

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Palestine 36

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1h 58m

Biography

History

Drama

War

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100%

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26 Reviews

82%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

1936. As villages across mandatory Palestine rise against British colonial rule, Yusuf drifts between his rural home and the restless energy of Jerusalem, longing for a future beyond the growing unrest. But history is relentless. With rising numbers of Jewish immigrants escaping antisemitism in Europe, and the Palestinian population uniting in the largest and longest uprising against Britain's 30-year dominion, all sides spiral towards inevitable collision in a decisive moment for the British Empire and the future of the entire region.

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Donald Clarke

Irish Times

Dec 20

3/5

Making skilful use of colourised archive footage, the film drags up not just unavoidable pointers to the area’s current miseries, but also reminders of similar western interventions in parts as remote as Vietnam and (yes) Ireland.

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Sheri Linden

The Hollywood Reporter

Nov 26

This is a story of national identity and resistance with contemporary resonance, but it’s also a classic genre movie, its historical tapestry populated by a strong ensemble of screen stars as well as impressive newcomers.

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Marcel Steinbauer-Lewis

Little White Lies

Nov 3

3/5

Occasionally, this devolves into lazy, newspaper-headline storytelling, but at its best it cuts between historical footage and new material and achieves the awed emotional resonance of connecting history with the present.

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Dionar Hidalgo

Algo Más Que Cine

Jan 24

8/10

A sweeping yet intimate historical epic, Palestine 36 revisits the roots of conflict with clarity and restraint. Anchored by strong performances and a humanist gaze, Annemarie Jacir turns history into a necessary act of remembrance.

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Panos Kotzathanasis

Asian Movie Pulse

Nov 24

6.5

"Palestine 36" stands as an outstanding achievement—both as a self-contained story and as an illuminating depiction of how the Palestinian issue emerged in modern times, showing with clarity and conviction how history continues to echo into the present.

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Frank J. Avella

The Contending

Nov 22

C+

The filmmaking is impressive, even when the script is wonky. But the portrayal of the British as monstrous villains with no nuance, felt heavy handed. I give props to actors like Irons who manage to rise above their one-dimensionally written roles.

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Greg

Dec 7

Provides pre-WW2 peek into the brutal displacement of Palestinians and Britain's strategy through Zionism.

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Doris M

@DSMaya 7h

It's epic! I strongly recommend to all viewers. This is one of the best movies I have ever seen. Palestine 36 was an incredibly moving film... I cried several times during the film and could not stop thinking about it afterwards. Every minute of the movie was engaging. The cinematography, acting, and writing are phenomenal. I thought I knew a lot about the topic and I learned even more. This movie is a classic.

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Af M

@Snowowhite 1d

I finished this film in tears because I am the fifth generation, carrying the memory and nostalgia. I kept imagining my family in 48, forced from their home. Every scene felt personal. The film pulls you into the moment: the land, the stones, the green, the wind. One powerful detail was a British soldier holding a red onion. During the British era, soldiers took entire onion patches from farmers and even sent the seeds to England. Farmers thought this was fair trade and kept planting. When the soldiers didn’t return, the farmers created musakhan: onions with sumac and olive oil on taboon bread with chicken eaten hot. A dish born from survival. That onion carried an unbelievable history. The Jaffa orange port scenes, Seashells, Chilli, colours, and customs were beautifully studied. The film clearly shows that the Palestinian tragedy began in 36 under British rule. A beautiful, painful film. I loved it and wished it would never end. Part two will be about return and victory.

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Nour M

@Nouri Jan 24

"A useful and powerful historical contribution that leaves viewers informed and reflective

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Kay E

Jan 22

Movie is providing so much history to the Palestinian people who’ve been painted as sub humans. This is a must watch for anyone and especially history lovers

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Irfan R

@wizardzofoz Jan 20

Palestine 36 is a powerful and beautifully made film with a deeply moving story. Its strong performances and emotional depth make it a a very good watch. I also found it very good to understanding the current and ongoing war in the middle east

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Annemarie Jacir

Director

Jeremy Irons

Actor

Liam Cunningham

Actor

Robert Aramayo

Actor

Hiam Abbass

Actor

Kamel El Basha

Actor

Palestine 36: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

1936. As villages across mandatory Palestine rise against British colonial rule, Yusuf drifts between his rural home and the restless energy of Jerusalem, longing for a future beyond the growing unrest. But history is relentless. With rising numbers of Jewish immigrants escaping antisemitism in Europe, and the Palestinian population uniting in the largest and longest uprising against Britain's 30-year dominion, all sides spiral towards inevitable collision in a decisive moment for the British Empire and the future of the entire region.

Director: Annemarie Jacir
Producer: Ossama Bawardi
Screenwriter: Annemarie Jacir
Distributor: Watermelon Pictures
Production Co: Philistine Films, Autonomous, Corniche Media, MK Productions, Snowglobe
Genre: Biography, History, Drama, War
Original Language: Arabic
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 28, 2025, Limited
Runtime: 1h 58m