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Palestine 36

Play trailer 1:48 Poster for Palestine 36 Now Playing 1h 58m Biography History Drama War Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 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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Critics Reviews

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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. Go to Full Review
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. Go to Full Review
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. Go to Full Review
Dionar Hidalgo Algo Más Que Cine 3d
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. Go to Full Review
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. Go to Full Review
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. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Greg Dec 7 Provides pre-WW2 peek into the brutal displacement of Palestinians and Britain's strategy through Zionism. See more Nour M @Nouri 3d "A useful and powerful historical contribution that leaves viewers informed and reflective See more Kay E 5d 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 See more 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 See more Lenny L @Lenny9000 Jan 19 Good effort although doesn't tell the full story. See more Noura S Jan 17 While I appreciate films coming up to narrate the tragic history of Palestine, especially at this critical moment, the film sadly lacked gravity. Acting was weak, often expressionless, script was strangely redundant and bland. At best, it can be considered a nicely shot documentary. To do justice to the film, capturing the experience of christian Palestinians was a fresh angle, accentuating the fact that this was not indeed a Muslim/Jewish struggle. People were just defending their homes, their children, their land, and whatever is left of their future. See more Read all reviews
Palestine 36

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Movie Info

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