'Palestine 36': A Cinematic Response to Colonialism

• Directed by Annemarie Jacir, 'Palestine 36' is an epic film depicting British colonial rule in Palestine during the 1930s.
• The film serves as a Palestinian response to the 1960 Zionist epic 'Exodus,' focusing on the role of the British Empire in the region's historical grievances.
• The film, featuring actors like Saleh Bakri, Hiam Abbass, and Jeremy Irons, premieres in theaters on August 14.

Historical Context and Narrative Focus

• The narrative highlights the 1917 Balfour Declaration and the Sykes-Picot Agreement as the foundations of the regional instability, showing how Britain facilitated the partition of land while brutally suppressing the indigenous population.
• Jacir emphasizes the diverse religious makeup of the resistance, including Arab Christians, and illustrates how the British colonial administration attempted to suppress information about the killing of Christian Arabs to manage domestic public opinion.

Thematic Elements

• Class Conflict: The film depicts Palestinian laborers joining the resistance against exploitation, while contrasting them with a bourgeoisie that initially sought to cooperate with British authorities before being ultimately marginalized.
• Female Agency: Unlike many traditional epics, the film prominently features women in independent, proactive roles, such as the journalist character portrayed by Yasmine Al Massri.
• Colonial Critique: The film directs its criticism at British colonialism rather than the Jewish people, drawing parallels between past suppressions—such as the prohibition of the keffiyeh—and modern-day restrictions on political expression.