‘Palestine 36′ Offers Stark Portrait of 1936 Palestine, Earns Oscar Submission Nod
RAMALLAH, WEST BANK – Palestine’s official submission for the 96th Academy Awards, Palestine 36, delivers a compelling and nuanced depiction of life in Mandatory Palestine during the 1936 Arab revolt. Directed by Muhammad Bakri, the film centers on the experiences of British civil servant Thomas Young, based on the real-life James Young, as he navigates the escalating tensions and political complexities of the region.
The film portrays the growing disconnect between British colonial authorities and the palestinian population, exemplified through the character of Khuloud, played by Maisa Abd Elhadi, whose increasing alienation from her husband’s social and business circles mirrors the broader Palestinian experience.
British figures are depicted with a blend of “pomp, cluelessness, arrogance and cruelty,” according to reviews, with Alec Irons delivering a performance as Sir Alan Wauchope, the high Commissioner for Palestine, as a “self-satisfied spouter of windy bureaucratese.” At one point, Khuloud wryly observes Wauchope’s pronouncements, noting, “this is the part where they educate and elevate us.”
Robert Aramayo portrays Captain Wingate as a “sadistic” military officer who justifies the Zionist project in Palestine using biblical prophecy,a rhetoric the film notes continues to resonate today.The film highlights Wingate’s justification being calmly challenged by Thomas.
A striking element of the film is the casting of Liam Cunningham, a known supporter of Palestinian independence and participant in aid flotillas to Gaza, as Charles Tegart, a counterinsurgency expert drawing on experience from British colonial India. The film depicts Thomas responding to Tegart’s ideas with a forceful outburst, marking a turning point in his character arc.
Palestine 36 doesn’t shy away from direct questions about the legitimacy of British rule. A village elder poses the question to Thomas: ”Is it the right of the English, as occupying power, to distribute the land as they like?” The film underscores the core conflict as a division between “heartlessness and compassion,” and “anguish and hope.” Yafa Bakri’s portrayal of Rabab, a village mother, succinctly explains the influx of settlers: “Their countries don’t want them.”