zionists succeeded in using art, particularly cinema, to transform the stereotypical image of the stingy, ugly, and xenophobic jew into a more acceptable figure by masking negative traits behind humor and creativity. this contributed to the prominence of many jewish actors and comedians in hollywood.
seventy-seven years after the nakba and the loss of palestine, the bbc and several arab organizations produced one of the first sophisticated artistic works capable of breaking through the barriers zionism had constructed in the western mind, which had long obscured the reality and historical context of occupied palestine during the mandate period.
the film “palestine 36,” a historical drama directed by palestinian filmmaker annemarie jacir, premiered a month ago and achieved significant viewership. it recounts the events of the arab revolt in palestine during the mandate period (1936-1939), using fictional palestinian characters against a documented political backdrop. the story begins with the revolt against british rule and the authorities’ inability to curb increasing zionist immigration and the takeover of palestinian lands.
the film portrays the general strike called by the arab higher committee, the spread of armed rebellion in rural areas, and the british authorities’ brutal attempts to suppress it, including mass arrests, executions, village demolitions, curfews, and collective punishment.
it features real british figures, such as high commissioner sir arthur washup and captain ord wingate, who represent both harsh colonial oppression and christian zionist zeal.
the story follows a group of palestinians whose lives intersect with the escalating revolt.
youssef, a young man, leaves his village for jerusalem to work for amir, a wealthy and liberal magazine editor. initially unaware of the true conditions in his homeland, youssef gradually develops political awareness as he witnesses land confiscations, the disdain of the urban elite, and the violence of colonial rule.
kholoud, amir’s wife, is a journalist and nationalist writer who publishes under a pseudonym. she quickly becomes committed to the revolution, sharply criticizing the elites’ collaboration with the authorities, in contrast to her husband amir, who publicly supports the national movement while secretly cooperating with zionist institutions, presenting them as islamic associations for personal gain.
khaled, a port worker in jaffa, becomes a revolutionary fighter after discovering weapons being smuggled to the zionist haganah in cement barrels at the port, an early sign of the military buildup that britain not only ignored but actively facilitated. khaled becomes a fighter and joins both the urban resistance and rural guerrilla operations.
the film opens amid escalating tensions, highlighting the rapid pace of jewish immigration and the accelerated transfer of land ownership from arab landowners, often non palestinians, to zionist organizations. it emphasizes the stark disparity in britain’s treatment of arabs and jews during this period.
in one scene, a palestinian girl asks her mother why jewish settlers are living nearby. her mother explains that their own country does not want them, portraying jewish immigration as being imposed from abroad while palestinians face an enforced demographic shift.
youssef travels between his village and jerusalem, witnessing two contrasting worlds - rural poverty and land loss on one hand, and the salons and newspapers of jerusalem’s elite on the other.
he observes how the british classify villages as “good” or “bad,” establish checkpoints, impose curfews, and apply collective punishment against communities suspected of harboring rebels.
a major turning point occurs when youssef’s father is shot dead without provocation by armed jews from a neighboring kibbutz being built on village land.
this is followed by a british punitive raid on the village, with troops arriving under the pretext of searching for “bandits.” the forces use the operation as an opportunity to terrorize the population, illustrating how palestinian society is trapped between settlement expansion and imperial violence.
british violence intensifies with the use of brutal tactics, including rounding up villagers, blowing up homes, burning crops, and using people as human shields.
in a harrowing scene, a village suspected of aiding rebels is besieged, a house is destroyed, and a local leader is executed on the spot.
a boy is threatened with death until his father reveals hidden weapons. the british load the suspects onto a bus and drive it along a road rigged with explosives, killing everyone on board. they then set fire to cotton fields and withdrew, taking a young villager strapped to a vehicle as a human shield.
the film is highly impactful and well worth watching. share the link below with as many people as possible - https://t. shahidmosalsalat.me/play. php?vid=913c12de7