Palestine 36: A film about a revolt that nearly changed history

In this powerful episode of The Take, host Malika Bilal speaks with Palestinian director Anne-Marie Jasser about her historical drama 'Palestine 36,' a film set in 1936 during the first mass uprising against British colonial rule. Jasser recounts how the film centers on ordinary Palestinians facing impossible choices between quiet submission and resistance, drawing deep parallels between the 1936 revolt and today’s ongoing struggle, especially in light of the October 7th attacks and Israel’s war on Gaza. Despite years of development and a production halted by the war, Jasser and her team returned with renewed resolve, using archival footage, VFX, and real-world context to create a visceral, emotionally charged narrative. The film’s reception—acclaimed at festivals, shortlisted for an Oscar, and widely seen—underscores a growing appetite for Palestinian stories, even as censorship and bans persist. Jasser reflects on the film as both a personal and political act, rooted in her family’s history and the enduring resilience of her people. She imagines a different Palestine had the 1936 revolt succeeded—a pluralistic, Mediterranean society with dignity, land, and freedom—offering a haunting vision of what might have been.