Event Description
Programmer's Note: Having first met Annemarie Jacir while programming her earlier film, WAJIB (2017), I recall her reflection that Palestinians often live lives preordained by external forces. PALESTINE 36 arrives as a timely work set against the 1936–39 Arab Revolt, foregrounding the British Empire’s role in shaping the conditions of political oppression and violence in Palestine. Incorporating documentary footage alongside measured melodrama, Jacir builds a film that is both accessible and resonant, where its power lies in drawing empathetic parallels with the present moment, inviting us to rethink moral and historical justice. (Eternality Tan, Vice-Chair & Programming Director)
SFS Showcase is a continuing series of specially-curated monthly screenings of new releases from the international festival circuits making their Singapore premieres, featuring an eclectic selection of films with a focus on creating conversations, challenging assumptions and opening hearts and minds to the diverse narratives of the world. All Showcase screenings are free for members, while tickets last.
Synopsis
Palestine 36 (2025)
Year 1936. As villages across 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 some arriving with nefarious Zionist-colonial ambitions, 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.
