Annemarie Jacir's Palestine 36 earns 100% on Rotten Tomatoes

Palestine 36, a sweeping historical drama set during one of the most turbulent years in Palestinian history, has achieved a rare feat: a perfect 100 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics are hailing the film for its powerful storytelling, emotional depth, and meticulous attention to historical detail.

Set in 1936, Palestine 36 follows Yusuf, a young man caught between the rhythms of life in his rural village and the politically charged streets of Jerusalem. As Jewish refugees flee fascist Europe, Palestine becomes a stage for a nationwide uprising against British colonial rule, an uprising that reshapes the destiny of the entire region.

Critics have praised the film for its nuanced approach to a complex period in history. One reviewer wrote, "Palestine 36 shows not only the birth of the occupation, but also the birth of resistance. When people are occupied, resistance is justified. A gorgeous, sprawling, heartbreaking epic that shows the true history and resilience of a people who will be free."

Another critic highlighted the film’s ability to juggle multiple storylines while maintaining emotional focus: "[Palestine 36] has a lot of story to tell, but still manages to singularly draw its many characters and to give specificity to its different locations. It demands the audience’s undivided attention and earns it by the end of its running time."

The film has also been lauded for its humanist perspective, remaining “deeply rooted in the lives of its characters, their relationships with their community, their love for their people, and their enduring connection to their ancestral land.”

Beyond its storytelling, Palestine 36 has been praised for challenging Hollywood conventions. As one critic noted, "Whereas so many Hollywood examples reduce this region’s story to terrorism, Palestine 36 gives it the care necessary to remind us how that label is often used by oppressive forces to maintain their control."