Keswick Film Club - Palestine 36

Synopsis

Set in 1936 as the British Mandate is fading in Palestine and German Jews are beginning to flee to the area in larger and larger numbers, this film attempts to show us some of the origins of today's troubles. This was all the more timely as filming was set to start soon after Hamas raided Israel and set off the present fighting.

Taking people from various facets of the population, Annemarie Jacir shows how the British actions were definitely part of the problem, whilst the Jewish immigrants, as now, were settling the area without worrying about the existing Palestinians. In their turn, the Palestinian nationalists were set to rebel against the British rule anyway; mix the three ingredients and you have the setting for the Great Palestinian Revolt which was the beginning of the end of the British rule here. If, like me, you would like to understand the background to the Middle East crisis, this drama is the film for you.