Just Shoot It: A Podcast about Filmmaking, Screenwriting and Directing

Bringing "Palestine 36" to Life w/ Annemarie Jacir - Just Shoot It 522

·1 hr 6 min·5 clips

Annemarie Jacir's film 'Palestine 36' was banned in Jerusalem and nominated for an Oscar—how did that happen?

The episode begins with hosts Matt and Oran introducing Annemarie Jacir, a Palestinian filmmaker whose movie 'Palestine 36' is Palestine's official Oscar entry and has been banned in some locations. Jacir explains that the film is set in 1936, a year marking the start of a major anti-colonial uprising in Palestine, and she aimed to explore this overlooked history through a mix of fictional characters and real figures like British High Commissioner Wauchope. She discusses the pressure of making a historical film about a contested region, noting that every detail faced scrutiny, but she balanced historical accuracy with creative freedom. Jacir shares how she cast Jeremy Irons after meeting him on a Cannes jury, where his wife encouraged him to join the project. The production involved building everything from period vehicles to crops in the West Bank, with a year of pre-production and challenges like checkpoints and war causing shutdowns. Scenes were filmed in Jerusalem, Jordan, and the West Bank, with archival British footage from the 1930s colorized to blend with the narrative. Jacir reflects on the film's eight-year financing through co-productions with France and the UK, and the emotional impact of employing local crews. The hosts ask about her career trajectory, and Jacir expresses interest in directing more projects outside Palestine, citing the resilience gained from filming there. The conversation touches on the film's controversy, with Jacir speculating that its themes of resilience might be threatening to some. Technical aspects like explosions and archival footage are detailed, and the episode concludes with unpaid endorsements for multi-water balloon fillers and a lecture on public speaking.

As heard by us

A grounded filmmaking conversation where preparation turns Palestine 36 into a material, contested world.

Palestine 36 comes through as both a film about 1936 Palestine and a study in how much work it takes to make that history feel physical on screen.

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Why you'd press play

You want to know how a period film gets built when the plan is to shoot the whole thing in Palestine?

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