International cinema has long engaged with the deeply complex realities of Palestine. Over decades, filmmakers have chronicled the Palestine-Israel backdrop with striking honesty and resilience.
These cinematic narratives have earned critical acclaim and prestigious awards across global platforms, writes UNB.
Let's explore ten of the greatest films ever made on Palestine that continue to echo far beyond the screen.
No Other Land / 2024 / IMDb: 8.3 / Rotten Tomatoes: 100% (Audience)
Created by a Palestinian-Israeli activist collective, the film documents a community's resistance in the occupied West Bank (2019–2023). It confronts forced displacement after their land was declared an Israeli "firing zone."
The documentary boasts Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham, and Rachel Szor as its writers and directors in their directorial debut.
This Yabayay Media and Antipode Films Production won Best Documentary Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards.
Farha / 2021 / IMDb: 8.0 / Rotten Tomatoes: 87% (Audience)
Directed and written by Darin J. Sallam, this historical drama film features Karam Taher in the titular role. The supporting cast includes Ashraf Barhom and Ali Suliman.
Set during the 1948 Nakba, the film portrays a young Palestinian girl's coming-of-age. The screenplay was inspired by a real-life story of a girl named Radieh, which director Sallam heard in her childhood.
The produced credit goes to Deema Azar, William Johansson Kalen, and Ayah Jardaneh. Celebrated for its powerful storytelling, "Farha" seized the top youth feature title at the 2022 Asia Pacific Screen Awards.
Broken Cameras / 2011 / IMDb: 7.9 / Rotten Tomatoes: 88% (Audience)
Capturing grassroots protests in Bil'in, this documentary unfolds through Emad Burnat's lens, a Palestinian farmer who began filming in 2005; Israeli filmmaker Guy Davidi joined in 2009. The story revolves around the destruction of Burnat's five cameras, tracing a family's life across five years of unrest.
This film's award journey spans Sundance, the Golden Apricot in Yerevan, and a coveted International Emmy win. The crowning moment came with its Best Documentary nomination at the 2013 Oscars.
Omar / 2013 / IMDb: 7.5 / Rotten Tomatoes: 84% (Audience)
Produced by David Gerson, Hany Abu-Assad, and Waleed Zuaiter, this drama film thrives with the writing and directing of Hany Abu-Assad.
The plot centres on a young Palestinian fighter coerced into becoming an informant. He was being manipulated into admitting guilt following an Israeli soldier's death.
Adam Bakri embodies the title character, supported by Waleed Zuaiter and Leem Lubany.
"Omar" took home accolades from Cannes and the Asia Pacific Screen Awards. Earning a spot among the 86th Oscar nominees for Best Foreign Language Film was its proudest distinction.
Paradise Now / 2005 / IMDb: 7.4 / Rotten Tomatoes: 87% (Audience)
Bankrolled by Bero Beyer, this psychological drama flourishes under the direction of Hany Abu-Assad, who co-wrote it with Pierre Hodgson and Beyer.
This intense drama traces the final hours of two childhood friends recruited for a suicide mission in Tel Aviv.
Kais Nashef, Ali Suliman, Lubna Azabal, and Hiam Abbass portray the main characters.
The movie's highest recognition arrived with a Golden Globe Award win and an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film.
This cinematic epic reimagines the events leading to the Third Crusade, with Balian of Ibelin at its heart. In a sweeping stand against conquest, he led a daring defence of Jerusalem as Saladin's forces closed in.
This movie won Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Motion Picture in the Visual Effects Society Awards. Its remarkable original score earned distinction at both the Hollywood Film Awards and the Satellite Awards.
Lemon Tree / 2008 / IMDb: 7.3 / Rotten Tomatoes: 83% (Audience)
Backed by Eran Riklis, this Israeli-Palestinian drama brings together his directorial vision with cousin Ira Riklis and a co-written script by Suha Arraf.
This movie stars Ali Suliman, Hiam Abbass, Danny Leshman, Tarik Kopty, Rona Lipaz-Michael, Amnon Wolf, Amos Lavi, and Lana Zreik.
At its core is a widow's battle for justice as she challenges the Israeli Defence Minister's plan to destroy her ancestral lemon trees.
This grand narrative resonated deeply at Berlinale, securing the Panorama Audience Award from festivalgoers. The Asia Pacific Screen Awards celebrated Abbass with Best Actress honours and credited Riklis and Arraf with Best Screenplay.
200 Meters / 2020 / IMDB: 7.2 / Rotten Tomatoes: 85% (Audience)
With this Jordanian-Palestinian film, Ameen Nayfeh debuts as writer and director of a feature-length production.
Set in Tulkarm, this adventure drama portrays a father's relentless attempt to reunite with his son, separated by the Israeli separation wall.
Starring Ali Suliman, Anna Unterberger, and Motaz Malhees, the movie emerges under the production of Julia Gebauer, Faycal Hassairi, Francesco Melzi d'Eril, and May Odeh.
"200 Meters" won the BNL People's Choice Audience Award at Venice and received the IFFI ICFT UNESCO Gandhi Medal at India's prestigious film festival.
3000 Nights / 2015 / IMDb: 7.1 / Rotten Tomatoes: 86% (Audience)
This drama film takes shape under the direction and writing of Mai Masri, who produced it alongside Sabine Sidawi and Charlotte Uzu.
The story focuses on a Palestinian schoolteacher who gives birth in an Israeli prison. She struggled to protect her child and preserve her dignity amidst harsh confinement.
Starring Maisa Abd Elhadi in the lead, this movie has a supporting cast including Yussuf Abu-Warda, Anahid Fayad, and Rakeen Saad.
"3000 Nights" garnered honours, including Best Film by audience vote at Valladolid, Best Screenplay at Carthage, and the Youth Jury Prize at the Human Rights Film Forum.
The Time That Remains / 2009 / IMDb: 7.1 / Rotten Tomatoes: 68% (Audience)
Directed and scripted by Palestinian director Elia Suleiman, this semi-biographical drama features Suleiman in a pivotal role. The cast also includes Ali Suliman, Samar Qudha Tanus, Leila Mouammar, Bilal Zidani, and Saleh Bakri.
Backed by Hani Farsi and Michael Gentile, this historical masterpiece traces the story of Israel's formation from 1948 through the present.
The film shared the Jury Grand Prize with the 2009 Iranian feature "About Elly" at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards. It also claimed the Critics Prize at the Mar del Plata International Film Festival, awarded by the Argentinian Film Critics Association.
Verdict
These 10 must-watch Palestine-centred movies and documentaries highlight the finest entries, distinguished by top IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes scores and a trail of international awards.
"No Other Land," "Farha," "5 Broken Cameras," "Omar," and "Paradise Now" stand as the most critically celebrated, capturing global attention. "Lemon Tree," "200 Meters," and "3000 Nights" resonate with moderate critical ratings but continue to hold cultural weight. "The Time That Remains" remains one of the historical masterpieces, while "Kingdom of Heaven" is the only Hollywood entry in this lineup.
Collectively, these movies and documentaries stand as powerful portrayals of life shaped by the persistent echoes of the Palestine-Israel struggle.
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