Palestinian Cinema: From a Story of Struggle to a Divided Reality
Palestine has never been an independent state, and its infrastructure (social, political, economic and cultural) has always been affected by the conflict on its land or in the surrounding region in general.
Palestinian cinema is considered an important part of Palestinian culture and one of the most significant tools of struggle with which Palestinians resist the occupation. Therefore, it has always influenced and been influenced by the Palestinian cause.
This article gradually presents and chronicles Palestinian cinema in different periods, starting from 1935 and reaching the middle of the last decade, showing the characteristics of each period, and the impact of events in shaping and structuring cinema on the one hand, and the occupation’s targeting of it on the other hand, as it an important tool of resistance.
The article presents the most important impact that the occupation had on Palestinian cinema, which is its division, just as it divided the geography of historical Palestine and dispersed its people.
Palestinian cinema became fragmented, with each group of films belonging to a different environment and geographic region, even if they were within the borders of one country or belonged to Palestinian directors and producers. However, in reality, they carry different main features and ideas. This was demonstrated by comparing a group of films belonging to different regions and presenting the intellectual differences they display.