Tel Aviv, Israel (AP) – Palestinian director and actor Mohammad Bakri, 72, has died, his family announced. Bakri sought to share the complexities of Palestinian identity and culture through a variety of works in both Arabic and Hebrew.
Early Life and Education
Bakri was born in northern Israel and held Israeli citizenship. He studied at Tel Aviv University, where he began his journey in film and theater.
Career Highlights
Bakri’s most renowned work is the 2003 documentary “Jenin, Jenin,” which he directed about an Israeli military operation in the northern West Bank city during the second Palestinian intifada. The film, focused on the heavy destruction and heartbreak of its Palestinian residents, was banned by Israel.
He also acted in the 2025 film “All That’s Left of You,” a drama that follows a Palestinian family over more than 76 years. He performed alongside his sons Adam and Saleh Bakri, who are also actors. The film has been shortlisted by the Academy Awards for best international feature film.
Throughout his career, Bakri produced several films that spanned the spectrum of Palestinian experiences. He acted in Hebrew, including at Israel’s national theater in Tel Aviv, and appeared in a number of famous Israeli films in the 1980s and 1990s.
One-Man Show and Early Roles
Bakri’s best-known one-man-show from 1986, “The Pessoptimist,” was based on the writings of Palestinian author Emile Habiby. The show focused on the intricacies and emotions of someone who has both Israeli and Palestinian identities.
During the 1980s, he played characters in mainstream Israeli films that humanized the Palestinian identity, including “Beyond the Walls,” a seminal film about incarcerated Israelis and Palestinians.
Critical Reception
Raya Morag, a professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem who specializes in cinema and trauma, said: “He broke stereotypes about how Israelis looked at Palestinians, and allowing someone Palestinian to be regarded as a hero in Israeli society.”
Morag added: “He was a very brave person, and he was brave by standing to his ideals, choosing not to be conformist in any way, and paying the price in both societies.”
Legal Challenges
Bakri faced pushback within Palestinian society for his cooperation with Israelis. After “Jenin, Jenin,” he was plagued by almost two decades of court cases in Israel, where the film was seen as unbalanced and inciting.
In 2022, Israel’s Supreme Court upheld a ban on the documentary, saying it defamed Israeli soldiers, and ordered Bakri to pay tens of thousands of dollars in damages to an Israeli military officer for defamation.
“Jenin, Jenin” was a turning point in Bakri’s career. In Israel, he became a polarizing figure and he never worked with mainstream Israeli cinema again, Morag said. “He was loyal to himself despite all the pressures from inside and outside,” she added. “He was a firm voice that did not change during the years.”
Death and Legacy
Local media quoted Bakri’s family as saying he died Wednesday after suffering from heart and lung problems. His cousin Rafic told the Arabic news site Al-Jarmaq that Bakri was a tenacious advocate of the Palestinians who used his works to express support for his people.
Rafic said: “I am certain that Abu Saleh will remain in the memory of Palestinian people everywhere and all people of the free world,” he said, using Mohammed Bakri’s nickname.
AP correspondent Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut contributed to this report.
Key Takeaways
- Mohammad Bakri, 72, died after heart and lung problems.
- He directed the banned documentary “Jenin, Jenin” and acted in the Academy-shortlisted film “All That’s Left of You.”
- His work challenged stereotypes and faced legal battles, yet he remained steadfast in his convictions.
The death of Mohammad Bakri marks the loss of a filmmaker who navigated complex identities and brought Palestinian stories to both Arabic and Hebrew audiences.
