Mohammad Bakri dies

Jenin Jenin filmmaker was 72

by Amber Wilkinson

Mohammad and Saleh Bakri as father and son in Wajib
Mohammad and Saleh Bakri as father and son in Wajib Photo: New Wave Films
Palestinian actor and director Mohammad Bakri died in northern Israel on December 24 at the age of 72.

Mohammad Bakri at a screening of "Zahara" at the Multaka club in Be'er Sheva in 2010
Mohammad Bakri at a screening of "Zahara" at the Multaka club in Be'er Sheva in 2010 Photo: Eman, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The filmmaker's career spanned more than 40 years was reported locally as suffering from heart and lung problems. His family broke the news on Instagram, saying: "With profound sorrow and grief, we announce the passing of our beloved father, the actor Mohammad Bakri."

Bakri's career included roles in Homeland and the Oscar-nominated Beyond The Walls, most recently, he featured in Cherien Dabis' All That's Left Of You, alongside his sons Saleh and Adam, which has been shortlisted for the International Feature Oscar.

A champion of the Palestinian cause as a director, he found international fame for Jenin, Jenin, which documented an Israeli military operation in the northern West Bank in 2002. The film - which was banned by Israel - chronicled the bombardment of the city. He fought a long legal battle over the ban, but Israel's Supreme Court upheld the ruling in 2022.

Other notable acting roles included in Homeland, The Cairo Conspiracy and, alongside his son Saleh, in Annemarie Jacir's father and son drama Wajib.

Speaking to us about the pair of them acting together at the time of the film's release, Jacir said: "What was really sweet to me was how much Mohammad respected and loved Saleh in his work and admired him as a father."

Responding to news of his death, Dabis wrote on Instagram: "I loved him so much and am so grateful to have known him. This is such a painful loss. My deepest condolences and all my love to your whole family. He will forever be in our hearts."

Bakri is survived by his wife Leila and six children including Saleh, Adam and Ziad, who is also an actor.

Share this with others on...
News

Sweetness and light Natalie Erika James on literary inspirations, colour coding and Saccharine

Siren school Konstantina Kotzamani on professional mermaids and Titanic Ocean

Playing chicken György Pálfi and Zsófia Ruttkay on altered perspectives and Hen

Same movie, different mode James Gray, Miles Teller and Adam Driver discuss making Paper Tiger

Spectators Marie Kreutzer, Léa Seydoux, Laurence Rupp and Catherine Deneuve on Gentle Monster

Conflicted characters Alexis Manenti on Too Many Beasts and Flesh And Fuel

Love, not reason Pawel Pawlikowski, Sandra Hüller, August Diehl and Hanns Zischler discuss Fatherland

More news and features

We're bringing you news, reviews and more from Cannes and Queer East.



We've recently brought you coverage of the San Francisco Independent Film Festival, Visions du Réel, Fantaspoa, Overlook, BFI Flare and SXSW, the Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival, the NY Rendezvous with French Cinema, the Glasgow Film Festival, the Berlinale, Sundance and Palm Springs.



Read our full for more.


Visit our festivals section.

Interact

Don't forget that you can follow us on YouTube for trailers of festival films and more. You can also find us on Mastodon and Bluesky.


It's a busy time for festivals and here's the latest:


Cannes Yuri wins Palm Dog for La Perra


Cannes La Gradiva tops Critics' Week awards


Cannes Director's Fortnight award winners announced


Cannes A standing ovation for Bruce Dern


Cannes John Travolta receives honorary Palme d'Or


Cannes Teenage Sex And Death At Camp Miasma team takes to the stage