New Delhi: Renowned Palestinian actor and filmmaker Mohammad Bakri has died at the age of 72, bringing to an end a five-decade career that established him as one of the most influential voices in Palestinian cinema.
According to internal reports, Bakri had been suffering from heart and lung problems. His funeral was held the same day in his hometown of al-Bi’neh, in northern Israel.
“With profound sorrow and grief, we announce the passing of our beloved father, the actor Mohammad Bakri,” his son Saleh, also an actor, wrote on Instagram.
Who was Mohammad Bakri?
Bakri was a Palestinian citizen of Israel who began his acting career in the 1980s. He performed in both Arabic and Hebrew, working extensively across Palestinian and Israeli theatre and film productions. His first film appearance was in Hanna K., directed by Academy Award-winning Greek-French filmmaker Costa-Gavras.
Over the years, Bakri appeared in dozens of films. One of his most notable roles was in the 1984 Israeli film Beyond the Walls, directed by Uri Barbash. The film, which portrays Palestinian and Israeli prisoners held together in an Israeli jail, received widespread acclaim in Israel and was nominated for an Academy Award.
In addition to acting, Bakri was also a filmmaker. He directed the 2002 documentary Jenin, Jenin, which features interviews with residents of the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank. The film documents claims of mass destruction and the killing of Palestinians by Israeli forces during Operation Defensive Shield. The documentary sparked significant controversy in Israel and was swiftly banned by the Israeli Film Board.
Bakri’s role in Beyond the Walls brought him international recognition, while his work in theatre further cemented his legacy. His solo performance, Bakri’s Monologue, staged at the al-Kasaba Theatre in Ramallah, was based on Emile Habibi’s celebrated novel The Secret Life of Saeed: The Pessoptimist.
It was Bakri’s unwavering commitment to telling Palestinian stories that defined his career. He appeared in more than 40 films and directed several documentaries exploring the lives of Palestinians living under occupation and within Israel.
His solo theatrical adaptation of The Pessoptimist was performed more than 1,500 times worldwide, establishing him as a cultural icon across generations.
Bakri is survived by his wife, Leila, and six children, including actors Saleh, Ziad, and Adam, who followed him into the film industry.
