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The Gardener (2012 film)

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The Gardener
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMohsen Makhmalbaf
Produced byMohsen Makhmalbaf
StarringRiriva Eona Mabi, Paula Asadi, Guillaume Nyagatare, Tjireya Tjitendero Juzgado, Ian David Huang, Bal Kumari Gurung
CinematographyMaysam Makhmalbaf
Edited byMaysam Makhmalbaf
Music byPaul Colier Salar Samadi
Production
company
Distributed byKDK Factory
Release dates
Theatrical, June 2013, Film Festivals: October, 2012
Running time
87 minutes
CountriesUK, Israel-Palestine
LanguagesEnglish, Persian

The Gardener (Persian: باغبان Baghban) is a poetic documentary film by filmmaker Mohsen Makhmalbaf. It had its Asian Premier at Busan International Film Festival and European Premier at Rotterdam International Film Festival. It is the first film, in decades, by an Iranian filmmaker in Israel. The film has been shown in more than 10 film festivals and has own the Best Documentary award from Beirut International Film Festival.[1] The film is set in the newly-recognized UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Haifa and Westren Galilee.[2]

Synopsis

The film is about an Iranian filmmaker and his son who travel to Israel to learn about the role of religion in the world. While the son goes out to the Wailing Wall, the Golden Mosque and Christian sites, the father stays at the Baha'i gardens to learn about a faith that came out of his own country - Iran. The film is similar to Gabbeh_(film) and The Silence (film) in style.

Screenings and wards

Premier and awards

  • Busan International Film Festival, Korea, October 2012 - World Premier
  • Rotterdam International Film Festival, Netherlands, 2013 - European Premier
  • Beirut International Film Festival, Lebanon, October 2012 - won Golden Award
  • Kosmorama International Film Festival, Norway, April 2013 - Lifetime Honoree Award
  • Top Ten Films of 2012 Mumbai International Film Festival - by Times of India[3]

Official selections:

  • Festival Cinema Africano, Italy, May 2013
  • Vilnius International Film Festival, Lithuania, April 2013
  • Hong Kong International Film Festival, March, 2013
  • Tbilisi International Film Festival, Georgia, December 2012
  • Trivandrum International Film Festival, India, December 2012
  • Chennai International Film Festival, India, December 2012
  • Kochi International Film Festival, India, December 2012
  • Tokyo filmex International Film Festival, Japan, November 2012
  • Mumbai International Film Festival, India, October 2012

Cast and crew

  • Screenplay/Director: Mohsen Makhmalbaf
  • Cinematography/Editing: Maysam Makhmalbaf
  • Music: Paul Collier, Salar Samadi
  • Sound: Asad Rezai
  • Cast: Ririva Eona Mabi, Paula Asadi, Guillaume Nyagatare, Tjireya Tjitendero Juzgado, Ian David Huang, Bal Kumari Gurung, Maysam Makhmalbaf, Mohsen Makhmalbaf

Filming locations

  • Baha'i Gardens in Haifa
  • Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem
  • Wailing Wall in Jerusalem
  • Chapel of the Ascension in Jerusalem
  • Baha'i Holy Places in Akko
  • Various cities in Papa New Guina

Reviews

Hollywood Reporter:The Gardener marks the first time in decades -- perhaps since the Iranian Revolution in 1979 -- that an Iranian filmmaker has shot a movie in Israel, and what it has to say about religion and world peace is as radical a statement as unconventional filmmaker Mohsen Makhmalbaf (The Bicyclist, Kandahar) has ever made. Filmed amid the extravagant colors of nature at the Baha’i world headquarters in Haifa, Mohsen and his cameraman-son Maysam Makhmalbaf amicably debate the role of religion in life and war in an engaging, good-humored introduction to the Baha’i Faith. The deep spirituality it discusses so intelligently will appeal to open-minded viewers and should reach beyond festivals via culture channels....The deep spirituality it discusses so intelligently will appeal to open-minded viewers and should reach beyond festivals via culture channels." Deborah Young, The Hollywood Reporter [4]

Variety: Exiled Iranian filmmaker Mohsen Makhmalbaf and his son Maysam debate the personal and political roles of religion in entertaining docu “The Gardener.” Taking their cameras into the magnificent gardens of the Baha’i Faith’s headquarters in Haifa and Akka, Israel, father and son gather testimony from followers of the peace-promoting denomination and combine it with their own reflections to produce a stimulating and highly accessible cinematic conversation....With their civilized discussion and amusing asides about the making and marketing of docus, the Makhmalbafs succeed in entertaining and engaging auds who are interested in the question of why people seek religion, and are willing to listen to all sides of a story." Richard Kuipers, Variety_(magazine) [5]

Rotterdam Festival Review: An Iranian master filmmaker and his son roamed around the gardens in Haifa and made their most striking film...Mohsen Makhmalbaf makes unusual films, and this may be his most unusual of all: an Iranian who makes a film in Israel - even those who don't follow the news will realise how usual that is...Gardens play a prominent position in the religion. The creation and maintenance of these beautiful gardens is part of the spiritual ritual. All holy places are surrounded by these gardens, and they are the main location for the film. This is indirectly a story about the history of Iran, where an innocent ‘gardener's faith’ could not remain, and where Makhmalbaf, once a proponent of the Islamic Revolution, is also no longer able to make his films.[6]

Times of India: Exiled from his homeland, Iranian New Wave director Mohsen Makhmalbaf's film The Gardener explores how different generations view religion and peace. The film adopts an experimental approach of both father and son conversing while filming each other. -The Times of India[7]

Iranian Icons: This film shows two completely different views on the religion. The director camera tries to portrait the example of two different generation of Iran through this story. -Iranian Icon [8]

Controversy

Iranians are not allowed to travel to Israel and thus Makhmalbaf and his team are automatically sentenced to five years in prison should he ever go back to Iran.[9] The filmmaker also talks about a religion that is taboo subject in Iran and has its own consequences, such as that received by Shirin Ebadi for taking the case of this group. [10]

This film is one of the three films by major Iranian film directors to be released this year. The others being Abbas Kiarostami's Like Someone In Love and Bahman Ghobadi's Rhino Season. [11]

References

  1. ^ "film school in London". London Film Academy. Retrieved 2013-03-23.
  2. ^ http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/452
  3. ^ http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-11/news-interviews/34364808_1_golden-berlin-bear-alain-resnais-cinematic-magic
  4. ^ "The Gardener: Busan Review". The Hollywood Reporter. 2012-10-07. Retrieved 2013-03-23.
  5. ^ Richard Kuipers. "The Gardener". Variety. Retrieved 2013-03-23.
  6. ^ http://www.filmfestivalrotterdam.com/en/films/bagheban/
  7. ^ http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-11/news-interviews/34364808_1_golden-berlin-bear-alain-resnais-cinematic-magic
  8. ^ http://www.persianicons.org/?p=3737
  9. ^ "Iran increases jail penalty for travel to Israel". Digitaljournal.com. 2011-11-15. Retrieved 2013-03-23.
  10. ^ "Lawyer: Iran has no evidence against Baha'i prisoners - CNN.com". Edition.cnn.com. 2009-08-16. Retrieved 2013-03-23.
  11. ^ http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2012/10/12/films/territorial-disputes-dont-rain-on-asias-largest-parade-of-cinema/
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