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Deep Dive: The Gardener (2012)

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The Gardener
The Gardener is a documentary by Mohsen Makhmalbaf that follows an Iranian filmmaker and his son as they travel to Israel to investigate the role of religion in the world. The son visits significant religious sites such as the Wailing Wall and the Dome of the Rock, while the father stays at the Baháʼí gardens to learn about the Baháʼí faith, which originated in Iran. The film is set against the backdrop of the Bahá'í World Centre in Haifa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and various religious locations in Jerusalem. The film is notable for being the first work by an Iranian filmmaker shot in Israel in decades, following the Iranian Revolution in 1979. Makhmalbaf's cinematic style in The Gardener is reminiscent of his previous films, Gabbeh and The Silence. The film has been screened at over 20 film festivals and has received several awards, including Best Documentary at the Beirut International Film Festival.

Why Watch

  • •See the Baháʼí gardens in Haifa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • •Meet diverse cast members from Papua New Guinea and Canada.
  • •Find out about the first Iranian film shot in Israel since 1979.

Did You Know

•The Gardener premiered at the Busan International Film Festival in 2012.
•The film won the Best Documentary award from Beirut International Film Festival.
•It has been shown in more than 20 film festivals worldwide.
•The script was added to the Library of Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Perfect For

Iranian cinema enthusiastsReligious studiesDocumentary lovers