The Gardener screened to a sell-out crowd of uber-cool Persians, young and old.
Iranian film-maker Mohsen Makhmalbaf and son, Maysam Makhmalbaf, were the first Iranians in decades to film in Israel; a forbidden destination under Iranian law, the penalty being five years in jail.
Undeterred, the exiles embark on this brave documentary to learn about the Bahá’í (Iran’s largest religious minority, who suffer intense persecution). The stunning opening scene is of the Bahá’í gardens in Haifa, Israel; a pine-lined passage framed with red pelargoniums, and an ancient olive tree.
Mohsen, formerly a political prisoner, declares he is not Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Zoroastrian, Jewish or Bahá’í, but agnostic. (Iranian atheists don’t have recognised legal status, and must declare themselves Muslim, Christian, Jewish or Zoroastrian, in order to claim some legal rights.)
Maysam’s position is that religion turns into violence. They agree each filmmaker will record the other, as Mohsen seeks to capture the good of Bahá’í, and Maysam the bad.
A brief history of Bahá’í, founded 170 years ago in Persia by Bahá’u’llah, with archival footage of his dignified, elderly son Abdu’l-Bahá, is fascinating. Equally impressive throughout is the well considered soundscape, and “bird-cam”, giving a different, welcome perspective.
Eona (Ririva Eona Mabi), the gardener, is third generation Bahá’í, from PNG, who articulates the parallels between gardening and faith. We curiously don’t see him doing any credible gardening.
We learn Bahá’í believe all faiths and people are joined beneath one God. They are non-violent. Paula Asadi, a Canadian interviewed, teaches, “If people throw stones, give them back fruit.” Apples will never seem the same again.
Maysam, who reports no fault with Bahá’í, now widens the investigation to all religion. This feels contrived. After a staged argument, Maysam huffs off to “town”, next appearing in Jerusalem (156 km to the south).
Here, Maysam takes us on a sort of religious tour. Holding a DV-cam, he is also shot by an unseen other. His narrative, sometimes insightful, sometimes naïve, is overshadowed by his questionable sensitivity. It was uncomfortable to watch the Wailing Wall Jews, the Israeli Army, and the Christians at the Chapel of the Ascension, none of whom appeared to know they would be in a documentary.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Mohsen has embraced the Bahá’í faith, and planted his camera in the garden where he waters it to make it grow. Enough said.
This indulgent documentary is not a serious examination of religion. It is, however, a serious examination of pansies.
The Bahá’í gardens are extraordinary, or a mowing headache, depending on your perspective. An obsessive compulsive’s dream, they are both extremely beautiful, and as disquieting as Mohsen’s perfectly manicured hands.
The real news about The Gardener and the sold-out worldwide screenings, including in Israel, is the promotion of peace between Iran and Israel by Mohsen and his supporters.
The Gardener is a fantastic (literally) advertisement for Bahá’í, who come out smelling of roses. It is definitely worthy of plenty of dinner party discussions (after you’ve covered sex and politics).
Reviewed by Gordon Forester
Rating out of 10: 7
Venue: Mercury Cinema
Season: 27 October 2013
Duration: 87 minutes
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