Once I Entered A Garden

Once I Entered A Garden is a semi-autobiographical, deeply evocative film directed by Avi Mograbi. This 2012 documentary-drama, a co-production between Israel and Switzerland, narrates the director's journey to reconnect with his family's past, touching on themes of identity, history, and the complex socio-political situation prevalent in the Middle East.

The movie explores Mograbi’s personal relationship with his childhood friend and Arabic tutor, Ali Al-Azhari. Their friendship, filled with innocent camaraderie and laughter, survives the test of time and geographical boundaries. The movie paces the viewer through the nuances of their bond, layered with the impact larger socio-political conflicts make on individual lives. Mograbi, an Israeli, and Ali, a Palestinian, represent two worlds that are often seen as polar opposites, but through this exploration of their relationship, this film showcases a side that isn’t often seen.

The movie begins with Mograbi's visit to Ramallah, in the West Bank, to meet his old friend, Ali. This reunion ignites a flurry of old memories and elicits a reminiscence of cultural paradigms, values, traditions, language, and the essence of their youthful days. Arabic–a medium of their communication and one of the central themes of the film–becomes a vessel that carries the narrative. This narrative strategy breaks the monotonous stereotypes associated with the Arabic language, showcasing it as a bridge that connects Mograbi and Ali.

Contrasting the political tension between Israel and Palestine, Once I Entered A Garden works to humanize the inhabitants of these territories, illuminating their everyday struggles and joys rather than focusing solely on the struggle of coexisting amidst conflict. It also delves into the Palestinian exodus of 1948, through the eyes of the people who experienced it first-hand. This adds a profound historic layer to the narrative, contextualizing and grounding the personal narratives that the film explores.

Mograbi does an exceptional job of juxtaposing past and present, war, and peace, loss, and hope with subtlety and minimal theatricality. The undertones of nostalgia, longing, and the melancholic residue of a disrupted past resonate throughout the movie. The title itself is a tribute to the nostalgic evocation of the lost homeland, echoing the verses of a famous Palestinian poet, Mahmoud Darwish.

In true documentary fashion, the film employs raw, hand-held camera work which, combined with the personal narrative and minimalist aesthetic, draws the viewer into the world and perspective of the director. Natural light, stripped-back sets, and everyday locations all add to the authenticity of the narrative. The tentative balance between documentary and drama is delicately maintained throughout the film with a seamless transition between the two genres which provides the film with its soul-touching, emotional, and gut-wrenching moments.

The main actors, Avi Mograbi and Ali Al-Azhari playing themselves, deliver powerful, natural performances that convey the tangible humanity revolving around their complex and emotional friendship. Their unscripted conversations are filled with anecdotes and memories that serve as a testament to their strong bond despite their inherently conflicting national identities.

The music is unobtrusive and sublimely woven into the fabric of the movie, subtly accentuating the emotive tones in each setting. The rhythm and beats become a silent narrative, expressing the unsaid emotions and cultural milieu.

In conclusion, Once I Entered A Garden is a rare, poignant exploration of the Israel-Palestine issue, juxtaposing personal recollections with historical narratives to offer a unique perspective. It's a subtle, yet powerful testament to the notion that personal relationships can transcend cultural and political boundaries. This movie, without doubt, captures the essence of humanism veiled in socio-political complexities. It is not just a film but an experience which invites audiences to reflect on their own preconceptions and perceptions of identity, memory, and history. An absolute must-watch for those who appreciate thought-provoking, emotive cinema.