My Eighth Film From the Venice Film Festival

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MOVIE REVIEW
Hanging Gardens (Janain mualaqa)
(adult content) –

Genre: Drama
Year Released: 2022
Runtime: 1h 57m
Director(s): Ahmed Yassin Al Daradji
Writer(s): Ahmed Yassin Al Daradji, Margaret Glover
Cast: Jawad Al Shakarji, Wissam Diyaa, Hussain Muhammad Jalil, Akram Mazen Ali
Where To Watch: Premiered at Venice September 9th, wider release unknown

This was easily my most unique experience during this year's Venice Film Festival reviews. I was expecting one thing and got something entirely different. However, at the same time, the film was exactly what I was expecting. What am I talking about? It’s a blink, and you’ll miss it moment… You’ll have to wait and find out for yourself because I feel if I expand on it, it will ruin the experience for anyone who wants to watch it.

Even the film's synopsis gives away so much that I feel most would get more enjoyment out of it by just going in blind. There’s something about the unique experience that the director gives us with a combination of pure innocence yet, at the same time, the polar opposite too. It’s a film that fits a lot of stories into one without ever feeling overstuffed.

Just as you think you know what the film is going to be like, the biggest twist of the film comes, and you’re asked to just go with it. If you do, you’re rewarded with an exciting story that shows compassion in a severely lacking world. You also see a young man's journey that explores his world in ways you just won’t see coming.

Overall, this was probably a film I won’t forget anytime soon. While it’s not something everyone would enjoy, I recommend it to anyone who wants to expand their traditional watchlist. You will see a world that most can’t even imagine. Sometimes the simplest things can say the most, a story that doesn’t need any complex CGI or giant cast yet still manages to capture your entire imagination and keep you on your toes throughout.

As of now, this is the last Venice screener for me; I had two others. Unfortunately, I don’t know if I’ll be able to get those extended as they have expired.

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