To say the issue of Israeli and Palestinian land ownership has been contentious over the years is a vast understatement. It is a topic that clearly requires a good deal of thought, analysis and evidence to form any hint of a respectable viewpoint. Amos Oz: The Nature of Dreams seeks to provide a viewpoint that is both wise and unbiased through the words of the poetic, Israeli writer Amos Oz. Unfortunately the film is slightly marred by a background knowledge “curve” and some shaky technical elements. However, for those with a moderate to strong interest in Israel, its conflict with Palestine and its people, The Nature of Dreams is definitely worth a look.

The film follows Amos Oz as he travels from Israel to America and Europe giving talks on the issues of Nationalism, Racism, Peace and Fear. Early on, we see him at a function at the UN in New York, where his status becomes clear to the uninitiated, mixing with the likes of Salman Rushdie and President Shimon Peres (of Israel). Although he is renowned, Amos Oz is controversial, with the film describing him as an enemy of the left and right wing. His perspectives are set in a poetic sense of logic and human understanding. It really is quite interesting to hear his opinions, contradicting the stereotypes in such an eloquent fashion.

Many scenes in the film are quite engaging, such as the function at the UN, where Oz asks President Shimon to alter his speech in response to Iranian President Ahmadinejad’s prior address. Another excellent scene sees Oz discussing Jerusalem’s future with the holy city as a backdrop. Oz provides very succinct and well phrased arguments against the extreme points of view held by proponents of the conflict. He also explains why the situation with Israel and Palestine is so deadlocked and what both sides should do to resolve this complex situation. To the initiated, these are profound, but to anyone seeking an education on the history of the conflict, look else ware.

The lack of definition in the film is disappointing, with such a great person to portray in a documentary it is a shame that the filmmakers went with assuming the audience’s knowledge, because it will fail to spark interest in the topic amongst the general population. At just under 90 minutes, Amos Oz: The Nature of Dreams struggles to explain a lot of what Oz discusses with substantial background information. It’s a minor flaw for anyone who understands the basic history of Israel, but I do wish documentaries wouldn’t narrow their potential audience in this way.

There are also some technical flaws in this documentary, which make it slightly uncomfortable to watch unless you have a particularly well trained eye. One is the uneven translation of the foreign languages into awkward subtitles. Occasionally, translations will flash only momentarily, making sentences almost illegible. Additionally, the subtitle design seems flawed, with moments of clashing between the text and the footage. No doubt the film was fairly low budget as the quality feels like standard definition and hasn’t been converted to the big screen particularly well, so you can forgive the technical woes on this basis alone. However, those who find design flaws irritating may have to concentrate a little harder.

I don’t wish to spoil too much of what is discussed in this documentary, but fans of Oz will surely find it a treat. Unknown to me at the beginning of the film, I feel grateful to have been introduced to such an insightful figure. If you have a particular view of the situation in Israel, this film should give you something to think about. If you don’t know why Israel and Palestine are so contentious, I suggest you do a little reading before you see this film because the issue is an excellent lesson in the confusion of passion for logic. Amos Oz: The Nature of Dreams will leave you thinking, if nothing else, just make sure you’re familiar with Israel and modern history before delving into the world of Amos Oz, this bold thinker.

Verdict:

Despite some technical flaws and required knowledge, Amos Oz: The Nature of Dreams is an insightful documentary and should be seen by anyone with a moderate interest in Israel’s current political situation.