Short fiction film
The Oak Tree
A cane maker returns for a branch and finds that the tree has become a shrine: a film directed by Ethan Jahan, with Rabihavi’s screenplay.
2017 / 2018 · differing production and festival records
Runtime: 23 / 37 minutes · differing source records
The work and its context
An older cane maker marks a promising branch with a scarf. When he returns, the tree has become a place of devotion for his neighbours. The festival synopsis turns an ordinary task into a dispute over belief and livelihood. Both Beverly Hills and Zurich credit Ethan Jahan with direction and Rabihavi with the screenplay. Source 35 · Source 37
The source records differ: Beverly Hills lists 2018 and 23 minutes; the sound collaborator’s filmography lists 2017 and 37 minutes. Zurich’s 2018 programme gives 2017 and 23 minutes in its film entry, while its schedule says 37 minutes. The records may describe different versions or contain errors, but no confirmed version history currently resolves them. Source 35 · Source 36 · Source 37
Taryll Baker reviewed the film for UK Film Review on 3 May 2021. In a later filmmaker interview, Jahan describes writing collaboration with Rabihavi and the film’s use of comedy to question religious superstition. The review and interview are reading paths alongside the festival records; their publication dates are not new production dates. Source 38 · Source 40
Baker’s review names Paul Sleiman as Fadel, the cane maker, and credits the score to Louai Alhenawi and Benjamin Ellin. Its six-person cast list is preserved with that review’s attribution. The Zurich programme separately names Ellin for music; those source credits retain their own scope. Source 38 · Source 37
Creative credits
- Director
- Ethan Jahan
- Screenplay
- Ghazi Rabihavi
- Producers, Beverly Hills record
- Malek Hosni, Joelle Manih
- Cinematography, Zurich programme
- Yiannis Manolopoulos
- Music, Zurich programme
- Benjamin Ellin
- Music, UK Film Review credit
- Louai Alhenawi, Benjamin Ellin
- Cast, UK Film Review credit
- Antoine Balabane, Maroun Cherfane, Yann Delage, Mohammad Karra, Paul Sleiman, Tarek Yaacoub
- Editing, Zurich programme
- Malek Hosni
Outward viewing links
Festival-linked trailer · Vimeo
The trailer linked from the Beverly Hills Film Festival record. Source 35
Sources and distinctions
Beverly Hills Film Festival: The Oak Tree
Festival record. Gives 2018 and 23 minutes, Ethan Jahan as director and Ghazi Rabihavi as writer. Its weekday and programme-block listing supplies no full screening date.
Cinema of Noise: fiction-film production credits
The sound collaborator’s own filmography. Lists Oak Tree as 2017/37 minutes and Loophole as 2021/10 minutes. These entries document its listed production credits.
Arab Film Festival Zurich: official 2018 programme
Official festival programme. Printed pages 40–41 give Oak Tree as 2017/23 minutes and name the creative team; the schedule on page 4 instead gives 37 minutes. A confirmed version history has not resolved the difference.
UK Film Review: The Oak Tree
Taryll Baker’s review, 3 May 2021. Its publication date is separate from the film’s production and festival dates.
Kayhan London: filmmaker Ethan Jahan interview
Ethan Jahan interview, 1 September 2021. Attributes Loophole’s initial concept to Rabihavi and describes development with the team and actors. Its Oak Tree discussion also describes their writing collaboration.