The Oslo Diaries

The Oslo Diaries is a compelling 2018 documentary that offers a deep yet highly engaging exploration into the Oslo Accords. The film mainly focuses on the peace talks held between Israel and Palestine in the 1990s, an intensely volatile period radiating with both hopes and fears on an international scale. This narrative is skillfully threaded together using accounts from the primary participants themselves, as well as a vast collection of archived footage, personal diaries, and a reenactment of the exclusive talks.

Directed by Mor Loushy and Daniel Sivan, the film stars Yussuf Abu-Warda, Yasser Arafat, and Hanan Ashrawi. Yussuf Abu-Warda is a renowned Israeli Arab actor who plays the role of Ahmed Qurei, a pivotal figure in the Oslo Accords, proficiently setting the stage for key discussions in the film. Alongside him, Hanan Ashrawi is also featured, playing an integral role in delivering the perspective from the Palestinian side, as she is herself a notable Palestinian leader, legislator, activist, and scholar.

Although Yasser Arafat, the iconic leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), is not physically present, his influence and political charisma infuse the film via the abundant archived footage used. He inevitably becomes the centrepiece in the film as a key player in the peace process and the object of international scrutiny and negotiation.

Meticulously examining the multi-faceted process leading to the Oslo Accords, the film unfolds with a detailed chronicle of secret peace talks held in Norway. The back-and-forth negotiations, escalated tensions, suspenseful victories, and eventual disillusionment distinctively present the suspense of a political thriller. The narrative candidly exposes failed opportunities to bring about peace and the indecisiveness of leaders who grappled with stark socio-political realities.

Through these narratives, The Oslo Diaries reveals itself as an exploration of idealism meeting harsh reality. It showcases ordinary men – Israeli and Palestinian - handling extraordinary circumstances, pushing for dialogue in a region where even uttering the idea was considered treasonous, and the inherent dangers they fully aware they were stepping into.

The Oslo Diaries is not merely a historical document; it is also a portrayal of fleeting moments of camaraderie between unlikely individuals. In one hand, the film serves as a documentation of a significant era in Middle Eastern history, marking a pivotal yet frustrating chapter in the Israeli and Palestinian narrative. Simultaneously, it works as a human drama, where the audience is allowed to observe strained relationships being softened by disarming moments of friendship during the course of the negotiations.

This multifaceted narrative not only offers exclusive access to the intense dynamics behind the eventual signing of the Oslo Peace Accords but also casts a spotlight on places where humanity can bloom despite overwhelming adversity. In a series of humanizing moments within the documentary, snippets of the protagonists' personal diaries are intermittently aired, giving voice to their apprehensions, aspirations, and innermost thoughts, which inadvertently show a fleeting glimmer of hope, a possibility of peace that could have been.

To say that "The Oslo Diaries" only deals with the past would be an understatement. The documentary carries a sense of urgency and relevancy, forcing us to look back at our history, making us question why peace still eludes this part of the world. It compels us to reevaluate events and perspectives while inspiring conversations about what the future could look like if peace was successful. It particularly stirs up a feeling of 'what could have been,' a sentiment that resonates with audiences, leaving them with a lingering contemplation long after the screen has faded to black.

The Oslo Diaries is an evocative documentary that delves deep, wielding its historical narrative with commendable grace and exactness. The passion, resilience, and fear embedded within the talks in the Norwegian capital are palpable and powerfully conveyed through Loushy and Sivan's skilled direction. With its potent blend of archival footage and personal diaries, the film offers a uniquely empathetic perspective on one of the world's longest-standing conflicts. Indeed, it is a must-watch for those seeking a deeper understanding of the Oslo Accords and the enduring Israeli-Palestinian conflict.