Documentary 'Shalom' Explores Life, Death, and War Through a Rhino's Story

A new documentary titled "Shalom," which recently won awards at the Docaviv festival, centers on a rhinoceros named Shalom, born in 1979 on the day Israel signed its peace treaty with Egypt. The film, directed by Meital Zvieli, follows Shalom's life at the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo for nearly 30 years, where he became a beloved attraction. As the elderly rhino, nearing the end of his species' endangered lifespan at 45, loses his will to live, his devoted caretakers, a Jewish man named Gilad Moshe and a Muslim man named Roshdi Alian, grapple with the difficult decision of euthanasia. The film draws parallels between the rhino's impending death and the fragile concept of peace, particularly in the current Israeli political climate. The narrative takes a turn as the decision is made to euthanize Shalom, coinciding with the outbreak of war.

Zvieli, 50, who grew up on kibbutzim and moshavim and has a background in journalism and screenwriting, described her extensive research process, which involved spending five months at the zoo without her camera to build trust with the staff and animals. She was drawn to Jerusalem's layered history and personal connections to the region, including her grandfather's experiences during the convoys to the city. She sees Shalom's story as a reflection of a bygone era, especially after the word "peace" became fraught following the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin.

Following Shalom's death in July 2023, the October 7th Hamas attacks occurred, a day that also marked Zvieli's son's bar mitzvah. The film then shifts focus to the dynamics between the caretakers and the animals, especially during the war when the zoo was closed to the public. Zvieli consciously avoids presenting the zoo as a utopian microcosm of coexistence, acknowledging the chaotic and violent reality outside its gates. A conversation between Moshe and Alian highlights this, with Alian noting that introducing a predator would quickly disrupt any semblance of peaceful coexistence, mirroring the outside world.

Shalom was transferred to the zoo at age 13 due to social difficulties at the Ramat Gan Safari. After his death, two younger, similarly unsociable rhinos, named Ino (renamed Idan after singer Idan Amadi) and Tupac (nicknamed "criminal" for his aggressive behavior), arrived. Zvieli explains that the zoo is often a place for "surplus" animals that don't fit into their social groups. The zoo honored Zvieli at the film's premiere, promising to name the next female rhino after her, a gesture she acknowledges is unlikely given the global trend of zoos shifting from tourist attractions to educational and research centers, thus limiting herd growth. Zvieli also expressed disappointment that her film, despite initial interest from festivals like Sundance and Berlinale, faced cancellations due to boycotts, a phenomenon she personally opposes.