Lemon Tree

Touching! Real! Visceral! A brief glimpse into the life of a contemporary Palestinian woman, revealing her power and vulnerability. Her fierce yet dogged determination are real and heroic. Even in losing, she is victorious. Hiam Abbass' capacity to reach emotional depth with just a glance or gesture is comparable to Irene Papas, the great Greek actress. She will be remembered from her role as the desperate mother of a Syrian immigrant in The Visitor (2007). Her co-star, Ali Suliman, with his graceful, physical movements, shares in the ability to convey intense emotion with his eyes, a tilt of the head, or a hand gesture. Their on-screen chemistry is formidable.The silent compassion of the Israeli neighbor,, portrayed by Rona Lipaz-Michael, is convincing as the sensitive yet emotionally trapped (in her own cultural mores and biases) neighbor; yet her failure to to "measure up" to her own feelings of injustice is disheartening. One wonders what point Director, Eran Riklis, intended to convey. Is it to reveal the inertia and ambivalence of many Israelis? Or just to let the story speak for itself? Either way, the story leaves the viewer with indelible images and heart-felt emotions.

Hiam Abbass delivers a Stunning, Stirring performance, in this morality tale.Based on a true story, Selma, a lonely Palestinian widow tends the Family Lemon Grove, which she inherited from her late father.She spends her days tending to the grove, managing to earn a living, when, with out notice, a Look out tower is plunked down next to and over looking her beloved grove.She then receives a letter informing her that her new neighbor is the new Israeli Defense Minister and her grove poses a threat to his security, and must be up rooted.Armed with Sheer determination and a lawyer she will take her case all the way to the Israeli Supreme Court.Along the way Selma finds a most unlikely Ally.Director Eran Riklis, who also co-wrote the script, weaves the lives and images of life in Palestine and Israel and of this three thousand year old problem into an impartial morality tell that will Inspire conversation long after the movie is over. The entire cast delivers solid performances, but Hiam Abbass owns every moment of the film. Winner of the Israeli Academy Award For Best Actress.Winner For Asia Pacific Screen Award Best Actress. Winner for Cinefan - Festival of Asian and Arab Cinema Best Actress.

This is a beautiful and sensitive story that presents the Israeli Palestinian conflict in human terms. In the process it manages to get to the heart of a simple truth: Human beings no matter what culture or background, have the same fundamental needs for belonging, for security, and for love.It is a real testament to courage when one Palestinian woman takes on the Israeli government to save her home and lemon grove inherited from her father. This is not about property rights, it is about basic human needs and she has the courage to fight for what she loves most. Likewise, Mira, wife of the Israeli defense minister, shows extraordinary courage when she publically disagrees with her own husband over the issue and befriends her Palestinian neighbour.The outcome is positive but not unrealistic. Safra is allowed to keep her lemon grove, but has the trees pruned to a point deemed safe by the Israeli authorities. She retains her dignity and the friendship of former enemies, but loses the love of the attorney who took on her case when he marries the daughter of a well connected official. This story will tug at your heartstrings and get your mind thinking at the same time

Definitely not Israel-friendly, in fact highly critical with 90% sympathy for the poor Palestinian woman. The best part for me, though, was the Palestinian sense of victimization. Interesting, though, is that instead of making the best of a bad deal, the Palestinians come off as psychologically paralyzed. There's a sense of near complete inertia. There's a sense of "why bother trying to fix our lives.That's the part that bothers me most. Until modern times, Jews have always been the underdog, but that only made them try harder. The Arab world can easily provide the capital to get their Palestinian brothers and sisters out of the mire and help them become a self-sufficient and proud people. Once they have something to lose, they are more likely to become part of the nations of the world.Of course, not mentioned in the film is the other half of the Palestinian people, those controlled by Hamas, which has an objective to destroy Israel. As long as that political and military situation exists, there's no hope of peace between the Palestinians and Israelis. And for anyone who thinks I am letting Israel off too easily, think of the changes that might occur in Israel politics if the Palestinians demonstrated a willingness to live in peace.

Hey Movie Watcher's 🎬😋 ! This movie was reallyyyy good 👍 n is a foreign film *it does have English subtitles,thank gdness lol* So if foreign films,Indie n any good movie with substance lol is ur thing......take a chance,buy n enjoy,nice add 4 a collection ! 👍💃😋

This móvie was a requirement for class but I'm so glad bc I loved it!!! Very reflective of Israeli/Palestinian relations and the unfair treatment of the Palestinians.

In una parabola dal sapore Kafkiano, a emergere con nitidezza è il coraggio di due donne, Salma e Mira: la prima decisa ad andare sino in fondo pur di vedere riconosciuto il proprio diritto a difendere, oltre che la terra dei padri, la propria dignità; l’altra, immersa nei privilegi, capace però d’infrangere la cortina di omertà e perbenismo della sua classe sociale per qualcosa che ritiene giusto. Questa solidarietà interetnica, che solo gli sguardi sanno compiutamene esprimere, è l’unica speranza per risolvere un conflitto annoso e travagliato che il regista gerosolimitano disegna con maestria in tutta la propria febbrile incomprensibilità.

Il est remarquable de réaliser que ce film est Israélien, après l'avoir vu il serait possible de croire qu'il a été réalisé par des ennemis d'Israël. Ce film nous donne une image impitoyable de la vie des palestiniens, mais il n'épargne personne. Les images parlent encore plus que les dialogues pour nous donner à réfléchir sur la situation Ubuesque de ce pays déchiré par un mur, où deux cultures, pourtant pas bien lointaines l'une de l'autre, s'opposent et se détestent. Le courage et la lucidité des réalisateurs sont peut être les seuls notes d'optimisme dans tout ce gâchis. Il y a dans ce pays des hommes et des femmes qui refusent l'absurdité de la politique. Après avoir vu ce film, nous pouvons commencer à croire qu'il y a peut être des bonnes volontés qui peuvent se donner la main au delà de ce mur. Quelque soit l'opinion que l'on peut avoir, ce film ne peut pas laisser indifférent.

This is a powerful and haunting movie, based on a true story, of a Palestinian widow who tends her West Bank lemon grove until the Israeli Defense Minister and his wife move in nearby. A decision is soon made that because her lemon grove poses a safety risk, all of the lemon trees must be destroyed.Hiam Abbass portrays a strong and determined woman, who is willing to fight the decision through the court system. Another strong woman - the Defense Minister's wife, played by Rona Lipaz-Michael - is moved to make a life-changing decision of her own.This story resonates powerfully with current political events in Israel and Gaza. Highly recommended!

This is a wonderful drama that raises a personal issue to the level of telling the story of a nation. On one side, there is a beautiful Palestinian widow, who runs a lemon grove on the border of the occupied territories. She is modest, not at all political, and yet has a quiet determination and natural charisma. On the other side, the newly installed Minister of Defense for Israel moves into a house next to the lemon grove, bringing a security apparatus and personal power to the remote area. Suddenly, the lemon grove is called a security threat and he wants it cut down, in accordance with the secret service officers who are assigned to protect him. What ensues is a legal battle that becomes a political cause celebre.Many viewers have criticized the film as anti-Israeli, but I disagree with that judgment on a number of levels. First, there are a number of full-blooded characters on the Israeli side, who struggle with what is happening. In particular the Minister's wife: she sees the situation, yet does not know what exactly she might do and struggles with it in spite of her husband's insensitivity. When she talks to a reporter, her actions lead to unforeseen consequences, which highlight many aspects of Israel's political system yet make no definitive statement and offers no unambiguous message. In my view, this is very much like what might happen in real life. Second, the Palestinian characters are also not at all simple: some are good, some not, and many are normal people trying to get through the day. While the woman is certainly a victim, there is nothing maudlin or tendentious about her struggle: it is realistic and she faces terrible odds. There is also a lawyer of good motives but questionable behavior and nosy, conservative neighbors. Third, and most importantly, there is a vital subtext to the story. No matter what you can say about the difficulties and injustices that Palestinians face, Israeli democracy is still functioning: the protagonists can seek legal redress and due process, the press is independent, and there is no outright repression of their actions. Indeed, the Minister is embarrassed that people ask him if he is "afraid of lemons".My whole family watched this and we were utterly riveted from the opening scene. It is an excellent vehicle to stimulate discussion. Warmly recommended.

Eran Riklis Film spiegelt auf eine sehr ruhige Art und Weise die Situation im Nahen Osten wieder, an der Grenze Israels zur Westbank.Eine palästinensische Witwe Salma hegt und pflegt ihre Zitronen-Plantage, von der sie gerade soeben ihr Auskommen bestreiten kann. Die Grenze ihrer Plantage befindet sich unmittelbar an der Grenze zu Israel.Ihr bis dahin recht ruhiges Leben endet, als in einem Haus direkt an der Grenze zur Plantage der neue israelische Außenminister einzieht.Von heute über Nacht stellt ihre Plantage ein Sicherheitsrisiko dar, und die Militärkommandatur enteignet - gegen eine Entschädigung - die Plantage.Das möchte Salma nicht hinnehmen, da sie mehr aus idiellen denn materiellen Beweggründen an der Plantage hängt. Zusammen mit einem Anwalt wagt sie es den Staat Israel zu verklagen.Während dessen steht die Ehefrau des Außenministers der Aktion gegen die Farmerin mit anfänglich passivem, später aktivem Bedauerns und Widerspruchs gegenüber.In fernen Begegnungen über den Zaun hinweg, mit Blicken und Gesten beginnt zwischen den Frauen eine Art Verbindung der Sympathie.Ohne Klischees von bösen oder guten Soldaten und Mossad-Agenten, bösen oder guten Palästinensern und dem grundbösen Außenminister kommt die Geschichte schnell auf dem Punkt der vielen ungelösten Fragen im Nahen Osten. Der Zitronenhain, der nach 50 Jahren zum Sicherheitsrisiko eingestuft wird ebenso kritisch beleuchtet, wie die Tatsache, dass er nach einem Vorfall eben doch ein Risiko bergen kann ( keine Info wegen "Spoiler" ). Der Minister ist dem Schiksal Salmas gegenüber gleichgültig, aber nicht mit Boshaftigkeit gegen sie persönlich gerichtet, die ihrerseits keinen Israelhass hegt, aber doch unter der Situation leidet und - bis auf ein paar drohenden Ermahnungen, dass sie eine Entschädigungszahlung nicht anzunehmen hätte - von den palästinensischen "Freunden" ziemlich allein gelassen wird. Der palästinensische Anwalt, der um seine Mandantin kämpft, ohne in großen Tiraden zu verfallen.Hiam Abbas ( eine der wenigen int. bekannten israelischen Schauspielerinnen mit arabischer Herkunft ) spielt die Farmerin mit einer ruhigen, starken Intensität und überzeugt auf ganzer Linie. Alle anderen Darsteller sind eher weniger bekannt, aber nicht weniger überzeugend.Eran Riklis verzichtet auf zu viele Metaphern, ohne dabei einen oberflächlichen Film zu machen! Er wirft einen ungemein reflektierten, kritischen Blick auf die Zustände, ohne einem platt die Alleinschuld zuzuweisen ( was Nicht-Israelis hingegen fast nie gelingt ). Sogar eine zarte Romanze ist in diesem Film möglich, ohne albern oder aufgesetzt zu wirken.Das Ende zeigt, dass man ohne Kompromisse den Konflikt nie lösen kann, und dass es keiner Seite sonderlich leicht fällt, oder gar gefällt, diese einzugehen! Aber letztendlich auch die Einsicht, dass es für einen Frieden keine wirkliche Alternative gibt!