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LEMON TREE (2009)

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Salma, a Palestinian widow - living there for decades - has to stand up against her new neighbor, the Israeli Defence Minister, when he moves into his new house opposite her lemon grove, on the green line border between Israel and the West Bank. The Israeli security forces are quick to declare that Salma's trees pose a threat to the Ministers safety and issue orders to uproot them. Together with Ziad Daud, a young Palestinian lawyer, Salma goes all the way to the Israeli Supreme Court to try and save her trees. Her struggle raises the interest of Mira Navon, the Defence Minister's wife, trapped in her new home and in an unhappy life. Despite their differences, and the borders between them, the two women develop an invisible bond, while forbidden ties grow stronger between Salma and Ziad. Salmas legal and personal journey lead her deep into the complex, dark and sometimes funny chaos of the ongoing struggle in the Middle East, in which all players find themselves alone in their struggle to survive. As usual, the Palestinian cause is dismissed, the movie ends with the Israeli wife moving out (obviously separating from her husband), a tall concrete wall has been built between the two properties and a final camera shot shows us half the trees have been cut right down.

DIRECTOR:

Eran Riklis

CAST

Hiam Abbass 

Rona Lipaz-Michael

Ali Suliman

PRODUCERS

David Silber

Moshe & Leon Edery 

Bettina Brokemper

Rémi Burah

Antoine de Clermont-Tonnerre

Michael Eckelt

Eran Riklis

Ira Riklis

FESTIVALS & AWARDS:

  • Asia Pacific Screen Awards 2008

  • Awards of the Israeli Film Academy 2008

  • Berlin International Film Festival 2008

  • Chicago International Film Festival 2008

  • Cinefan - Festival of Asian and Arab Cinema 2008

  • David di Donatello Awards 2009

  • European Film Awards 2008

  • FICE - Federazione Italiana Cinema d'Essai 2009

  • San Diego Film Critics Society Awards 2009

  • Yerevan International Film Festival 2008

SALES AGENT:

EXTERNAL LINKS:

Playtime

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Contact: +972 (3) 5177101 | metro@metrocom.co.il | Cinema City Glilot, P.O.Box 9040, Ramat Hasharon 47100, Israel

© Metro Communications Ltd.

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