Eran Riklis

Eran Riklis, Suha Arraf

Hiam Abbass

Rona Lipaz-Michael

Ali Suliman

Heimatfilm

MACT Productions

Eran Riklis Productions

Riva Filmproduktion

arte

Metro Communications

United King Films

Citrus Film Investors

5 June 2009

35 mm

105 min

Hebrew, English, Arabic

Films Distribution

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.

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