Lemon Tree

Synopsis: Salma Zidane, a widow, lives simply from her grove of lemon trees in the West Bank's occupied territory. The Israeli defense minister and his wife move next door; the Secret Service orders the trees removed for security. The stoic Salma seeks assistance from the Palestinian Authority (useless), Israeli army (dismissive), and a young attorney, Ziad Daud, who takes the case; this older client attracts him. While the courts deliberate, the Israelis fence her trees and prohibit her from entering the grove. As the trees wither, the defense minister's wife and, separately, an Israeli journalist, look on Salma with sympathy. In this allegory, does David stand a chance against Goliath?
Genre: Drama
Director(s): Eran Riklis
Production: IFC
  8 wins & 12 nominations.
 
IMDB:
7.4
Metacritic:
74
Rotten Tomatoes:
91%
NOT RATED
Year:
2008
106 min
$467,072
Website
394 Views


Where the hell is this town Zur-HaSharon?

Any further and we'll reach Nablus

(the West Bank).

Ah! There! There it is.

Like I said,

on the border with the Arabs.

As long as we get paid, Sasha.

Come on, move your butts.

I haven't got all day,

we must finish by 2pm.

Easy with the drawer chest!

Don't worry, Mrs. Navon.

She's a pain...

Quiet,

she's our Defense Minister's wife.

Careful with the sofa!

Gilad, Arabs by the security fence, copy?

Copy that, coming.

Keep an eye, ok?

Where? There.

I'm on it. Heading back.

I'd like to thank the PM,

the Cabinet and you all

for your vote of confidence.

My late father used to say

that goals are achieved

only if you draw boundaries.

I promise all lsraelis to do just that,

to continue the successful

policy of my predecessors:

hunting and eliminating

terror wherever it is.

The new lsraeli Defense Minister

today as he begins his term...

When you look at Minister Navon's

record over the years...

I'm done for the day.

Welcome...

When are Laila and the kids coming?

They should be here any minute.

I miss them so much.

Me too.

Excuse me.

Hello?

Hi, Mom.

Hi, where are you?

We won't make it.

Ali is not well.

Does he have a fever?

Sorry, Mom.

It's ok.

We'll come another time, ok?

God willing.

Bye, Mom.

Ok, bye.

Don't be upset. Maybe next week.

That's how it is with children...

Well, let's eat anyway.

Thanks. I'll just go home.

At least take food with you.

It's ok, some other time.

Let's see what's happening.

Good morning, what's up?

The north of lsrael is under high alert

after last night's

Hezbollah rocket attacks.

No injuries and only

minor damages were reported,

but the North Region Commander

stated we must be prepared

in case the Hezbollah

renew their attacks...

Good morning.

Defence Minister Navon says...

Your friend, Tamar Gera,

interviewed President Assad's wife.

Pretty good article, worth reading.

Where did she meet her? Not in Syria?

No... in London.

She's British, calls herself Esma,

but in fact it's Emma.

Good looking, huh?

Yes.

Don't forget to invite her

to our housewarming party.

Gera, I mean...

Got it.

When will you be back?

Two days, if there are

no surprises up north...

A bit scary sleeping here alone.

Scary? Why?

Both the army and

Secret Service are here.

Today they're installing

the best technology to protect you.

Us.

Us.

I keep thinking of all the nights

I'll spend on my own...

There are worse things than being

the Defense Minister's wife.

Good morning, Mrs. Navon.

Good morning.

Sir, we really must get going.

I'm coming...

You're doing a fine job, guys.

I'm coming.

Yeah, Jackie, talk to me. What's up?

Move it! Step on it, guys!

Careful with the fence, easy!

Hi, you've reached Sigi's phone

but I'm busy

'cause my parents forced me to study at

Georgetown University in Washington DC.

So leave a message after the...

Sweetheart, this is your mother.

Remember her?

Call me, it won't hurt you...

Kisses, take care, bye.

Dear student,

welcome to

the self-testing Psychometric Test.

Chapter l:
Verbal Thinking. The data is:

Footballers don't believe in Confucius.

Some footballers are bald headed...

I remember the day your father

planted these trees.

His hands were blessed.

Once we ate apricots,

he spat out the pit,

and within a week it grew

into a huge tree.

Come on, Abu Hussam...

Pity, he died too young.

God rest his soul.

God rest his soul.

What can I say, Jacob,

I don't like this grove.

I told you, this grove's

over 50 years old

and nothing ever happened.

I know the owner, a poor, lonely woman

who hardly lives off her lemons.

What about a husband?

I knew him well actually,

but he died years ago.

But what will keep a terrorist

from entering the grove,

gathering intelligence,

throwing a grenade, whatever.

Before we respond,

he'll be asleep in Nablus.

Gilad, security fences, watch towers,

sensors, soldiers, the Secret Service.

Not enough? What else can we do?

Do not turn the page

until you are instructed to do so.

Easy, Gilad, easy.

Listen, I don't take the decisions here,

but you see how easy it is.

Everything ok?

Can't complain, Mrs. Navon.

Why do they always give me

the worst jobs?

Stop whining.

Give her the letter and let's go.

I'm starving.

Move it!

Open the door!

Come here! Quick!

Give this letter to Mrs. Salma Zidane.

It's urgent and important. Got it?

Hello, Abu Camal.

Hello, Um Nasser.

How are your wife and kids?

Fine. They kiss your hand.

I came because I received this letter.

You know I can't read Hebrew.

And I have a feeling it's important.

It's from the Central Region Commander,

the son of a b*tch,

informing you

they will cut down your lemon grove,

because the trees pose a threat

to the safety

of the Defense Minister

who lives across from you.

"An immediate and absolute

military necessity."

What's wrong, Um Nasser?

Why are you crying?

Do you know how much land they

confiscated to build prisons for us?

And how many houses they demolished?

It says here you are

eligible for compensation.

The lsraelis are so generous...

Thank you.

But we don't take their money.

You understand that, right?

You're listening to DC Radio 99.9 FM,

in the nation's capital.

The only station that brings you

jazz to sooth your ears.

It's 1 1 :
14

and it's another sunny day here in the capital...

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Suha Arraf

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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