By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.3 cats
Director: Eran Riklis
Starring: Ali Suliman | Doron Tavory | Hiam Abbass | Rona Lipaz-Michael | Tarik Kopty
Original language title: Etz Limon
Country: france, germany, israel
Year: 2009
Running time: 86
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1172963/
Michael says: “In its examination of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict LEMON TREE doesn’t say anything new or surprising, but by focusing on how it changes the lives of two women on opposite sides of that conflict, it speaks deeply and effectively. Salma is a Palestinian widow who spends her days tending her lemon tree grove, making delicious lemonade, and living the lonely, spinsters life that is expected of her. When the new Israeli Defense Minister moves in next door it isn’t long before she finds her life turned upside down. The Israel Secret Service quickly determine that Salma’s lemon tree grove is a threat to the Defense Minister’s security as terrorists could use it to provide cover on an approach to attack, and quickly give the order to have it uprooted. Salma enlists the services of a young lawyer, and takes her battle all the way to the Israeli Supreme Court, gaining a little international attention on the way.
“The heart of the film, however lies in the bond that forms between Salma and Mira, the Defense Minister’s wife. Ziad is a prisoner in her own luxurious home. Her husband travels extensively, and she is surrounded by bodyguards and guns. As she watches Salma’s plight unfold, she becomes empathetic, understanding the older woman’s loneliness and isolation, and simple desires. Despite never having the opportunity to meet and talk, the two women become inextricably linked in this struggle for personal freedom.
‘I was most eager to see this film largely due to Chlotrudis nominee Hiam Abbas’ (THE VISITOR) starring role as Salma. She doesn’t disappoint, bringing Salma quiet strength and enormous dignity, even when her actions appear misguided to the outside world. How delightful to find such a strong, matching performance in Rona Lipaz-Michael’s Mira. In her first film role, Lipaz-Michael must move from a devoted wife, to one who must make difficult choices to uphold her own personal beliefs. With her thought processes and emotional turmoil happening beneath the surface, Lipaz-Michael must convey her emotional journey through her expressions and movements. She does so wonderfully. Based on a true story, director Eran Riklis (THE SYRIAN BRIDE) does nice work looking at a well-documented conflict from a different angle. LEMON TREE is a quiet winner that shouldn’t be missed. 4 cats.”
Bruce says: “Hiam Abbass is proving to be one of the great international actors, one who is likely to turn up in a film from almost any country. Although she has had great exposure in many films (AMREEKA, PARADISE NOW, MUNICH, THE SYRIAN BRIDE) usually Abbass plays subordinate roles ; it’s not since her breakthrough film SATIN ROUGE that she has had a role as important as that of Salma Zidane in LEMON TREE.
“Salma lives alone in a farm house on what once was a family estate in an area of the West Bank that is peppered with Israeli settlements. Her house is surrounded by a lemon grove. When Israel Navon (Doron Tavory), the newly appointed Israeli Minister of Defense, moves to the adjacent property, the lemon grove is perceived by Security Services as a haven for a potential terrorist attack. A huge wire fence with barbed wire topping already separates the properties. A watchtower is built so that the entire grove can be under constant surveillance. According to prevailing security rationale, any property may be seized if it poses a security threat. The grove is ordered to be cleared immediately. Although Salma is eligible for compensation, she is reminded by other Palestinians that ‘We don’t take their money.’
“Salma’s three children are no longer nearby. Her only immediate ally is Abu Hassam (Tarik Kopty) who has worked in the grove for her family for 50 years. Rather than yielding to the Israeli pressures, Salma hires Ziad Daud (Ali Suliman), a lawyer who has been living in Russia, to plead her case. Daud, who is rumored to be involved with the daughter of a leading Palestinian official, is divorced from his Russian wife with whom he has a child. Salma and Daud bond during their efforts and soon Salma’s friends are warning her that her every action is being closely observed. ‘People are saying bad things about you. I won’t let anyone desecrate the memory of your late husband,’ a male friend tells her.
“Riva Navon (Rona Lipaz- Michael), noted for her garden parties, plans a celebration for her husband’s appointment. At the party, an attack is launched confirming the worst suspicions. Riva has observed Salma working in her grove and has developed a tacit bond with her. While interviewed by a leading Israeli newswoman Riva confesses that she has sympathy for Salma. Riva’s husband is humiliated and demands she issue a public statement that her words were twisted.
“Surprisingly, Salma’s case goes all the way to the Israeli Supreme Court. What is not surprising is that any Palestinian victory is specious. LEMON TREE has much to say about the relationships of the displaced Palestinians and the Israeli settlers and the position of women in Semitic cultures. LEMON TREE is revisiting old themes in ways that do not diminish the importance of the issues at hand, yet the film lacks freshness and provides little additional perspective to the seemingly endless problems of Palestinian subjugation. Abbass shines throughout, demonstrating dignity, resolve and sorrowfulness in meticulous combination. 4 cats”
Diane says: “A little too tidy for me, or as Mary said ‘symmetrical,’ as two women, one Palestinian, one Israeli, figure out how to be neighbors. Each is lonely, missing a child who’s living in D.C., with a younger man hanging around…. No Hollywood ending here, but no depth of characterization either. With the ever-present, lovely Hiam Abbass (PARADISE NOW, THE VISITOR, and four of this year’s eligible films). 2 cats.”