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      Lemon Tree

      2008, Drama, 1h 46m

      68 Reviews 5,000+ Ratings

      What to know

      Critics Consensus

      A positive and personal Israeli film that offers an understated and thought-provoking vision of the West Bank troubles. Read critic reviews

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      Lemon Tree  Photos

      "Lemon Tree photo 1" "Lemon Tree photo 2" "Lemon Tree photo 3" "Lemon Tree photo 4" "Lemon Tree photo 5" "Lemon Tree photo 6" "Lemon Tree photo 7" "Lemon Tree photo 8" "Lemon Tree photo 9" "Lemon Tree photo 10" "Lemon Tree photo 11" "Lemon Tree photo 12" Lemon Tree (2008) Lemon Tree (2008) Lemon Tree (2008) Lemon Tree (2008) Lemon Tree (2008) Lemon Tree (2008) Lemon Tree (2008) Lemon Tree (2008) (Center L-R) Hiam Abbass as Salma Zidane and Ali Suliman as Ziad Daud in "Lemon Tree." (Center L-R) Hiam Abbass as Salma Zidane and Ali Suliman as Ziad Daud in "Lemon Tree." (L-R) Ali Suliman as Ziad Daud and Hiam Abbass as Salma Zidane in "Lemon Tree." (L-R) Ali Suliman as Ziad Daud and Hiam Abbass as Salma Zidane in "Lemon Tree." (L-R) Hiam Abbass as Salma Zidane and Ali Suliman as Ziad Daud in "Lemon Tree." (L-R) Hiam Abbass as Salma Zidane and Ali Suliman as Ziad Daud in "Lemon Tree." Director Eran Riklis. Director Eran Riklis.

      Movie Info

      Set in the West Bank, where Palestinian widow Salma Zidane tends her lemon grove. However, when Israeli Defense Minister Navon moves in across the way, his security guards demand she removes the trees, which could shelter terrorists. Refusing to bow down, she engages lawyer Ziad Daud to take her case to the Supreme Court, which brings international attention.

      • Genre: Drama

      • Original Language: Arabic

      • Director: Eran Riklis

      • Producer: Eran Riklis

      • Writer: Suha Arraf, Eran Riklis

      • Release Date (Theaters):  limited

      • Release Date (Streaming):

      • Box Office (Gross USA): $566.1K

      • Runtime:

      • Distributor: IFC Films

      Cast & Crew

      Hiam Abbass
      Doron Tavory
      Tarik Kopty
      Amos Lavie
      Amnon Wolf
      Danny Leshman
      Hili Yalon
      Leon Edery
      Moshe Edery
      David Silber
      Habib Shadah
      Rainer Klausmann
      Tova Asher

      News & Interviews for Lemon Tree

      Critic Reviews for Lemon Tree

      Audience Reviews for Lemon Tree

      • Jul 29, 2010
        A great movie that shows that the government can come in & take over your property whenever they want & theres NOTHING you can do about it.It can happen here, there or anywhere
        Super Reviewer
      • Jun 25, 2010
        a drama which flows well and doesnt take sides. considering i saw this late at night and hardly ever finish a late night movie... well, this one kept me awake!
        Super Reviewer
      • Oct 02, 2009
        A most infuriating film, pitting a Palestinian widow against the security forces of the Israeli defense minister whose family has moved in next door. Not only does the widow, Salma Zidane (Hiam Abbass), have to contend with Israeli bureaucracy and the Israeli justice system that is arrayed against her, but she must also defend her honor with her Palestinian neighbors, who do nothing to lift a finger to help her in her struggle. The bone of contention is the lemon grove which lies between the adjacent properties and is judged to be a potential haven for terrorists. That the grove is the legacy which Salma received from her father, has stood for over fifty years and provides her sole source of income, the wheels of justice slowly grind her down. She is aided in her fight by an idealistic young lawyer, Ziad Daud (Ali Suliman). The defense minister's wife, played by Romna Lipaz-Michael, is Salma's silent ally, but she, too, is powerless to offer any real aid. The cast is superb, and the script sparse, but together they clearly convey the frustration and futility experienced by the Palestinian people. The final scene leaves one feeling hollow. A terrific look from another perspective at the human tragedy of the Arab-Israeli conflict.
        Super Reviewer
      • Jul 22, 2009
        A story of pride and principal. A Palestinian woman's lemons come into harms way when an Israeli politician moves in next door. It's almost like one of those stories where neighbors go mental at the size of each others trees. The only difference being, here there are far more complex and interesting political issues at hand. The film is a moving testament to those that cannot be bought. The parallel story of the wife of the politician, sympathetic to the cause of the Palestinian woman is also a nice companion story that adds to the main narrative. The film does tend to trip over itself when it comes to the politics. It is far too concerned with portraying any character, against the protagonist, in a villainous light. The defense minister comes off as callous and careless while his secret service just seem incompetently paranoid. All this is at the expense of a sweet love story blossoming between the woman and her newly appointed lawyer.
        Super Reviewer

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