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| Movie Review: Lemon Tree Alternate Title: Forbidden Fruit
Story: Do fences make good neighbors?
If current history has anything to tell us, the answer is a resounding
NO. This fine, compelling film directed by Eran Riklis
( an Israeli) and written by Suha Arraf (a Palestinian
Israeli woman) and Mr. Riklis. The time is now where we find the new Israeli
Defense Minister moving into a mansion on the West Bank border. His
neighbor is a Palestinian woman whose family has tended a lemon grove
for the past 50 years. The Secret Service orders the grove cut down
for security reasons. She decides to sue. The film is loosely based
on a true incident. The film is about so much more than this one
woman and her battle to keep her grove. Without lecturing or actually
taking sides the film delves into the politics, history and frustration
of a region with a 3000 year struggle. The film focus' on the Palestinian
woman and the wife of the Defense Minister. Without actually meeting
they have more to say than all of the men who have too many opinions.
The movie is a recommend to anyone interested
in phenomenal acting (Hiam Abbass), politics and a slice of life. What
should you do if life hands you lemons? How about making a fine film
like this one and send it around the world. Watch the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIoowHIpUT0 Acting: Hiam Abbass as Salma, is wonderful. Her face,
tone, posture and intelligence dominate the screen. Brava. Ali
Suliman as lawyer Ziad Daud is wonderfully cast in a nuanced
performance. Rona Lipaz-Michael as Mira Navon, wife
of the Defense Minister, does a fine job is her role. Doron
Tavory as Minister Israel Navon is right on the money. Trivia: Hiam Abbass is an Israeli Arab actress.
She is known for her roles in the films Satin Rouge, Paradise Now (2005),
The Syrian Bride (2004), Free Zone (2005), and The Visitor (2008). Abbass
was born in Nazareth, Israel and was raised in a traditional Muslim
village by the Lebanese border. She won Best Actress award of the Israeli
Film Academy for her work in Lemon Tree.
Predilection: None.
Critters: Goats
Food: Lemons, lots and lots of tea and coffee.
Sex Spectrum: Lots of hints of sex but none on screen.
Blatant Product Placement: None
Soundtrack: The old song 'Lemon Tree' is heard during
the opening sequence and a fine track of ethnic music throughout.
Opening Titles: We meet Salma during the opening
credits as she is making some type of jarred fruit product using her
lemons.
Visual Art: Some funny photos.
Theater Audience: Surprisingly crowded for a Memorial
Day afternoon. It was a Senior Upper East Side ethnic crowd. We fit
right in.
Weather: Israel is lovely in the spring.
Sappy Factor: 0
Quirky Meter: 0
Squirm Scale: It was difficult to see that wall that
has been built throughout Israel as a divider of people, politics and
rational thought.
Drift Factor: I was attentive throughout.
Predictability Level: Moderate. I was not sure where
the ending would take us.
Tissue Usage: I welled up a few times.
Oscar Worthy: Hiam Assam could be a nominee in anyone's
awards. She was phenomenal.
Soap Box: There is too much to say about the Middle
East politics. I will save my opinions for another time and another
place.
Nit Picking: At times it is difficult t read the
subtitles. The white type is superimposed over bleached backgrounds.
You do not lose any important dialogue, but it is annoying.
Big Screen or Rental: Either.
Length: Under two hours.
LOBO HOWLS: 8
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