Lemon Tree Page #2

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
450 Views


I hope the soldiers aren't lurking

in the hills,

blocking our detour.

Are you painting?

So what do we do?

There's a lawyer at the Jelazoon Camp,

a relative of my mom.

He might be able to help.

He'll charge a fortune.

How will I pay him?

I have no idea, Mom.

Mussa hardly makes ends meet.

Maybe Suha can help?

Suha?

She has enough trouble in Gaza.

What does Nasser say?

Hello. Hello.

Can you direct me

to Ziad Daud's law office?

Sure. Next corner turn right.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Come in.

Good day. Hello.

I'm Um Nasser, Mussa's mother in law.

Hello, Um Nasser.

Mussa told me about you.

Take a seat, please.

Give me those things.

Two years since I returned from Russia,

and I'm still addicted to them.

Want some?

No, thanks.

What's the problem?

It's not easy being their

Defense Minister's neighbor, huh?

I live only off this grove.

They offered you compensation,

you know that, right?

I know,

I inherited the grove from my late father,

no money can compensate for that.

Sure...

Look, we can appeal to the Military Court,

but it won't be easy.

Have you ever handled such cases?

Sure.

Mussa said I should make sure you did.

Look, it's not easy for one of us

to go against the lsraeli army.

Truth is that since I came back,

I only had divorce cases,

and even those are hard to

get these days...

It's your decision...

Salma...

Salma...

Daddy!

Higher, Salma. Reach higher...

Dad...

Hello, Mrs. Zidane.

Hello.

Please, come in.

Come in...

Thank you.

We've... I've appealed

to the Military Court.

We should be summoned soon.

This is your copy.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Here you go.

Thanks.

From your grove, yes?

Yes.

Very tasty, bless your hands.

Hello, Abu Hussam.

Hello.

Abu Hussam's been working for us

for 50 years now.

Attorney Ziad Daud.

Pleased to meet you.

You look just like my father...

Pleased to meet you.

Don't you want to show him the grove?

Why not...?

Abraham says:

Like all Namibians,

Christopher, too, breeds fish,

which is why I was surprised

to see he had a beard.

Which of the following cannot be

concluded from Abraham's saying:

do not normally grow beards.

This is their Minister's house.

Your neighbor is good looking.

I mean, Jewish women

know how to take care of themselves.

You have 10 seconds left.

Shut up, stupid...

Time's up. Go to the next question.

Did you choose a caterer?

I thought about authentic Arabic food.

Shall I check the Arab restaurant we know?

Samir's place?

Yes.

Won't we have kosher problems?

I don't want trouble

with the Orthodox parties.

But why go so far?

Ask our Palestinian neighbor

to cater for us.

She does catering? I had no idea.

What? Why?

She's suing me.

Really? What did we do to her?

Nothing yet, but we will.

We are cutting down all her trees.

Why?

Because terrorists might infiltrate

Israel through her grove.

Makes sense, no?

Why are you looking at me like that?

I have nothing against her.

So who does?

The Secret Service do,

and I trust their judgment.

Fine, I didn't say anything.

Now the whole world will think

I have something against Arabs.

Know what? Go for Samir.

The PM loves his food.

Just make sure he keeps the food kosher.

Your Honor, I'm sure the army thanks

the learned attorney

for his advise on lsrael's security,

but as I've already stated,

the grove poses a real and imminent

threat to the Minister's household

and to the State, so...

How can you claim my client's grove

poses a threat to the state's security?

It's been there for over 50 years,

and not a single shot was fired from it.

Only since September 2000,

more than 20,000 terror attacks

were perpetrated by terror organizations

on the lives, bodies and property

of Jewish civilians.

Terrorists will use the appellant's

grove to gather intelligence,

throw grenades or bombs at the house,

shoot at it, etc.

while taking cover among the trees,

unseen by the army.

Your Honor...

And just as an example, if I may...

No need, I've made my decision.

Please be seated.

For the record:
The Military Authorities'

decision to uproot the grove

was taken after contemplating

various alternatives to minimize

the damage caused to the proprietress.

The security authorities are willing

to compensate her

if only as a token of the State's

good faith and generosity,

although the lntifadah Act

authorizes the Defense Minister

to proclaim

the grove a hostile territory,

thereby exempting the State from any

kind of compensation.

Therefore, the court rejects the appeal

and orders the uprooting

of the trees ASAP.

Until then, the grove is to be fenced in,

and Mrs. Zidane or her proxies are

banned from entering the parameter.

I won't let them touch my trees.

It's the court's decision,

nothing we can do.

Um Nasser?

Salma?

Salma...

We'll go to their Supreme Court.

Is that what you want to do?

Are you sure?

I'm sure.

Do you know what it means?

No.

But I do know one thing...

I've had my share of grief in life.

Your Honor, my client says she does not

accept the honorable court's decision.

We're taking it to the Supreme Court.

"Accepted"

She's going to the Supreme Court.

I'm not surprised.

I'd have done the same.

She's protecting her home, lsrael,

what did you expect?

It happens all the time,

it's part of the history of this place.

Only this time it's because of us.

Because of me, you mean. What can I do?

Go against the system

because of a few lemon trees?

You're the Defense Minister,

you can revoke the order.

Supposing I do that, what then?

Somebody will come up here and shoot you?

Really, Mira, what do you want?

Want us to move out?

There must be another solution.

So maybe it's about time.

Tighten the security.

Why not bring all the army?

Leave Lebanon and the territories,

just to watch over you?

Great, very mature, lsrael.

Mira, I have a million

things to deal with.

I don't need your attitude too.

Fine, no problem. Cut the trees.

Ignore reality, as usual.

Thanks a lot.

Come on, guys, I don't have all day.

Move it.

Come on.

Yeah, Jackie, what's up?

Easy with the fences.

Yes, I hear you.

I'm coming today. I give you my word.

You don't trust me?

My word is worth a million dollars.

Ask anyone.

Move it!

Here we are planning the new segment

of the Separation Wall, with a promenade,

as a treat for the locals.

If it was up to me

the wall wouldn't be delayed.

There are many problems

but we know how to deal with them.

Suzie? Tamar. Tamar Gera.

I have to cancel.

I won't make the editorial meeting.

Hello, lsrael...

Suzie, I'll call you back.

How are you, Minister?

Very well, Gera.

And Mira?

When I see her, perfectly fine.

What are you doing about the appeal

filed by your Palestinian neighbor?

It reached the press already?

Off the record?

To be honest,

I was opposed to the idea

of uprooting the grove.

But who can oppose the Secret Service?

But you're in charge of them.

Gera, I don't know this lady,

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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