Lemon Tree Film

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Summary of the movie:

Salma is a 45 years old widow from a Palestinian village who lives next to the border between Israel and the West Bank. Her husband died 10 years ago, her so is in America and her daughters are living their own lives far away. Her father left her a lemon grove planted 50 years ago, which she takes care of with an older friend of the family. They both see the trees as having souls and feelings which is why they take care of them with love.

Her routine and way of life is turned upside down when Israel, the new Israeli Defense minister moves into a new house along with his wife Mira. Their house sits rights on the edge of Salma's lemon grove and Israeli security forces tell that terrorists could hide in the trees and threaten the safety of the minister. For this they set up a military watchtower and issue an order that the lemon trees must be exterminate. In a letter informing Salma of this decision, the Israeli authorities promise to compensate her for the loss, but she is shocked by the injustice of this order and the disrespect for her home and vocation.

She decides to challenge the military decision in Israeli courts. Determined not to lose her trees, she goes armed with nothing but courage and hope. For this she finds a Palestinian lawyer (Ziad) to represent her, but they both realize that winning the case is really difficult. While the case was going, she and Ziad confront their mutual loneliness and a tender romance begins between that surprises them both and touches them deeply. 

On the other side, Salma finds a connection with a person that she hasn't even spoken but who intuitively understands her. Mira, the minister's wife, when always wants to see the lemon grove. As time goes on, she observes Salma's courage and independence in the face of power. She senses the loneliness they share and the integrity it takes to stand up for what one believes in.

At the end, the lemon trees where uprooted because they missed the case.

Reaction: 

I think that the Israeli-Palestinian crisis needs less construction of walls that separate peoples. Lemon Tree is an important film that shows the simple but morally elegant way to what happens maybe daily between this countries. Israel may be building walls to keep the Palestinians out, but it also built its very own prison.

We can look at how the ethical integrity of Salma originates empathy in Mira, for then we take the well-being of others to heart and are moved to be generous and start caring.