Reviewed by Michael Edwards
Stars Hiam Abbas, Doron Tavory, Ali Suliman, Tarik Kopty,
Rona Lipaz-Michael, Amos Lavi, Amnon Wolf,
Smadar Jaaron, Danny Leshman, Hili Yalon
Written by Suha Arraf, Eran Riklis
Certification UK PG
Runtime 106 minutes
Directed by Eran Riklis
What have we here? A movie about injustice in the Middle-East told through a small personal story? Well, it might not be the most unique thing you'll see all year but it is a superbly acted film that succeeds in painting a moving picture of the very different difficulties faced by the citizens of Israel and Palestine.
The premise is that Palestinian widow Salma Zidane (the always excellent Hayam Abbas) lives alone, making a meagre living from a small lemon grove she inherited from her hard-working father. But one day the Israeli defense minister moves in next door. He brings with him high fences, militant security guards and a hugely paranoid impression of all Palestinians. Fearing for his safety he orders that the lemon trees of his neighbour be cut down so that any terrorists approaching his abode might be spotted and halted. Of course, Salma isn't going to give up without trying to fight this injustice.
The against-the-odds battle is a predictable affair of charitable friends, frustrating bureaucracy and obstinate officials. The characters are all portrayed with relative sympathy, and for all it's railing against the Israeli system the movie is careful to keep some sympathetic Israeli people on screen. The most welcome of such figures is a young soldier who is always slacking off his duties to practice for his exams.
Although it's based on a true story, it comes across like it's trying a little too hard. There's always just a few minutes too long spent staring ponderously into the distance, and the halos floating above Salma and her charitable lawyer sometimes glow just a little too brightly. The resulted is a poignant and sensitive movie that just lacks that realistic edge to make it really hit the point home.