North West Theatre Company Film Club MOVIE OF THE MONTH

Submitted by Rick Hutton – NWTC Film Club Secretary

April’s Film Cub offering is Lemon Tree

A touching tale of forbidden fruit in the Middle East.

An unlikely friendship takes place in the movie Lemon Tree (2008), a drama set along the border of Israel and the West Bank. This film depicting the centuries long conflict, is rendered into simple terms, in a poignant tale, offered by the NWTC Film Club at the Roxy in Bingara on Sunday, April 30.

Israeli filmmaker Eran Riklis’ Lemon Tree deals with the complex web of Israeli politics and Palestinian rights, as well as the themes of loneliness and female solidarity in the most unlikely circumstances.

A widow, Salma Zidane, scratches out a living from the lemon grove adjoining her house which straddles the Green Line separating Israel from the occupied territories of the West Bank. Her husband died 10 years ago and her son is living in Washington DC. Her solitary life is turned upside down when the Israeli Defence Minister Israel Navon (Doron Tavory) moves into a posh new house next door, and his security advisers recommend the lemon grove be destroyed lest it be used by terrorists.

Vowing “I won’t let them touch my trees,” Salma enlists the aid of young Palestinian lawyer Ziad Daud (Ali Suliman) to try to overturn the order. When their appeal to the military court is rejected, they take the case to the Supreme Court, and a sympathetic journalist takes up their cause.

Romance starts to blossom between the Salma and the lawyer. Meanwhile, Salma discovers she has much in common with Navon’s wife Mira (Rona Lipaz-Michael). Both women are lonely and unfulfilled.

This beautiful film can be seen at the Roxy Theatre at 4:30pm on April 30. Membership of the NWTC Film Club can be gained on the day.