Lemon Tree DVD Review

Lemon Tree - An E1 Films Release

http://www.lemontreemovie.com/

On DVD: September 8th, 2009

Rated PG for mature theme

Running time: 106 minutes

Eran Riklis (dir.)

Suha Arraf (writer)

Eran Riklis (writer)

Habib Shadah (music)

Hiam Abbass Salma Zidane

Doron Tavory as Defense Minister Israel Navon

Ali Suliman as Ziad Dau

Rona Lipaz-Michael as Mira Navon

Tarik Kopty as Abu Hussam

Our reviews below:

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Lemon Tree DVD Review By John C.

*** (out of 4)

Salma Zidane (Hiam Abbas) owns an old lemon grove right on the border of Israel. Every day she tends to it with her old friend, and barely earns a living selling the produce. When the new Israeli defense minister moves in on the other side of the border, he orders the trees be cut, as he sees them as a threat to the security.

This is a very interesting and well-made drama. Hiam Abbas of The Visitor also gives an excellent performance. Lemon Tree is a film that’s very much worth checking out on DVD.

The DVD includes a trailer gallery and the trailer for Lemon Tree.

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Lemon Tree DVD Review By Erin V.

***1/2 (out of 4)

Lemon Tree is based on a true story, and it is one of those tales makes you think how sad it is that something like this would actually become an issue.

The story is that of a Palestinian woman who has lived practically all her life on a lemon grove is Israel. Everyone who visits her gets a fresh glass of lemonade, and her daily life consists mainly of the care of her lemon trees and the fruit which they bare. When the defense minister moves in across from her grove, his secret service officers deem her grove to be a threat as terrorists could use her trees as cover... apparently. Ironically, they are planning on building a dividing wall anyway.

But still they feel that there is an imminent threat, so serve her with a court notice allowing them to cut her trees. Unwilling to just let that happen, she takes the defense minister to court to try to challenge his order.

I really liked the film Lemon Tree. It was very sad at times but also quite interesting. This is a low-key film, and it is one that is thought provoking. Watch the trailer here, and if it intrigues you, try to find this one - it's worth it.

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Lemon Tree DVD Review By Nicole

*** (out of 4)

Lemon Tree is a thought provoking drama about how cultural barriers affect one woman’s life. Salma, a young Palestinian widow, lives on the West Bank. Every day, she lovingly takes care of her father’s lemon grove, watering the trees, and turning the fruit into lemonade and pickles. Her lemon grove is in danger however, when the Israeli Defense Minister moves in next door. he is convinced that the orchard could become a hiding place for terrorists, and demands that it be cut down. His wife however, doesn’t agree. She thinks that the lemon grove is harmless, and should stay.

Salma is determined to save her lemon trees. She hires a lawyer to fight the order to cut the trees. A conflict of interest on her lawyer’s part however, makes things emotionally complicated for the both of them. Will the lemon grove be saved?

I found Lemon Tree to be a very interesting film. Based on a true story, this simple tale shows us the seemingly small, but significant ways that conflict can affect people. With very little language, no sexual situations, and no violence, Lemon Tree is a good film to show in schools. This film will invoke important discussions about peace.

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Lemon Tree DVD Review By Maureen

*** (out of 4)

Review N/A

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Lemon Tree DVD Review By Tony

***1/2 (out of 4)

Review Coming Soon!

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Consensus: ***1/4 (Out of 4)