Lemon Tree (2008 film)

Lemon Tree
International release poster
Hebrewעץ לימון
Preview warning: Using more than one of the following parameters in Template:Infobox name module: 2, 1.
Arabicشجرة ليمون
Preview warning: Using more than one of the following parameters in Template:Infobox name module: 2, 1.
Directed byEran Riklis
Written byEran Riklis
Suha Arraf
Produced byEran Riklis
StarringHiam Abbass
Ali Suliman
Rona Lipaz-Michael
Doron Tavory
CinematographyRainer Klusmann
Edited byTova Asher
Music byHabib Shehadeh Hanna
Production
companies
  • Heimatfilm
  • MACT Productions
  • Eran Riklis Productions
  • Riva Filmproduktion
  • Arte France Cinéma
  • ZDF
  • Metro Communications
  • United King Films
  • Citrus Film Investors
Release date
  • March 27, 2008 (2008-03-27)
(Israel)
Running time
106 minutes
Countries
  • Israel
  • Germany
  • France
Languages
  • Arabic
  • Hebrew
Box office$7,387,488

Lemon Tree (Hebrew: עץ לימון, romanized'Etz Limon; Arabic: شجرة ليمون, romanized'Shajaret Leimoun) is a 2008 drama film directed by Eran Riklis, co-written by Suha Arraf. Starring Hiam Abbass, Ali Suliman, Danny Leshman and Rona Lipaz-Michael, it follows the legal efforts of a Palestinian widow to stop the Israeli Defense Minister, her new next door neighbor, from destroying the lemon trees in her family farm. At the same time, she develops a human bond with the minister's wife.

The film is loosely based on a true story where trees were finally uprooted in the interest of Shaul Mofaz, Israeli Defense Minister from 2002 to 2006.

The film had its world premiere in the Panorama section of the 58th Berlin International Film Festival, and was theatrically released in Israel on 27 March 2008. It received a tepid response from Israeli audiences, but was well received internationally. It was nominated for Best Actress (Abbass) and Best Screenwriter at the 21st European Film Awards.