KPBS film critic Beth Accomando and Scott Marks, author of the blog emulsioncompulsion.com discuss the film Lemon Tree (currently playing at Landmark's La Jolla Village Theaters) on the May edition of the KPBS Film Club of the Air. This month Beth and Scott actually agree on the films!
Lemon Tree is based on a true story of the legal battle waged by a Palestinian landowner. In the movie, a Palestinian widow named Salma, has little left in life but her beloved field of lemon trees. Her new neighbor is the Israeli defense minister and that field of trees is deemed a security risk because terrorists could hide there. The Israeli minister's wife, Mira, sees the inequity of the situation, and the inequity of her own marriage but feels powerless to do anything about either situation. Salma files a lawsuit and begins an unexpected love affair with her lawyer. The legal battle eventually goes before the Israeli Supreme Court. But, as with most events between Palestinians and Israelis...nobody actually comes out a winner.
Listen to our Film Club discussion.
