by Thomas Winegarden
Lemon Tree is a drama film directed by Eran Riklis. The film itself is based on similar events involving Israel’s former Minister of Defense Shaul Mofaz. However, the film follows the perspective of an Palestinian widow, Salma Zidane, and her struggle to resist the seizure of her lemon grove by Israeli authorities. Salma is paralleled by the Minister’s wife, Nora Navon, throughout the film. Allowing the audience to witness the relationship between the two women who live yards apart, and exist in dramatically different socio-political spheres. Doing so Riklis creates a political symbolic film regarding the daily lives of Palestinian citizens and others in the middle east in light of the political conflicts, which he accomplishes by employing symbolism with the characters and the lemon grove itself.
Salma and Mira, play symbolic roles that allow Riklis to use the narrative as a political allegory. Salma, a palestinian widow, is representative of the larger palestine and the grief that palestinians have had to endure. Mira, in contrast, is symbolic of a national Israel identity, and represents empathy in the face of conflict. This is best exemplified in the scene where Salma discovers Israeli soldiers picking lemons, from her seized grove, for the Minister’s party. When first witnessing the theft Salma shouts “What are you doing? Who let you into my grove?” (Riklis, 2008, 01:02:28). Following this Salma proceeds to throw lemons at the Minister and his wife while demanding they leave. Mira simply replies “We just wanted a few lemons, I’m sorry” (Riklis, 2008, 01:03:38). Here the audience witnesses the direct confrontation between the two women, and symbolically the interaction between Palestine and Israel. Which exhibited political underpinnings, as Salma’s pleas could be applied more broadly to those suffering due to the territorial conflict without dehumanizing her opposition.
The lemon grove itself is also used as a tool of political symbolism to represent the loss of tradition and culture. Although a physical space, the grove holds a greater cultural and emotional significance. In one aspect it represents lineage and family tradition, as Salma inherited it from her father. With the seizure of the grove representing the loss of homeland experienced by Palestinians, who are forced to give up physical space and the attachment to it. In another aspect the lemon grove is broadly symbolic of Palestinian culture and socitey which has been subjected to great upheaval from Israel expansion. As citrus and the citrus industry is a big aspect of Palestinian national identity. This is best visualized in the film in the scenes of Salma entering the gated grove, which occurs on multiple occasions, only to be subjected to the orders of an Israeli soldier standing watch. Symbolizing the emotional turmoil over the loss of homeland and identity.
The portrayal of Salma’s struggles and the relationship with Mira serves as a testament to the experiences of individuals who are impacted from the loss of home and tradition. By understanding Salma as a symbolic Palestine and Mira as a symbolic Israel, the audience is able to empathize and humanize the conflict on both sides. Riklis is able to achieve this political allegory film relating to the Israel-Palestine conflict only by employing symbolism with the characters and the lemon grove, which expresses impact on the daily lives of Palestinians and other individuals who are subject to conflict.
Works Cited:
Lemon Tree. Directed by Eran Riklis, Written by Suha Arraf and Eran Riklis , 2008.
Through an Arabic Lens: the Intersection of Film and Culture 