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This much-lauded film, based on a real incident, memorably portrays the human side of the Palestine-Israel conflict with depth, feeling and harrowing realism.

Salma Zidane is a Palestinian widow who lives on the Israeli-West Bank border, earning a meagre living from the lemon grove she owns. Her life is turned upside-down, when the Israeli Defence Minister suddenly shifts to her neighbourhoood. Overnight, the place becomes a hotbed of action, with security and secret agents all around. They state that the lemon trees are a security risk to the Minister, and order the trees to be cut down.

The brave Salma refuses to cow down.With the support of a young lawyer ( they get mutually attracted to each other, which causes a scandal in her community ), she approaches the Palestine Military Tribunal, then, the Israeli Supreme Court, all without luck. Meanwhile a bond develops between her and the Israeli Minister's wife, further complicating the situation. As the news of her campaign spreads, Salma's case attracts huge media attention.

The all-important question is, if this soft-spoken but strong woman, will win her case, in this contemporary David-Goliath story. The ending is moving and meaningful.

Lemon Tree ,directed by much-acclaimed Israeli director Eran Riklis ( his previous movie Syrian Bride ,on the same Arab-Israeli tensions, was a huge 'hit' around the world,) teams up again with brilliant Palestine script-writer Suha Arraf ,actress Hiam Abbass ( described as the 'Middle Eastern Lena Olin') , and actor Ali Suleiman ( he acted in the Oscar-nominated Paradise Now ) to produce a rivetting film, which has a marvellous Palestine-Israeli cast, and was shot in both countries.

This French-German-Israeli-Palestine production was screened at numerous festivals around the world (including the Bangkok International Film Festival).

Among the many awards it won, were the 'Panorama Audience Award' at the Berlin Festival, Best Actress and Best Screenplay Awards at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards, Best Actress Award at the Israel Film Academy .


Here's What the Critics Said-

Variety- "The rare ability to make intelligent, entertaining cinema from hot-button current issues, is beautifully illustrated by 'Lemon Tree', a multi-faceted drama, with a kudo-worthy performance by Palestine actress Hiam Abbass."

The Daily Telegraph - " Absorbing, sensitive, beautifully-shot."

New York Times - "A wrenching, richly layered feminist allegory, as well as a geopolitical one " ( The paper named it a 'Critics Pick of 2009' )

Salon.Com - " Riklis forges into areas other Israeli filmmakers won't venture."

Jerusalem Post - " It's hard to ask for more. You will leave the theatre, craving for a glass of the lemonade that Salma prepares so lovingly!"

As we live in flood-hit times, here's the inspiring story of a brave woman who does not allow anyone or anything, to unsettle her.

'Lemon Tree' is being screened in lieu of the French film 'The Woman Next Door', that was cancelled on 27 October ( the new screening-date will be announced, later.)

Don't miss yet another extraordinary movie, in our Contemporary World Film Series.

Due to the fluctuating flood-situation, we advise you to check the FCCT Bulletin /web-site,to re-confirm the screening on Thursday.

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This is a riveting story set in 1970, at the time of the military dictatorship in Brazil . It's also the year when Brazil was making its way into the World Cup Finals, under the great Pele.

Politics and football form the crux of the film, seen through the big, questioning eyes of a 12-year-old boy Mauro, who's addicted to football. He plays with his plastic goalies at home, with his friends on the streets, and all night, in his dreams.

That's why he doesn't take it too seriously, when his parents suddenly tell him they are going on a vacation, and disappear, promising to be back in time for the World Cup Finals. He is left in the care of his Jewish grandfather, but the latter suddenly dies.

That's when his grandfather's friend and neighbour, Shlom, offers to take care of Mauro. The two do not get along at all, and Shlom's Jewish fraternity try their best to help. Meanwhile. Mauro makes friends in his multi-ethnic neighbourhood, with Hanna, a girl of his age, Irene, a beautiful bar-tender, Italo, a politically active student, and others. They all bond together, singing and dancing, at the time of the World Cup matches.

It's in the background that we see arrests, military attacks, and hear stories of underground activists. Slowly, we understand that Mauro's parents are underground activists. The last scene shows the triumphant World Cup Finals for Brazil. But it's a bitter-sweet ending for Mauro.

The film is a tender, moving coming-of-age drama, that captures the pulse of Brazil in the 1970's, including its political and football fervour.
Director Cao Hamburger took six months to find his child-hero, after auditioning thousands of youngsters, for this semi-autobiographical tale, which took four years to make, with four script-writers.

The film won more than 20 awards at festivals around the world,and was chosen as Brazil 's official entry to the Oscars in 2007.

Here's what the Critics had to say :

Variety: "Sensitive, delicate and involving, Hamburger has a magician's ability to keep the story light and believable".

Village Voice: "This warmly engaging film benefits from its understated approach and its light, comedic tone never mitigates the drama of the central story"

New York Times: "Its warm, sweet, nostalgic tone is hard to dislike".

Chicago Tribune: Its portrait of a multi-cultural Brazil is warm and welcoming.

To celebrate the screening of one of their most talked-about movies, the Ambassador of Brazil, HE Paulo Cesar Meira De Vasconcellos, will serve the famed Brazilian national drink Caipirinha and Brazilian cheesebread.

Don't miss a memorable movie, in our Contemporary World Film Series- the last film for this year.

Due to limited capacity, reservations are recommended.

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