Comments on: Dima Hamdan – On "The Lemon Tree" http://palestinethinktank.com/2008/12/21/dima-hamdan-on-the-lemon-tree/ Free Minds for a Free Palestine Sun, 21 Mar 2010 04:38:58 +0300 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Mary Rizzo http://palestinethinktank.com/2008/12/21/dima-hamdan-on-the-lemon-tree/#comment-11191 Mary Rizzo Mon, 17 Aug 2009 10:19:38 +0000 http://palestinethinktank.com/2008/12/21/dima-hamdan-on-the-lemon-tree/#comment-11191 I finally saw this movie. I have to say that while I like very much the lead actress (she was also in The Visitor, very nice performance there), I was wholly disappointed by this film. I agree with Dima that the sensitive watch-tower guardian and bodyguards were totally unrealistic, but so was everything else here made as a way to show a very black/white sort of approach to the situation and give contours to the Israeli side that don't exist in the Palestinian side. We have the women who one expects to have some kind of confrontation/communication, and indeed, they do "meet face to face" in the courtroom only to look at one another, and have us hope that the Israeli woman could say "what's in her heart" and we are supposed to really believe she is tormented by the situation? Of course she is there to represent the "good and noble" person, surrounded by good and noble people who are forced to act the way they do because they live in that area. The only real Palestinian female character is the lead role, while the Israeli women have space to discuss their views and even can be in contrast and conflict with their own people (forced to sign statements of course, that deny their thoughts, but as we say here, "the stone has been cast into the water" so what needed to be achieved by her speaking her mind was, and no retraction would change things). We can see a "flexibile and humane" Israel that has to simply win against some machine... The "good" journalist who cares about her friend and also about "justice" for the Palestinian... there were many of these little spaces for one to admire the diversity of Israeli society and think that if only a few things could change, oh, how civilised this place would be.... but there are just a few leaders who have plans to make that not happen... It just seemed to me to be a lightweight version of propaganda, besides the very effective final frames that can only show the madness of what the Israeli plans are all about. I don't forget that it is an Israeli film, and therefore, it carries the knowledge of Israelis and has far less knowledge of Palestinians, and therefore the very schematic approach to the presentation of the characters, but the expectations were far higher than what was delivered. I finally saw this movie. I have to say that while I like very much the lead actress (she was also in The Visitor, very nice performance there), I was wholly disappointed by this film. I agree with Dima that the sensitive watch-tower guardian and bodyguards were totally unrealistic, but so was everything else here made as a way to show a very black/white sort of approach to the situation and give contours to the Israeli side that don't exist in the Palestinian side. We have the women who one expects to have some kind of confrontation/communication, and indeed, they do "meet face to face" in the courtroom only to look at one another, and have us hope that the Israeli woman could say "what's in her heart" and we are supposed to really believe she is tormented by the situation? Of course she is there to represent the "good and noble" person, surrounded by good and noble people who are forced to act the way they do because they live in that area. The only real Palestinian female character is the lead role, while the Israeli women have space to discuss their views and even can be in contrast and conflict with their own people (forced to sign statements of course, that deny their thoughts, but as we say here, "the stone has been cast into the water" so what needed to be achieved by her speaking her mind was, and no retraction would change things). We can see a "flexibile and humane" Israel that has to simply win against some machine…

The "good" journalist who cares about her friend and also about "justice" for the Palestinian… there were many of these little spaces for one to admire the diversity of Israeli society and think that if only a few things could change, oh, how civilised this place would be…. but there are just a few leaders who have plans to make that not happen… It just seemed to me to be a lightweight version of propaganda, besides the very effective final frames that can only show the madness of what the Israeli plans are all about.

I don't forget that it is an Israeli film, and therefore, it carries the knowledge of Israelis and has far less knowledge of Palestinians, and therefore the very schematic approach to the presentation of the characters, but the expectations were far higher than what was delivered.

]]> By: Mahmoud El-Yousseph http://palestinethinktank.com/2008/12/21/dima-hamdan-on-the-lemon-tree/#comment-4359 Mahmoud El-Yousseph Tue, 23 Dec 2008 03:23:34 +0000 http://palestinethinktank.com/2008/12/21/dima-hamdan-on-the-lemon-tree/#comment-4359 A Letter From A Palestinian Muslim to Santa Dear Mr. Santa, This might be unusual request coming from someone who is a Muslim, but the fact I have few things on my mind. Could you please swing by Palestine, and in particular to a place called Gaza this year. It is not too far from Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, who is ‘the reason for the season’. There are 1.5 million people who are starving there in Gaza and have been under siege from air, sea, and ground for almost three years. You may ask what is the reason for that? Those people wanted to be free and independent just like us here in America. Over 51% of the population is under the age of 15. Among those people are solid 3,000 Christians also. Statistically speaking, there should be about 1,500 of their Christian children who will not be having a merry Christmas this year for lack of basic necessities to survive such as food, water, fuel, and medicine. Animals are in a worse shape than humans in Gaza. There is no grass or animal feeds left in Gaza. Parents and children alike are dying daily because they are unable to get medical attention inside or outside Gaza due to the blockade. The U.N. is no longer able to deliver food anymore because of border closings, and has also warned of impending human disaster.. The children of Gaza do not need toys or video games as they do in other parts of the ‘Cristian’ world, so I suggest the following: Baby formula Bottled water Candles Vitamin supplement. I heard many suffer from severe malnutrition Clothing and toiletry Batteries (all sizes) Hearing aids for children Animal feeds. I heard that a local pet store here is having a great bargain, buy one get one free! Meal Ready to Eat [MRE]. The same kind used by the military. No need for desert, there is one inside the MRE package. However, if there is some ginger bread man on special, I recommend taking several boxes. I am sure the children will enjoy it and will talk about it for years to come. Thank you in advance. Have a safe trip. May Allah [God in Arabic] be with you, and as you would say; Ho, ho, ho. Sincerely, Mahmoud El-Yousseph elyousseph6@yahoo.com A Letter From A Palestinian Muslim to Santa

Dear Mr. Santa,

This might be unusual request coming from someone who is a Muslim, but the fact I have few things on my mind.

Could you please swing by Palestine, and in particular to a place called Gaza this year. It is not too far from Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, who is ‘the reason for the season’. There are 1.5 million people who are starving there in Gaza and have been under siege from air, sea, and ground for almost three years. You may ask what is the reason for that? Those people wanted to be free and independent just like us here in America.

Over 51% of the population is under the age of 15. Among those people are solid 3,000 Christians also. Statistically speaking, there should be about 1,500 of their Christian children who will not be having a merry Christmas this year for lack of basic necessities to survive such as food, water, fuel, and medicine. Animals are in a worse shape than humans in Gaza. There is no grass or animal feeds left in Gaza. Parents and children alike are dying daily because they are unable to get medical attention inside or outside Gaza due to the blockade. The U.N. is no longer able to deliver food anymore because of border closings, and has also warned of impending human disaster..

The children of Gaza do not need toys or video games as they do in other parts of the ‘Cristian’ world, so I suggest the following:

Baby formula

Bottled water

Candles

Vitamin supplement. I heard many suffer from severe malnutrition

Clothing and toiletry

Batteries (all sizes)

Hearing aids for children

Animal feeds. I heard that a local pet store here is having a great bargain, buy one get one free!

Meal Ready to Eat [MRE]. The same kind used by the military.

No need for desert, there is one inside the MRE package. However, if there is some ginger bread man on special, I recommend taking several boxes. I am sure the children will enjoy it and will talk about it for years to come.

Thank you in advance. Have a safe trip. May Allah [God in Arabic] be with you, and as you would say; Ho, ho, ho.

Sincerely,

Mahmoud El-Yousseph

elyousseph6@yahoo.com

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