Films set in the Middle East 1: 'Etz Limon'.
Due to the untimely release of 'Sex and the City 2', (by which I don't know whether the Western side or the Arab side of me is more insulted), I feel like recommending some real films set in the Middle East. Today I want to note 'Etz Limon' ('The Lemon Tree'), 2008, dir. Eran Riklis, an absolute gem which would have slipped under my radar had not my brother taken me to see it. It deals with some less immediately-dramatic ramifications of the Israel-Palestine situation: the lemon grove of a Palestinian widow is threatened when the Israeli defence minister moves next door to her, but an unexpected connection develops between her and the minister's wife. Wonderful performances by Hiam Abbas, in the lead role of Salma Zidane, and by Ali Suliman, who plays lawyer Ziad Daud. None of the cast exactly let it down though. Also good cinematography.