Female Castration
9/10
Author: rotildao from UK
5 September 2008

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

With and outstanding theme that follows the rivalry between ancient cultures, like in The Band's Visit, only this time with lesser romanticism, Lemon Tree is filled with charm and firm posture by both female leading characters and brings politics and female castration into a great clash of emotions with tied-up fists.

The struggle is against urban development that even in the least expected areas of the world tends to eliminate memories of the individual and their experiences. The swifting of values comes pompously, arrogantly, and city like, taking away the taste of fresh lemons in place of comfortable homes and their obvious (as consequence) invasions of power and money, status and politics.

The abrupt invasions are made here by Israel's National Security man and his beautiful and lonely wife.With subtlety the film depicts the ups and downs of a politician's wife contrasting her castrations with the lemon trees owner. Subploting this idea comes the lemon tree's lawyer who seems to be the only benefited in the end with all his self cultural sexual-harassments added by the exposures of the facts by the media, granting him an elevated change of status.

Don't get fooled by the sweet and lovable soundtrack in the initial scenes, and although this film is lighter than most female dramas still respects reality instead of appealing towards tear-jerking melodramatic confrontations, and that is what makes this a true cinematic experience. A very important film and one the best of 2008 so far. Vote 9/10.