The Olive Harvest (2003)
3 /5
In a sparse Palestinian village, the olive orchard is like a symbol of life for the community. One day, Mazen is released from jail and is brought home by his younger brother, Tazer. Mazen's action, disrupting the construction of Israeli settlements, saves the community from having its orchard bulldozed. He is greeted like a hero upon his return. While visiting one of the neighbors, he is introduced to Raeda. She's beautiful and has been the apple of Taher's eye for a while now. Taher, a government employee tasked with watching out for new Israeli settlements, has been preoccupied with work and hasn't fulfilled his promise to make his engagement to her formal by asking for her hand in marriage.
Mazen Saade as Mazen
Taher has the idea of hooking up Mazen with Raeda's sister who works in the city. Mazen isn't interested in getting hitched since he is freshly released from jail and not working.
Taher Najeeb as Taher
While at work, Raeda and Mazen end up spending some time together. She has a fight with Taher as she confronts him for not being able to commit since he had not yet asked for her hand in marriage. She gravitates toward Mazen and the two form an obvious bond. One day, Taher catches the two of them together and a fight ensues...
Raeda Adon as Raeda
Raeda doesn't want to break ties between the brothers, and she doesn't know whom she will marry. Much crying ensues.
Taher is also quite a hothead. He seems to lose his temper a lot and has to be told not to investigate a new settlement since it is really just meant to egg on the Palestinians into inciting more violence, which will result in more military responses from the IDF. Mazen, on the other hand, is wiser and doesn't see violence as providing a viable solution.
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