THE OLIVE TREE

English Title: THE OLIVE TREE

Stuck in a nasty job at a poultry farm, feisty young Alma vents her frustration in bursts of aggression. Alma’s one soft spot belongs to her grandpa, her constant companion while she was growing up in the family’s ancient olive grove. But since Alma’s father sold their favorite tree to subsidize a failing restaurant, Grandpa has stopped speaking and has taken to wandering off. Alma discovers the tree now stands in the lobby of a big German energy company. Desperate to do something meaningful—for her grandfather, and perhaps for herself—she concocts a string of big white lies, persuading her uncle and a friend to drive a huge truck to Düsseldorf to retrieve the tree. What follows is a beautifully acted, emotional journey, from family tradition to Big Capital, from the familiar warm cadences of Spain to the incomprehensible chill of the north. A compelling script by Paul Laverty, who has written dramas for Ken Loach, and a spirited performance by Anna Castillo, make THE OLIVE TREE a poignant social commentary. (In Spanish with subtitles) —B.B.