The plot of the movie was based on a real life incident. Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz moved to the border within Israel and the occupied territories and security forces began cutting down the olive trees beside his house, arguing that it could be used by terrorists as a hiding place.The Palestinian family who owned the trees sued the minister and took the case all the way to the Israeli Supreme Court.Director Eran Riklis watched a news blurb about the case online.He then developed the story further in a fictional setting.Riklis explicity designed the protagonist's part for actress Hiam Abbass(wikipedia)
