The People and the Olive

2:30 pm  Sunday March 31st    St. Louis County Library  -  1640 South Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis

The film crew follows a team of American ultra-marathoners as they run through the West Bank, from Hebron to Jenin (129 miles over 5 days) to raise awareness about the struggles facing olive farmers in Palestine and to replant uprooted olive trees. The “Run Across Palestine,” a project of an organization called On The Ground, aimed to reestablish sustainable olive-growing practices in a place where the economy, culture, and identity are deeply tied to this ancient tree. The runners faced many barriers along the way – barriers that represented a microcosm of what their Palestinian friends face every day. Along the way, they forged deep bonds with their hosts while witnessing the harsh political reality and uplifting beauty of life in the West Bank.