The Olive Tree (2016): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 2016, The Olive Tree is a comedy and drama film directed by Icíar Bollaín, running about 96 minutes. “Never lose touch with your roots.” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. Alma’s family has been producing quality olive oil in the Baix Maestrat area of Spain’s Castellón for generations. Yet changing pressures in the industry have made their traditional practices economically untenable, and the family is now in the mass-production poultry business. Alma’s grandfather has not spoken in years. Sadness envelopes him, and he no longer wants to eat. His sons—Alma’s father and uncle—are impatient with him, but Alma understands her grandfather. She realizes he has been grieving for a thousand-year-old olive tree that the family has uprooted and sold to pay some debts. (A sadly common reality in Castellón at present.) Unable to bear the idea that her grandfather could die without seeing this terrible wrong corrected, Alma undertakes a quixotic mission to locate the tree and return it to the family orchard, so that her grandfather may have peace in his final days.

Who’s in it. The Olive Tree stars Anna Castillo as Alma, Javier Gutiérrez as Alcachofa, Pep Ambrós as Rafa and Manuel Cucala as Ramón, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 6.7/10, The Olive Tree has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Olive Tree page.

If you liked it. Fans of The Olive Tree tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.