No. 41 (2021) BREAKING BREAD. MAY 22nd.

 

Film No. 41 (2021)  May 22nd.  11:00 AM  Cinema 1 LUNA,  Leederville. 

"I don't give a f**k that he's Arab, like he doesn't give a f**k that I am Jew. The only thing we're going to give a f**k about is making art" (One featured chef makes a point; a point key to all that BREAKING BREAD stands for).

Could a film like BREAKING BREAD have an impact on the psyches' of the Middle Eastern population? On that minority of people who have mostly hate on their minds? Perhaps not, but in the words of Arab  MasterChef (Israeli version)      winner  Dr. Nof Atamna, little steps might help.

So sets the premise of emerging documentary film maker Beth Elise Hawk's first feature, BREAKING BREAD. Hawk uses the A-Sham Food Festival as her force for intrigue. This growing festival began in 2015 after Atamna decided that if an Arab could win a Jewish food competition then maybe creating food has a power to unite people. Then, just maybe, politicians would take notice. Atamna is never optimistic when it comes to politicians but she has a belief in taking small steps forward!  

The delight that is BREAKING BREAD comes in the balanced message Hawk delivers. It is neither preachy nor bombastic. The images of food and the stories of cultural melding are tantalizing. Then there are the stars; the chefs, foodies from multiple middle eastern countries working together to make magic and producing tastes to tantalize.

Haifa, Israel's 3rd largest city is the other star of BREAD. The food festival is just one activity the city supports in its work towards reconciliation. Mayor Yona Yahav (since replaced by Haifa's first female mayor) discusses, with a legitimate positivity, the virtues of living in a city like Haifa. 

As Atamna says, 90% of Israelis want peace, but it's the other 10% that make the news. BREAKING BREAD just might help, it certainly can't do harm. The other good news is that a cookbook based on dishes from the film  will be released soon. The essence of BREAKING BREAD will gain a longer life with this news. Great news! 10GUMS.