12-year-old Abe might not have much experience cooking, but he certainly has a passion for food. Caught amidst escalating family pressure to choose Judaism or Islam, and in the crosshairs of his father’s resolute denouncement of all religion, Abe decides to try a bit of everything, like a true connoisseur. Unfortunately, each family dinner ends up engulfed in more tension than the last. Dinner has become a microcosm of the enduring hostilities which unfortunately define Palestine and Israel. Abe is slowly learning he can’t please everyone all the time. Inspired by the creations of a Brazilian-fusion food cart, Abe skips amateur hour at his “cooking camp” in favour of learning from the mix master of the pier, Chico. Convinced the flavours of his blended heritage will also blend, Abe plans an epic meal in the hopes it will bring his family closer.
In the face of long-held prejudices and family squabbling, Abe is a coming-of-age drama that lovingly taps into the power of food to unite and heal conflict. Starring Noah Schnapp, the boy who ended up lost in a parallel universe on the hit series Stranger Things, and Seu George, the celebrated Brazilian musician who famously covered David Bowie –in Portoguese–for Wes Anderson’s The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. Abe won over audiences at the Sundance Film Festival and has been garnering praise around the globe ever since.
Themes: family, love, separation, religion, food, friendship, multiculturalism, acceptance, coming of age
Advisory: some mildly offensive language
Feature film recommended for age: 12+
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