Abe

US, 2019, 85 minutes, Colour.

Noah Schnapp, Seu Jorge, Dagmar Dominczyk, Arian Moayed, Mark Margolis, Tom Mardirosian, Salem Murphy, Daniel Oreskes.

Directed by Fernando Grostein Steen Andrade.

While the setting is Brooklyn, New York, the issues are those of Palestine and Israel, the conflict before 1948 and since 1948, embodied in Americans of both traditions. Interestingly, the film was cowritten and directed by a Brazilian Director (who introduces Brazilian themes into this New York story).

Abe (a genially convincing performance from Noah Schnapp from Stranger Things) is a 12-year-old, only child of a Jewish mother and a Palestinian father who do not impose either religious tradition on him, leaving choices to him. He wants to combine both, praying in Hebrew and in Arabic at meals, combining Jewish traditions like bar mitzvah with Islamic traditions like Ramadan.

There are various  visits and meals from the older generation from each side, his father’s parents, his mother’s grandfather and uncle. Neither side has approved of the marriage, is eager to offer condemnations at times, very critical in telling stories about the past as well as the conflicts of the present. They embody the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at the table.

This is a film also for the social media age and for the younger audience, identifying with Abe and experiencing his cultural issues in the light of the traditional conflict. The of texting, phones, postings, instagram

Abe loves cooking and reads of Brazilians coming to the city and goes to visit the kitchen, Chico being the chef (Brazilian star, Seu Jorge, Elite Squad, City of God). After some hesitation, permission to do menial work around the kitchen, Chico helps the young boy with varieties of recipes and cooking styles with Abe bringing food from his traditions. He thrives.

The dramatic climax of the film is his 12^th birthday where he prepares food from both traditions, says opening prayers in Hebrew and Arabic, is more and more dismayed by the hostility between the older generations, criticisms of the parents and their not bringing the boy up well. He runs away and takes refuge in Chico’s kitchen.

There are some apologies, some calming down, everyone eating the food that Abe had prepared, some kind of reconciliation – and hope. (The documentary, Breaking Bread, about a chef’s competition between Israelis and Palestinians could be an interesting companion piece.)

1. The title, Abe and his names, Abraham, Ebrahim?
2. The Brooklyn setting, homes, restaurants and kitchens, parks and fairs?
3. The interreligious household, the Jewish mother, the Palestinian father? Her grandfather and uncle? His parents? The household symbolic of Palestine-Israel? Conflict? Resolution – or not?
4. Abe, his voice-over, explanation of the situation, his love for cooking? Seeing him at work in the kitchen, recipes, mixing, cooking?
5. A film for the social media age, the appeal to younger audiences, to a children’s audience? The use of texting, film and comment, the range of social media?
6. Abe, the possibility of cooking camp, his first visit, the young children? The information about the Brazilians, their work in New York, bringing their own kitchen, the blend with the Americans? Abe and his going to visit, Chico and his concern, law and deportation, the employment of children? Giving him the food?
7. Chico, his personality, Brazilian background, his staff, the work, the recipes? His giving Abe jobs, clearing, washing, cleaning? Eventually introducing him to the cooking, Abe and his learning, experimenting, bringing his own ethnic recipes? His enjoying the work in the kitchen?
8. The meals at home, the discussions, Jewish prayers, Islamic prayers, the parents and giving Abe his choices? His wanting to combine the two? The different religious celebrations, fasting for Ramadan, the bar mitzvah? The older generation the disapproval?
9. Abe enjoying the summer, learning from Chico? Going out, the passers-by, sales, the range of food for sale?
10. Abe, showing his experiments on line, posting images? The range of comments?
11. His 12^th birthday, the cake, his decision to prepare the meal, food from both traditions? The opening and his great combination from both religious traditions? The older reactions? The food, the discussions, discussions about parenting, Abe’s parents and their temporary separation, responsibility, accusations? Abe continually bringing the food, beginning to weep, leaving? Going to Chico in hiding?
12. The parents, the elders, distraught, the search, the discussions, some apologies, calming down, eating the food? Going to Chico’s? Chico and his advice for Abe?
13. Abe, a means of reconciliation, food?