Abe 2020

In the heart of Brooklyn, New York, 12-year-old Abe (Noah Schnapp) has unearthed his true passion: food. With fearless curiosity, he delves into his family kitchen, crafting a variety of imaginative dishes, including unique creations like ramen tacos. Also known as Avraham and Ibrahim, Abe is the product of a diverse family, with a Muslim father, Amir (Arian Moayed), and a Jewish mother, Rebecca (Dagmara Dominczyk). This cultural cocktail is amplified by the backgrounds of his grandparents, where his maternal relatives hail from Israel and his paternal ones are Palestinian Arabs.

As Abe transitions into adolescence, he feels the weight of his family’s expectations, with religious traditions growing increasingly significant to his grandparents. His father and mother wish for a peaceful coexistence without imposing religious obligations on him, yet they also strive to honor the customs of their respective families. Benjamin (Mark Margolis), Abe’s Israeli grandfather, emphasizes the importance of a Bar Mitzvah, while Abe’s Palestinian grandparents, Aida (Salem Murphy) and Salim (Tom Mardirosian), hope to instill in him the values of fasting and avoiding alcohol.

In a world where Abe prefers virtual interactions through his food blog, Abecooks, he finds inspiration from a Brazilian chef, Chico (Seu Jorge), who creatively blends culinary elements from different cultures. Motivated by this role model, Abe dreams of merging Israeli and Palestinian cuisines, aspiring to bridge the gap in his divided family. In an attempt to bring everyone together, he plans a Thanksgiving dinner that represents a harmonious blend of their cultural heritages and traditions.

However, as the day arrives, the results are far from what he envisioned. Despite the warmth of the gathering, the invitees resist change; the grandparents express their frustrations candidly, while Abe’s parents step in to calm the escalating tensions. The young dreamer soon discovers a profound truth: not every plan maps out smoothly. The age-old rifts and entrenched beliefs are not easily dismantled, and as Abe learns the hard way, some conflicts are deeply rooted and challenging to overcome. This poignant journey illustrates the enduring spirit of hope and the complexity of family dynamics, beautifully illuminated through the lens of food and culture.