Before the opening credits start in first-time feature director Beth Elise Hawk’s new documentary “Breaking Bread,” this quote appears in white print on a black title card: “Food may not be the answer to world peace…but it’s a start.” —Anthony Bourdain.
This doesn’t tell the audience everything that’s soon to come, but it certainly indicates the intent and tone. Rather than just another exploration into a particular regional cuisine, Hawk—much like Bourdain in many of his global excursions—is equally as interested in the people creating often centuries-old recipes as she is in the finished dishes.
Started by a Unique ‘MasterChef’ Champion
In the last half on the 2010s, Dr. Nof Atamna-Ismaeel began the “A-Sham” food festival based in Haifa, one of Israel’s more cosmopolitan and ethnically diverse cities. The first Arab to win the Israeli MasterChef competition, Atamna-Ismaeel, had connected with numerous chefs from countries that make up “The Levant” (Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Palestine, and a significant portion of Turkey). A Palestinian woman with Arabic roots who grew up in Israel, Atamma-Ismaeel is proud of her shared heritages and fashions the festival with a similar mindset.
Originally from the nation's capital, Michael Clark has provided film content to over 30 print and online media outlets. He co-founded the Atlanta Film Critics Circle in 2017 and is a weekly contributor to the Shannon Burke Show on FloridaManRadio.com. Since 1995, Clark has written over 5,000 movie reviews and film-related articles. He favors dark comedy, thrillers, and documentaries.
