Watch Breaking Bread

Breaking Bread is an uplifting documentary film that follows the journey of Dr. Nof Atamna-Ismaeel, a Muslim Arab-Israeli woman who becomes the first Arab woman to win Israel's MasterChef television competition. The film was released in 2020. Dr. Nof Atamna-Ismaeel is a microbiologist, a wife, and a mother of three children. She is passionate about sharing her love for cooking and her Arab culture with the world. She creates a unique catering company named Mayet, which combines her two passions – cooking and science. The company aims to bring people from different cultures and religions closer together by offering culinary experiences that support dialogue and understanding.

Mayet's culinary program is designed to promote cultural diversity by fostering social inclusion and promoting respect for one another's culture. They achieve this by offering unique cooking classes that showcase the diversity of cuisines found in Israel. The classes not only teach cooking techniques, but also an appreciation for the diverse cultures of the country.

The film follows Nof's journey as she travels around the country, hosting cooking classes in Jewish and Arab schools, community centers, and businesses. Her goal is to bring people together through food and create understanding and peaceful co-existence between people of different cultures and beliefs.

Throughout the film, we see Nof's joy and passion for cooking, as well as her dedication to bringing people of all backgrounds together. She is articulate and inspiring as she shares her vision for a more peaceful world.

The film also highlights the challenges Nof faces as an Arab-Israeli woman. She must navigate cultural and religious differences, along with skepticism and prejudice from some members of the community. For example, during one of her classes, a Jewish participant expresses skepticism about the quality of Arab food, which Nof gracefully addresses and turns into a teachable moment.

Breaking Bread not only showcases the power of food to bring people together but also illustrates the difficulties of bridging cultural gaps. It raises the important question: Can people overcome cultural barriers through cooking and sharing meals, or are deeper structural changes necessary?

The film is beautifully shot, and the food looks delicious. But beyond that, it's a heartwarming story about a remarkable woman who uses her passion for cooking to promote understanding and inclusivity. It's a call to action for all of us to consider how we can use our talents and passions to create a more peaceful and just society.

In summary, Breaking Bread is a must-see documentary film about the power of cooking to bring people together, promote cross-cultural understanding, and build peaceful co-existence. The film features a talented and inspiring woman, Dr. Nof Atamna-Ismaeel, who has dedicated her life to this pursuit. Through Nof's journey, we learn about cooking, culture, and the human will to connect with others. It's a film that will leave you feeling inspired and optimistic about the future.

Breaking Bread is a 2021 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 25 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.7 and a MetaScore of 62.