Peace by Chocolate (2021) User Reviews

What a nice film! Well paced and open-hearted.

[gcsman · 8/10 · 8 May 2022]

What people can do when pressed is amazing. In 2015, the Hadhad family from Syria, by way of a refugee camp in Lebanon, arrived in Antigonish, Nova Scotia to reboot their lives. The 50-something father Issam (Hatem Ali) was a chocolate maker and factory owner; 20-something son Tarek (a strinkingly handsome Ayham Abou Ammar) was training in family medicine and would like to restart that in Canada, if he can. Those two form the lead roles and the primary story of a year in rebuilding their family's life.

It's a true story, and there's a book about them that I haven't read, so I am not sure just how much of the movie takes liberties with actual events or over-dramatizes them. But it's an expertly paced and edited piece of work, so lots of credit to director Jonathan Keijser and his team for that. If there's any big gap here, it's probably the lack of screen time given to the women of the family, particularly Tareq's mother.

Seven years later the Hadhads have a very well known chocolate factory that ships everywhere (we've ordered some of their products, and yes they are good!) As Tareq has said, they are among the lucky ones. For a story centering on the modern refugee experience that is equally universal and cuts a little harder and deeper, see 'Flee'. But they're both good.

The movie was better than I expected

[steiner-sam · 8/10 · 19 May 2022]

It's a cross-cultural immigration drama set in 2016 in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. It follows a Syrian refugee family landing in a town of 4,000 in rural Nova Scotia and shows the internal family struggles as well as cross-cultural experiences in the community.

Tareq Hadhad (Ayham Abou Ammar) is the son who immigrates to Canada first. He was a Syrian medical student before his family fled to Lebanon because of the war. Tareq speaks good English. The rest of the family speaks no English. His father, Issam (Hatem Ali), had run a specialty chocolate factory with 50 employees before the war, but the factory was bombed in 2012. Issam and Shahnaz (Yara Sabri), Tareq's mother, are soon to follow. Tareq's sister, Alaa (Najlaa Al Khamri), cannot come for a while because her husband has stayed in Syria. After her husband is killed in the war, Alaa also joins the family in Antigonish.

The film follows some of the acculturation issues (snow and cold in winter) and the sponsorship of the family by a local church, especially an accountant named Frank (Mark Camacho). Tareq desperately wants to get into a Canadian medical school against his father's wishes. His father feels illiterate if his son does not stay close to the family. From a small beginning, we see the Peace by Chocolate business grow with a settled outcome by the end.

The movie was better than I expected. At a cynical level, it's a 90-minute advertisement for Peace by Chocolate and the Sobey's grocery chain that became an early supporter. (And the theater where I watched it sold Peace by Chocolate bars at the refreshment counter.) Some critics have also complained about the positive references to the Liberal Party's immigration policy and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

But the film also shows the tension between a father loyal to Syrian culture and a son wanting to pursue an independent future. It's also clear that not all Antigonish residents welcomed the newcomers. The film could have been more open about the latter issue and perhaps revealed more negative scenes of the cross-cultural experience. But it clearly is aimed at a family-friendly audience and portrays an ultimately positive immigration experience. It's a good mixture of humor and tension.

Very well told

[nancyldraper · 8/10 · 10 May 2022]

The filmmakers did a very god job of translating this true story, of immigrants coming to a small Nova Scotian town, into an interesting drama and not a documentary. The acting is good. The situations are true to both the Syrian culture and the Maritime culture. If only they had learned to say Antigonish. Each time it was mispronounced our Dartmouth audience winced. My exit poll of about 10 people rated the show: 7, 7.5, seven 8s, and one 8.5. I give this movie a 7.9 (very good) out of 10. {Drama}

First there was "Death by Chocolate" but now we have "Peace by Chocolate."

[TxMike · 25 September 2023]

This as a movie based on real people and their story, during about 2015 through 2017. War in Syria has been going on since 2011 and this story focuses on one casualty, a family that made their living with a chocolate factory, which was destroyed by the bombing. So they managed to get approval to migrate to Canada, they were sent to Nova Scotia.

Ironically the featured actor, Hatem Ali, died of a heart attack just after filming and just before the movie was first released in 2021. He played the patriarch of the Syrian family, Issam, who they liked to say was the best chocolate maker in Syria. He spoke no English and only knew chocolate making. Through red tape, a non-interest loan, and the permitting process he was able to build a new chocolate factory.

Ayham Abou Ammar played his son, Tareq, who back in Syria was on track to become a physician. In Canada he found pursuing that dream more difficult than he thought it would be. But speaking fluent English he was able to work with his father through the process.

Good movie, my wife and I enjoyed it at home, streaming on Amazon Prime.

Emotive Story but Unrealistic Behavior

[sulphurcrown · 6/10 · 9 August 2023]

Entertaining movie that hits the right notes. Well worth the time to invest. Creates sympathy for the family and the good that exists in people.

But the behaviors were often absurd.

Son gets invited to speak by the Governor of Vermont but son, who is almost finished with medical school, doesn't know he needs a valid passport and visa to travel to the US? Didn't Syria have borders and rules?

Father is aware of need for permits for his factory, yet needs to be schooled by son that in Canada bribes won't solve permit issues?

And the fact that the towns existing chocolatier is concerned about new competition is portrayed as xenophobia?

I'm sure the real story is complex and heart warming but these absurdities detract from the film version.

Amazing story, but wrong focus throughout the movie

[FL-o · 7/10 · 12 March 2023]

I was very much looking forward to watching the movie. This family's story is absolutely fantastic, and I definitely encourage you to read about their story or to watch the movie if you prefer. Unfortunately, however, I found the movie way too repetitive, focusing throughout most of it on the opposite expectations from the son and his father. It felt like I watched 4 or 5 times a very similar scene about their opposite personal wishes (which very negatively affects my rating). I believe the movie could have made me feel a lot more engaged by including more diversity of scenes, for instance about many others impacts of their integration in Canada and in the Nova Scotia town instead.

Warms your heart until it melts like chocolate.

[kokogabi2 · 10/10 · 22 July 2021]

This movie... It doesn't only makes my day because I'm a Syrian and loved the way these people accomplished something and gave me hope and a smile. It's also that Syrian soul it has, working tirelessly for your dreams but also being their for your family.

RIP Hatem Ali, you will be missed.

An absolute gem of a movie

[johnmerzetti-868-956225 · 9/10 · 12 May 2022]

I was somewhat familiar with the story from news reports and was interested in seeing it, but skeptical of the quality as Canadian movies tend to be somewhat cringe-worthy.

It was an all-round pleasant movie with a heart-warming tale of strangers in a strange (and cold) land. The end (not a spoiler, as one expects it from movies based on true events) was very nice, showing footage of the real people involved.

I totally recommend this film.

Excellent movie but no translation / subtitles in English

[ermachum · 5/10 · 14 May 2023]

Excellent movie about very positive topic worth a 7 or 8 but the English subtitles were not on the Arabic thus the best part of the drama are lost. I did not see this was a comedy but a serious and excellent drama. I recommend the movie but am most frustrated that at the lack of translation.

The movie is about an excellent topic, immigration, hard work, success through perseverance. The best attributes and the best recognition that immigrants around the world are positive for their new countries. It is a movie to learn from and recognize that life is not easy, life is harder for many around the world that our lives in North America, but life for all can be positive for all.

Beautiful story and really well told

[hamzahsyqa · 10/10 · 9 May 2022]

Absolutely beautiful way to tell such a compelling and heart warming story. It's quite literally what the Canadian dream is. Acting was amazing and production/photography were so well done. 10/10 would/will watch again.

WOW!!!!!!

[ferasbarazi-36847 · 10/10 · 18 October 2021]

Well done ! You would watch that movie 10 time You would never get bored from it ! Taking the Arabic drama do a different level ! Great story ! AAAAAAAA++++++

Very nice movie

[baseljalal-62411 · 10/10 · 18 October 2021]

It's amazing, great job for all director, actors and as a true story based movie it torch my hart

Can't say anymore than good job for everyone put an effort to provide us with this nice movie.

Very excited to watch the movie

[mohamadbeirkdarbo · 10/10 · 18 October 2021]

Hatem Alli always were my best director Very excited to watch his last work, I'm sure it will be great as always.

Also, the movie idea is worth to watch I wish all the team who had worked in this move all the success.

Peace by Chocolate is A+++++

[howlinblue · 10/10 · 19 October 2021]

If you haven't seen it yet, make sure you watch the festival line up. This film has a depth, warmth and a touching tale that is undeniable.

Starring the late Hatem Ali, Yara Sabri, and introducing Ayham Abou Ammar, alongside the Canadian cast, they will steal your hearts.

Bravo to Director/Producer Jonathan Keijser. For his premiere feature, he has knocked it out of the ballpark.

Kudos to all !!!!!!!

Good for your heart!

[almiratumibay · 10/10 · 17 March 2023]

Simply heart-warming and heart-lifting! Gives you the better side of man who knows how to care for others (in this case our refugee brothers). Touches your heart to do what's good because the good is always contagious, no matter what. It's not very heavy drama since it does not put much focus on external conflict brought about by society to refugees. It does a good job in showing internal conflict within a traditional Syrian family who's facing a terribly difficult moment in their life. The human values resonate with many close-knit families. The internal struggles of Tareq are very real in many lives. Ayham did good acting and so did the entire cast- very realistic, natural. Great camera angles, too.

Entertaining and inspiring

[kxrxnmzhq · 8/10 · 4 March 2023]

It's an inspiring film of a family beating their odds setting out in a new place. I'm surprised by the low rating here as it's well made, entertaining and being based on a true story, inspiring. The acting is good and storyline well thought out. I found the film to be of a good length. There are no special effects but the on location filming was well done and I found suitable to the story. The storyline is what pulls the punch for this film and I was captivated from start to finish. The interactions between the characters were very good.

I recommend watching it - no need to watch in the cinema.

Heartwarming!

[smacpherson-59871 · 10/10 · 20 November 2022]

Heartwarming inspirational true story of one Syrian refugee family who came to Canada to start a new life and the obstacles they faced. The son arrives first having never experienced winter; the others soon follow. They are fortunate to have community support to help them adapt to small town life and a new culture. Deep friendships are made and the family begins to find their way. It is also a universal story involving the conflicting life aspirations of a loving father and son. Relationships are strained and cultural norms are stressed but ultimately, love of family prevails. There are some funny moments and some sad ones too. Highly recommend!

Heart warming

[wmcalary-703-964822 · 8/10 · 11 November 2023]

Loved the movie and was moved by the struggle the family went through. We need more movies like this to show how much we are all the same, rather than different.

My only complaint is, the accents the director tried to show the Nova Scotians as having, and Canadians in general. We don't all say eh, and we certainly don't all say Boy! And the town of Antigonish should have been pronounced correctly at the very least! This is the second movie this week I watched that was filmed in Atlantic Canada, and words were mispronounced. Get it right folks!

The story is very inspirational though, and it makes me proud to be Canadian!

Wonderful insights into refugee issues

[kleetampa · 9/10 · 30 January 2024]

Thus film puts a very personal spin on some of the issues that refugees face when a family integrates into a new culture. I was immediately drawn into the main character, and it's a tribute to the filmmakers that I liked him even when I did not agree with his actions. I would have given this a 10 out of 10 if it had provided more details on the incident that happened at the US border and if it would have addressed religious differences too. I liked that it addressed the different points of view of the various family members, who did not always see eye to eye on family issues. The acting was superb.