David

David

As the son of the Imam of the local Brooklyn mosque, eleven year-old Daud has to juggle the high expectations of his Father (actor/comedian Maz Jobrani) and his feelings of isolation and difference– even from his peers in the Muslim community. Through an innocent act of good faith, Daud inadvertently befriends a group of Jewish boys who mistake him as a fellow classmate at their orthodox school, in the neighboring Jewish community. A genuine friendship grows between Daud and Yoav, one of the Jewish boys, and his family. Unable to resist the joy of a camaraderie that he has never felt before, David, as he is known to the kids, is drawn into a complicated dilemma inspired by youthful deceit and the best of intentions.

"Bridging one of the world’s defining sociopolitical rifts one 11-year-old at a time, quietly engaging indie DAVID brings charm, sympathy and understatement to its microcosmic story of a young Muslim Brooklynite whose circumstances lead him to pass as Jewish. . . .DAVID’s many small virtues add up to a winning whole, its message of cultural reconciliation presented sans preachiness, melodrama, easy answers or sweeping generalities. Non-pro juvenile performers are very good, while comedian Maz Jobrani (best known as co-founder of the Axis of Evil Comedy Tour) is excellent as the rather mirthless but well-intentioned dad. ”— Dennis Harvey, Variety

Winner, Ecumenical Prize | Montreal World Film Festival
Winner, Audience Award | Brooklyn Film Festival

Directed by Joel Fendelman and Patrick Daly
USA, 2011
Drama, Coming-of-Age
English
80 Minutes

David