Logline
After the bombing of his father's chocolate factory, a charming young Syrian refugee struggles to settle into his new Canadian small-town life, caught between following his dream to become a doctor and preserving his family's chocolate-making legacy. Based on the internationally recognized true story.
Festival Awards
Official Theatrical Trailer
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Film Synopsis
After the bombing of his family’s chocolate factory, Tareq Hadhad, a charming young Syrian refugee, struggles to settle into small-town life in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Despite moving to a new country, he’s intent on pursuing his dream to become a doctor. But when his father, Issam, insists that he must focus on survival, Tareq and his family move towards a different, but familiar path: Rebuilding Issam’s chocolate business.
When what seemed like a nostalgic attempt to cling onto remnants of an old life past becomes an overnight sensation, Tareq is shocked. Put in the role of business manager, he must choose between the demands of an exponentially growing business and an offer to go back to medical school. New challenges arise between a rival chocolatier while the heartbreak of Tareq’s sister left behind in Syria weighs heavily on the family.
Nevertheless, Tareq remains set on his goals, buoyed by a supportive community of eclectics. As father and son both struggle to find common ground and navigate the complexities of family duty, the heightening tension between them threatens to tear the family apart.
Based on the internationally recognized true story.
Our Charitable Partner
Redefining Refugee, Reclaiming Hope.
The Karam Foundation began as an idea at their founder’s kitchen table in 2007.
Today, they serve thousands of displaced Syrians in Turkey, the U.S., and Jordan.
Get involved at www.karamfoundation.org
Filmmaking Team
Written & Directed by
Jonathan Keijser
Co-Written by
Abdul Malik
Produced by
Jonathan Keijser
Martin Paul-Hus
Catherine Léger
Kathy Wolf
Executive Produced by
Chadi Dali
Cinematography by
Benoit Beaulieu
Editing by
Jonathan Keijser
Mathieu Bélanger
Original Music by
David Bertok
Production Designer
David Blanchard
Costume Designer
Suzana Fischer
Casting by
Andrea Kenyon, CSA
Randi Wells, CSA
Film Cast
TAREQ
Ayham Abou Ammar
ISSAM
Hatem Ali
FRANK
Mark Camacho
SHAHNAZ
Yara Sabri
ZARIAH
Kathryn Kirkpatrick
NADIM
Mark Hachem
ALAA
Najlaa Khamri
KELLY
Alika Autran
LIAM
Laurent Pitre
HEATHER
Cary Lawrence
JIM
Eric Davis
PIERRE
Clauter Alexandre
OFFICER ADAMS
Sean Kovacs
BARRY
Michael Perron
NEWS REPORTER
Aalia Adam
POSTMAN
Paul Van Dyck
CHRISTINE
Lois Dellar
HEALTH INSPECTOR
Arthur Holden
IBRAHIM
Sid Michailidis
HALEY
Sarah Levesque
LAURA
Dawn Ford
NORA
Emily Lê
SENA
Harper Salis
JUSTIN TRUDEAU
Himself