Dough is a lighthearted take on the relationship between Nat, an aging, widowed Jewish baker (Jonathan Pryce) and Ayyash, a young Muslim immigrant (Jerome Holder) he takes on as his apprentice. Directed by John Goldschmidt, this sweet relationship forms the – pun intended – leavening of the film, and with stellar acting from both leads, creates a compelling feel-good story.
Yes, there’s a nasty developer who seeks to take over and tear down Nat’s Kosher bakery, a hard-nosed drug dealer who proves to be Ayyash’s nemesis, a love-hungry widow, and some fortunately obtuse policemen involved, but it’s the appealing father/son connection between the baker and his new assistant that makes this kindhearted, gentle comedy/drama a charmer.
The story: business at the bakery booms when the cannabis Ayyash sells to help support his impoverished mom mixes into the challah loaves, and some tense moments of would-be disaster inevitably follow. But not to worry: it’s not giving too much away to say that racial and religious divides fade easily, and by the ending credits you’ll have a smile on your face.
This is a confection, a lighthearted, delicious puff pastry of a tale that will have viewers enjoying every tasty morsel.
