Film Portrays Arab and Jewish Communities Using Local Talent

The new film David, by filmmaker Joel Fendelman is the curious story of a young Muslim Arab boy who is mistaken for a Yeshiva student and accidentally immersed in the world of Orthodox Judaism, making friends with Jewish children his own age in the process.

According to the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, David makes good use of local talent- The actors, both Arabs and Jews, all live in Brooklyn. For most of the film’s players, this will be their first time on the silver screen.

The film stars Muatasem Mishal as Daud (the Arab version of ‘David’) and Binjyomin Shtaynberger as his Jewish friend Yoav. The film also stars Maz Jobrani as Ahmed, Daud’s father and Dina Shihabi as Daud’s ambitous college-bound sister.

Filmmaker Joel Fendelman, who was raised in a secular Jewish household in Miami, spent months immersing himself in the communities of Borough Park and Bay Ridge in order to prepare himself for the film.

There will be screenings of David at the Brooklyn Film Festival both tonight and Sunday evening. Unfortunately, both showtimes are sold out.

Brooklyn Daily Eagle: Film Examines Arab-Jewish Relations, Brooklyn Style