The film Peace by Chocolate, directed by Jonathan Keijser and starring Syrian actor Hatem Ali, tells the true story of a Syrian family’s settlement and integration into the small Canadian town of Antigonish, Nova Scotia. After fleeing Syria due to the civil war and losing everything, including their family’s chocolate factory to bombing, the family embarks on a new life in a completely foreign context. While fleeing war is often a heartbreaking narrative, the film takes a positive, uplifting approach, offering a comedic perspective on the family's challenges as they adjust to their new life in Canada.

The movie highlights various struggles such as language barriers, cultural shock, isolation, family dynamics, adapting to the weather, and the difficulties of navigating the immigration process. It also portrays the reactions of the local Canadian community, capturing both the warmth of some and the resistance of others towards the family’s integration. In addition, the film explores the significant role of the host Canadian family in assisting with the family’s settlement journey.

Despite these challenges, the Syrian family becomes a symbol of resilience, showing the potential of refugees to rebuild their lives and contribute positively to their new communities. In this review, I will explore the film’s portrayal of refugee experiences, its use of humor in dealing with serious issues, the performances of the cast, and the impact of its themes on audiences. I would highly recommend this 2021 release to anyone interested in understanding the refugee settlement process in a lighthearted, non-traumatizing way. Even in light of the recent news about Syria's liberation, this film remains relevant, providing a humanizing perspective on the refugee experience.

The father, played by Issam, plays a pivotal role in driving the plot forward. His acceptance of change upon arriving in a new place does not come easily. Faced with language barriers and difficulty understanding the new system, he becomes dependent on his son. The plot kicks off when the father surprises everyone by suddenly deciding to make chocolate in the home kitchen. Despite the rest of the family finding this strange and urging him to leave it behind, he persists in doing what he knows best.

The father's ego and stubbornness have both positive and negative consequences. On one hand, they push him to practice what he knows, helping him find a way to contribute in his new home. On the other hand, his refusal to accept the reality of needing help, his inability to make space for his son’s dreams, and his tendency to overwork lead to his health collapsing.

This plot and the intensifying tension between Issam and his son reflect the hardships older immigrants face in comparison to younger generations when it comes to integration. It highlights the struggle of finding self-worth and dignity in a place where everything they’ve known and built has suddenly changed. This is particularly relevant for older immigrant and refugee men, as the movie illustrates. Issam, isolated by the demands of his new life, ends up having to seek out friendship from another man, as his family is preoccupied with their own matters. This need for connection, something he never expected to have to ask for, becomes a challenge in the individualistic society of Canada.

Some of the logistics surrounding the refugee sponsorship program were briefly mentioned in the movie. From what was shared, the sponsorship program lasts for only one year, with financial aid ending at the conclusion of that period. This means the family has a year to become financially independent. The pressure of the ticking clock and the end of the program is something that wasn’t fully explored in the film. Another key detail about this one-year program is that if the family decides to move to another location within Canada, their sponsorship would be forfeited. This restriction was the primary reason the family was forced to remain in the city where they were initially settled.

This brings up many thoughts about how resettled refugees are placed within Canada. Given the country’s aging population and the trend of young people leaving smaller towns for cities, I wonder if the sponsorship program is attempting to address these issues by resettling refugees in smaller areas. But what about refugees with more specialized needs or services that might not be available in these smaller cities? For example, what if an LGBTQ+ refugee is resettled in a smaller town without any LGBTQ+ centers, services, or clinics, and they are restricted from leaving because of the conditions of the sponsorship program?

On the other hand, could this lead to positive change by prompting the creation of those services in smaller cities, as refugees would be motivated to build them for themselves? This could, in turn, attract both LGBTQ+ Canadians and non-Canadians to these areas, similar to how the Syrian family in the movie built a business not just for themselves but for others as well. Their first employee, Liam, was a Canadian youth.

At the same time, would Canada recognize the history of how these first centers, services, or businesses came to be, created through the labor and survival efforts of refugees placed in these areas? It’s unsettling to promise refugees safety and freedom, only to restrict their movement for an entire year if things aren’t working out in the place they’ve been settled. While the family in the movie managed to make it work, there’s no guarantee this approach would work for everyone.

One interesting aspect of the refugee sponsorship program that sets it apart from many other immigration processes is the involvement of Canadian sponsors who aren’t necessarily family members or individuals who have known the refugees beforehand. As seen at the beginning of the movie, one of the Canadian hosts, Frank, introduced himself for the first time when he picked Tareq up from the airport. He didn’t seem to know much about Tareq, even being unaware that Tareq already spoke English.

The relationship between the Syrian family and their Canadian host family, especially Frank, played a significant role in the family’s ability to adapt to their new life. Frank’s openness to cultural and religious differences created an environment where the family could feel included, understood, and welcomed. This understanding extended to Frank’s recognition of the family’s religious beliefs, particularly their prohibition on taking loans with interest. He sought out a community loan to support the family’s business, ensuring they could succeed without violating their principles. While the family’s beliefs may seem limiting to some, their commitment to these values acted as a protective shield, preventing them from falling into debt shortly after their arrival—an all-too-common trap many immigrants and refugees face.

The movie highlights several aspects of the family’s struggles, one of which is the visa issue involving Issam’s daughter and granddaughter. As depicted in the film, their visas were initially denied due to the lack of a signature from the father, whom they were unable to locate. This issue caused a rift within the family, leaving two members stranded in Lebanon in a difficult situation. The visa problem was not resolved until they learned of the father’s death, at which point the signature was no longer required. This detail subtly reflects some of the unique hardships women with children may face during the refugee process, where bureaucratic barriers and the absence of key family members can result in unnecessary delays and complications.

The movie sheds light on another challenge faced by newcomers: the recognition of foreign degrees and professional experience. This form of discrimination is something many immigrants from various professions struggle with, and in Tareq’s case, it centers around the difficulty of having his medical qualifications and experience recognized. The numerous rejection letters he receives from one university after another mirror the reality of many doctors who, despite their expertise, are forced into unrelated jobs, such as driving a taxi. This is particularly ironic given Canada’s ongoing shortage of doctors, long waiting hours in emergency rooms, extended waiting lists to see specialists, and the lack of family doctors for many citizens.

The movie touches on several other themes, either briefly or by leaving room for further exploration without delving too deeply into them. One such theme is how the chocolates might have been perceived by some locals as exotic, as seen in the description from Kelly, a chocolate shop owner, who offered to display "some of the exotic chocolate." While this may seem like a passing moment, it could be reflecting the way "Oriental" cultures are often exoticized.

Another topic that the film briefly touches on but could have explored more is the refugees’ understanding of their legal status as newcomers, particularly regarding travel and their rights. The movie shows that some refugees may assume that Canada's welcoming stance automatically means they are also welcome in neighboring countries like the U.S. For Tareq, this misunderstanding leads to a long interrogation and a five-year ban from entering the U.S. after attempting to cross the border without a visa.

In conclusion, the movie’s primary goal is to highlight the positive aspects of the sponsorship program, which has supported thousands of Syrians, showcasing their resilience, strength, and ability to contribute to the Canadian societies they join. The film centers on the family’s life after arriving in Canada, briefly touching on their pre-arrival struggles, such as losing everything, including their family’s chocolate factory. While the film focuses on positivity, it doesn’t delve into the full extent of the hardships or the emotional toll of arriving in Canada.

At the same time, the movie may serve as a useful starting point for those seeking to understand the refugee experience, or for refugees themselves who may want to watch a story that resonates with their journey without revisiting painful memories.