Yellow Peppers (Hebrew: פלפלים צהובים; Pilpelim Tzehubim) is an Israeli drama television program[1][2][3] about a family that raises an autistic child[4][5] in a rural village lacking any therapeutic resources. The programme was well received by critics.[6] It was also presented as a part to the World Autism Awareness Day at the United Nations.[7]

Yellow Peppers
GenreDrama
Created byKeren Margalit
Written byKeren Margalit
Directed byKeren Margalit
Amnon Kotler
StarringAlma Zack
Yossi Marshak
Ori Pfeffer
Yael Schtamler
Yehuda Barkan
Rozina Cambos
Maya Maoz
Country of originIsrael
Original languageHebrew
No. of series2
No. of episodes26
Production
Executive producersEilon Rechakovski
Yohanan Karedo
Production locationMoshav Nir Tzvi
EditorsEinat Glazer-Zarhin
Arik Liebovitz
Running time40-45 minutes
Production companiesJuly August Productions, Keshet Broadcasting
Original release
NetworkChannel 2
ReleaseDecember 18, 2010 (2010-12-18) –
April 3, 2014 (2014-04-03)
Related
The A Word

Plot

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Ayellet (Alma Zack) makes good money as the village tailor, and when her father, Meir (Yehuda Barkan), turns to agricultural politics, her husband, Yaniv, turns the family farm into a profitable business exporting yellow peppers. Both men help her raise Natty, her teenage daughter from a former marriage, and Omri, her toddler son from her present one. The few indications she has of Omri's developmental problem do not bother her because the village physician says everything is okay.

When Ayellet's brother, Avshy, returns to the village, it seems like a new opportunity: Avshy will replace Yaniv in the greenhouses, and Yaniv will build their new biker restaurant. However, Avshy's wife, Yaely, a physician, wants to give her marriage a second chance and comes with her husband to live on the farm. Yaely is concerned about Omri's symptoms. Meir drives the child to the closest town, where he is diagnosed as autistic.

Ayellet removes Omri from kindergarten, and the family organizes an intensive therapeutic homeschooling plan. Ayellet stops spending time with her daughter and stops working. No money is left for completing the restaurant. Ayellet fires her brother from managing the greenhouses, and he becomes depressed and leaves his wife. Yaniv stops participating the homeschooling.

Yaniv wants Ayellet to get pregnant again, but she refuses.

Yaniv fights with Ayellet about taking Omri to community events. Yaniv wants to take him to a party at the preschool, but Omri disappears. Yaniv forces Ayellet to tell the police and the village, who are searching for Omri, that he is autistic. The family explains to everyone that calling Omri by his name will not make him answer. When night falls, Omri is found in the preschool.

British version

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A British version, The A Word, began screening on the BBC in March/April 2016.[8] As of 2020, there have been three series.

Greek version

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A Greek version, The Word You Don’t Say (Η λέξη που δεν λες) was produced in Greece in 2016.[9]

Dutch version

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A Dutch version, Het A-woord, began screening by the Evangelische Omroep in September 2020.[10]

American version

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An American version, The A Word was in development at NBC and will be a co-production between Keshet Studios and Universal Television with Arika Lisanne Mittman as writer.[11]

References

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  1. ^ "Yellow Peppers". Shalom J. May 2, 2012. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013.
  2. ^ Yossi Brouman (2 June 2012). "Lights, Camera, Action". Alondon. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  3. ^ "Yellow Peppers". Arts Boston. 9 November 2011. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  4. ^ Gili Eisikovits. הסיפור האמיתי מאחורי סדרת הדרמה "פלפלים צהובים" [The real story behind the drama series "yellow peppers"]. Haaretz (in Hebrew). Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  5. ^ Ruta Kupfer (10 April 2012). "U.S. studio buys popular Israeli drama 'Yellow Peppers'". Haaretz. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  6. ^ Dan Caspi (25 January 2011). בלי מתח [Without stress] (in Hebrew). The 7 Eye. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  7. ^ "World Autism Awareness Day". United Nations. Archived from the original on April 4, 2011.
  8. ^ "'You won't understand autism after watching The A Word – but it will make you want to learn more'". Radio Times.
  9. ^ Whittock, Jesse (July 7, 2016). "The A Word gets Greek remake". TBI Vision. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  10. ^ "'Lies Visschedijk hoofdrol in nieuwe EO-feelgood-dramaserie 'Het A-Woord". Evangelische Omroep.
  11. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (December 4, 2020). "'The A Word' Autism Drama Based On Israeli Format In Works At NBC From Arika Mittman & Keshet". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
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