Alan & Naomi is a 1992 film about the friendship between two children in 1944 Brooklyn. Lukas Haas

Lukas Haas

Lukas Daniel Haas is an American actor, known for roles both as a child and as an adult. His career has spanned more than 25 years during which time he has appeared in more than 36 feature films, as well as a number of television shows and theater productions.-Early life and career:Haas was born...

 and Vanessa Zaoui star as the titular characters, and the screenplay is based on a novel by Myron Levoy. The 1977 novel was nominated for the American Book Award

American Book Award

The American Book Award was established in 1978 by the Before Columbus Foundation. It seeks to recognize outstanding literary achievement by contemporary American authors, without restriction to race, sex, ethnic background, or genre...

 for Children's Literature and is also an honor book for the Jane Addams Children's Book Award and the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award

Boston Globe-Horn Book Award

The Boston Globe–Horn Book Awards were first presented by The Boston Globe and Horn Book Magazine in 1967. They are among the most prestigious honors in the United States in the field of children’s and young adult literature...

.

Synopsis

After initial urging from his parents, 14-year-old Alan develops an emotional friendship with Naomi, who has been deeply troubled since seeing her father killed by the Nazis in Europe. The film is noted for its portrayal of stickball

Stickball

Stickball is a street game related to baseball, usually formed as a pick-up game, played in large cities in the Northeastern United States, especially New York City. The equipment consists of a broom handle and a rubber ball, typically a spaldeen, pensie pinkie, high bouncer or tennis ball. The...

.

Reception

Alan & Naomi won the Crystal Heart Award at the 1992 Heartland Film Festival

Heartland Film Festival

The Heartland Film Festival is a film festival held each October in Indianapolis, Indiana. First held in 1992, its goal is to "recognize and honor filmmakers whose work explores the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life."In May 2007, Heartland...

. Also, Vanessa Zaoui was nominated for the 1993 Young Artist Award

Young Artist Award

The Young Artist Award is an accolade bestowed by the Young Artist Foundation, a non-profit organization founded in 1978 to recognize and award excellence of youth performers, and to provide scholarships for young artists who may be physically and/or financially challenged.The Young Artist...

for Best Young Actress Co-starring in a Motion Picture.