Watch The Secret of the Grain

The Secret of the Grain is a French drama film that was released in 2007. The movie tells the story of Slimane Beiji, a sixty-something immigrant who has spent most of his life working as a shipbuilder in Sète, a port town in the South of France. Slimane is now unemployed and struggling to make ends meet, but he dreams of starting his own business – a couscous restaurant on a boat.

The film opens with Slimane gathering his family and friends for a dinner at a local cafe. He announces his plan to open the restaurant and asks for their help in making it happen. Some of his family members are supportive, but others are skeptical and dismissive of the idea. However, Slimane is determined to make his dream a reality and begins to plan and prepare for the opening of the restaurant.

The rest of the film focuses on the challenges and obstacles that Slimane faces as he tries to make his restaurant a success. He has to find a boat to use as his restaurant, secure funding, and convince his skeptical family members to help him. Meanwhile, Slimane's relationships with his children and ex-wife become increasingly strained as tensions arise.

The film explores themes of family, tradition, and identity. It highlights the cultural clash between the younger and older generations of immigrants in France, as well as the struggles of working-class people trying to make a better life for themselves. The characters are complex and multi-dimensional, with their own desires and motivations that shape the story.

The performances in the film are outstanding, particularly that of Habib Boufares, who plays Slimane with empathy and nuance. Hafsia Herzi, who plays his rebellious daughter Rym, also deserves praise for her dynamic portrayal of a young woman grappling with her own ambitions and family expectations.

The cinematography is also notable, with director Abdellatif Kechiche capturing the gritty and vibrant atmosphere of Sète with a hand-held camera. The film's soundtrack features lively North African music which adds to the film's sense of cultural specificity.

Overall, The Secret of the Grain is a powerful and affecting film that provides a nuanced look at immigrant life in modern-day France. The film is honest and unsentimental, but also contains moments of warmth and humanity that make it a profoundly moving viewing experience. Highly recommended for fans of character-driven dramas and foreign films.

The Secret of the Grain is a 2007 drama with a runtime of 2 hours and 31 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.4 and a MetaScore of 83.