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The Secret of the Grain
The Secret of the Grain
8.4
/10
2,978 Ratings

THE SECRET OF THE GRAIN

La graine et le mulet

Directed by Abdellatif Kechiche
France, 2007
Drama

Synopsis

When Slimane Beiji, divorced, in his sixties, and of Algerian origins, is made redundant after working for years on a shipping wharf, he acts on his wish to open a portside restaurant. Abdellatif Kechiche’s stirring drama deals with the daily joys and struggles of a bustling French-Arab family.

Synopsis

When Slimane Beiji, divorced, in his sixties, and of Algerian origins, is made redundant after working for years on a shipping wharf, he acts on his wish to open a portside restaurant. Abdellatif Kechiche’s stirring drama deals with the daily joys and struggles of a bustling French-Arab family.

Our take

Winner of five awards in Venice including the Special Jury Prize, this ambitious domestic epic underlines the importance of food in cross-cultural encounters. Aided by Abdellatif Kechiche’s signature naturalistic dialogue, The Secret of the Grain is a multi-layered portrait of an immigrant family.