ZRNO I RIBA / La graine et le Mulet
/ The Secret of the Grain

France
2007 / 151’ / 35mm

Directed by :
Abdellatif Kechiche

Written by:
Abdellatif Kechiche

Producer:
Benoît Pilot

Cast:
Habib Boufares, Hafsia Herzi, Farida Benkhetache, Abdelhamid Ak touche

Awards:
Venice Film Festival, FIPRESCI award, best new actress,
Cesar, best film, best director, best screenplay.

Distribution:
PATHE RENN PRODUCTION
2 RUE LAMENNAIS
75008 PARIS
Telephone: +33 1 71 72 32 30
Facsimile: +33 1 71 72 32 60

At the port of Sète in the south of France, 61 year old immigrant Slimane Beiji is getting tired of doing the same job for the last 35 years. He decides to fulfill a lifelong dream and to open his own restaurant on an old boat. Even though the problems and difficulties he faces seem unsurpassable he has the support of his family; four children from his first marriage, ex wife, girlfriend and her intelligent and beautiful daughter Ryma. Ryma helps him to surpass the feeling of uselessness and to escape the routine of his own life.

The Secret of the Grain gives us a close view of the ties that hold one’s family together and the difficulties of starting a business in France. Everyday problems and conflicts ordinary people go through every day are depicted in a most realistic and convincible

Abdellatif Kechiche was born in 1960.in Tunis, Tunisia. As a boy he immigrated to France with his family where he lives today. His career begins in the 80’s when he starred in Lorca’s Play Without a Title. In his three movies he deals with immigration, a subject he is familiar with. In 2000 he directed his first film Blame it on Voltaire for which he received an award in Venice. With his other two titles Game of Love and Chance (2003.) and The Secret and the Grain (2007.) he won Cesar awards in France in the same categories- best film, director and screenplay.