The Secret of the Grain

• Habib Boufares: Slimane Beiji
• Hafsia Herzi: Rym
• Abdelhamid Aktouche: Hamid
• Mohamed Benabdeslem: Riadh
• Farida Benkhetache: Karima
• Leila D' Issernio: Lilia
• Abdelkader Djeloulli: Cadre
• Cyril Favre: Sergei
• Alice Houri: Julia
• Mohamed Karaoui: Lafita
• Bruno Lochet: Mario
• Olivier Loustau Jose
• Bouraouïa Marzouk: Souad
• Sabrina Ouazani: Olfa
• Sami Zitouni: Majid

Couscous (Original title: La graine et le mulet ) is a French film directed by Abdel Kechiche from the year 2007.

Action

Slimane Beiji is of North African origin and has been working for 35 years in the port of Sète in a shipyard. He is divorced and lives in the hotel of his lover and her daughter Rym, who considered him as their second father. Even if the work is always difficult and the merit is dwindling, he tried still to remain near his now grown and married children and to support them. After he is released, he wants to make his dream of a couscous restaurant right on an old ship in the harbor. Authorities and competition difficult for him the realization of his dream. In addition, the quarrels come in his extended family and only Rym enthusiastic about the project, which still takes shape with the technical help of his youngest son Riadh and hope his family is. But when a party in which give him their support fellow musicians, to celebrate the opening of the restaurant, it leads to disaster. His son Majid discovered among the guests his mistress, the wife of an influential local politician. He makes his escape and does not notice that there is the prepared couscous in the back seat of his car. Slimane tries to find him, while his moped to him by young people is stolen and he runs after this walk. But the young people just make fun of his desperate effort. In the meantime, Rym trying to distract by a belly dance performance that always drunk expectant guests from the lack of food and to save the situation in the restaurant. At the peak of their performance can be seen plunging Slimane and the film ends abruptly.

Criticism

" An equally entertaining as intellectual film that realistic, but regards his subject with palpable affection. "

Awards

• International Film Festival of Venice in 2007 Marcello Mastroianni - Prize for the best young actor's performance: Hafsia Herzi
• Grand Jury Prize: Abdel Kechiche
• FIPRESCI Prize