The Secret of the Grain

Name: The Secret of the Grain
Genre: Drama
Released: December 24, 2008
Duration: 151 min
Rating: 83

2008

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 16 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 9 Ratings

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7.3

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7.3	Your Score
7.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 9 Ratings

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La Graine Et Le Mulet (English Subtitled Trailer)

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Movie Details & Credits

IFC Films | Release Date: December 24, 2008 | Unrated

Summary: The Secret of the Grain is a touching and resoundingly humanistic story set in the rustic port of Sete in southeastern France. Slimane has worked in the same shipyard job for over 35 years, when his growing dissatisfaction prompts him to try to open his own restaurant. His dream seems unbelievable, but his contagious conviction andThe Secret of the Grain is a touching and resoundingly humanistic story set in the rustic port of Sete in southeastern France. Slimane has worked in the same shipyard job for over 35 years, when his growing dissatisfaction prompts him to try to open his own restaurant. His dream seems unbelievable, but his contagious conviction and persistence work their way into the hearts of his loyal but dispersed family; the four children from his first marriage, his ex-wife, current girlfriend and her bright, outspoken daughter, Rym. A grand film about ordinary people, The Secret of the Grain is a deliciously slow-burning drama about fate, food and family. (IFC Films)… Expand

Director: Abdel Kechiche

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: Unrated

Runtime: 151 min

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Critic Reviews

100

A.O. Scott

An entire family chronicle, along with four decades of French social and economic history, is recapitulated as a lavish, hectic dinner, complete with music and belly dancing. It will leave you stunned and sated, having savored an intimate and sumptuous epic of elation and defeat, jealousy and tenderness, life and death, grain and fish. Read full review

100

J.R. Jones

Given the movie's slow, careful development, I was hardly prepared for the cold-sweat suspense of the last half hour. Read full review

Kenneth Turan

Rather than observing this family, we feel we are part of it, and that draws us in as nothing else can. Read full review

Elizabeth Weitzman

Kechiche takes his time, allowing us to know the characters as if we live next door. But be warned: for those who come to feel like a member of the family, the unexpected end may seem strikingly unfair. Read full review

V.A. Musetto

The cast is solid, with standout performances by first-timer Habib Boufares as Slimane. Read full review

J. Hoberman

Escalates into visceral allegory with an abandon and cruelty that seem positively Romanian. The last 30 minutes more than redeem the preceding two hours. Read full review

Alissa Simon

An overlong, dramatically unbalanced picture whose emotional wallop gets somewhat diffused. Read full review

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User Reviews

NicoDaFlagburna

Jan 24, 2011

Powerful matriarchs, a system of economic oppression and a culture told through the medium of food. Sleepy France is seen but never heard, instead the familial space centres the narrative and provides a framework for naturalism. The acting is spot-on, the camera innocently soaks up thePowerful matriarchs, a system of economic oppression and a culture told through the medium of food. Sleepy France is seen but never heard, instead the familial space centres the narrative and provides a framework for naturalism. The acting is spot-on, the camera innocently soaks up the atmosphere with a wondrous eye for detail and our perspective is that of an 'insider' like someone who is part of the cultural fabric or part of the family. A great learning experience and positively specific. 9/10 94/100… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

evancuster

Mar 13, 2011

the movie starts out rather slowly and is a little confusing with all of the characters their relationships with each other. However, it gradually builds until it becomes very suspenseful and tense in the final 45 minutes, and then with typical French film, ends, leaving the viewer tothe movie starts out rather slowly and is a little confusing with all of the characters their relationships with each other. However, it gradually builds until it becomes very suspenseful and tense in the final 45 minutes, and then with typical French film, ends, leaving the viewer to wonder about how it finally ends. Very absorbing, although some scenes go on too long, and the movie as a whole is rather long, but makes up for it at the end.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

tonyGreen

Apr 12, 2012

Solid family drama that revolves around a family of first generation immigrants ( Algerian ?) and their struggles to build new lives in France. The French spoken has a fairly thick Arabic flavour and was hard to follow but subtitles are well done. Engaging.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JLuis_001

Aug 4, 2021

The Secret of the Grain is misleading, a very misleading film. And trust me I'm not saying that like it's a bad thing.
I said this because this film never seems to explicitly reveal what it's trying to do.
This is a humane story, and it would be misleadingly simplistic to say that it's justThe Secret of the Grain is misleading, a very misleading film. And trust me I'm not saying that like it's a bad thing.
I said this because this film never seems to explicitly reveal what it's trying to do.

This is a humane story, and it would be misleadingly simplistic to say that it's just about family, because there's more to it.
Still, there's no big twist or cataclysmic event that causes some kind of melodramatic schism. It's a heartfelt film about something that could be considered nothing, and yet is powerful and emotional.

What Abdellatif Kechiche achieves to make you care is his genius design for this film.
However the ugly side of his abilities reside in how his ego and his decisive need to make films that come to feel excessive to the point of self-indulgence always tend to taint the actual good things that he does.

Nevertheless, watch this film.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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