The Secret of the Grain 2008

Slimane Beiji, portrayed by Habib Boufares, is a recently divorced father heading a Franco-Arabic family residing in Sete. As he faces the impending loss of his job at the local shipyard, Slimane finds himself engaging in a series of poignant vignettes with various members of his extended family. These interactions include moments spent with his ex-wife Souad, his children, their spouses, and his grandchildren. Driven by a desire to create a lasting legacy for his beloved family, and encouraged by Rym, his long-term partner’s daughter played by Hafsia Herzi, he embarks on an ambitious project to transform a dilapidated boat into a charming family restaurant specializing in Souad’s famous fish couscous—a beloved dish she prepares every Sunday for the family.

With unwavering support from Rym, Slimane eagerly applies for the necessary licenses and loans. However, he’s soon mired in a labyrinth of bureaucratic regulations. Undeterred by the challenges, he recruits his sons to assist with the renovations and plans a grand opening dinner party, inviting key bureaucrats whose decisions will impact the project’s future. The night of the event is marked by a lively turnout, yet a cloud of tension looms as Latifa, Slimane’s long-time partner, is notably absent. Feeling threatened by Souad’s involvement in the restaurant, Latifa chooses to stay in her hotel, prompting Rym to urge her to attend the gala, suggesting that it could be an opportunity to counter Souad’s presence with her own youth and beauty. After some persuasion, Latifa reluctantly agrees to join.

Meanwhile, Souad meticulously prepares the couscous, fish, vegetables, and sauce in large metal cauldrons. She sends the food with her sons to the boat before leaving to find someone in need to donate a plate of her beloved couscous. Once at the restaurant, the sons unload the cauldrons while the women serve wine and appetizers to the waiting guests. As the evening progresses, discussions amongst the guests reveal a mix of excitement and anxiety regarding the restaurant’s potential impact on the local dining scene. Slimane’s son Majid, while surveying the crowd, spots a bureaucrat’s wife with whom he has had several clandestine encounters, prompting him to slip away quietly. He instructs his brother to inform the family that he is helping a friend with car troubles on the highway.

As the women begin to heat the food, they discover, to their horror, that the couscous is missing. Panic ensues as they realize Majid has taken the car, which still contains the cauldron, and he is unresponsive to their calls. With time running out and the need for a new batch arising, Slimane takes to the streets on his motorbike to locate Souad, the person who could salvage the situation.

In the dining room, tensions escalate among the guests, who grow restless despite the women’s attempts to placate them with assurances and drinks. When Slimane cannot find Souad, he returns to discover his motorbike stolen by a group of young boys who mock him from across the river. Undeterred, he chases after them, his anger and desperation mounting as they evade him at every turn.

As the atmosphere in the dining room reaches a boiling point, Rym comes up with a creative solution. She cues the musicians to halt the music and dims the lights. When they return, Rym emerges in a striking red belly-dancing outfit, captivating the diners with an electrifying performance filled with youthful exuberance and sensuality. Seizing the distraction, Latifa discreetly slips off the boat, returning to the hotel to prepare a fresh pot of couscous.

As Rym’s dance continues, a twist of fate occurs—her mother arrives with a new cauldron of couscous just as Slimane, exhausted from his futile chase, collapses to the ground, hoping for a miracle to save the evening. The evening blends frustration and hope, a reflection of Slimane’s determination to forge a future for his family amid the chaos.