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Apr 27, 2014lukasevansherman rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
The French title roughly translates to "Couscous and Fish." I was drawn to this film because I saw Tunisian-French director Abdellatif Kechiche latest, the intense, explicit, controversial, Palme d'Or winning lesbian romance "Blue is the Warmest Color" (also highly recommended). While this has the same use of long takes, naturalistic performances and neo-realistic principles (there's even a homage to "Bicycle Thieves" towards the end), the subject matter is quite a bit different. Set in a French coastal town, "Grain" is about a French-Arab family, the patriarch of which has lost his job and has decided to open a restaurant serving his ex-wife's couscous. His girlfriend's spirited daughter, who looks up to him as a father, is a key collaborator. While this may not sound like a recipe (pun intended, there's a lot of food in this) for high drama, it's an absorbing and engrossing film with some incredibly understated performances, particularly by the old man and the girlfriend's daughter, who gives a spectacular belly dance towards the end. Be warned, it is long (2.5 hours) and the ending is abrupt, which some viewers may find disappointing. Released in 2007.