The Secret of the Grain Monday, December 1, 2008 at 7pm
New Directors/New Films alumnus Abdellatif Kechiche’s vibrant mosaic of an ocean-side community is a runaway success and celebrated new prizewinner with four Césars—France’s Academy Awards—for best film, director and writing in 2008, as well as being the recipient of prestigious awards throughout France and at the Venice Film Festival.
La Graine Et Le Mulet wins European Film Academy Critics' Award 2008
Eleanor Kenny in London ~ Screen Daily.com ~ 25 Nov 2008 10:39
The European Film Academy Critics' Award 2008 – Prix Fipresci has been awarded to Abdellatif Kechiche for La Graine Et Le Mulet (The Secret of the Grain)
The announcement was made by the European Film Academy, EFA Productions, and the International Federation of Film Critics, FIPRESCI.
FIPRESCI's director of the department for African affairs, Hassouna Mansouri, explained the decision to recognise Kechiche: "Giving this year's prize to Abdellatif Kechiche, the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) recognises an author in the purest and simplest meaning of the word.
The award not only pays tribute to all those filmmakers who are often marginalised because of their origins, but above all recognises the talent of those who are committed to a different and independent cinema; those who stand against the war machines and their grip on the industry of the image." Mansouri said.
La Graine Et Le Mulet was also awarded the Fipresci and the Special Jury Prizes at the Venice Film festival in 2007.
In France it won the Louis Delluc prize and scooped four Cesars including best film, director, original screenplay and most promising newcomer for actress Hafsia Herzi.
The award will be presented during the 21st European Film Awards Ceremony on 6 December in Copenhagen.
Slimane (a beautiful performance by Habib Boufares), a North African immigrant who arrived in the southern French port of Sete almost four decades ago, is let go by the shipyard that’s legally and illegally employed him for much of that stretch. He plans to start a floating restaurant featuring his ex-wife Souad’s legendary fish couscous. But there are hurdles. Will Souad cooperate? How will Latifa, Slimane’s longtime lover, feel about Souad’s involvement? And what about their children or the others in their circle? Kechiche (Games of Love and Chance, ND/NF 2004; La Faute à Voltaire, ND/NF 2001) creates Franco-Arab characters who happily escape the clichéd roles often featured in even the most well-meaning films. Instead, they’re imaginatively rendered with all their loves, hates, fears, desires and glorious contradictions.
The Secret of the Grain, aka Couscous / La graine et le mullet
Abdellatif Kechiche, France, 2007; 151m
Buy Tickets Mon Dec 1: 7
Admission:
$11 general public
$8 seniors (62+)
$7 Film Society members & students (with ID)
Please note: there is a $1.25 service charge per ticket ordered online and cash only transactions at the box office.
