Written by

Jude Thaddeus L. Bautista

Photos are from the web

Her huge belly would have been deemed unattractive in other cultures or any other time. The sensuality however, was undeniable. Her hair flies away as her head rocks back and forth.  Her hips sway in a whip like motion to the beat of a Moroccan drum. The eyes are dark, deep and soulful. They stare at an old man playing the flute. He gets lost in them as she loses herself in the music. Their heads follow each movement, swaying to the direction of her hips and gyrating belly. The curls of her hair show her Middle Eastern ancestry. The dance seduces every individual who sees it. The whole room is mesmerized, not just for the eroticism but more for the audacity of this young girl who is blossoming to womanhood. The sexual nature of it is most powerful because it is done out of love.

The scene is taken from “The Secret of the Grain” which is part of the 15th French Film festival showing in Shangri-La Plaza from June 3 to 13. The festival opened on June 3 with the screening of “L’Amour c’est Mieux a Deux” by Dominique Farruggia. A retrospective of classic films of Eric Rohmer will run at the Cultural Center of the Phil. from June 15 to 19.

With the couscous, dates, fig wine and belly dancing, one would think that the setting would be in the Middle East or North Africa but is actually in France. The Beiji family may have originally migrated from Morocco or Saudi Arabia. For all intents and purposes they are French except for their food, faith and familial bonds. Much like the Chinese here in the Philippines or the Filipinos who’ve migrated to the U.S. On weekends they all go home to their mother Souad for her famously delicious couscous and fish. Since she and Slimane have been divorced, he eats his couscous alone in his dingy bedroom in the village hotel. Their grown up sons bring him his meal and constantly plead for him to go back home with their mother.

Slimane is supposed to be the central character, the father, the grandfather with whom all the children’s lives are connected. He has found solace in the arms of Latifah who runs the small hotel. Rym is Latifah’s teen age daughter who has grown very much attached to Slimane to the point of being jealous of his children. The theme of family is universal. Slimane’s struggle to support them with his meager wages is something everyone has experienced as well, especially from the OFW stand point. When he finally gets his separation pay, he attempts to make a go of a dream. All the family members step in to help.

While some aspects of the culture seem alien, the human experience is the same and relatable. Cuisine is very much a central element, couscous has become a traditional French food, in the same way siopao and pansit have become Filipino fare which originally came from the Chinese. In fact in the U.S. and U.K. the title of the film is Couscous.

Writer Director Abdel Kechiche may have drawn from his own life, a French man with Arabic descent. The nuances are authentic because he may have experienced them in one form or another or drawn from the people around him. He won a host of nods as Best Director, Best Film and writer from Cesar awards. The film also won the FIPRESCI award at the Venice film fest. He is known for casting non professional actors which adds to the authenticity of the film and sometimes discovers incredible talent. In this case, Hafsia Herzi has gone on to have many parts in feature films after reaping awards for her role as Rym. Before ‘Secret of the Grain’ she only had a bit role in a French TV series. She won the Marcello Mastroianni award in Venice and the “Most Promising Actress” at the Dubai film fest. Although Slimane was the central character, Herzi stole the show as the strong willed teenage daughter who will not allow her father to fail. Although she is devoted to her mother, she doesn’t hesitate to tell her off when she believes her mother’s rights are being trampled.

Entrance at Shangrila Plaza Cineplex screenings are free of charge.

The French Film Festival will run from June 3 to 13 at the Shang Cineplex of the Shangri-La Plaza in Manila, from June 18 to 20 at the Ayala Center in Cebu. A retrospective of classic films of Eric Rohmer will run at the Cultural Center of the Philippines from June 15 to 19, in honor of the late filmmaker who passed away early this year. Finally, a selection of films will be shown at the UP Film Institute for the film and mass communication students, followed by discussions with film professors.