Red Grain2

I was agog how this 12 or so year old boy, who was befriended by an undocumented or ‘illegal’ Ethiopian mother in modern day Beirut, began to care for her one year old daughter in the shanty town after she disappeared when arrested. I became more amazed that the cast were not professional actors and much of the acting was spontaneous. Zain (the boy) is marvellous. This to me is a better more compelling version of 400 blows by Francois Truffaut that I loved when I saw it in my cold hearted comprehensive at 14 years old. Zain is charged with wounding after an acquaintance of the family kills Zains 11 year old sister after making her pregnant. This must be the most incredible evocation of a destitute child’s life I’ve ever seen.

I loved the way the children grew unfettered by plastic consumer objects or superficial values and ideas. But although Dad promoted a family debating society based on strength of perspective, it was his way that predominated and his children knew no other existence. However when faced with children in the materialistic world they were rightly appalled. A wonderful liberating movie.