The Grand Voyage2004
Introduction
Body of Work
Out of filial duty and a sense of adventure, Reda, a young Frenchman, agrees to accompany his elderly Moroccan father on a pilgrimage to Mecca from their home in a French suburb. They start out as two unlikely co-travellers, with generational differences evident in their regard for tradition and life's priorities and even in their use of language (the father speaks in a Moroccan dialect, while his son responds in French). The fact that they are 'exiles' in France exacerbates their relations even further. Reda has little respect for his illiterate father who tries to assert his authority during the journey. As they drive through different countries and meet various people, the two observe each other warily. How can they travel together when communication is impossible? Can Reda learn the value of this pilgrimage? Le Grand Voyage, a refreshing road movie, shows father and son venturing on a trip that will change their lives.