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RAJA |
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Director:
Jacques Doillon
Screenplay: Jacques Doillon
Cast:
Raja: Najat Benssallem
Fred: Pascal Greggory
Nadira: Ilham Abdelwahed
Youssef: Hassan Khissal
Running time: 112 minutes
Year of production: France / Morocco - 2003
Rating: Not rated (some sexual content)
Gauge: 35mm, DVD (color)
Language: French and Arabic
Distributor: Film Movement
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“What
distinguishes Raja from every other movie to contemplate
the treacherous intersection of passion, avarice and power
is its unsettling emotional honesty. The two central performances
are so spontaneous and mercurial that the reckless flirtation
seems to be unfolding before your eyes.” Stephen
Holden | New York Times |
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Frederic, a
rich Frenchman who lives an idle life in contemporary Marrakech,
tries to seduce Raja, one of his young servants. At first
Frederic only wants to have sex and no commitment, but he
ends up falling in love with Raja. Raja is an orphan who led
a difficult life. In a world where most young women resort
to prostitution to survive, she prefers to earn an honest
living. She feels that he just wants to have fun with her,
but at the same time she senses that he might be trustworthy.
The plot progressively unfolds in a context of post-colonial
misunderstanding, economic manipulation, and cultural and
linguistic gaps (neither speaks the other’s language).
In this social and political world strictly divided between
rich and poor, master and servant, it seems that any hope
of love is doomed to become a matter of bargaining. Alongside
Pascal Greggory, well-known for playing ambiguous roles, Najat
Benssallem (Raja) offers a performance of great intensity,
with wonderful freshness and sincerity.
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| PHOTO Film
Movement |
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