gargih
This film is about language. The way language operates between two people who don't understand the same language but still have the same wants, but are never able to communicate.There are people who translate for both of them, and all the translations are distorted by cultural values or translator's own intentions. I loved the performance of 'Raja', the actress is extremely beautiful. It was very intimately able to communicate the details of lives of a street child, who grew into a street-girl and ended up with a bad and loveless man who only wants to exploit her.It was not about sex, money, or other similar things, but it was how these mere ideas can ruin a love affair.In all it entertained me and broke my heart. It was such a pleasure.
Nicholas Price
I knew that I had seen the main actor in another movie, but was not able to place it until I looked at his resume on IMDb - Pascal Greggory - and the movie - Gabrielle. Gabrielle was a typical French affair - drawn out, painfully introspective where you wanted the characters to do something, rather than pontificate in a tedious fashion. This did not bode well for a film with the same actor. He was egotistical, arrogant and abused his position of wealth. His actions were confusing, why did he want Youseff and Raja to marry to escape the policeman from Casablanca, but yet still wanted her to sleep with him. The explanation of converting the house to a hotel - with Youseff and Raja as running it - seemed absurd. I could not understand his actions and despised the character. He was juvenile and destructive in his actions and the story offered little to no character development. I want to clarify my above comment about French cinema because there are many excellent French films, e.g. La Haine, Amelie, City of Lost Children, Delicatessen, A Self-Made Hero, etc.
bernice-denison
I was channel surfing (the whole four on commercial TV) and Raja was on late on SBS. At first I thought I was too tied to read the subtitles and watch the film but something hooked me. Not only was Fredrick an older man but it's the cross cultural thing. Fred was smitten with Raja and he would have taken her away from her abysmal life with her pimp boyfriend Youssef and loved her unconditionally. I didn't feel the movie was too long, if anything I wanted to know more after Fred gave all his money to Youssef to pay for his marriage to Raja. The marriage you know was never going to happen. I had never heard of Pascal Greggory before and I don't know why maybe because he's French? I think he did a fantastic job in the roll of Federick - He leaves me wanting to know more about him and his acting because even without the translation he came across as a brilliant actor.
mtoumba
After more then 20 years of continuous work French filmmaker Jacques Doillon still manages to polarize his audience. He is whirling where others rather stay quiet and the spectator either reacts with open indignation or enthusiasm (check the other comments!!!).This is also true for his movie "Raja" that is settled in Morocco. It's the story of a young woman called Raja that works in the garden of a rich Frenchman. The landowner is suffering from his solitude after leaving back a broken marriage in Paris. After spotting the girl working outside he is approaching her, for Raja a chance to escape a life in poverty. Between the two develops a strained relationship in which power, reward, love and hate is negotiated after rules that transport Doillon's astonishing analysis over topics like prostitution and post-colonialism. An incredible wise film, brilliant in acting and precise in dialog. Touching.
AD
