RAJA

France/Morocco, 2003, 112 minutes, Colour.
Pascal Greggory, Najat Benssallem.
Directed by Jacques Doillon.

Jacques Doillon is an award-winning director, with such films of intense emotion as Ponette, the story of a little girl grieving over the death of her mother.

In a collaboration with Morocco, Doillon has gone to Marrakesh to focus on the story of a young woman. She is an orphan, does casual work with friends, is being kept by Youssef, a thief, while she sometimes takes on prostitution to contribute money. When she goes to work in the garden of a rich Frenchman, he watches her, she becomes infatuated, becomes ambitious, flirts. However, she also wants to protect herself. The film follows the progress (or lack of progress) in the seduction/courtship by the Frenchman of Raja. There are further complication with the two old women who do the housekeeping and who are against Raja.

The film is very French in its perceptions, in its presentation of passion, in its analyses of emotions.

1. Impact of the film? A glimpse at life in Marrakesh? Life in Morocco? The role of men, the role of women? The European tradition, the French? The cultural interaction? The universal values of love?

2. The Moroccan settings: the countryside, the desert, the inner city, the wealthy homes? Musical score?

3. The perception of women? In an Islamic society? North African society? The orphan, her friends, the initial game and the bet for kissing? Going to work? Being reprimanded by the men? Dominated by the men? Yet, their spirit of independence, clothes, talk about sexuality? The issue of prostitution? The men and the making of the decisions, arranging the marriages, intervening diplomatically or undiplomatically?

4. The character of Raja: her explanation of her background, her not having family, her reliance on her friends? Her relationship with Youssef, going to the airport and meeting the men for prostitution, giving him the money? The attraction of Fred? Her flirting, her doing the work? Her boasting, planning a marriage? Yet her reserve in the relationship with Fred? Coming on, flirting, withdrawing? Her bewildering him? At home with Youssef, giving him the money? The growing intimacy, her working in the household, working with the women? Fred and his proposal, her rejection? His bringing the women from the club home? Her varying moods? The build-up to Fred and his diplomacy about Youssef and herself in the house, with the brother? Her moving backwards and forwards? Her finally staying with Youssef, coming to Fred in the night, his disappointment? His coming to her home, her rejection? The issues of money and gifts? Her leaving him?

5. Fred, wealthy, France, his girlfriend in Paris? Indolent, watching the women, attracted to Raja? His continually being around them, not understanding what they said? Giving Raja gifts? Talking about seduction? Her flirting, his attentions? The detail of their interactions in the house? His jealousy of Youssef? With the brother, the discussions about marriage? Giving Youssef and Raja the house, coming in the night? His anger, rejection? His reliance on the two older women, their advice? Their not translating words properly? Misleading him? His exasperation, self-pity, emotional cripple? His final pursuit of Raja, watching her pick up the man, with her friend, the confrontation with Youssef? His going away - and weeping?

6. The men, Youssef, a thief, reliant on Raja yet dominating her? In the house, his bewilderment, leaving? Taking the money for the wedding from Fred at the bank? The brother, his sense of duty, arranging the marriage?

7. The women, the young women and their openness, their friendship, talk? The prostitutes at the club, Fred's visit, the madam, the young girls? Coming to the house, Raja having to give the swimming suit, their swimming in the pool? The older women, their devotion to Fred, advising him, antagonism towards Raja?

8. A portrait of mad love, obsession, misunderstanding? The role of language and mistranslation? Frustrated love? The future for Raja, for Fred?