Winner — France Culture Award, 2004 Cannes Film Festival

Set against the backdrop of contemporary Marrakech, Raja is a cross-cultural drama about the relationship of a middle-aged Frenchman (Pascal Greggory) with a poor local girl  played by Najat Benssallem, whose stunning performances earned her awards at both the Venice and Marrakech Film Festivals.  Raja is a nineteen year-old orphan literally and figuratively scarred by life.  Fred is an emotionally bankrupt westerner living amidst plush gardens and palm trees.  Fred's attempts to seduce Raja, and their mutual attempts at manipulation, are fractured by their gross disparity of income, age and cultural sophistication.

“Jacques Doillon's serious comedy Raja gets to the bottom and stirs up all the mucky dregs of a question so complex and ticklish that movies tend to shy away from exploring it in any depth…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.”  - New York Times

Purchase the Raja DVD 

About CINEMONDO:

Link TV's CINEMONDO is a nationally broadcast, ground breaking world cinema series hosted and co-curated by Peter Scarlet, Artistic Director of the Tribeca Film Festival. CINEMONDO brings international cinema with great artistic, cultural and political value to the living rooms of Link TV’s American audiences. Learn more.

Please note: if no air times are listed to the left, this program is currently not scheduled. Please check back again in the coming weeks.