it is the rare 'crazy' movie that actually has something to say.

if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

Unshakable, witty and deeply felt, the film will be paying emotional dividends for a long, long time.

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

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.

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.

This movie is too drawn out. Also for a French movie it is quite disappointing since there is no nudity, etc. The main actress who played Raja is also not even average looking (I really don't want to use the U word but it would not have been inaccurate). For Frederick to fall for her, he must have been really hard up especially considering there are many other local girls a rich man like him can certainly have.The movie tries to portray Frederick as being lonely but still have plenty of libido. If that's the case he should visit the local nightclubs, etc. I am sure he can certainly find many more attractive young locals there.If you want to watch a "Old man, Young woman" film, there are many better ones. Try American Beauty, Carried Away, Twilight of Love, etc.

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.