Rai (1995)

Synopsis of Rai

The troubled lives of youths living in the grim housing projects of Paris provide the basis of this gritty, topical French drama with comedic overtones that tells the tale of two disparate Arabic brothers. Djamel is the good brother and Nordine is the bad one. Both young men still live at home, in a high-rise housing project, with their mother, who still wears traditional garb. Nordine is a drug addict and is first seen holding a horse hostage so he can get the money he needs to pay off his pusher. Djamel is seen working hard and dreaming of marrying Sahlia, a beautiful girl with an overprotective brother, Mezz, with whom Djamel is good friends. These two and their friends try hard to keep away from trouble. Sahlia, on the other hand, is tired of living like a traditionally submissive Arab girl and defies both Djamel and Mezz by sleeping with one of their friends. Meanwhile, Nordine shoots his handgun from the roof of an apartment block and starts a riot. The film's title refers a genre of North African rock music that is popular in the projects. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Director(s):

Thomas Gilou

Writer(s):

Cyril Collard, Thomas Gilou, Aïssa Djabri

Producer(s):

Farid Lahouassa, Aïssa Djabri

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