Heat/Harara (2008)

Directed by: Lodewijk Crijns | 105 minutes | drama, adventure | Actors: Bracha van Doesburgh, Nabila Marhaben, Fehd El Ouali, Abdullah el Baoudi, Wimie Wilhelm, Sabri Saad El Hamus, Walid Benmbarek

‘Hitte/Harara’ is about a friendship between a Dutch girl and a Moroccan girl and the cultural differences between them. At first glance, people might conclude that it is a clone of the successful ‘Dunya & Desie’. After all, the theme is the same. Yet these two films are impossible to compare.

Nancy and Raja are two friends who want to start a henna nail studio together. They go by car to Casablanca to do some cheap shopping for their new studio. Because Raja has family in Casablanca and speaks Arabic, her parents dare to send the two on their way. We see on the outward journey that things are going well with the friendship. The girls have a lot of fun with each other and despite the cultural differences they are a close team. At least they are until something serious happens, where even the best friendship could take a dent. Can their friendship withstand this too?

Bracha van Doesburgh and Nabila Marhaben are perfectly cast as the girlfriends Nancy and Raja. It is clear to see that the two actors really click and that has a positive influence on the acting performance of the two. In one of the last scenes in the film, the acting talent of Bracha van Doesburgh in particular almost jumps off the screen. When eventually the text comes into the picture of how it turned out in real life, you realize that it all really happened. And then a shiver goes through you. Isn’t friendship always unconditional?

‘Heat/Harara’ is a fun movie. Just fun, exciting, but nothing special. A nice movie for an evening with friends. And as a telefilm it will undoubtedly be a success. People love to watch movies about two girlfriends, especially when they get a twist like ‘Heat/Harara’. The fact that this movie actually happened makes it even more dramatic. It could also be a warning to girls who plan to leave for Morocco on their own.