Raphael (2018)

Directed by: Ben Sombogaart | 105 minutes | drama | Actors: Melody Klaver, Nabil Mallat, Medina Schuurman, Mehdi Meskar, Urmie Plein, Claude Musungayi, Marie-Claire Witlox, Ria Marks, Tine Joustra, Antonio Scarpa

‘Rafaël’ tells the story of the Dutch Kimmy (Melody Klaver) and the Tunisian Nazir (Nabil Mallat), a couple married in Tunisia. When Nazir does not receive a visa at the start of the Arab Spring to be in the Netherlands for the birth of his son, he decides to make the illegal crossing to Europe, with all the associated risks.

Handcuffs made from tie wraps are what the African migrants must wear when they are taken by plane from the arrival island in southern Italy to Milan. When that happens to Nazir, the film suddenly jumps in time, and the Tunisian is back in his hometown of Sousse. His pregnant wife Kimmy lives with her mother (Medina Schuurman) in the Netherlands.

There is nothing wrong with the mise-en-scene: the images of the Arab Spring in Sousse, the arrival of Nazir and other migrants in Italy are impressive. In terms of content, however, the melodrama ‘Rafaël’ has an unbalanced and predictable character, however contradictory that may sound. Nowhere does an inner dilemma appear.

Although the images are gripping, the film does not surprise; he starts from the idea that we should be ‘victims of globalization’ for migration anyway, because of ‘universal’ human rights. Melody Klaver is convincing in this regard, there are twists and turns that keep the momentum going, but what should a pregnant Dutchman do with a Tunisian if he does not try to get a visa in the regular way?

Suppose your wife is a few months pregnant and is staying in a prosperous country that you are not allowed to enter? Then patience with the authorities pays off rather than committing acts of desperation. Nevertheless, Nazir tries it a few times via the fatal road of the rubber boats, while he leaves behind an above-average intelligent impression and has a good case.

There is something about protocols and a tired Italian who says ‘no possible’, but it must still be possible to recognize a child and/or to obtain a residence permit in the Netherlands on the basis of a registered partnership? As an actor, Nabil Mallat should also show a little more sincere love for Kimmy, we think as the devil’s advocate.

Should we perhaps doubt Nazir’s sincerity? Is that the intention of Ben Sombogaart (‘The Twins’)? No, that’s unlikely for a filmmaker whose main message is that love should win. We all want the latter, but the doubters cannot be convinced with simple melodrama.