Review of Wadjda (2012) by Shyam K — 26 Apr 2014
The first feature film shot within Saudi Arabia from that country's first woman director, Haifaa al-Mansour. Set in the capital city of Riyadh, Wadjda (Waad Mohammed) is a mischievous 11-year-old girl who dreams of owning a bicycle, forbidden for girls, and enters a Qur'an recital contest in school to win the prize money for it.
Meanwhile, her mother (Reem Abdullah), who is unable to bear any more children, is forced to use her feminine wiles to entice her husband so that he won't take a second wife. Like the Iranian feature "Persepolis," this is a drama with a subversive, feminist humanity on the struggles faced by women in a fundamentalist society told with irreverent humor.
The lyrical ending evokes the finale of Truffaut's "The 400 Blows." A co-production by Saudi Arabia and Germany, this is a remarkable achievement considering the lack of a film industry and no movie theaters in Saudi Arabia.
Written by the director.
This review of Wadjda (2012) was written by Shyam K on 26 Apr 2014.
Wadjda has generally received very positive reviews.
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