Review of Wadjda (2012) by Irvin C — 28 Mar 2014

Wadjda was promoted as being the first feature film shot entirely in Saudi Arabia and the first feature length film made by a female Saudi director, and the trailer made it look like a tale of inspiration so it was a must see in my opinion.

The first thing I really enjoyed about Wadjda is the way it looks at its Saudi Arabian setting. As well as using the location to be the source of a lot of good scenery, the Wadjda serves as an honest look at Saudi Arabian culture. In the media the area is always depicted as being nothing but a crime ridden waste land full of terrorists that torture people with different beliefs. For the first time in my life I was given an honest look at everyday Middle Eastern culture and just what people face there, and it downplays the negativity that so many people senselessly criticize it for while also depicting how it is a difficult society for women to be living in. The film isn't a self indulgent rant about how men are the problem, it is an honest and justified look at the society where women face a lot of trouble based solely on their gender. Occasionally I was uncertain what was happening because I wasn't too accustomed to such a society and didn't know what the characters were meaning with what they said in relation to cultural customs. I guess as a member of a western society there is a lot in Wadjda that I hadn't learned anywhere else, so people who don't understand the nature of middle eastern culture may find themselves alienated from Wadjda. Others will have an appreciation for the true nature of its storytelling.

Also, underneath the complicated setting Wadjda and its context, the story is rather formulaic. It's a predictable tale about a girl triumphing over adversity in a complicated setting with its only key difference being the context that the story takes place in. It is fairly easy to tell where the story is going and how it is going to end, so audiences are required to sit back and take in the inspiration within its setting instead of just the inspiration of its story. Its easy to tell where Wadjda goes in its story , and while it isn't essentially that bothersome it is still noticeable that underneath everything is a very thin plot.

But still, the power of Wadjda is undeniable.

The story in the film is an inspiring one because of the complicated context it occurs in, and it tells the true nature of growing up in Riyadh as a young girl. It reveals the nature of its people as following the customs of the culture without fighting it much because it is true that stoicism is key in Middle Eastern woman. And at the same tame it has its titular hero Wadjda defying the rules in small ways to challenge her gender definition and let her free spirit soar. The film depicts a changing society where the youth are beginning to determine their own rules with conflict with current cultural values, and reminds us of changing times. Wadjda gives audiences hope that perhaps one day middle eastern cultyre may find more acceptance with equality of women and men alike, so it is an uplifting journey through a young girl's life which is very well scripted and benefits from promising and excellent direction from Haifaa al-Mansour who truly has a lot of passion for the piece and clearly loves to be telling its story.

And visually the film is very vibrant because its many visually appealing locations are filmed with excellent cinematography which moves very smoothly and captures the grand spectacle of the titular Wadjda's spirit as it comes into conflict with society. Wadjda is excellently well shot and reveals Haifaa as-Mansour's keen eye for strong cinematography which is executed very well by Lutz Reitemeier.

And underneath all of this is the strength of a dedicated cast.

To put it blankly, the character Wadjda is a hard one to play because such a character exists only within a society that forbids her from having the free spirit she is known for. So for the young Waad Mohammed to excellently go out there and pour all her ambitions and heart into a dedicated and heartfelt performance is just incredible. Waad Mohammed's performance in Wadjda is one of the best juvenile performances of the year, and the way that she easily delivers her lines with a refreshing dramatic charm and touch of childish comedy is just excellent. Her free spirited energy allows her to embody the role of Wadja excellently, and audiences who can truly walk away from Wadjda with an appreciation for what they just experience are more than likely to also walk away from it feeling moved by the charming plight of the young Waad Mohammed whose smile alone lights up the screen while her performance renders it unforgettable.

Reem Abdullah's performance as Wadja's mother benefits Wadjda because of how she embodies the female figure from the previous generation of people in Saudi Arabia and the mother of a girl whose values do not match the standard social norm whilst also facing a husband who wishes to marry another. Through conveying just how powerless her character is, Reem Abdullah manages to make the dramatic experience of Wadjda a lot more compelling and meaningful. She breathes a lot of dramatic strength into her role and proves herself a viable cast member who shares a great chemistry with Waad Mohammed.

Abdullrahman Algohani was also great as Abdullah because he was a friendly young cast member who shared a charming chemistry with Waad Mohammed.

So while Wadjda follows a predictable plot underneath its complicated context, as the first feature length Saudi Arabian film and first full length feature film to be directed by a woman, Wadjda is an excellent step forward for middle eastern cinema which benefits from director Haifaa as-Mansour's passion for the story and the excellent acting talent of Waad Mohammed.