Review of Wadjda (2012) by David P — 12 Oct 2013

At school, Wadjda(Waad Mohammed) is on the wrong end of the attention of Ms. Hussa(Ahd), the principal, not only for her purple laced high top sneakers, but also her attitude and lack of total head covering. On the way to school, she meets up with her friend Abdullah(Abdullrahman Al Gohani) but cannot keep up with him on his bike. That remains the case until she spots a new one at a toy store that costs 800 riyals. After being able to scrounge together 80 riyals, her mother(Reem Abdullah) refuses to make up the difference as she has difficulties of her own to deal with. And then a possible solution presents itself to Wadjda...

"Wadjda" is a very charming and endearing movie. Considering this is Saudi Arabia, these female characters have to negotiate a social minefield on a daily basis, and therefore a discussion of politics is inevitable.(Even the tricky situation involving Wadjda's parents falls under this label.) So, how exactly did this movie get made in a country that generally does not make movies in the first place? First, it looks like a few concessions were made like the worst offenses being committed by foreign workers, a subplot about elections which always looks good to casual observers and the movie revolving around a Koran contest, which could be said to speak to Wadjda's possible spiritual conversaion while the smart thing for her mother to do would be to find her a good business school, instead. After all that, I think another answer might be in the Saudi Arabian authorities actually approving the depiction of these restrictions which is all the more depressing.