Wadjda ***/4 Released 2012

Seen in theater.
Released 2012.
Directed and written by Haifaa Al-Mansour.
With  Waad Mohammed, Reem Abdullah, Abdullrahman Al Gohani, Ahd

This is a story about a young Saudi girl who desires basically two things; a bicycle and to be allowed to wear gym shoes under her traditional, women's clothing.  Everyone tells her that these goals are unacceptable and or unattainable, yet she stubbornly persists.  She enters a contest to recite the Koran to win money to buy the bike.

Meanwhile her and her mother encounter the institutionalized misogyny in a resigned and stoic manner.  The stoicism  doesn't hide the pain and shame they feel, but what else is there to do?  That's how things are.

One thing I particularly liked is when the camera follows the children through the town.  It is an opportunity to see how people live their daily lives in Saudi Arabia.

Another interesting thing  is how the women in charge of the private school that Wadjdja (the main character's name) are often zealous enforcers of their society's inherent sexism.  I believe that it is a phenomenon that happens here in the states where the conservative women are overseers of the culture's conservative values - Anita Bryant anyone?


The director speaks;