synopsis
To shoot a film in a country where cinema itself is banned is an achievement for any director. When that filmmaker also happens to be a woman, in a country where it is illegal for women to drive or vote, makes Haifaa Al Mansour’s debut feature Wadjda all the more impressive. Most remarkably of all, it’s a masterful film filled with humour, emotion and humanism. Wadjda is a 10-year-old Saudi Arabian girl: entrepreneurial and rebellious. She’s determined to buy a bicycle, even though it’s frowned upon. Wadjda lives with her loving parents, although her father isn’t around much, and her mother is convinced he’s looking for a second wife. Wadjda, like Iran’s A Separation, offers a fascinating glimpse into a world rarely seen. Boundary-pushing in all the best ways, Wadjda a thrilling cinematic achievement.
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