Wadjda

Synopsis

Feature film. The first film directed by a woman in Saudi Arabia exposes the country’s denial of women’s rights while giving Muslim feminism a voice. The film was shot largely clandestinely and tells the story of an independent-minded, cheeky young girl, Wadjda, who wants to buy a bike so she can race with her neighbour, Abdullah (who she shouldn’t be playing with). Some of Saudi Arabia’s all-encompassing controls over women are thereby exposed: the prohibition on women driving or mixing with men; the taboos over laughing or talking in public, or riding bicycles as these might defile virginity. However, the women in WADJDA - and the titular heroine especially - are not depicted as wholly passive victims, but come across as striving, enterprising and possessing some agency within the constraints imposed upon them.

Language

Arabic (Arabic (English subtitles))

Country

Saudi Arabia

Year of release

2012

Year of production

2012

Notes

Selected as Saudi Arabia’s official nomination for the Best Foreign Film Oscar. Also available on Blu-Ray.

Subjects

Politics & government; Women’s studies

Keywords

Saudi Arabia; women’s rights; Muslims

Credits

Director

Haifa al-Mansour

Cinematographer

Lutz Reitemeier

Cast

Waad Mohammed

Distribution Formats

Type

DVD

Format

Region 2 PAL

Price

£5.99

Availability

Sale

Duration/Size

97 minutes

Year

2015

Distributor

 

Available from retail outlets

Name

Soda Pictures

Email

info@sodapictures.com

Web

http://www.sodapictures.com/ External site opens in new window

Phone

020 7377 1407

Address

17 Blossom Street
London
E1 6PL