WADJDA

Review: A Saudi girl signs on for her school’s Koran recitation competition. This is so she can get the money to buy a green bicycle that has captured her interest. This has its own consequences as she is a female and comes from a Muslim family so therefore is not allowed to ride a bicycle.
Director: Haifaa Al-Mansour
Actors: Waad Mohammed, Reem Abdullah and Abdullrahman Al Gohani
Year: 2012
Genre: Comedy and Drama
Conclusion: 4/5
This is the first feature film shot entirely in Saudi Arabia. An amazing piece of work from director Haifaa Al-Mansour and it is the first feature film made by a female Saudi filmmaker. She has overcome so many barriers with her new film. Well written and handled with care. This is a country where cinemas are banned and women cannot drive or vote. It is a very delightful, intriguing and engaging story. It is also a very joyous and uplifting story. I love the performances and considering what a hard subject matter it was about I thought they all did brilliantly. It is a simple storyline but at the same time very effective. It examines such contentious topics as marital law, the place of the Koran in daily life, the restrictions placed on female travel and also the hypocrisy of the conservative elite. This is a very important film and one that everyone should watch.
http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1293003033?ref_=tt_pv_vi_aiv_2