Sunday, November 10

6:15 pm

Wadjda

2012 / Saudia Arabia, Germany / Arabic with English subtitles / 98 min / DCP Director/Writer: Haifaa Al Mansour
Cast: Waad Mohammed, Reem Abdullah, Abdullrahman Al Gohani, Sultan Al Assaf Print Source: Sony Classics

Here is your opportunity to see a pioneering film on the big screen that even the filmmaker, Haifaa Al Mansour, can’t see in such glory in her own country of Saudi Arabia. Cinemas are banned there. This gem of a drama, sprinkled with wit, is ground breaking in many ways with many firsts. The first Saudi film directed by a woman, it was shot entirely in-country using a Saudi-only cast, and is the country’s first feature length film. True, she had to direct this from inside a van via walkie-talkie, but Wadjda was realized. You’ll want to see it not just for its historic import, but also because it is an excellent film, winning many international awards. It is the story of a young girl named Wadjda, played brilliantly by Waad Mohammed, who wants a bike more than anything so she can race her best friend, a boy. But girls don’t ride bikes. She adds her name to the family tree, only to have it removed as this is only for male names. The film raises serious political and cultural issues as Wadjda’s creative, boundary-pushing spirit navigates her coming of age and dreams in a culture and society filled with rules and limitations. The film is a charming and sensitive drama that quietly highlights Arab life from a female perspective in a way we’ve never seen before with beauty, empathy, and genuine laughter. Don’t miss this!