وجدة
WADJDA (2012)
WADJDA (2012)
Before Saudi cinema began to define itself, there was Haifaa Al Mansour’s Wadjda. Remarkably, even after a near decade of growing output, it remains the most complete and resonant work of them all. Al Mansour’s debut was made in the right place at the right time, and in exactly the right way, capturing a delicate moment in our cultural memory with striking simplicity. At its heart is Waad Mohammed, who delivers one of the most affecting child performances in Arab cinema. Her simple wish for a bicycle, which seems innocent, is charged with everything the film symbolizes, and unlike the celebratory freedom of Western coming-of-age films, Wadjda understands that in some places, even the desire for movement carries weight. — FERAS ALMADI
Country of Origin: Saudi Arabia, Netherlands, Germany, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, United States
Run Time: 1h 38m
Language: Arabic
Rank in the list: 25th
Genre(s): Comedy Drama
Synopsis
WADJDA is a 10-year-old girl living in a suburb of Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. After a fight with her friend Abdullah, a neighborhood boy she shouldn’t be playing with, Wadjda sees a beautiful green bicycle for sale. She wants the bicycle desperately so that she can beat Abdullah in a race. But Wadjda’s mother won’t allow it, fearing repercussions from a society that sees bicycles as dangerous to a girl’s virtue. So Wadjda decides to try and raise the money herself.
Trailer
Notable Cast and Crew
Haifaa Al-Mansour
Director
Waad Mohammed
Cast (Wadjda)
Abdullrahman Al Gohani
Cast (Abdullah)
Reem Abdullah
Cast (Mother)
Ahd Kamel
Cast (Ms. Hussa)
