Saudi Arabian movie Wadjda is the first ever feature-length film shot in the country by a female director.
Directed by Haifaa Al-Mansour, the film tells the story of a young Saudi girl Wadjda who has a burning desire to own bicycle even though it’s forbidden for girls to ride bikes in the movie. (The actual ban on women bike riding was only lifted a few months ago in the country).
The story “leads her into bold defiance of her society’s restrictive codes of gender and religion.”
Director Al-Mansour said she found it difficult to talk to her people about the issues surrounding gender and religion, “It was a major obstacle to go out in the street and talk to my actors.”
But in an interview with Al Jazeera, she explained that she felt that she had somewhat of an advantage over men trying film in the Middle East:
“I really didn’t want people to say ‘Because she’s a woman, she’s only talking about woman’s issues.’ But when I did my documentary and it was about women, I was amazed about how it touched lots of women…It’s like an area that people don’t have a chance to get into, especially in Saudi Arabia.”
“It’s difficult for a male filmmaker to break into this secluded world and have the same opportunities I had.”
This inspiring new film opened at festivals like Cannes and won numerous awards.
The trailer looks really great; we can’t wait to see it!
