Wadjda
Dir: Haifa El-Mansour
Year: 2012
Country: Saudi Arabia
IMDB
Average Rating: 4.7
Wadjda was yet another highly rated film, with an average score equal to Blancanieves at 4.7/5. Many described the film as uplifting and life-affirming, as well as insightful as it permitted a rare glimpse into a distant culture:
‘A revelation…’; ’Very interesting - a revealing insight into a very different culture.’; ‘Absorbing, insightful film.’; ‘A brilliant and innocent exploration of the difficulties and joys that life throws at us.’; ‘A bold peep into a different world. Bravo!’; ‘Most unusual and an eye opener for a western woman.’; ‘Great experience. Provoking and charming.’; ‘…absorbing and fascinating…’; ‘Absolutely delightful.’
Despite the film’s simplicity and beauty, the subject matter provoked a palpable feeling of anger due to the position of women in Saudi Arabia:
‘An enlightening film that charmed but made me angry at the same time. Great direction and delicacy on such a subject.’; ‘An utterly charming portrayal of Saudi life from the viewpoint of girls and women. Many themes are dealt with, all with sympathy and understanding.’; ‘The restrictions and limitations of childhood and of women is upsetting and very sad. Love was powerfully present in the mother and daughter relationship - without this it would have been a sad tale.’; ‘Left me feeling angry but thankful that I was born in England and have such freedom.’; ‘Makes you angry when you realise how complicit the Saudi women are in their own subjugation. Long live girls like Wadjda/Waad!’; ‘I was fascinated by this more intimate look at Saudi daily life including schooling….Most of us have some sense of the freedoms and preferential treatment afforded to men in Saudi, but seeing these in action was moving and in some instances forcefully illustrated how these privileges can lead to intolerance, abuse and casual or deliberate cruelty…The lively intelligence and wit found in the character Wadjda (and revealed in Waad herself) gives us hope that their struggle for greater freedom and respect for girls and women will gradually progress.’
Although everyone seemed to appreciate the film, there was some criticism of its pace:
‘Good but a bit slow.’; ‘This didn’t hold my attention all the time.’
Dir: Haifa El-Mansour
Year: 2012
Country: Saudi Arabia
IMDB
Average Rating: 4.7
Wadjda was yet another highly rated film, with an average score equal to Blancanieves at 4.7/5. Many described the film as uplifting and life-affirming, as well as insightful as it permitted a rare glimpse into a distant culture:
‘A revelation…’; ’Very interesting - a revealing insight into a very different culture.’; ‘Absorbing, insightful film.’; ‘A brilliant and innocent exploration of the difficulties and joys that life throws at us.’; ‘A bold peep into a different world. Bravo!’; ‘Most unusual and an eye opener for a western woman.’; ‘Great experience. Provoking and charming.’; ‘…absorbing and fascinating…’; ‘Absolutely delightful.’
Despite the film’s simplicity and beauty, the subject matter provoked a palpable feeling of anger due to the position of women in Saudi Arabia:
‘An enlightening film that charmed but made me angry at the same time. Great direction and delicacy on such a subject.’; ‘An utterly charming portrayal of Saudi life from the viewpoint of girls and women. Many themes are dealt with, all with sympathy and understanding.’; ‘The restrictions and limitations of childhood and of women is upsetting and very sad. Love was powerfully present in the mother and daughter relationship - without this it would have been a sad tale.’; ‘Left me feeling angry but thankful that I was born in England and have such freedom.’; ‘Makes you angry when you realise how complicit the Saudi women are in their own subjugation. Long live girls like Wadjda/Waad!’; ‘I was fascinated by this more intimate look at Saudi daily life including schooling….Most of us have some sense of the freedoms and preferential treatment afforded to men in Saudi, but seeing these in action was moving and in some instances forcefully illustrated how these privileges can lead to intolerance, abuse and casual or deliberate cruelty…The lively intelligence and wit found in the character Wadjda (and revealed in Waad herself) gives us hope that their struggle for greater freedom and respect for girls and women will gradually progress.’
Although everyone seemed to appreciate the film, there was some criticism of its pace:
‘Good but a bit slow.’; ‘This didn’t hold my attention all the time.’