Wadjda (2013)

Good concept, poorly executed.

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

This was a beautiful little movie. While I don't know much about the religion the movie was simple enough that it filled in any gaps that I had to understand what was going on. The story was simple which allowed for more exploration of the characters, thus making you care more. All round this was a good movie that I recommend for anyone to watch if you get a chance.

In the this film, it showed that women do not have as many rights in Saudi Arabia as they do in the United States. It was very interesting to get a different perspective of their culture. The main character, Wadja, was trying to save up for a bike to race her friend. Throughout the film we saw the way of life that the women live. We learned about marital customs and how strict the women's rules were to live their life. Overall, I liked this film. It made me very happy when Wadja got her bike in the end. This shows us that Wadja's perseverance throughout the film pays off.

The film "Wadjda" gives the viewer a unique glimpse into an entirely different society. The film seems simple at first but as the events unfold the story becomes much deeper. The film shows how women have to cope with the patriarchal society. What makes the film so good is how it tells a story of how the Saudi community functions through the experiences of a young girl Wadjda. It is inspiring how determined Wadjda is to get a bike and race a man, despite the action being against the cultural norm. Even in dark parts of the film the viewer still has a sense of optimism due to Wadjda's tenacity. The director did a great job in telling the everyday story about the Saudi Arabian people without any bias and through a young female. In the center of the film we see the everyday life of Wadjda and other girls of similar age. All the girls in the all-girl School must conform to the status of the ideal wife and are prepared for that job all through School. However, they act and laugh normal children would. The impact of School on their lives is best seen with their lack of surprise when being on their period to having to hold the Koran with a napkin. Wadjda's mother is also a strong independent women who strays from the expected behavior of women. She buys Wadjda the bike she wanted that was frowned upon due to her being a woman. And she cuts her hair despite her husband telling her that he did not want her to. It is rare to find a foreign film that can actually inspire you and really impact your global perspective. I truly enjoyed this film and would suggest it to another student or teacher.

In my opinion, Wadjda was one of the best foreign films I've seen thus far. I really appreciate films, especially those from other countries, that have a really strong female protagonist, and this film was no exception. It was even entertaining to see the establishing shots of her battered-up sneakers as opposed to every other girl's simple black shoes, to show how she was different from those who conformed. The story revolved around the titular character, Wadjda, a young girl that questioned the roles imposed upon her by society. Although it was against sharia law, her one main goal was to buy a bike in order to race her friend. She loses hope when she is unable to save enough money on her own, but she soon hears about a Qaran recitation competition at her school, where the winner is able to win a cash prize. In the hopes of obtaining her bike, she enters the competition. She ends up winning, but the headmaster donates the money to Palestine instead as she discovers that Wadjda was simply trying to buy a bike. The movie ends on a sweet note, with Wadjda finding out her mom has bought the bike for her anyway, and she is able to race her friend. I'd give this film a solid 5 stars.