The Perfect Candidate

Review by Omowaleayo Wale-Olaitan

The Short:

A young female doctor runs for office in the local city elections forcing her town to accept its first female candidate. It is a women centered movie directed by Haifaa Al-Mansour.

The Long:

A Saudi Arabian movie about a hardworking female doctor named Maryam who, unable to travel to Dubai without a male’s consent, mistakenly registers to contest in a local city election. At first, she seeks to fix the road on her street but as her campaign grows so does her confidence, and it leads to a much larger movement that shakes up the town. The director, Haifaa Al-Mansour, famous for her 2012 movie, Wadjda; once again explores the complexities of being a woman in Saudi Arabia crafting a story that is a blend of family drama and female activism led by a refreshingly confident female protagonist. She intricately weaves in the traditions and customs of a segregated society while honoring the resilience of women who manage to exist in an array of men that deem them invisible. It intricately weaves a tale that is both sad and hopeful in its portrayal of women in Saudi Arabia and by putting a woman at the center, we get a firsthand insight into what it is like to be a woman in Saudi Arabia.

The watch or not to watch:

Watch! Watch! Watch! It is a film that recognizes the importance of small significant wins for women and acknowledges the difficult journey to victory. With a charming and brave lead, it would have you glued to your screen.