Wadjda

Review by Hannah Jacobson
Review by Tania Valdés

The short:

A young Saudi girl wants a bike so that she can race a boy in her neighborhood.

The long:

Set against the shifting social attitudes of the Middle East, Wadjda (The Green Bicycle in English), explores gender roles, conformity, and the importance of family, all with wit and irresistible heart. Wadjda is determined to learn how to ride a bike and race her neighborhood friend. Her parents repeatedly refuse to purchase Wadjda a bike, citing that it is inappropriate for girls to know how to ride. Taking matters into her own hands, Wadjda decides to enter her school’s Quran recitation competition in order to use the prize money to purchase the bike herself.  

To watch or not to watch: 

Must watch. It a beautiful movie on women empowerment and perseverance. This film is an incredibly endearing story about self discovery and a commentary on society’s expectations of women. This is reflected both in the plot and in the making of this film which was the first Saudi Arabian produced film to be directed by a woman.