Before I say anything about the film, let me give you a back ground of Saudi Arabia so that you will realize what went into making this film. Saudi is a country where women are not allowed to come out of the house unless their whole body (head to toe) is covered in black material, where women are not allowed to drive nor has the right to vote, where their husbands indulge into polygamy with least respect to the opposite sex. It is a perfect example of a conservative traditional male dominated society. I mean forget about the quality of the film for a while; this itself is a revolutionary and ground-breaking feat to make a feature film against all the odds in a country where this is there is no film industry and women are so repressed. You should get a feel about her strength, guts and determination to make it possible surviving all the hindrances.
In an interview the director of Wadjda, Haifaa al-Mansourto confessed that it took a toll on her to shoot the outdoor scenes of the film on the streets of Riyadh, the Saudi capital. Since the publicly mingling between the opposite sexes is strictly prohibited as per the law, she could not be physically present outside with his male crew team. Instead, she used to give instructions to his crew members through a walkie-talkie and watch the shots in a LCD monitor inside the van.
Wadjda is set up in Riyadh, the Saudi capital where a 10 year old girl (after whom the film is named) dreams of owning a bicycle when she is insulted by her male friend. The director uses bicycle as a metaphor of freedom quite magnificently in the film. Wadjda tries hard to convince her mother to buy her one but she is preached that women are forbidden to ride a bicycle because it meant not being able to have children. But this hardly becomes a reason for roadblock in the life of this rebellious young girl who adopts extreme measures to get money for the bicycle like endorsing women accessories and several other stuffs in exchange of quick cash in her school and expectedly soon she gets caught.
In the meantime, her father mentions that his mother is looking for a girl for his second marriage since Wadjda’s mother is not able to give him a male child. Her mother receives a tremendous set back and this changes the environment in the family. But Wadjda’s indomitable spirit knows no bounds and she decides to participate in the Quran competition in her school after hearing about the prize money although it was not quite her forte. She learns riding bicycle with the help of her friend, memorizes the Quran, learns to recite and even wins the competition but after that things don’t go as per her plan.
The performances in this film are beyond words and it never felt like anyone actually acted here. The role of Wadjda is portrayed by Waad 
Mohammed and it’s really hard to believe that its her acting debut. She is spontaneous and the way she emotes through her eyes and smiles is an absolute treat to watch. Take a bow you little girl; you are a powerhouse of talent. Reem Abdullah as the Mother and Abdullrahman Algohani as Abdullah are pitch perfect in their respective roles and they leave no room for a single point of criticism. I was just blown away.
Wadjda depicts day-to-day lives of the people in the Arab country where common people are burdened under religion and baseless traditions. The film brings out the uncomfortable truths about the society so delicately that it will leave you choked. For example, take the scene where she writes down her name and sticks it on the family tree only to find out that it has been picked out the next day by her own father. On one hand he is proud of her daughter’s achievement at school but is ashamed to mention about her in the family tree and indulges himself into a second marriage with the hope of having a boy. The hypocrisy in people is so evident in each and every person starting from Wadjda’s father to the school principle who advises the students to raise voice during reciting or singing and yet doesn’t allow them to raise their voice when it matters. Her mother spends most of the time trying new outfits or involved in hair treatment which is of no significance once she is out on the streets in her covered black cloth.
Wadjda is heart-breaking, yet a strong and emotionally uplifting story about the moments of small triumphs. This is a many layered film and yet the core of the film is simple and beautiful where the sad drama is blended with charming innocence. Wadjda is one of those rare gems which speaks about humanity, delivers a strong message and yet is an enjoyable ride and a rewarding experience for everyone. I am so happy that the film is gaining international recognition and created waves across the globe in different festivals and has been submitted from Saudi as Best Foreign Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards this year. Wadjda doesn’t provide any resolution nor does it intend to, she will still be a part of the repressed cultural and might have the same fate as her mother but it is a much needed strong voice from a conservative country that makes me feel proud as a human being.
Leaving you with the theatrical trailer of the film :
Cinema Paradiso 