Here in America it's unfathomable to think that a young girl can't own or even ride a bike if she wants to, but that's the challenge faced by the fierce young heroine of Haifaa al-Mansour's debut feature, Wadjda. The first film ever shot in Saudi Arabia and the first by a Saudi Arabian woman, it has been earning incredible reviews and acclaim for al-Mansour, who faced cultural obstacles no Hollywood director could even dream of.
I had a chance to sit down with al-Mansour to talk about Wadjda; how she feels about her film being Saudi Arabia's first Academy Awards entry; the challenges she faced even getting the film made; and whether she feels it can help raise the level of tolerance in the Arab culture. Wadjda opens on September 20th. Check out the interview below....
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