People are most definitely scared of what they don’t know. Arabs
are something a lot of people are unfortunately scared of and the stereotypes
can run from funny to hostile in nature. And what’s generally been a closed-off
society to the west has now been opened up just a little bit so that we can
peer a little closer. Wadjda might
be perceived as a breakthrough or an average film, but one thing is certainly
clear: it opens up the closed eyes of the many and lets the audience into a
world where the characters are actually portrayed as human beings.
Wadjda (Waad Mohammed) is an everyday young girl. She gets up, goes to school, and teases the neighbor’s son Abdullah (Abdullrahman Al Gohani). Her father is barely home—looking for another wife because Wadjda’s mother can no longer bear any children and he wants a boy—and that leaves her and her mother (Reem Abdullah) to fend for themselves most of the time.
What Wadjda wants more than anything in the world is a bike
so she can race Abdullah. So intent on this dream that she goes joins her
school’s Koran recitation competition in order to win money to buy the bike.
The money, however, isn’t the only thing standing in her way of getting what
she wants. Ms. Hussa (Ahd), the school’s principal, is strict and looks at
Wadjda with disdain for her rebellious and uncharacteristically boyish actions.
With her eyes set on getting a bike, Wadjda will try and win no matter what her
life and principal throw her way.
Her actions may be considered rebellious to the females in
her life and her strict-ruled society, but not to Wadjda, since she is
essentially acting like any young girl and doesn’t see what the big deal is. Everything
is seen from her perspective and so we are affected by everything as much as
she’s affected by it.
Now, a lot of people will talk about the fact that the
director, Haifaa Al-Mansour, is the first Saudi Arabian female to direct a
feature-length film. So much so, that they’ll probably forget to examine the
film itself. And the film, while a little uneven, is generally cute and sweet. It’s driven by Wadjda’s heart and
that’s easy to see.
Waad Mohammed as the protagonist gives a great performance. She’s
sarcastic, funny, mischievous and sweet depending on what the situation calls
for. She has the nerve to stand up for herself and get what she wants. And while
she is often scolded for her tenacity, many admire her for it.
The film, however, is slightly hindered by its inability to
flow smoothly. It feels too slow at times, and a few scenes could have been
edited for time and fluidity, but the excellent performances are what carry the
movie from scene to scene. The actors are strong and some of the best moments
come when Wadjda and Abdullah are hanging out together. They bring joy to
the film. It’s their world and the adults are simply there to populate it. The movie
is filled with sweet moments and a sense of buoyancy.
