Wadjda – Review

10-year-old Wadjda, played by Waad Mohammed lives in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with her mother, Reem Abdullah; her father, who doesn’t live with them, visits occasionally but it seems likely he’ll take a second wife because he’s under pressure to have a son. Wadjda is a tomboy and a rebel; more than anything else she wants a bicycle so that she can race – and beat – her friend, Abdullah. But, in a society where women aren’t allowed to drive cars, girls riding bikes is also frowned upon.



This gem of a film is remarkable on many counts. It’s the first feature film made in Saudi Arabia, a country where, apparently, there are no cinemas; and what’s more, in this patriarchal society, the director is a woman, Haifaa Al Mansour, who incidentally studied in Australia. A film produced under the most difficult conditions, WADJDA is a simple yet telling story of the pressures on women and girls in this country. 

Made with the help of German finance, and with a largely European crew, the film is an insight into a little-seen world and compares favourably with films made by women directors in Iran. Tender, humorous and a little bit sad, the film doesn’t push its points too far, but its message is clear for all to see – and the performances, especially that of young Waad Mohammed, are simply wonderful