A little girl who challenges herself in order to achieve her goal
This film took place in Saudi Arabia in 2012. As it was the first film that was feature in Saudi Arabia, by Haifaa Al-Mansour, who was also the first female director in this region. This film shows us myriad about the lives of Saudi females, and their way of presenting as luminary, courage, and passion. Al-Mansour uses a little girl as a main character to elucidate the experience of a Saudi females. Wadjda, a young girl who has a big desire and dream. She joins a Quran competition, and puts more effort in order to win the competition money, so she can buy herself a bicycle. Something that is dishearten and against in Saudi society and Arab culture.
In addition, the director wants to show the intimacy between a mother and her daughter. As both are going through myriad challenges in order to achieve their goals. The mother wants to protect her family as she tries to satisfy her husband who wants to marry a second woman since
his first wife could not give him a son. This film does not only reflect the relationship between the females and society, but also shows the way women’s lives influenced by Arab culture and religion, as it limited their rights.
As the film shows the struggle a woman goes through in the Saudi society. Where women must cover their face, lower their voice, so they will not be heard by men, and more importantly cannot able to drive themselves to work. This film makes you wonder and engenders one to
question how the concept of the bicycle relates to the main issue in Saudi Arabia during that time. In 2012, women did not have the right to drive in Saudi Arabia. As the director challenged herself to craft the first film in a harsh society and uses a metaphor to address the problem. One
can see the bicycle as a process that women uses to overcome their limits and barriers. In addition, the director could also use the concept of bicycle in a way to inspire other females and to show the capability of women in the Saudi society.
This film is fascinating as it shows the conflict between the society and the Saudi women. The film directs the viewers’ attention into the main subject. As it delivers a salient message from society to the world. I liked how the director used a little girl to reflects a serious situation,
about women and Arab culture. It clarifies the concept of the film and how it could be used to reshape the society. As currently the women in Saudi Arabia have the right to drive. I wonder if this film had any influenced to the Saudi society today.