One major cliché of Middle Eastern culture is its treatment of women; the common perception of the Middle Eastern woman is of an oppressed being covered in veils and not allowed to speak in public. Haifaa Al-Mansour's feature film debut "Wadjda" portrays the story of a young girl who seeks to break all the stereotypes in order to attain her deepest desire.
Wadjda (Waad Mohammed), an 11 year old girl, wants to buy a bike so she can race against the little boy who lives next door. However, there is one problem with this simple wish: girls are not allowed to ride bicycles in Saudi Arabia. When she asks her mother (Reem Abdullah), Wadjda is met with rejection. After careful consideration, Wadjda takes matters into her own hands and decides to raise the money for the bicycle.
Wadjda never understands the idea of women being so covered and reserved. Her mother suffers because her father will get remarried and because she has to travel three hours to get to work. Young Wadjda insists that her mother work at the hospital her friend works at but the thought of taking a job where she must be unveiled is alarming to her conservative mother. Wadjda however does not see an issue. At the start of the film, a montage opens with the protagonist listening to rock music, dressed in jeans, converse shoes and hoodies. She dances to the music as if she were a rock star. When she leaves her home to get to school, her veil constantly falls off and despite trying to fix it, she makes minimal effort. It ultimately earns her trouble with the principal. When her friend visits her at home, Wadjda exits the front door unveiled. When a few men are working on construction, all the girls leave the courtyard to go inside. Wadjda decides to stay outside playing and ignores all regulations.
Her rebellious character develops from there. Her principal constantly questions her actions and even tells her to be a more religious woman. However, Wadjda never takes initiative in the Koran. She can barely pronounce the words or read them. When asked to recite a verse in song, Wadjda simply uses a monotone voice. Her teacher tells her to read with her heart but she simply does not care. Towards the midpoint, Wadjda seems to be changing when she decides to enter the Koran contest. However, her constant actions only demonstrate she is doing it for the money.
Al-Mansour presents Wadjda's mother as a counterpoint to the young girl. The mother is a religious woman who abides by the books. She respects her husband, goes out veiled and subverts herself to men's unjust treatment. When she goes to a shopping mall her chauffeur tells her she only has one hour to do her shopping. Wadjda's mother rushes to look for a dress but is unable to purchase anything. When her chauffeur quits his job, she does not stand up to him. Instead she calls her friends for help.
Wadjda's mother also likes to sing, but only does it when she is alone with her daughter; she is afraid to vocalize in the presence of men. When Wadjda starts to sing in one scene, her mother immediately tells her to stop because men are engaged in a conference in an adjoining room.
It is interesting how these contrasts also bring out different emotions in their characters. Wadjda is always joyful and spirited while her mother is always meditative and gloomy. It seems as if her only moments of happiness are with her daughter. But even those are threatened when Wadjda insists on a bike. It is only when she can breaks from the repression that her mother can eventually smile.
Whether Al-Mansour's film is a commentary on women's oppression, her political statement never gets in the way. She provides some touches of humor. When asked to wear black shoes Wadjda colors her converse sneakers black. When her principal promotes her as an exemplary student, Wadjda goes against the grain.
However the director always keeps her subject serious. In one scene two girls are caught painting their nails and looking at magazines. The teacher subsequently threatens to kick them out of school and also makes an example of them. The scene is striking and keys into the issues women suffer under the strict regime.
"Wadjda" is a powerful film that that will resonate through its central character and its probing thematic portrayal.
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