Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 1 rating
An enterprising Saudi girl signs on for her school's Quran recitation competition as a way to raise the remaining funds she needs in order to buy the green bicycle that has captured her interest.
Wadjda is a landmark film — the first feature shot entirely in Saudi Arabia and directed by a Saudi woman — giving it exceptional novelty both in conception and execution. The performances, particularly from the young lead Waad Mohammed, are naturalistic and compelling, earning high marks for acting. The plot is simple but effective, using a bicycle as a quietly radical symbol of freedom and defiance. Cinematography is functional and grounded rather than stylistically ambitious. The ending is bittersweet and honest but somewhat understated, leaving the central conflict unresolved in ways that feel true to life but slightly unsatisfying dramatically.