Wadjda
Directed by Haifaa Al-Mansour
Saudi Arabia | Arabic w/English subtitles | 98 mins
Preceded by an Israeli/Palestinian food reception and cash bar – starting at 5:30
Co-sponsored by the Burlington-Bethlehem-Arad Sister City Program, celebrating their 25th anniversary
A rebellious Saudi girl (Waad Mohammed) enters a Koran recitation competition at her school and hopes to win enough money to buy her own bicycle. Understated yet expressly political, Wadjda is a story of a simple, universal desire that becomes a bold provocation only in the context of its setting. Wadjda is a spunky, loud preteen who parades in her room to American pop songs and doesn’t hide the dirty sneakers she wears underneath her abaya. She sneaks playdates with Abdullah, a neighbor boy from a different tribe. When she decides she wants to race Abdullah on wheels, she enters a Quran recitation competition at her school in the hopes of buying a bike with the prize money.
Director’s statement: “I’m so proud to have shot the first full-length feature ever filmed entirely inside the Kingdom. I come from a small town in Saudi Arabia where there are many girls like Wadjda who have big dreams, strong characters and so much potential. These girls can, and will, reshape and redefine our nation. It was important for me to work with an all-Saudi cast, to tell this story with authentic, local voices. Filming was an amazing cross-cultural collaboration that brought two immensely talented crews, from Germany and Saudi Arabia, into the heart of Riyadh. I hope the film offers a unique insight into my own country and speaks of universal themes of hope and perseverance that people of all cultures can relate to.”
For the best value and experience, we highly recommend purchasing a full festival pass. For more information about passes, go HERE.