Wadjda: Women in Modern Saudi Arabia

   I recently had the pleasure of seeing the movie Wadjda while it was still playing in The Athena.  Wadjda tells the story of a young girl in modern Saudi Arabia who desperately wants to buy a bike, a desire that is greatly frowned upon by Saudi Arabian society.  Throughout the movie, the titular character rebels against the cultural norms she lives under by desiring a bike in the first place, as well as playing with a neighborhood boy, wearing her head scarf inappropriately, and many other things.  The film shines a light on the oppression women face within Saudi Arabia.  For example, women are not allowed to drive and must hire drivers to take them to work; Wadjda's mother is forced to rely on a verbally abusive driver in order to support her daughter, having lost her husband to a second wife.  Multiple times during the movie, Wadjda and her classmates have to move inside in order to not be seen by men.
   The making of the movie itself also illustrates the sexism in Saudi Arabian society.  In fact, Wadjda is the first movie to be directed by a Saudi woman and filmed entirely in the country.  Of course, the director faced many obstacles while creating the movie.  She even had to direct out of the back of a van, since she could not give orders "in public" and so she could not be seen by men.
   Wadjda shows that the stereotype held by many that women in patriarchal oppressive countries are submissive and lack agency is false.  The women in the film are shown to strive towards their goals and they are able to work within and rebel against the constraints placed on them.  In some ways, Wadjda is reminiscent of Marjane Satrapi in Persepolis.  Both characters refuse to conform to the oppressive regimes they live under.  Wadjda listens to western music on the radio, doesn't conform to the dress code, makes money by relaying elicit messages between schoolmates, and learns to ride a bike.
   Another false stereotype that Wadjda  confronts is the thought that these women are oppressed by Islam.  In the film, Wadjda and her mother bond through prayer, celebrating their femininity through religious song and reciting the Quran.  Wadjda even uses her religion as a means to work towards getting her bike by entering into a contest of knowledge of the Quran.
   I very much enjoyed this movie and urge anybody with even a slight interest to see it.  It is no longer playing at The Athena, but I am sure that it can be found somewhere (*cough*illicit internet sites*cough*)