Pedal Power: Haifaa Al Mansour's Wadjda

The first ever feature film directed by a Saudi Arabian woman is a heartwarming story of a little girl who wants to transcend the limitations of her patriarchal culture, and own and ride a bike. More significantly, however, the film's central theme of mobility alludes to the little steps taken by the conservative kingdom in recognising the rights of women, writes Gabrielle O'Brien.

Additional keywords: Asia, feminism, patriarchy, Muslim, Islam, gender parity, Judith Butler, performativity, mobility, agency.