Wadjda

Haifaa Al Mansour's feature debut is a masterful film filled with humour, emotion and humanism. Wadjda is a 10-year-old girl living in a suburb of Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. Although she lives in a conservative world, Wadjda is fun-loving, entrepreneurial and rebellious. She's determined to fight for her dreams, which include saving enough money to buy a bicycle, so she can race her friend Abdullah. Wadjda lives at home with her parents, who are loving if a little distracted. Her father isn't around much, and her mother is convinced he's busy looking for a second wife. The story is tailored to highlight the pressures and difficulties faced by women in Saudi Arabia, with a rare glimpse into the lives of women behind closed doors and the warm relationships between mothers and daughters. Wadjda is a fascinating, honest, hugely satisfying film, both boundary-pushing in all the best ways and a thrilling cinematic achievement.

Classification: PG

Running time: 93 minutes