Wadjda
Saudi Arabia, 2012, 97mins. Dir. Haifaa Al Mansour
In the first full-length feature film shot entirely inside Saudi Arabia and first by a female director. 10-year-old Wadjada sees a beautiful green bicycle for sale but Wadjda’s mother won’t allow it, fearing repercussions from a society that sees bicycles as dangerous to a girl’s virtue. So Wadjda decides to try to raise the money herself by competing in a Quran recitation competition. The Quran competition isn’t going to be easy, especially for a troublemaker like Wadjda, but she is determined to fight for her dreams… with or without society’s approval.
‘This is boundary pushing cinema in all the best ways.’ ★★★★
THE TELEGRAPH
‘A satisfying and skilfully made film is always something to celebrate, but largely due to the circumstances from which it arose, Wadjda feels like one of the year’s most vital’ ★★★★★
THE SKINNY
Showings: 15.30, 18.00 & 20.15
Tickets: £5.50 (£4.50)
Book here: http://www.exeterphoenix.org.uk/events/wadjda/