Wadjda does an admirable job showing how religion, modernity and gender roles clash while also balancing respect for the culture.

جميل جدا قصة من الواقع في كل تفاصيلها

Wadjda is a story that does brilliantly to lift this issue up to our faces, and allow us to see the world from Muslim women's eyes.

Wadjda will probably be remembered more for its place in the development of a new international film industry than it will as an innovative film unto itself. One of the first Saudi films shot almost entirely domestically, and by a female director, Wadjda delivers a story that focuses on an independently-minded young girl in the suburbs of Riyadh that doesn't conform to the standards of Islamic orthodoxy, attempting to scrounge together cash to purchase a bike (which carries its own symbolism - a defiance of convention, an escape from conflicted domestic life, and a sense of independence), while her mother raises her independently as social influences pull her marriage apart. In all honesty, the plot is rather predictable, a somewhat conventional adolescent-rebel-against-the-system narrative, but it is ably adapted to a new environment that hasn't been touched upon before. Decent performances, and a depiction of a Middle Eastern suburb that doesn't often get depicted without craters and bullets. (3.5/5)

Watching women in a different culture deal with their issues feels so intimate.

Buon film, che presenta attraverso modalità molto sincere ed autentiche alcune tematiche leggermente scontate ma non trascurabili. Dal film emerge chiaramente il forte desiderio della sua regista, prima donna a dirigere un film in Arabia Saudita, a proporre una sorta di cambiamento sociale in un paese pieno di contraddizioni.

It's a touching and good movie. Worth to watch

This was excellent, a big step to remember both cultural differences , & The freedom women have in other countries... loved it!

Such a beautiful film.

Great movie about a spirited 10 year old girl.

Vecide, ilk bakışta 10 yaşındaki bir kızın bisiklet almak için sarf ettiği çaba. Sesi erkekler tarafından duyulmamalı, başı örtülmeli, pop şarkıları dinlememeli, erkeklere görünmemeli! Arap toplumunda kadının yeri, kölelikten bile beter! Hayali duvarlarla çevrili, dinle beyni yıkanan çocuklar. Bekaretini kaybetmesin diye bisiklete binmesi istenmeyen kız, büyüyünce de yalnızca kocasını memnun etmek için yaşayacak! Final tahmin edilebilse bile, unutulmaz diyaloglar var: "-Oğlu beline bomba bağlayıp, 'bum' diye havaya uçmuş. -Deliye bak! Çok acı çekmiştir. -Allah uğruna ölürsen hiç acı çekmezsin. Sonra göğe çıkarsın. 70 tane de hurin olur. -Öyle mi? Bum! 70 tane bisiklet. -Hiç anlamamışsın. Öyle bir şey değil."

It sucked, no action, nothing happened

Successful in telling the fundamental dynamics of a society from the perspective of the disallowed.

I found this movie provided an excellent window into the lives of people (especially women and girls) living in a culture which seems to have been not allowed to fully progress into the 21st century. The acting was on the whole very well directed and the actors comfortably expressed their culture and religious indoctrination with poise and honesty. It should be seen by those who feel that somehow people in other cultures do not have similar aspirations and dreams to their own compatriots too.

This first feature film shot entirely in Saudi Arabia, and by its first female film director Haifaa al-Mansour, is a thrillingly terrific trailblazer in Muslim feminism for depicting misogyny and oppression of women with a story of a tomboy determined to buy a bicycle which is perceived as a threat to a girl's virtue in her archconservative community.

I know, it is written in the description of the movie, in wikipedia and in many reviews already, but it is so breakthrough that we have to write it all the times we can: It was the first feature film shot entirely in Saudi Arabia and the first feature-length film made by a female Saudi director. And what a great movie it is! It gives the western world a chance to immerse in this different culture without judgment but also without submission. The lovable title character, without even knowing it, is mounting a peaceful revolution that sooner or later is bound to happen. This film is as much important as it is touching, because we are talking about a country were women still cannot interact with men or have a fair trail, so a big thanks to Haifaa Al-Mansour. Filmaking is art, and art will change the world, little by little, pedaling by pedaling.

The first ever film shot in Saudi Arabia and even more remarkably considering that country and it's politics, the first by a woman. This is a really lovely little film, worthy of your attention. The lead girl is very likable and the relationship with her Mother is perfectly portrayed. An impossible film to sell to someone else 'Its a Saudi Arabian film about a girl who wants to buy a bike' but it's so much more than that. Give it a go, I really recommend it. I'm on an unbelievable run of good films at the moment, loving it!

Interesting and empowering.

An excellent movie!! A great achievement considering all the obstacles that had to be tackled for it to be filmed. Also, a great story of a brave and very intelligent girl living in a very stifling environment for all men, women and childern, but nontheless, triumphant in achieving her own freedom despite everything and evryone she has to overcome to do so.

Now Wajda, wouldn't you rather donate the money to our fighting brothers in Palestine?