Wadjda
Starring: Waad Mohammed, Reem Abdullah, Abdullrahman Al Gohani
Director: Haifaa Al-Mansour
Rating: 4/5
Director Haifaa Al-Mansour is making waves with her directorial debut Wadjda, as this is not only the first film to be filmed entirely in Saudi Arabia but she is also the first female filmmaker from that country.
Wadjda is the story of a young girl living in a suburb of Riyadh determined to raise enough money to buy a bike in a society that sees bicycles as dangerous to a girl's virtue.
True pioneering cinema doesn't come around all that often, but the release of Wadjda is just that.
Single handedly, she is paving the way for women in cinema in her country as well as perhaps changing the views on filmmaking in her country.
She is a director who is not afraid to test and break boundaries and she should be applauded for what she has achieved.
On top of all of that, Wadjda is a truly wonderful and charming movie; it's hard to believe that this is her directorial debut.
This is a well written coming of age drama that is heartbreaking as well as inspiring.
Waad Mohammed takes on the central role of Wadjda in what is her acting debut; from start to finish she is magnificent
And while she is surrounded by more experienced stars - Reem Abdullah in particular - she manages to outshine them all with her charm and steely determination to succeed.
This is a film that will inspire and Al-Mansour delivers an uplifting and vital message to the women of her country.
Al-Mansour has shown with this movie that with the right amount of grit and determination hurdles can but overcome and boundaries can begin to be moved.
Wadjda is one of the most vital movies of 2013 and marks the arrival of a brave and fascinating filmmaker.
Wadjda is out now