Film guide 2012
Wadjda
A green bicycle becomes the focus of a young girl’s determination to choose her own adventures.
- Original title
- وجدة — Wadjda
- Director
- Haifaa Al Mansour
- Year
- 2012
Editorial profile. Availability on LAREINE TV has not been confirmed.
Story, without spoilers
Ten-year-old Wadjda wants a bicycle so she can race her friend Abdullah through their Riyadh neighbourhood. Her mother objects, and earning the money proves difficult. A school competition offering a cash prize gives Wadjda a new plan, bringing her private ambition into the classroom.
Context & recognition
Written and directed by Haifaa Al Mansour, Wadjda premiered at Venice in 2012. Filmed entirely in Saudi Arabia, it connects a child’s practical goal with the expectations surrounding women and girls.
Main characters & cast
Wadjda
Waad Mohammed
An inventive girl determined to buy a bicycle.
Wadjda’s mother
Reem Abdullah
A mother balancing her daughter’s wishes with social expectations.
Abdullah
Abdullrahman Al Gohani
Wadjda’s neighbourhood friend and prospective racing rival.