Wadjda

• Wadjda is about a young girl who wants a bicycle but her father doesnt want her too because she's a woman
• wadjda is set in riyadh saudi arabia
• wadjda uses long shots to show how small Wadjda feels compared to the men around her
• the director of Wadjda is haifaa almansour
• 'Women are not allowed to drive' - sign
• haifaa al mansour was the first female director of a feature length film in saudi arabia
• when was wadjda released?

  april 2013
• where was wadjda produced?

  saudi arabia
• main wadjda characters:

  • abdullah
  • wadjda
  • ms.hussa
  • mother
  • father
• mother:

  Wadjda's mother can no longer have children, and almost died giving birth to Wadjda. Because of her inability to give birth to children, her husband's family looks for another wife for him. In the end, her husband leaves, but she buys the bicycle for her daughter.
• wadjda:

  Wadjda is a young Saudi girl who desires to buy a green bike. She makes bracelets in order to sell to earn the SR800 it costs. She then enters a Quran recital competition at school which has a cash prize of SR1000. She ends up winning the prize, but her money is donated to Palestine on her behalf. In the end, her mother purchases the bike for her after her father has left her and her mother.
• abdullah:

  Abdullah is a friend of Wadjda's who has a bike. Wadjda desires to race Abdullah and beat him in a race. Abdullah's uncle is a highly regarded politician in Saudi Arabia.
• wadjda themes:

  romance

  saudi arabia

  religion/culture

  freedom

  rebellion

  coming-of-age
• what is the film representation?


  gender
• What does the close up of Wadjdas converse show in the opening scene?

  not a conservative teacher, rebel
• What do the purple laces on her converse show?

  shes rebellious
• What does the wire fence at Wadjdas school suggest?

  prison like
• What do the girls with the globe represent?

  the world passing them by
• How is the difference between young and old represented in the opening scene?

  old means control young means obedient
• What does the handheld shot show in the learning to ride scene?

  learning and unsteady
• What does Wadjdas western clothing represent?

  rebellion
• What does the close up of Wadjdas hands show at the Qu'ran competition?

  nerves
• What do the green walls show at the Qu'ran competition?

  patriotic and traditional
• What does the quote "protect the soul and honour" represent?

  girls are expected to behave perfectly
• Who directed Wadjda?

  Al Mansour
• When was Wadjda released?

  2012
• Where is Wadjda set?

  Saudi Arabia
• What is the setting at the start of Wadjda? And what does this establish?

  A school. An atmosphere of suppression and control.
• What are the girls reciting at the beginning of Wadjda?

  Koran
• What item of clothing show Wadjda's rejection of tradition?

  Trainers
• What is the name of the headteacher in Wadjda?

  Ms Hussa
• What does the bike symbolise to Wadjda's mother?

  The freedom she can give to her daughter but can't have herself
• Why does Wadjda's father choose to take a second wife?

  As her mother cannot produce a son for him and the religious expectations are too strong for him to resist
• What is the bike a metaphor for for Wadjda?

  empowerment and freedom, and it is used to drive the narrative forward in Wadjda
• What does the T-junction at the end of Wadjda suggest about her character?

  that this is not the end of her fight for empowerment and that many choices are ahead of her
• Who said 'You won't be able to have children if you ride a bike?'

  Wadjda's Mother
• Who said 'A woman's voice reveals her nakedness, what if a man had heard you?'

  Ms Hussa
• Who said 'Women's voices shouldn't carry beyond the front door?'

  Wadjda's Mother
• Who said 'interested in your father's glorious family tree? You aren't included, it only includes men's names?'

  Wadjda's Mother
• Who said 'Girls! Stay in your places!'

  Ms Hussa