Wadjda
A spirited Riyadh schoolgirl schemes to buy a bicycle, turning an ordinary childhood wish into a quietly radical stand for autonomy.
Overview
A young girl's determination to break free from societal constraints leads her on an inspiring journey of self-discovery.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- witty
- warm
- hopeful
- thoughtful movie night
- international cinema night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as an assured, enjoyable, and socially incisive portrait of gender inequality and female autonomy in Saudi Arabia.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Wadjda schemes to buy a green bicycle and insists on pursuing her own desire despite restrictions on girls.
The plot connects Wadjda’s bicycle ban to her mother’s fear of her husband taking a second wife and to school rules governing female behavior.
The coveted green bicycle motivates Wadjda’s entrepreneurial schemes, rivalry with Abdullah, and determination to win the Quran competition.
The film observes suburban Riyadh, school life, family tensions, religious devotion, prosperity, and social hypocrisy in grounded detail.
Films like Wadjda, and why
The Blue Bicycle
coming of age story centered on a determined girl challenging restrictive social expectations with warmth and realism
Persepolis
humanist child protagonist, social constraint, and hopeful feminist perspective grounded in everyday life
Bend It Like Beckham
quietly rebellious female lead navigating family and patriarchal pressures in a culturally specific setting
The Kite Runner
observational drama about childhood autonomy and social inequality with an optimistic emotional register
Movie Details
- Director
- Haifaa al-Mansour
- Release Date
- 2012-12-06
- Runtime
- 98 min
- Rating
- 7.2 / 10 (531)
Cast
- Reem Abdullah
- Waad Mohammed
- Abdullrahman Algohani
- Ahd Kamel
- Sultan Al Assaf
- Dana Abdullilah
- Rehab Ahmed
- Rafa Al Sanea
- Sara Aljaber
- Noura Faisal
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Wadjda about?
- A spirited Riyadh schoolgirl schemes to buy a bicycle, turning an ordinary childhood wish into a quietly radical stand for autonomy.
- What is Wadjda like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Wadjda as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Wadjda violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Wadjda.
- What did critics think of Wadjda?
- Critics broadly praised the film as an assured, enjoyable, and socially incisive portrait of gender inequality and female autonomy in Saudi Arabia.
- Which films are like Wadjda?
- Films with a similar feel include The Blue Bicycle, Persepolis, Bend It Like Beckham, and The Kite Runner.
- How long is Wadjda?
- Wadjda runs 98 minutes.
- Where can I watch Wadjda?
- In United States, Wadjda is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
