Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.5

Wadjda Blu-ray Movie Review

A girl and her dream for a bicycle.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman January 30, 2014

The bicycle seems like the perfect metaphorical wish list item for the title character in Wadjda, Director Haifaa al-Mansour's superb Saudi Arabian film that takes a look at the challenges of dreaming in a society that routinely discourages dreams, extinguishes them, even punishes those who have them. The bicycle, particularly in the eyes of children but also in a practical and literal sense, represents a faster and more efficient way to travel from one place to another but also, in this case, an escape from cultural dictates. Wadjda is a film about rebellion, open rebellion but mostly polite rebellion, not speaking against ways or values but rather demonstrating a determination to break free from them and live as one sees fit to live, not as others decide one must live. It's a quintessential tale of freedom, of aspiration, of hard work, of dedication. The picture explores basic themes and fundamental human ideals but does so respectfully, simply, and beautifully. This is one of the top picture of 2013 and was Saudi Arabia's entry for "Best Foreign Language" film at this year's Oscars. It sadly failed to garner a nomination. It's difficult to imagine five other films better and more deserving than this.

An opportunity.

A young Saudi Arabian girl named Wadjda (Waad Mohammed) is different. She's a rule bender and breaker, someone who's not keen on adhering to her society's strict rules and regulations that limit what women can do and say. She's restricted from letting herself be seen or heard in front of men. Her attire must meet firm guidelines. Her shoes must match those her classmates wear. She rebels when she can, swapping the standard footwear for something a little more lively. She listens to Western music and makes mixed tapes. She wants a bicycle so she can beat her friend Abdullah (Abdullrahman Algohani) in a race. Unfortunately, Saudi custom says she's not fit to ride a bike, but that doesn't stop her from saving up the necessary funds to buy one. Her mother's (Reem Abdullah) support is tepid at best, and Wadjda routinely finds herself at odds with her school's culturally strict headmistress, Miss Hussa (Ahd Kamel). When Wadjda learns that her school is holding a Koran memorization and reading contest with big prize money the reward, she focuses her attention on winning the contest so she might earn the money to buy the bicycle that her society says she cannot ride.

Wadjda presents audiences with an accessible look into a culture where equality is not tolerated, oftentimes even by those who are deemed less equal. The film produces scene after scene in which Wadjda is admonished for her actions or words that are driven by her desire to be herself, to enjoy the things in life she wishes to enjoy, to do the things she chooses to do. Her willingness to distance herself from the system, her methods of doing so, and her perseverance in her endeavors work through classic motifs but motifs that here carry the extra weight of working against repression and her peers' adherence to the cultural norms against which she fights. There's an elegance in the picture's simplicity and the way it builds its story through thoughtful yet believable dialogue and actions, and it also demonstrates an intelligence in its ability to interweave thematic complexities into its tale without making the movie inaccessible to some audiences. For example, Wadjda's yearning for her bicycle plays against her and her mother's dealings with their driver Iqbal (Mohammed Zahir) who is untrustworthy and combative. Unlike others who rely on a third party and do so because they are told they must, Wadjda seeks a way to break free with her bicycle. Iqbal isn't the driving force behind her desire to possess the bicycle, but his role is an example of, and a crucial piece in, the film's thematic arc and wider importance beyond the immediate story. Wadjda also attempts to use the very religion and culture that holds her back to her advantage, learning the Koran not to further her own understanding of its teachings but merely to win the money necessary to buy an item her society has deemed inappropriate for her simply based on her gender.

Wadjda succeeds beyond its themes. It's a masterful film on a technical level, a stunningly simple picture in which characters and environment shape the picture's image, and both accentuate the deeper meanings within. Haifaa al-Mansour often utilizes steady, lingering shots, sometimes even from a distance, that give not only a scope to the location or event but manage to capture emotion beyond words, actions, or expressions. Of course, those words, actions, and expressions work on their own merits, too. The script proves a shining example of simplistic brilliance. It tells its story precisely yet naturally. Every character -- Wadjda, her mother, her school's headmistress, her classmates, her friends -- feels alive, not acted. Waad Mohammed is stunning in the title part, conveying the deeper emotions of her quest against both the cultural and personal hurdles she must overcome and the inner strife that doesn't keep her from her goal or hinder her ability to strive for it but that does both drive her and force her to further question her world and her place in it, from the more mundane reprisals to the biggest blows to her chances for success. The remainder of the cast is superb; Ahd Kamel and Reem Abdullah both shine as the most prominent females in Wadjda's life, each demonstrating their own values and their approach to Wadjda's wants with startling clarity.

Wadjda Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Wadjda's stunning 1080p transfer dazzles in every shot. The picture is clean and very well defined, yielding superb clarity, textural definition, and color. There are plenty of everyday objects and locations that are presented with gorgeous attention to detail. Close-ups of shoes and well-used carpeting in the opening moments set high expectations which are equalled with the transfer's ability to precisely reproduce worn wooden floors and carpet in Wadjda's home, accents around the school, and sandy terrain and rough brick and stone work on city streets. The picture isn't often abundantly colorful; it's generally limited to black garb, sandy and light earth tones, and basic shades throughout the various interiors. A bright red dress and other vibrant hues prove very nicely presented in their limited appearances, notably during a shopping mall sequence partway through the movie. Black levels are precise and flesh tones appear natural. The image suffers through no discernible bouts of noise, banding, or other unwanted visual intrusions. In short, this is another reference quality transfer from Sony.

Wadjda Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Wadjda features a native Arabic language DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack alongside a French option of the same configuration. English-speaking audiences will need to use either the included English or English SDH subtitle options. The Arabic track is fairly reserved but sonically effective. Sony's sound presentation delivers clear and distinct voices, whether schoolgirls speaking in unison or simple, everyday dialogue, the latter of which defines the vast majority of the picture's sonic needs. The track features a myriad of nicely integrated ambient effects, including, but not limited to, the din at a construction site, the cheerful noises of school recess, city traffic, and chirping birds. None are particularly aggressive but do find a pleasing, natural stage presence with light yet enveloping surround usage. A few more pronounced effects include a rumbling school bus heard early in the film that comes across as a bit unkempt and messy. Otherwise, the bigger effects are largely limited to dialogue reverberation, heard over a megaphone in chapter ten and later through a microphone covering a school auditorium in chapter thirteen. The presentation is consistently clear and accurate, naturally spaced, and welcoming. This is a strong, lifelike track from Sony.

Wadjda Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Wadjda contains several quality supplements, including a commentary, a director interview, and a comprehensive on-set documentary.

• Audio Commentary: Writer/Director Haifaa Al Mansour covers much of the same information found on the below-reviewed Making of and director interview. Nevertheless, this well-spoken and even track proves fascinating in content, covering the details of a shoot that's truly novel in the cinema world. It also covers themes, life and culture in Saudi Arabia, characters and performances, and more traditional commentary insight. This is a very good listen.
• The Making of Wadjda (HD, 33:25): A mixed language piece in both English and subtitled Arabic in which cast and crew discuss the project's origins, shooting in Saudi Arabia and working with local custom and an international crew, specific filming locations, the story, authenticity, visual details, the technical filmmaking process, environmental conditions during the shoot, and much more. The piece features plenty of fascinating raw on-set footage complimenting the interviews. This is a terrific supplement that all fans should watch.
• Directors Guild of America Q&A with Haifaa Al Mansour (HD, 38:20): Moderator Victoria Hochberg hosts and presents a number of questions to the director. This is an English language supplement.
• Wadjda Theatrical Trailer (HD, 2:04).
• Previews: Additional Sony titles.
• DVD Copy.

Wadjda Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Wadjda proves that simplicity in film can be a wonderful thing. Writer/Director Haifaa Al Mansour's picture is elegantly reserved yet at the same time powerfully dramatic. It's moving, heartfelt, even funny at times as it follows one girl's quest to live her life rather than the life society says she must endure. The picture is thematically deep and its threads faultlessly interwoven. Terrific craftsmanship and faultless acting elevate it to elite status. Wadjda stands as one of the finest films of the year. Sony's Blu-ray release is equally impressive. Supplements are rather short in number but satisfying on content and scope. Video is pristine and audio is terrific. Wadjda is an early contender for the year-end top-ten Blu-ray release list and earns my highest recommendation.