Check Out Saudi Arabia’s First Female Helmed Film ‘Wadjda’

Haifaa Al Mansour has made history with her first project WADJDA. Not only is it the first project to be filmed entirely in the country, but it also marks the first time a film has ever been shot entirely by a female director too.

The film follows an enterprising Saudi girl, who signs up for her school’s Koran recitation competition as a way to raise the remaining funds she needs in order to buy the green bicycle that has captured her interest. Waad Mohammed makes her acting debut as the title role.

WADJDA was a major hit on the festival circuit, earning awards at Venice, Palm Springs and Rotterdam International Film Festival, just to name a few. But Al Mansour admitted that the project was very hard to film at some points. Due to Saudi laws where a man and a woman can not be out in public together, she would often direct the film via walkie talkies at the back of a production van. She also mentioned that WADJDA took five years to complete.

All we can say – it definitely looks worth the wait! WADJDA will be released in the UK 19th July via Soda Pictures. Check out the trailer below: