In short, this is your typical, stereotypical movie designed to appease a Western audience. Nothing more than mainstream media propaganda.
If you are a Westerner looking for a movie that fits your preconceptions about the 'Other' (here being the orient, the Arab/Muslim world or more specifically Saudi Arabia) then this is your movie! You are guaranteed to return home feeling good about yourself and what you have long thought about that part of the world through your mainstream media.
In Wadjda you've got it all: oppression, polygamy, dictatorship, child abuse, labour abuse, early marriage, hypocrisy, gender discrimination and even terrorism (that part about the young man who blew himself up to win 70 virgins in heaven was so artificially and forcefully pushed into the script)! All your stereotypes packed in 98 minutes.
Wadjda offers absolutely nothing new. I may have seen it tens of times before. Sadly, it is a cheap, pathetic start for a director.
It lacks a great deal of authenticity and does not give an honest picture of that part of the world. It undermines both the intellect and intent of genuine viewers.
I give it two scores for the performance of children, in particular that of Abdullah, the little boy who played the role of Wadjda's friend.
If you are a Westerner looking for a movie that fits your preconceptions about the 'Other' (here being the orient, the Arab/Muslim world or more specifically Saudi Arabia) then this is your movie! You are guaranteed to return home feeling good about yourself and what you have long thought about that part of the world through your mainstream media.
In Wadjda you've got it all: oppression, polygamy, dictatorship, child abuse, labour abuse, early marriage, hypocrisy, gender discrimination and even terrorism (that part about the young man who blew himself up to win 70 virgins in heaven was so artificially and forcefully pushed into the script)! All your stereotypes packed in 98 minutes.
Wadjda offers absolutely nothing new. I may have seen it tens of times before. Sadly, it is a cheap, pathetic start for a director.
It lacks a great deal of authenticity and does not give an honest picture of that part of the world. It undermines both the intellect and intent of genuine viewers.
I give it two scores for the performance of children, in particular that of Abdullah, the little boy who played the role of Wadjda's friend.