‘Wadjda’ is first Saudi Oscar entry

Saudi Arabian director Haifaa Al-Mansour’s drama “Wadjda,” about a young girl determined to win money to buy a bicycle has been selected as the Kingdom’s official submission for the Oscar’s foreign-language category. It marks the first time the country has submitted a film for Academy Award consideration.
“We are very proud of the film as an authentic representation of our country and culture and are very pleased to see the themes and story of the film resonate with audiences well beyond our borders,” Sultan Al Bazie, head of Saudi Arabian Society for Culture and Arts and chairman of the nominating committee, said in a statement Friday.
Produced by Rotana Studios, the film debuted in Venice last year.
Dr. Fahad Ghazoli, a Saudi producer and director from Kuther Media expressed his joy at the news.
“It’s a proud moment for us. ‘Wajda’s’ nomination for the Oscars will open a new door for Saudi films and filmmakers,” he said, adding that Saudi films have made much progress in the recent times. “I can see a better future for them,” Ghazoli said.
“Wadjda,” which opens in Los Angeles this week and is being distributed by Sony Pictures Classics, is believed to be the first film shot entirely in the Kingdom. The movie also is the first narrative feature from Mansour, a 39-year-old mother who grew up in a small Saudi town and shot the film on the streets of the Riyadh.
Waad Mohammed stars as the film’s title character, a spunky 10-year-old who sets out to win a Qur’an recitation competition so she can purchase a bike to race a neighborhood pal — this despite the fact that the law does not allow women to ride bicycles. After the film was made, the restriction was repealed.
Experts say Saudi Arabia’s eagerness in showcasing the movie on international platforms shows that the country is opening up, both in terms of films and in regards to women’s rights.
“It’s time for Saudi Arabia to celebrate art. This shows Saudi Arabia is changing,” Al-Mansour told CNN.
“It also shows that Saudi Arabia can be known for more than just oil. It can be known for its culture as well.”
However, “Wadjda,” according to New York Times film critic A.O. Scott, treads lightly when it comes to confronting women’s roles in Saudi society.