Young doctor Maryam (Mila Al Zahrani’s debut) surprises everyone by standing as a candidate for the local municipality in Saudi Arabia. Wadjda made Haifaa Al Mansour the first director to ever shoot a film in its entirety in the kingdom. After two American titles (Mary Shelley and Nappily Ever After) she returned to Saudi Arabia for a story about women trying to break the glass ceiling there. Maryam’s only desire is for the dirt road outside the local hospital to be surfaced, but no one takes this ambitious professional woman’s modest political mission seriously.
Al Mansour depicts Maryam’s political mission as a multi-layered family drama. She lovingly outlines how the new candidate is supported by her sisters and how her father, a musician, worries about her progressive values. On tour with his band in conservative areas, he realises Maryam’s mission is about creative openness and freedom of expression.
Film details
- Germany, Saudi Arabia
- Year
- 2019
- Festival edition
- IFFR 2020
- Length
- 101"
- Medium/Format
- DCP
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