Parents' Guide to

Wadjda

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

Beautiful, nuanced tale of an independent Saudi girl.

Movie PG 2013 98 minutes
Wadjda Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 9+

Based on 7 parent reviews

thetwin101
thetwin101 Adult
April 23, 2016
age 12+

Not appropriate for 9 year olds

Parental Guide on IMDB.com has following to say about Sex in this film: It is implied that Wadjda's friend Abeer was caught with another man. There are later references to her being married off. In one scene two girls are giving each other magazines, and the head teacher Ms Hassa sees one of the girls' hands under the skirt of the other. The religion club leader tells the girls that they shouldn't touch the Koran while having their periods. Wadjda falls off a bike and complains that she is bleeding - someone says "What's bleeding, your virginity?"
meydiana.rizki
meydiana.rizki Parent of 18+-year-old
February 22, 2024
age 15+

Maximum knowledge about Saudi Arabia and Islam

This film gives you enough knowledge about Saudi Arabia and its fossilized views on everything, women in this country are not allowed to sing, they have to cover their faces, they do not even have the right to vote, women in Saudi Arabia are just a device for childbirth And even their value in Islamic jurisprudence is set at half a man, these are facts that no one can hide, but about the film it can be said that the acting was poor, the directing was very mediocre and the script could have been more detailed. Warning Spoilers: Wadjda falls off a bike and complains that she is bleeding - someone says "What's bleeding, your virginity?"
See all 7 parent reviews

What's the Story?

WADJDA follows the titular character (Waad Mohammed), a feisty 11-year-old Saudi Arabian girl who marches to the beat of her own drum. She wears black Converse sneakers, makes friendship bracelets that she sells to classmates, and loves to compete against her (male) best friend, Abdullah (Abdullrahman Al Gohani). When she sees him riding a bicycle, Wadjda decides that she, too, needs a bike, even though it's considered unacceptable for girls to ride. Wadjda's parents refuse to indulge her, so the entrepreneurial girl joins her school's religion club to compete in a Quran memorization competition that awards the winner just enough to purchase the bike.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (7 ):
Kids say (4 ):

The first Saudi Arabian-produced film ever to be directed by a woman, Haifaa Al-Mansour, is a triumph of nuance and substance. Enterprising young Wadjda -- with her love of Western radio, quirky Chucks with purple laces, and singular decision to beat Abdullah in a bike race -- is a study in everyday female empowerment. When her mother informs her that her father's family tree can never include her, because it only features men's names, she boldly writes "Wadjda" on a sticky note and tacks it on to the painting. The moment is both touching and a loaded statement -- her father's "glorious" legacy will never claim her.

Wadjda knows what her future holds. She must marry (one of her more pious classmates is already a wife) and bear her husband's sons -- something that her own beautiful mother was unable to do. But that's another story, because Wadjda is about independent thinking, overcoming odds, and unconditional friendship. Abdullah and Wadjda don't create a fictional world like Terabithia, but in their own way, they talk and play and compete like equals -- something just as secret and magical (and dangerous), given their homeland.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the importance of using media to explore other cultures and what growing up in other places is like. What does Wadjda teach us about Saudi Arabia?

  • Do you think it's obvious that the movie was directed by a woman? What do you think she's trying to say about Saudi society?

  • Does this movie make you want to see more foreign films? Why or why not?

  • How do the characters in Wadjda demonstrate integrity, courage, and perseverance? Why are these important character strengths?

Movie Details

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