MOTHER. How could you say that? I almost died having you! Wash for prayer!
FATHER. Do you think I want to support two families! I'm the joke of the town. Are you going to give me a son? We both know that is not going to happen. Forget it, and don't count on me coming next week at all!
MOTHER. I don't care! Go to your mother's house to discuss potential brides all night!
Abdullah directs [Wadjda's] attention to a house busy with MEN coming in and out. He directs her away from the scene.
ABDULLAH. Their son put stuff around his waist that blows up and died. Boom!
He acts out pulling a cord and makes an explosive noise.
WADJDA. He's crazy! That must have hurt.
ABDULLAH. No, if you die for God, it's like a prick of a needle, and then you fly up and you have seventy women!
WADJDA. Really?
She acts out a big explosion.
WADJDA. Boom! Seventy bicycles!
ABDULLAH. It doesn't work that way.
MS. HUSSA. So you still insist that you weren't doing anything there behind the school?
FATIMA. We were reading magazines and that's all, nothing like what you mentioned. (to Wadjda) Ask her!
Ms. Hussa taps her fingers on the folder on her desk, looking at Wadjda. Wadjda looks at the girls, who look confidently, sure she will back them up. Wadjda looks at Ms. Hussa, then looks down uncomfortably.
WADJA. I'm not sure. I was standing far away.
The girls gawk at her in disbelief. Wadjda avoids their gaze.
Haifaa al-Mansour on Wadjda (read the entire article):
I try to be respectful. I want people in Saudi to accept the film. I don't want to clash with the culture, or make people angry. I want to be part of the journey taking part in the Kingdom at the moment, opening it up, and that us exciting to me.
al-Mansour from the film's website:
I come from a small town in Saudi Arabia where there are many girls like Wadjda who have big dreams, strong characters and so much potential. These girls can, and will, reshape and redefine our nation...I hope the film offers a unique insight into my own country and speaks of universal themes of hope and perseverance that people of all cultures can relate to.
And finally, al-Mansour after her 2005 documentary Women Without Shadows:
"I get hate mail," says Mansour. "People say I am not religious. That I don't respect my own culture. It's not true. I don't want to corrupt my viewers, but there are certain situations in Saudi Arabia that merit people talking about them."
Waad Mohammed, Abdullrahan Al Gohani, and Haifaa al-Mansour at the Venice Film Festival where Wadjda premiered.
Today's viewing got serious in ways that the first 50 minutes only hinted at. Suicide bombing is briefly mentioned, something that young Wadjda has clearly not thought about—and why should she have? Mother is rightfully concerned that her husband is about to take another wife because she cannot have children anymore. A better job awaits her at the hospital where her best friend works, but the openness between the women and men there makes her terribly uncomfortable. Fatin and Fatima are expelled from the school for "touching each other" and not signing a document given to them by Ms. Hussa. Salma, who cannot be much older than Wadjda, has married. And Wadjda betrays the two girls. As al-Mansour said in 2005: "There are certain situations in Saudi Arabia that merit people talking about them." Like Pariah, this film transcends its coming-of-age roots into becoming, in subtle and sometimes not-so-subtle ways, a political film. As Pariah is too.
After class Zoya and I talked about the issue, maybe even problem, of our watching a film about a culture as different from ours as Wadjda is. Indeed, it does speak "of universal themes of hope and perseverance that people of all cultures can relate to." And it is set in a Muslim country—a very conservative country—that as Americans we have little knowledge and awareness about. It's in the news now, but in ways that seem so unrelated to what we're watching. Some of you have talked about how surprised you were by the culture depicted in the film: it wasn't what you expected. All that said...
1. What do you think about Wadjda's betrayal of Fatin and Fatima? If you don't see it as a betrayal, please say so. Nonetheless, she could have helped save them. Why do you think she did what she did? Would you have done differently? And how did this moment make you feel about our plucky hero?
2. Other than the moment above, what moment or scene stuck with you from today's viewing?
3. al-Mansour says above that she "didn't want to clash with [her] culture or make people angry." Well, at least one person is angry about it in the class—and that's fine. A risky question: a.) do you feel the film is anti-Muslim? If so, how? If not, why not? b.) And what do you think of her obvious questions about Saudi culture? What are those questions? Does al-Mansour's questions—criticisms—strike you as unfair, or heavy-handed, or one-sided? c.) Do they at all remind you of Dee Rees's criticisms and questions about American culture—does her approach seem similar to the ways Rees questioned America? If so, how? If not, how not?
That's a lot of questions, I realize. To make it easy, pick one of them to discuss—or more if you want. Take some space and time to answer this. Three sentences is unacceptable.
300 words in all.
Finally: a moment from the part of the film we have yet to see. We'll finish the film on Monday.
Have a good weekend.
ReplyDelete1. I was a little surprised by Wadjda’s actions; it made me saddened for our protagonist, who always struck me as clever and kindhearted. I honestly expected her to find a way to vouch for Fatin and Fatima without involving herself in the incident. I think that, instead of a betrayal, her action was a result of fear: the fear of being seen as an accomplice of an incident that could get her into more trouble than she wants. I think Wadjda knew that if she defended Fatima and Fatin, then Ms. Hussa would find a way to punish her, too. We have seen Wadjda defy authority before (such as when she was ordered to go inside when men were watching but instead decided to play hopscotch); however, I think that Wadjda understood that this incident was much more serious. In fact, I truthfully think that I would also betray Fatin and Fatima; I would feel terrible about it, but then again, it was Fatin and Fatima’s choice to be together in such a public place. I feel that I would only be able to make matters worse for myself and my family.
2. I was actually really struck by Abdullah and Wadjda’s conversation about the suicide bomber. It shocked me a little to think that people so young could be talking about destruction so casually; what’s more is how Abdullah justifies the action if it is done “for God.” It showed me what kind of priorities that the people of Saudi Arabia may have grown up with; in the example of this scene, they are taught to blindly follow the orders of their elders, who have already had their perspectives shaped by religion and culture.
3. I can definitely see a connection between Rees and al-Mansour’s directing styles; both of their respective works (“Pariah” and “Wadjda”) seem to showcase a protagonist that goes against their own social norms. However, while the audience suspects both protagonists to openly rebel against society and to finally achieve freedom, we are instead introduced of the cruel reality of their Alike and Wadjda’s worlds. To simplify, I feel that most moviegoers have been conditioned to believe that most films will end with a storybook ending, wherein Alike is accepted by her mother as a gay person and where Wadjda is respected just as well as any Saudi Arabian male would be. However, what makes Rees and al-Mansour so similar is that they both show injustice as it truly is: ongoing. Instead of allowing Alike and Wadjda’s injustices to be confronted, the directors show is a world where they are hurt by society. For Alike, it was realizing that her mother would never accept her; and for Wadjda, it was being a victim to the view of women as inferior beings.
I don’t totally see Wadjda’s actions as a betrayal. Previously in the movie, Wadjda alerted the pair to the teacher’s presence, thus showing that she was helping them. However, I think in this specific situation in the principal's office Wadjda was trying to protect herself. Yes, she still wants to keep her good(ish) relationship with the principle going, because she benefits, and if she defends the two girls then the principle might take her anger out in Wadjda. I think Wadjda also realizes that there is not much she can do to help the girls, after all the principle already saw the magazines. Thus, I think while Wadjda’s response seems like a betrayal, there was not much more she could have done.
ReplyDeleteThe scene where Wadjda pinned a piece of paper with her name on it to her father’s family tree stuck with me. It made me chuckle a little at the fact that her mom just warned her to clean up well so they wouldn’t get in trouble, and subsequently after, Wadjda blatantly broke the rules and put her name on the fathers all male family tree. I think this moment also reflects her character. She knows what she wants, and in a way who she wants to be, and the arbitrary rules of society can’t stop her.
I don’t feel like the film is anti Muslim. While I see how someone could think that the film is bashing Muslim culture, I also think that al-Mansour is simply trying to make a story showing a little girl struggling to fulfill her desires in this culture. It’s, in a way, up to the viewer to either take offense to the message or to realize that these issues of the struggle of women in this culture are just being raised, but not shaming anyone it particular. I think al-Mansour’s questions are a bit heavy handed, after all they question entire society on whether their treatment of women is right, or not, but I also think that these questions are relevant for many people. Wadjda relates to Pariah in that both films use, sometimes subtle, sometimes not, examples of the issues with the two societies. They show, instead of tell the audience of the issues, so that the viewer can come to their own conclusions, which, I assume both directors want to relate to the realization of the flaws in society.
I think this was an incredibly difficult situation for Wadjda. I would not label it as a betrayal, but as self-preservation. She stayed in the middle ground by neither condemning nor supporting the two girls. Also, Wadjda has been reprimanded by the principal so many times, she almost got kicked out the school (for selling bracelets,) and I think she is trying to “turn over a new leaf.” I don’t really know what I would do in this situation. It did not majorly change my view of Wadjda, but it did make her seem slightly more selfish, but I honestly can’t judge her because that’s a difficult situation to be in.
ReplyDeleteThe scene where we find out that Salma just got married has stuck with me since the last viewing. She is so young and I couldn’t really tell how she feels about her marriage. (Embarrassed?) The teacher looked so happy for her, but all the other girls just laughed. Also, this is the one scene where we see a teacher ignore contraband, even admiring the photos of Salma’s marriage, because she is so happy for Salma. Salma has (quickly) become a woman, and her teacher congratulates her.
I do not think this film is anti-Muslim as a whole, but I do think it is against certain aspects of Saudi culture, for example, early marriage. I think she uses Saudi culture to question male-female interactions, which I think makes the film easier for Americans to understand because people are quick to question cultures they know nothing about rather than their own. People see a headscarf and are quick to condemn it as a sign of oppression rather than seeing the cultural history. al-Mansour’s questioning of Saudi culture does remind me of Rees’ questioning of American culture; however, they approach asking these questions differently. Religion is a huge part of both films, as it is incorporated into Wadjda’s home and school life in prayer, the recitation competition, etc. Religion is directly mentioned in Wadjda, while I think it is a little more subtle in Pariah. When watching Pariah, I did not notice the aspect of religion as much until I started watching Wadjda, where we see the girls ostracized for “touching each other,” but Christianity is incredibly exclusive of the LGBTQ as well, which is evident in Pariah, especially during the scene where Alike’s mother cuts her husband’s prayer off during dinner. But as I have been raised mostly in the American culture, I think a lot of things are passing over my head, so I’m excited to hear what other people have to say.
I don't really think her actions were betrayal. Wadjda was put in a very tough situation and she did what she thought was best for her in the moment. She had already been in trouble with the principal most likely more than once and I don't think it was worth it to her to get in trouble again. If it were me, I don't know what I would've done in the moment, but I feel like if it was the exact same situation as Wadjda, I would've done the same thing she did. Not only could she have gotten in trouble with the school, but with her parents as well.
ReplyDeleteThe scene that stuck with me the most was when Wadjda and Abdullah were discussing suicide bombing as if it were no big deal and something to laugh at. I was captured by this moment because it solidified that kids in their culture were taught to think a certain way about something so horrible. At the same time, as they were laughing and joking, I found myself not thinking as seriously about what they were actually talking about. It sort of breezed passed me at firs until thinking about it later.
I don't think the movie is completely anti muslim, but I do see how the way they are portrayed is controversial. I personally do not know anything about the culture, but after watching this movie, it makes it clear that certain aspects of their ways of living is better than others. Especially since we are following the story of Wadjda, who is a likable character, when she doesn't want to do something that is part of her culture (like wear a headdress or ride a bike as a girl) it makes me as the viewer question why she is not allowed to do so. I do see both sides of the argument, but I the thought didn't really cross my mind until now of the movie being anti muslim. As al-Mansour says, I think the film is offering a unique insight to the culture rather being anti muslim in general.
1. Wadjah had already told her teacher that she want to reform and join religious club. If she had told the principal anything else, perhaps she would not hold the same hopeful opinion of Wadjdah: she is using this moment to test Wadjdah’s belief. We have to remember that Wadjdah is a kid, and she only has a singular goal: to get the money for the bike. In this instance, toeing the line is required for her to do that. We can’t expect a kid to rebel all the time, especially if it’s not in line with her goal. In this situation, I probably would have done the same.
ReplyDelete2. The scene where the “lesbians” get paraded around the school and expelled really got to me. If they were to be expelled, just let them go! Now, they have to deal with stigma and rumors that will follow them around and prevent them from living their lives—even the girls at the school shun them.
3 a. No, I don’t? The filmmaker herself is Muslim, and it doesn’t seem to be a rejection of that in and of itself. It just happens that Wadjdah lives in a culture that practices an austere and puritanical version of Islam. It’s just that, to quote al-Mansour, “there are certain situations in Saudi Arabia that merit people talking about them.”
b. I do think they are a bit one-sided. I think she exposes hypocrisy well, in that Wadjdah’s mother is appalled by the openness between man and women at the hospital, and is critical of her daughter’s desire, but is a “victim” of the culture herself in the way that her husband treats her. However, I think that these criticisms are fair, because of what Wadjdah and her mother have to go through on a daily basis.
I think that it was a betrayal because she clearly knew what happened but didn’t say anything to save them. In this moment, I didn’t view Wadjda as the rebellious superhero who fights against oppressive forces. I viewed her as a young inexperienced girl, one who pushes people under the bus to get what she wants. I was kind of disappointed when she reacted that way. I think she did that so that she could get on the principal’s good side so she could win the Quran reciting competition. She really wanted that money so bad; and she was willing to get people expelled for it.
ReplyDeleteI think the moment where one of the other girls in Wadjda’s religious club said that she got married. She was literally a ten year old getting married to a twenty year old. I think the reason that moment stayed with me because it was just so ridiculous: I can’t believe some people make their children get married at that age and on top of that, to someone literally twice their age.
Even though that might not have been the director’s intention, I think that this film comes off as anti-Muslim. She might have been criticizing the culture of her small town in Saudi Arabia, but since the culture of Saudi Arabia, to an extent, is so influenced by their interpretation of the Quran and Islam, it can be hard to discern between the two. People who are not educated about the difference between Saudi Arabian culture, the generalizations of Islam, and Islam itself can easily misinterpret what the movie is trying to say. Islam has different interpretations, between sects and countries. These different interpretations determine how each Muslim approaches Islam. It’s not fair to say that one interpretation of Islam represents all interpretations of Islam.
This film talks about very sensitive topics, like not touching the Quran when you’re on your period or suicide bombing. I think it addressed all the bad generalizations of Islam without touching on the true, beautiful, peaceful nature of Islam. It gives the audience, especially those who don’t know about Islam, a bad picture of the religion.
I don't really see it as betrayal but more of a gut reaction. I think she knew she could have helped save them but she was trying her hardest to change herself since she had just joined the religious group. I think she did this for her own self, although she had already gotten in trouble she knew if she didn’t commit a sin she still had a chance at winning the money and change her behavior. Personally I would have said the truth and dealt with the consequences because I would feel guilty. This makes her seem selfish but now for the rest of the movie she will be disliked by the Fatin and Fatima.
ReplyDeleteA moment that stuck with me was when wadja fell on the bike and started bleeding and her mom yelled out she is bleeding from her virginity. First of all I found it very heartwarming that Abdullah was kind enough to teach her how to ride a bike. Secondly, I found it very strange that her mom was so worried when she started bleeding but I figure that is another uncommon thing there country.
I don’t see the film as anti-Muslim, I feel there are some parts that can be argued but it is a reminder of how different the norms are than in America. I knew very little about the culture and his movie educates the viewer in a nice way, showing different aspects of what it like to live in Saudi Arabia from a child to an adult. I think the film would be very different if we were to see it from the mother's perspective, rather than Wajda. Wadjda is a very determined character which makes the film easier to follow because she has one goal in mind and we get to see all she does to one day achieve the goal.
Whether or not Wadjda was afraid or scared, I still saw her not standing up for Fatin and Fatima as an act of betrayal. I think by not standing up for her classmates, in a way she was enforcing the system that is mistreating and overcritzing these girls in school. However, I do think it showed a different side of Wadjda because so far we have mostly seen the fearless and rebellious side of her. But I think this shows that this issue was one that even Wadjda felt like she could not stand up to. I don’t think this made me dislike Wadjda in anyway, it just shows that she can’t always be this brave hero and in reality she is just a young girl.
ReplyDeleteAlthough this is not necessarily a specific moment, I think overall the mother talking about her relationship with her husband is really important and shocks me. She is constantly concerned with making her husband as happy as possible, whether that be through making food, dressing in the correct way, or staying away from men completely. However, in return her husband treats her dismissively and is always gone, leaving the mother to constantly worry that he is going to leave for good for another wife.
I think it is really hard for me to say whether this film is necessarily anti muslim, considering I don’t know enough about the culture. But I think without a doubt it is making a strong commentary about certain aspects of the culture. This question reminds me of the Ted Talk we watched regarding the single story. I think parts of this film could be dangerous if this is the only story that you get. I don’t think this story shows enough of the positive aspects of the culture. But instead I am only left with being shocked about some aspects like the way men interact with women, the way the school is run, the view on early marriage, the treatment of women etc. It just seems as though the director is using the most radical and ideas different from our own to make negative commentary.
Wadjda’s betrayal of the two girls felt indicative to me less of issues with her moral compass than with the overaching societal pressures she feels on a day to day basis. While I don’t like the fact that Wadjda has taken to giving in to the whims of the school and is now trying her best to fit the mold to win the competition, I understand why she behaved how she did when confronted by the principal. While many of us would like to say we would have stood up for those girls, when actually faced with adversity and the type of pressure Wadjda was feeling as she tried to get on the school’s good side and was questioned by the principal, I doubt we would follow through on our rhetoric. I saw this scene as an example of just how powerful the system Wadjda has grown up in truly is in making people behave in the way they want them to.
ReplyDeleteThe other moment that stuck with me the most from the viewing had to be when Wadjda’s mother found Wadjda and Abdullah hanging out together on the roof. To me that appeared as such a nice, pure childhood image of simply two friends spending time together and trying to learn to ride a bike. However, when the mother arrived she immediately brought to light everything that was societally wrong with that picture and it became all the more clear to me that the way Wadja wants to live her life is simply never going to be tolerated.
I would argue that this film is not necessarily anti-islam as a whole, but more against certain aspects of it and how often the doctrine is used in more conservative muslim states, such as Saudi Arabia, to control people. I think that the film presents a lot of issues with how Islam is used as a tool in some parts of the Muslim world to often limit the rights of women and can be an extremely constricting and authoritarian environment to grow up in at times. I also understand, however, the concerns the director had about offending too many people, I think the way to bring about a cultural narrative change is through subtle changes that can be adopted by more people rather than fewer. I think if she had made this film even more polarizing than it already is, it would have been detrimental to the success of the message she is trying to get across that there is a desperate need for change in some aspects of Saudi culture.
I do not see what Wajda did as a betrayal at all. We have to remember that she is only ten years old, and even though she has been fearless and rebellious throughout most of the film. She may actually understand that this could be the last strike for her. In our culture, being kicked out of school is really bad. Your parents are very disappointed, if you are at private school you may have to go to public school. In her culture, it is implied that being kicked out of school could be life altering. It is possible that her parents will become so fed up with her that they will marry her off, so I understand and do not look down on her.
ReplyDeleteThe other scene that stuck with me was when the head of school was speaking to all of the students about the two girls who “commited a sin in the backyard.” This was really interesting and so different from our own culture. Most of the time at our school, when somebody cheats or does something wrong the school does everything they can to cover it up, so the kid can try to move on. At this school and in this culture they do the complete opposite. They employ public humiliation and severe punishments not to try to help the kids, but because they have been conditioned to believe that is what they deserve. That scene was a great example of the differences between our cultures, and I think it stuck with me because that difference would effect me and my classmates.
I am not really sure whether the film is anti muslim or not, because I do not know a lot about Muslim culture, and depending on the place, Muslim culture can be drastically different. When I think of the stereotypes of Muslim culture, I immediately think of places such as Iran and Iraq, where the most extreme versions of Islam and carried out. Because of that I actually found this movie to be a pretty positive representation of muslim culture. Wajda has a lot of freedoms that is definitely not the case in many muslim countries. Her Dad seems like someone who loves his daughter and wife, I think we see this when he lets his daughter play a violent video game, I would have never imagined someone in a Muslim country doing that. I read the book Persepolis which focus’s on a young women in Iran and we read A Thousand Splendid Suns in ninth grade and for the women in these books, some of the actions that Wajda was taking would have been crimes. So overall I do not think this is a negative representation, like the other books I mentioned and my point on the last blog these are all just experiences of different people in different culture, so I actually think this portrayal of life for a middle class Saudi family is pretty accurate.
ReplyDeleteI think in this situation Wadja was looking out for her self in a way that she is trying to paint a new image of herself to the principle. She joins the religious club and tells her she’s turning a new corner, so I think in this situation she thought staying out of this issue and not defending these girls sheds a better light on herself. I know this is not the most truthful or the right thing to do and I think I would’ve told the truth just because of the guilt I would have felt for being responsible for the fate of these girls. That said, I can respect Wadja in her motives because in her society she can’t exactly afford to always do the most honorable thing as it might reflect badly on her in association.
One moment that stuck with me from the viewing was the moment in which Wadja’s mother turns down the job opportunity from her friend. This moment was striking to me because it showed how strongly the mother stands by her values. She judges and leaves this opportunity from her close friend because of the more liberal nature of the enviroment, showing her priorities in her world.
I personally do not think the film is blatantly anti-muslim. I do see the argument in which some negative portrayals of Saudi culture. I thought the film did a good job handling the subject matter but I can see the criticism against this. I mainly think the only issue with it is the danger of looking at the film as an all-encompassing educator of the culture and religion. I think it is impossible to create an all-encompassing narrative of a culture, as everyone’s experiences are so different. So yes, the film can be one-sided but I think it's unfair to expect it not to be.
I think if the film is watched with the understanding that it isn’t the single story and is, in the end, just a film adaptation from the lense of one director, there should not be too much controversy over the subject matter.
I didn’t see Wadjda’s an act of betrayal. Her answer was very neutral; “I was far away to see.” She didn’t say that they were doing it; She just said that she couldn’t see it. Her answer doesn’t help the principal, so I don’t really see Wadjda’s actions as an act of betrayal. If she did support Fatin and Fatima, the principal would have punished her. The principal knew exactly what they were doing. I think she was testing Wadjda’s obidience. It was an icky situation to be in, so I don’t entirely agree that she betrayed her classmates.
ReplyDeleteI was shocked by Wadjda’s conversation with Abudallah about the suicide bomber, and how they truly don’t understand the concept that they are talking about. They talk about it so casually, which is kinda scary to talking about for their age. What really shocked me was Wadjda’s reaction to Abdullah talking about how you would have a large number of wives if you do God’s will and kill yourself for the cause of religion. She says “Boom, a million bicycles.” I get that is what she wants, but I really don’t think she understands what she is saying. She treats as a joke, yet this is such a disturbing matter. What also disturbs me too is Abudallah justifying that action by saying it was “God’s will.” Maybe this foreshadowing that he will go down the same path as the suicide bomber because this is what he is being taught.
I think the film is critiquing some aspects of Muslim but it is not an anti-Muslim film. It does have its sweet moments like when the mother and daughter are making dinner, singing, and having a good time, and when the father and daughter are playing video games together. However, it is critical and probably made Saudi people who were watching this movie to rethink what is considered normal. On that point I could understand why this movie would be controversial. However, I don’t believe that’s it anti-Muslim.
I would not say that Wadjda betrayed Fatin and Fatima. I think that betrayal has more to do with malicious intent and I don't think Wadjda necessarily wanted Fatin and Fatima to get in trouble. It was obviously a hard decision for her to make on what to do because she took a lot of time to answer. I think that she could have done something, but her recent confrontations with the principal changed her answer. She was just starting to get in good relations with the principal and I think that Wadjda didn't want to mess anything up and gave the principal the answer she was looking for. I also don't think this is betrayal because Wadjda didn't explicitly say that the girls were doing what they were accused of, but she just left the decision to the principal by giving a neutral answer. I think this moment shows that Wadjda, although rebellious, doesn't enjoy being caught up in conflict.
ReplyDeleteOne scene that stuck with me from the viewing was the scene where Wadjda goes into the store and gives the store owner the mixtape that she made for him. She also buys the Koran video game and bargains with the store owner about the price. I think that I remember this scene because it was funny to see how Wadjda interacts with the store owner who scoffed at the idea of her buying a bike.
I don't think that this film is completely anti-Muslim even though it does carry some aspects and scenes that do show a negative representation of Saudi culture. I don't know much about Saudi culture to start with, but I think that the movie does use some extreme examples and representations that may paint the picture and connect the religion of Islam to negative examples. I agree with Philip that it's almost up to the viewer to take offense or not by the representation of Saudi culture in the movie. I think that there are both positive and negative examples and representations of Saudi culture in this movie and I would say that it's hard to say whether these examples make it either an anti or pro Muslim film and because my knowledge of the culture is lacking, I think that I may see these portrayals as not destructive or negative while someone who is a Muslim might see these portrayals as negative and insulting to their religion.
1. This is a tough one. If we assume Wadjda saw exactly what the audience saw, then yes she should have told the teacher that the girls weren't touching each other (as that is the truth). Instead, she took a neutral view by saying "I'm not sure." I believe if Wadjda was put in the same situation at the beginning of the film, she would have said that the girls weren't touching each other. Because at the beginning she was all about defying authority and going against adult, but now she has something to loose: her bike (or at least the opportunity to purchase it). We see her just before this scene going to the teacher and saying how she is a changed woman, and that she will be on the straight and narrow from there on. This is after she realizes the prize for winning the Koran competition is enough to buy her bike, and I assume the teacher has some influence over who wins, and that is why she is trying to appease the teacher in any way. So when she has the opportunity to either go against what the teacher clearly already thinks has happened, she determines she won't be helping her case by saying the girls weren't doing anything (as the teacher has already made up her mind). In a way though she is still betraying the girls. She decided to not state any opinion, and just let the authority take charge. I believe this compliance with the system is representative of the general acceptance of the sexism in society. Anyways this has gotten off track... yes she has betrayed them, but more so she has betrayed herself as if women don't support each other in situations like this how will society progress?
ReplyDeleteOkay I already talked too much in that last answer so these next few will be brief... hopefully
2. The scene when Wadjda and Abdullahh talk about the suicide bombers. Very serious subject matter for such a light and playful movie. In some ways they had to touch on this otherwise it might be viewed as ignoring these issues.
3. ("a" and "b"): As a white american male I don't think I can really give a answer. What do I know about the Muslim community? So it's hard to say if her criticisms with the society are fair or not, although I can say the film is not necessarily "anti" muslim, but it's not really "pro" muslim. That's kinda a bullshit answer but that's all I can really give you. It points out critiques of how certain people interpret the religion, but it's not saying the religion as a whole is bad.
1. Wadjda’s inaction when Fatin and Fatima are “on trial” speaks to her commitment to getting what she wants through any means necessary. In that moment, acting could have caused more conflict with the school’s headmaster. She can’t afford any friction while she does her best to get the money for her bike. It may not be the most heroic action, but it’s true to her character and her sense of drive.
ReplyDelete2. What shocked me in Friday’s viewing was the Salma was already married as a 12 year old girl, and to a 20 year old man. In America, this kind of arrangement would be instantly shunned and regarded as disgusting and inhumane. In Saudi Arabia, all the other girls and teachers congratulate Salma and her engagement as they pass around photographs of her husband. The striking difference in so many cultural norms between here and Saudi Arabia continue to surprise me, especially since life is very familiar in many areas as well. I’d never thought about it before, but I expect that large differences in some areas of culture will change the way people live their lives in all areas. If Saudi Arabia has some oppressive policies, then clearly the entire population must be living as drones in a monochrome dystopian society where they’ve sacrificed all freedoms to serve the government or whatever. But no, that’s not the case. These people go to work and have best friends and play video games the same as I do. Of course they do. Exposure to different parts of the world, as portrayed by people from those parts of the world, really helps me realize how ignorant I’ve been (and still am.)
3. This film is not anti-muslim, but instead it protests the application of the koran in Saudi Culture. There is a difference between practicing a religion loosely and following it so strictly that it dictates your freedom as an individual. This is almost, but not quite al-Mansour appears to be taking issue with. The problem is that the religion is forced on the people. No one has a choice, they are required to surrender a part of their identity and a part of their freedom to Islam, and those who don’t aren’t only publicly frowned upon but also face harsh legal consequences. al-Mansour uses Wadjda, a character who is still young enough to retain her own desire for self-expression, to highlight the ridiculousness of many of the cultural norms that stem from the use of Islam as (what we see as) an oppressive force.
I wouldn't say that Wadjda completely betrayed Fatin and Fatima because she didn't admit what she had actually seen. Wadjda remained neutral, which I could definitely see myself doing in her shoes. She was really put on the spot in the principal's office, in a position where she clearly had to decide where her loyalties lie. The principal already had her reasonable suspicions about what the girls were doing, so defending them to the principal would only make her look dishonest. But she doesn't completely expose them to the principal, however they are shocked that Wadjda wouldn't defend them. Wadjda has a lot of shortcoming to make up for if she wants to get on the principal’s good side and win the recitation contest. I wasn't really surprised that Wadjda took this stance, I probably would have done the same and this didn't really change how I see the character.
ReplyDeleteA scene from this viewing that stuck with me was when Wadjda and Abdullah travel to her mother’s drivers house to convince him to keep driving her. Wadjda cares deeply for her mom and shows incredible courage. I visually liked this scene as well, the two kids journeying through the town, it really helped to set the scene of the story for me. Wadjda clearly has no problem questioning those above her and that is my favorite thing about her, I wish I could be as bold.
I do not think that this movie is anti-muslim, but I do think it has been written to criticize some aspects of the culture. This film is very real and tackles very real issues such as suicide bombing but we are seeing this culture almost through Wadjda eyes. This movie is most critical of the traditional relationships between men and women. Wadjda’s mother makes several jokes about marrying her off and it seems mostly lighthearted. On the other hand, Wadjda’s very young classmate is already married to a 21 year old, so I feel like we are made to see this culture through Wadjda’s eyes. I think that the film is pretty one sided and I agree with Zoya that it does portray the aspects of Islam that makes the audience question it. I would have liked if it showed at least a part of Islam that Wadjda seems to connect well with.
I was somewhat disappointed in Wajda when she didn’t back Fatima and Fatin's story about the magazine but I didn’t see it as a betrayal. She wasn’t particularly close to either of them and she didn’t outright say that that their story was untrue. She could have done more to help them but it was clearly a very stressful situation for Wajda. If she was caught lying she would be in a lot of trouble. That being said, I did see Wajda’s decision to not support Fatima and Fatima as her unconsciously supporting the tyrannical society that oppresses women throughout Saudia Arabia and the world at large.
ReplyDeleteThe scene where Wajda and her mother are talking about her mother’s hair really stuck out to me because we see another instance of a woman sacrificing what she wants in order to satisfy a man. In this case, Wajda’s mother decides not to cut her hair because Wajda’s father prefers it to be long. It is clear that Wajda is beginning to notice the trend of women having to make sacrifices to satisfy men in her society. It may seem like a relatively insignificant scene at first, but I actually think it is crucial to understanding Wajda’s mindset and her thoughts about the world around her. She was trained from a very young age to follow strict rules for the sake of men and this scene is another instance of that.
I don’t think this film is anti-Muslim. I say this because I think the director is trying to give an honest portrayal of what life can be like for young girls in Muslim countries, in this case Saudia Arabia. This is not to say that every girl who grew up in the Middle East had the same experiences as Wajda. al-Mansour takes the time to give accurate examples of Muslim customs like when we see Wajda and her mother performing morning prayers and she doesn’t try to blame Saudia Arabia’s misogynistic laws on the Koran, which could paint Islam as a religion which is inherently oppressive towards women. She instead examines the effect of a modern Muslim society on the life and experiences of a young girl.
1. I don’t think it was betrayal. Wadjda was put in a tough situation, and she did her best. Maybe she felt like she already helped them (when she warned them about the teacher coming) but now she feels like they should have been more careful. She already helped them. I was a little confused about the sudden character shift because if anyone were to stick up for two classmates, it would have been Wadjda, but for some reason she didn’t. It was a little confusing. I wonder what would have happened if Wadjda did stick up for them. I wonder if she would have gotten punished or not.
ReplyDelete2. The moment that stuck with me was when the head teacher/ principal publicly shamed the two girls for “committing a sin” It stuck with me because of how horrible to me it was. I guess I just felt very very bad for the two girls standing there. Because they didn’t want to be expelled, they had to stand up on the stage, in front of everyone, and be shamed. It was actually pretty hard to watch.
3. a) I don’t think that this movie is anti muslim. To me, it is more about being anti-certain parts of this culture. Plenty of people are muslim and think that women can ride a bike. I think that she is just making comments about how this one culture operates not the entirety of the religion. b) I think that her questions are warranted. I think I’m privileged to grow up in a society where I can be anything and do anything regardless of gender so watching this was actually hard for me. I wanted to yell at almost everyone in the movie at certain points. I think that al-Mansour just wants to call attention to certain aspects of the culture that she feels should be looked at.
I believe the word betray doesn’t define what occurred in this scene. Wadjda is only 10, and this was a very quick choice she had to make. Adapting to this surprise isn’t easy for most people to do, so I don’t blame her for trying to stay neutral and saying she couldn’t see what happened. If she had denied being there at all, she likely would be in severe trouble for lying. But if she described what the two girls did, she would be conforming to the authority that they all desired freedom from. Not helping them may have broken the established trust or shared suffering between them, but I believe it was an impulsive act of self preservation.
ReplyDeleteOne scene that stood out to me in particular was when one of the younger girls in the religious club announced they were married. I thought I had heard it wrong, so I assumed it was an older sibling or relative who had recently married. But as the scene went on, the former seemed to be the case; I asked someone who got married and they confirmed it was indeed the young girl. I know in Western society this would be looked at as very wrong, but in Saudi Arabia, it seems it’s acceoted. This stark contrast really shocked me, and I was thinking about it well into the movie.
I believe, like “Pariah”, this film attempts to show a different perspective as opposed to the typically shown one of Saudi Arabia. Along with showing the positive and regular side of society, it does not shy away from pointing out the negative parts of its respective culture. For that reason, I can see how parts of it may be seen as anti-Muslim, but I don’t believe that’s what the director was aiming for. It seems that they were trying to portray where Wadjda lives as real and raw as possible.
1. Wadjda is clearly not perfect. She tries to manipulate people a little bit, and earlier on she steals the nail polish from the girls. I think Wadjda wants to stay out of the situation and that’s why she says she couldn’t see. She’s just starting to get on the head lady’s good side and she doesn’t want to mess it up now. I also think this is a opportunity for her to get the spotlight off her for a moment because she wants to fly under the radar. I’m not sure I would have done it differently. I would like to say I’d stick up for the girls but at the same time, would I get in trouble? If I knew certainly I wouldn’t get in trouble, I would.
ReplyDelete2. When Abdullah is teaching Wadjda to ride the bike on the roof, and she falls when her mom comes up. Wadjda says she is bleeding, and her mother covers her eyes and asks if it is “from her virginity”. This was a funny moment for me because I could never picture this happening. Wadjda is alone on the roof with a boy, and the automatic assumption is that she did something impure.
3.Im going to try to tackle questions B. I think a lot of what she does is just bringing things up. I don’t think she actively criticizes the culture in her film, she just brings them up and let’s the audience think about it. I think it is important for movies to bring up problems they see around them. I think she sees that self criticism is important for growth. She brings up big questions through the whole movie, like how women and men are treated differently, but she isn’t scared to hint at other problems either. She brings up terrorism as well as this issue her mother and father have, and marriage at a young age. I think some of these problems are a bit heavy, but they’re important to talk about. I wouldn't call her criticism any of these things because i think she just brings up questions and lets them simmer after watching the movie.
I didn’t really think of it as a betrayal. Wadjda is very cunning and this scene just proves it. She wants to be in the good graces of the principal so she tells her what she wants to her. Yes, she could have helped save them, but to what detriment of her own? The principal may not have even believed her because of Wadjda’s last relationship with breaking the rules. If I was in that situation I probably would have tried to help the girls, or lied for them, because they shouldn’t have been punished, but I understand why Wadjda did what she did. I think that this moment truly captures how cunning and ruthless she is.
ReplyDeleteThe moment Abdullah and Wadjda were talking about suicide bombing stuck with me. Suicide bombing is, by no means, a small or inconsequential thing, and the way that Wadjda and Abdullah talk about it makes it seem so. Wadjda
even makes a joke about her doing it herself and getting 70 bycicles. The way that they talk about it makes me think that they don’t understand the gravity of it.
Al-Mansour’s approach to this topic and film remind me a great deal of Dee Rees’s approach. Both of these women have a criticism if the society that they live in but can’t outright criticize the status quo, so they both do it through film. Instead of making a film where they say “these actions are wrong and these are right” they tell a story of a character people can sympathise with even if they don’t agree with them personally. They put forth movies about girls struggling to grow up and they gave the audience the autonomy to decide if they believed it to be moral or immoral.
I think Wadjda’s actions were more of a mild betrayal. It was disappointing to not see her stand up for the girls, but ultimately I think she was protecting herself. Like Alike from Pariah, I think Wadjda feels pressure from the adults and peers around her to do different things, which is confusing and makes her vulnerable to influence. This pressure also forces Wadjda to look out for herself, which can impede on looking out for others. I am not condoning her decision, however I understand and can empathize with her. If I were in this situation, I would probably deny seeing anything, as my tendency is to remain neutral, especially when I am conflicted. This scene did not make me think less of Wadjda. I don’t think she fully understands the concept of kindness. Clearly, she is driven to make a profit from anything she does; Wadjda sells bracelets, bribes people for money for doing small tasks, and takes opportunities to better her situation even if it means hurting others. I hope as she grows up Wadjda is able to learn the value that selflessness can bear.
ReplyDeleteThe moment that stuck with me was when Wadjda is angry with Abdullah for putting training wheels on his bicycle for her to ride. These two characters’ interactions always make me smile, but this one is especially endearing. What I love about this scene is that the audience gets a clear illustration of what they are like, as Abdullah tries his best to be thoughtful and Wadjda becomes offended by the gesture. We also gain a deeper understanding of how much Wadjda loathes being underestimated (which ties into the scene when she attaches her name to the family tree) but is quick to forgive once her friend pays her off. I think the main reason I remember this part best is that, while seeming to be an unimportant, comedic moment, it is a means for the audience to better get to know Wadjda’s protagonist and her close friend.
I think the criticisms in this film are meant to focus on elements of Saudi culture. Obviously, the oppression of women plays an important role, and al-Mansour criticizes it through this movie. She also questions the system of religion and authority coexisting through Wadjda’s relationship with her school principal. Ms. Hussa, an authoritative figure, pressures Wadjda to turn two of her classmates in for something they didn’t do. Wadjda does it to “prove herself” or be in good standing with Ms. Hussa to win the Quran reading competition. One thing I question about the message behind this film is that it, similar to what Zoya discussed, doesn’t seem to show the positive aspects of Islam. Ultimately, looking at this film as one piece of a larger whole is necessary, or else we are victims of the toxicity of the single story.
I was disappointed. I went with the notion of, “if two people from the same group are being persecuted or oppressed in any way, they will help each other out.” I was wrong. Wadjda did this to stay out of trouble and is working towards her ultimate goal of getting her bike. She clearly didn’t want to get in more trouble and she would loose everything if she crossed the principal. What we see here is a certain level of pragmatism that we are not used to seeing in our “hero’s.” Depending on the situation, I could possibly see myself doing something similar, it would all depend on what’s at stake. Clearly for Wadjda, there is a lot on the line.
ReplyDeleteThe moment with the conversation about the suicide bomber was tough. The fact that Abdullah, a young kid, was able to justify the action of suicide bombing if it’s “for god” is disturbing. For me, it shows a level of religious extremism that is so deeply imbedded in a country that it is able to show up in the minds of children. I think al-Mansour is showing us an aspect of Saudi society that is deeply troubling and does so through the dialogue of children.
This movie is obviously a criticism of Saudi Arabian culture mixed in with some joyful storytelling. In my opinion, all good movies contain some political message in them. al-Mansour is clearly pointing out flaws in Saudi society, specifically the treatment of women. It may be a “women’s film” but I think it is more than just that. It contains ethical and moral dilemmas that span past just issues of sex. There is a lot to criticize when it comes to Saudi culture and it seems as though al-Mansour is one of the brave souls who is willing to give back to her culture in the form of constructive criticism. This is definitely not an anti-Muslim movie though. It is challenging the hierarchies and institutions that give rise to oppression. This movie is in part about Saudi Arabian culture. Seeing as the government and legal system is based directly on Sharia Law, I see this as a critique of Islam, not Muslims as a people. This is combined with good directing, camera movement and dialogue to create a movie with heart and a message.
I think Wadjda’s actions in the principal's office with Fatin and Fatima are the result of many of her own emotions. After the announcing of the Koran competition, Wadjda has tried to change herself and the way she acts, at least in front of the principle, in order to win the prize money. She knows that if she goes against the principle again, she may get herself into more trouble and further ruin her reputation in the eyes of the principle. I think if she could’ve saved Fatin and Fatima without getting herself into trouble, she would’ve, but I also don’t know if there was much she could’ve done besides anger the principle and possibly shift her anger onto herself. If she had tried to save them, I don’t think she would’ve been successful, but it wouldn't be seen as a betrayal by audiences.
ReplyDeleteA scene that stuck out to me was when Wadjda was in class studying the Koran right before she was called into the principal's office. She speaks out to her class in a serious but also funny way when she says that the competition is hard for her. When everyone laughs, she continues about the Koran channel and her teacher applauds her in front of the class as one of the ideal, hard working students. This shows Wajda's growth at this point of the film. It seems like she’s actually enjoying learning about the Koran now, not just doing it for the prize money. This scene made me happy and even more hopeful for Wadjda and was the first time I really saw happiness and a learning drive in her school life.
I think the two stories in Pariah and Wadjda definitely show similarities. For starters they both depict people, families, issues, culture, and discussions that are rarely depicted in modern film, which is probably a huge reason why they are independant. They both show main characters that act in contrast to typical cultural and societal roles. In that way, I think both Rees and al-Mansour are challenging their respective worlds while showing both the beauty and the pian these people experience. They show harsh realities that don’t end in a happy resolve like most coming of age stories. These films call attention to injustice and attempt to expose it for what it really is: on ongoing problem that needs immediate attention.
As I watched the movie for the first time, I did not understand what was happening between Fatin and Fatima. It was not until we discussed the scene in class that I understood how poorly Wadjda acted in those moments. I believe that the little girl should have spoken up for the two older girls because they all obviously knew each other. Wadjda absolutely betrayed them by not speaking up. Betrayal is a great motif in this movie as it shows up after the Koran competition when the headmistress invites Wadjda up to the front line, when Wadjda's father betrays her mother by marrying another woman, and, as previously stated, when Wadjda does not speak up for the girls. In their circumstances, reading a magazine and painting your nails could not possibly be worse that being accused of touching your friend. Personally, I think that all three girls should have reacted in a different manner than what played out in the film.
ReplyDeleteFrom an American perspective, the fact that Wadjda and her mother had to leave the clothing store and walk to find a woman's bathroom when all they wanted to do was try on a dress astounded me. I have no actual experience with living in Saudi Arabia therefore I do not know if this is a common occurrence or a repeated phenomenon. I just thought it was crazy that there were not any female changing rooms. Also, during class, John pointed out that either the government or the printing company made sure to place a black censor bar over the a poster in the bathroom that apparently was a little too risqué for the conservative community. I understand doing that in a public place but why does the female body need to be bleeped out when the only audience is a bunch of females. It is not anything that we have not seen before.
I was in the room when Zoya expressed her feelings towards the movie to John and I absolutely agree with her: the Islamic culture is so deeply interwoven in the Saudi culture that it is almost impossible to critique one without critiquing the other. Now, I would not say that this movie is anti-Muslim. As a person who has not had that much authentic exposure to the Islamic or Saudi culture, I was really happy to see a positive portrayal of either. This movie destroyed some of the nasty stereotypes that all Americans hear because of the media. In the end, I thought that Wadjda was a beautiful film that taught me a lot.
I didn't really see this moment as a betrayal; Wadjda didn't really know these girls and as a kid it is natural to look out for yourself first. Wadjda was already on thin ice with the headmistress and was probably scared and nervous when she put this young girl on the spot. I don't think I would have done the same in that situation, but I know many people who probably would. After all, it comes down to instinct and the threat of consequences, which Wadjda has already had plenty of. Of course it is disappointing to the audience that Wadjda didn't stick up for the girls because we tend to want our heroes to be selfless and perfect. It didn't really change my opinion of Wadjda's character all that much.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite scene from the viewing and from the movie overall was when Wadjda goes to the shop that is selling the bike she's saving up for and tells the owner not to sell her bike to anyone else. I absolutely love the fact that she made him a mixtape because they're "friends now". The delivery of this scene was incredible and you really can't help but smile after watching it. Wadjda is just so darn likable and funny, and you can tell that she is serious about getting what she wants.
I absolutely do not think this is an anti-Muslim film. I agree with Zoya in that it can be hard to distinguish between Saudi and Muslim culture, and that the movie lacks representation of the true nature of Islam; it is a religion that teaches generosity and kindness. However, I think that this is an important choice because whether the director meant to or not, this is a political film, among other things. We see a young girl question and challenge the aspects of her culture that she doesn't agree with. All cultures have their good and bad parts, and the same goes for the history of any mainstream religion. Horrible things have been done throughout time in the name of one religion or another, but that does not define that religion, nor does it represent its principles. I find this to have a great overlap with Pariah in that both directors chose to include some of the not so great parts of their cultures into the film to make a statement. Just because Rees made a movie in which a girl is cast out by her own mother for being a lesbian, does not make Rees anti-American in any way. I know these two things are also very different, but I think it is important to note the fact that both films call out parts of their respective cultures that the directors are against or don't agree with. Unfortunately, there is an extreme lack of representation of Muslims in the media today, so audiences are left to awful stereotypes from blockbuster American war movies. I think it is very important that this film is able to break some of these stereotypes for its audience and provide a different perspective on both the Saudi and Islamic cultures. Also, as a Saudi and Muslim woman, al-Mansour naturally calls into question the parts of her culture that she feels are unfair, especially to women. I do not think this movie is an attack on Saudi or Muslim culture, but perhaps a device to spark discussion and change.
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ReplyDeleteI do not believe that this was a betrayal on Wadjda’s part because there was nothing she could’ve done differently. She couldn’t have lied and been caught in it because the principal was already going out of her way to keep and eye on Wadjda. The only thing that she could’ve done differently was tell the principal that they were just painting their nails and not engaging in sexual activity. This was an act of self-preservation on her part.
The scene when we saw the mother standing on the roof watching her husbands wedding from above with fireworks going on and we then notice that the mother had cut her hair short like she had talked about earlier on in the film. She had wanted to do this earlier on, but she didn’t do it because she knew that her husband thought her hair looked better when it was long. The act of her cutting her hair short symbolized the end of the dad’s involvement in her and Wadjda’s life. This led to the resolution of the film in which Wadjda finally gets what she wanted but her mother is now unhappy due to her husband leaving her behind.
A. I do not view this as anti-Muslim in any way because it is criticizing more the culture in Saudi Arabia, but not the religion in which they believe. The Quran never said that women were not allowed to be seen by men, but rather that women should practice modesty and not flaunt themselves to the world
B. She is questioning why she shouldn’t be allowed to play with boys and why she can’t wear what she wants and she can’t ride a bike. She wants to be like the American teenagers she has most likely seen from our pop culture and media.