The story of the spirited title schoolgirl's bid to purchase her dream bicycle, this film recalls such iconic pictures as The 400 Blows and The Red Balloon in the way it uses a charming and, on the surface, uncomplicated childhood adventure to wrestle with more intricate ideas and tensions, the social and spiritual limitations placed upon females in Saudi Arabia in this case. The experience is very charming and well-crafted, not to mention a valuable chance for Western audiences to see, through a sensitive lens, behind the curtain of another culture. I am a bit amazed the Academy did not nominate this film, Saudi Arabia's first ever submission (a crowd-pleasing picture with a social conscious by a female director!), for their foreign-language prize considering not only its quality, but also the unusual, even amazing context of its production.

B+

One of my favorite movies of 2013. The ending kinda wrecked me a little.

This should have been at least nominated this year. I thought it was wonderful. The girl who played Wadjda hit all the right notes and was amazing in the lead. Loved the scene with Wadjda and her (gorgeous) mother on the balcony.