Abdullah - Wadjda (2013) Discussion

[–] PoppyTransfusion 10 years ago

He was and so was their relationship, which must signify a positive hope for the future of male-female relationships in Saudi Arabia.

The distance is nothing. The first step is the hardest.

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[–] hppg 10 years ago

I thought that but I reckon another 10 years of indoctrination he'll be a jerk and she'll be beaten down. :-(

He was a real bully at the start - I know he was trying to get her attention but gosh. Taking her headscarf could get her in a lot of trouble. But he improved pretty fast.

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[–] PoppyTransfusion 10 years ago

I think their friendship represents a future hope. There's no guarantee that the hope will be fulfilled. As to Abdullah's and Wadjda's fates ..? This is why I disagreed with another poster who thought they would make a happy ever after. The film suggests political difference between the families so I doubt his family would let him marry her.

Taking her headscarf could get her in a lot of trouble.

This action might show that he's as yet unaware of its political significance.

Movement ends, intent continues;
Intent ends, spirit continues

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[–] pimp4u 10 years ago

I thought he was an ignorant, disrespectful ass who needed a good whooping from a bigger boy to put him in his place.

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[–] Kiririn 10 years ago

...Says "pimp4u". ಠ_ಠ

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[–] EBGBeee 9 years ago

Well called out!

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[–] blubird-1 9 years ago

He was a typical boy of his age that likes to tease girls, a form of tween flirting. No different than any other kid at his age in America.

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[–] 10 years ago

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[–] GuyOnTheLeft 10 years ago

I agree and I would hope that he won't change as he gets older. (Yes, I know he's a fictional character.)

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See a list of my favourite films here: http://www.flickchart.com/slackerinc

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[–] 10 years ago

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[–] SamKQboro 9 years ago

From the film's blu ray extras it seems Abdullrahman was fluent in english, I was wondering about his upbringing? Seems to be somewhere from the west, like the states?

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[–] deschreiber 9 years ago

I agree that the boy is appealing. He likes Wadjda and is generous with her. But I found it a little disturbing, given the fact that he seemed even younger than Wadjda, who was only ten, when he called out to her that he expects them to marry when they get older. It seemed a kind of laying of claim, an assertion of male privilege that had little interest in the girl's plans.

But, as someone else has said here, in a few years he will be a typical Saudi male jerk stamping his foot on the necks of women.

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[–] Sugarminx 9 years ago

...I found it a little disturbing, given the fact that he seemed even younger than Wadjda, who was only ten, when he called out to her that he expects them to marry when they get older.

Initially I thought he was younger too, but I think they may have been the same age. He was just small physically. Some boys are like that and then have a huge growth spurt. When he's about 15 or 16, I bet he'd be bigger than Wadjda.

Did he say he expected to marry her? I thought he only expressed a desire to marry her and it was kind of sweet.

...in a few years he will be a typical Saudi male jerk stamping his foot on the necks of women.

Not only Saudi men behave like Neanderthals. Plenty of Western men are jerks too!

I think we have to take care not to paint everyone with the same brush. I realise the 'oppression' of women is a cultural thing over there, but within that framework, I'm sure there are nice, gentle and kind men too...at least I'm not certain that there aren't.

It's kind of arrogant to look down our noses at their culture and to say emphatically that we know best. Wadjda's mum seemed to accept her life - it was sad, certainly, that she has to share her husband with another woman, but this is something that these women grow up expecting may be the case. The restrictions placed on women there, whilst abhorrent to us, are accepted as part of life for them and maybe they wouldn't appreciate our condescension and pity.

So put some spice in my sauce, honey in my tea, an ace up my sleeve and a slinkyplanb

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