The Perfect Candidate

This is another impressive film by the Director of 'wadja' again focusing on the female experience in modern Saudi Arabia, specifically, a doctor who decides to run for political office in her local town. It's really absorbing and interesting, and beautifully done all round with super performances. Cultural insights abound here, as well as understated criticisms of what's portrayed as a highly misogynistic society, but the film also features some great music. Ignore the negative reviews, Saudi's shouldn't flinch.....this deserves a wide audience.

I found this film via the Florida Film Festival in 2020 as a feature film listing. I found the film to be both an entertaining film as well from the perspective of today's Saudi Arabian culture in general and issues for Saudi women in particular quite educational. A plus in the movie was the focus on the Saudi musicians and singers who were playing live gigs that have recently been allowed by the government in Saudi Arabia. I found the film well worth my time.

Better to perform than conform! I'm really fond of Al-Mansour's smooth style of protest drama portraying bold and profound female protagonists who raise a voice against the calloused cultural concerns in Saudi Arabia to spark a debate upon the strict patriarchal mindset. She paves an undulating yet bright path of possibility leading toward tolerance and acceptance by deconstructing sexist tradition of theocracy.

This is a good film. The people in it are likeable, the story is good. It made me feel good watching it.

Haifaa al-Mansour is the greatest director of our generation. this is the second film of Haifaa al-Mansour that I've seen after her first debut film Wadjda which I've watched it back at Istanbul Film Festival. It's also the second Saudi Arabian Film that I've seen so far. Haifaa is one of the emerging director came out from Saudi Arabia. She has the distinctive authenticated voice to express herself and society in Saudi in her films.

The Perfect Candidate is another compelling and moving film about Woman Empowerment in the conservative society. It is well produced film. like how the main protagonist is portrayed as the strong optimistic woman who is resistance, stubborn, won't give up easily regardless of her prejudice patriarchic community in Saudi Arabia. I like the climax of the film. It is not a cliche happy ending but rather a subtle hopeful ending which opens up the discussion about feminism in our society.