The Perfect Candidate
To put it mildly, the state of gender equality in Saudi Arabia is not ideal. It would no doubt be easy to make a very punishing, sad film about mistreatment that would be accurate to a lived experience. But first with Wadjda and now with The Perfect Candidate, Haifaa al-Mansour opts for a lighter touch. They are films that don't ignore that women and girls are held to different standards, but films that opt for optimism, centering on determined characters who push against the cloaks that bind them, leaving them just that bit looser. I am sure you could say this lets the regime off too lightly (or maybe is the extent of criticism you can get away with and still get official recognition like being submitted as the country's nomination for Best International Film...it's the Academy's fault neither was nominated). But I also just think there is a great political wisdom in the films...people want an upbeat story that presents a slight bit of change for them to get comfortable with that shows that things will still be alright.
In this case we focus on Maryam, a doctor in a clinic in a smaller town outside of Riyadh that is essential to its medical services, but is significantly cut off to the town due to a decrepit road. When her attempt to rise professionally by leaving town are derailed by bureaucracy, and in light of her local official's lack of attention to this important issue, she decides to run for office. This naturally is an idea that draws a certain amount of unwelcome attention and faces long odds. She certainly has other issues she things could stand to change, including the role and rights of women, but above all, she speaks to the road because it is an issue that has broad/popular resonance and can really put the incumbent in bad light. This called to mind Danica Roem, a trans woman elected to State House in Virginia by focusing on transportation concerns, unseating an incumbent Republican, and continuing to hold the seat through the tough 2021 election year by a comfortable margin. It speaks to the power of focusing squarely on the issues that the voters ultimately care about, while trying to do some other good things in the process. Here it doesn't mean electoral victory, but it is still policy victory, and a shot across the bow that the incumbent needs to do better at constituent service. The likes of AOC swept into Congress not necessarily because her constituents are demanding Medicare For All or a Green New Deal, but because the incumbent Democrat took the constituents for granted.
Anyway, the characters and performances here are very winning. There is passion but also levity. And ultimately, I do like a testament to the slow boring of hard boards, often at some personal sacrifice, and the subsequent positive changes building up like compound interest to really amount to something important in people's lives.
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I did start watching Penguin Highway but it didn't really work for me. Seemed a bit too horny. Girls are magic I guess.