The film Wadjda directed and written by Haifaa Al Mansour explores the cultural orders that perpetuate gender segregation in Saudi Arabia. The film achieves this by following the experiences of an ambitious young Saudi girl, Wadjda, who challenges the country's misogyny with everything she does. Overall, this noteworthy film comments on the oppressive intersectionality of gender and religion in Saudi Arabia and optimistically advocates for change through the symbolism of a bicycle. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Interestingly, the reality of active gender segregation in the film manifests itself immediately in the actual production of the film. This film was the first film ever shot in Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, the director, Haifaa Al Mansour, is the first female director in the history of Saudi Arabia. Due to gender segregation rules in Saudi Arabia, Al Mansour was effectively prohibited from interacting with her male crew; instead, he had to direct the street scenes from a parked van, watching through a monitor and giving instructions via a walkie-talkie (“Wadjda Trivia”). In essence, she challenged her country's misogyny while making a film that challenged her country's misogyny. Al Mansour's hope for change in this film is revealed through the symbolism of a bicycle. Throughout the film, Wadjda always saves money for a bicycle and eventually enters a religious competition to win money for the bicycle. Although seen as very "unfeminine", what Wadjda wants is to ride a bicycle and race with her male friend. At one point Wadjda's mother even says: "If you ride a bicycle you won't be able to have children." The purpose of the bicycle and the resistance to it are very important. The actual bicycle represents a means of transportation, progress and advancement – ​​all these things women fight for. The cultural opposition to Wadjda cycling represents the current state of misogyny in Saudi Arabia. At the end of the film, Wadjda's mother uses her money to buy the bicycle for Wadjda instead of buying a dress to impress her unfaithful husband. This scene seals the theme of women's empowerment and the symbolism of the bicycle in the film. Finally, the intersectionality of gender and religion in Saudi Arabia is one of the most interesting topics addressed in this film. This film explores how the combination of being a woman and living in a religiously fundamental culture can contribute to the overall oppression of women. This topic is addressed in the film when Wadjda joins the religious club with one goal: to win the competition money and buy a bicycle. Although seemingly uninterested in the actual readings of the Quran, Wadjda memorizes lines for the competition. In my eyes, the most powerful moment of the film is when Wadjda is asked to recite a phrase from the Quran that almost exactly portrays her character. In front of the whole school Wadjda recites: “The punishment they incur is great... When they are told: 'Do not harm the earth', they say: 'But we only want to make peace!' Certainly they are the ones who do harm but they don't realize it." Wadjda is the mischief maker; she is the one who challenges cultural notions by wanting to ride a bicycle, among other things. Without being fully aware of it, Wadjda does harm in the hope of peace and equality. By reciting this phrase, he wins the contest and the money only to announce that he intends to buy a bicycle with his new money. As a result, the principal is dismayed and.