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A closer look at The Perfect Candidate
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The Saudi Arabian film industry is having a moment, pushing the boundaries of cinema and taking seats at international film festivals. Many Saudi film-makers are paving the path for gendered spaces in film production and The Perfect Candidate, directed by Haifaa Al-Mansour, is one such production that’s streaming exclusively on OSN.
Nominated for the Golden Lion award at the Venice International Film Festival and winner of the Best International Feature at the Florida Film Festival, The Perfect Candidate follows the life of Maryam (brilliantly played by Mila Al Zahrani) and her challenging quest for social change in her hometown.
The film centres on Maryam’s mission to fix the muddy road leading to the clinic where she works and the sequence of events that lead her to run for the municipality elections.
Al-Mansour is recognised as one of the most prominent female directors in Saudi Arabia, widely admired since her 2012 debut, Wadjda. Now with The Perfect Candidate, she hopes to encourage Saudi Arabian women to make the most of the opportunities they have.
“There are incredible changes taking place right now at home in Saudi Arabia,” Al-Mansour says. “The challenge is to encourage people to go out and make the most of the opportunities they have. Especially for women, it will take a huge shift in thinking to fully understand and embrace the freedoms they now have the chance to explore.”
Al-Mansour also sheds light on the importance of the traditions and cultural legacy of Saudi Arabia, “I felt like we needed a story that reminded people of the strong artistic traditions we have, and how they can help us as we move forward into an exciting future,” she explains. Without giving away any spoilers, Saudi Arabians will find the music in the film very familiar.
Intrigued? The Perfect Candidate is made in Al-Mansour’s signature creative style and, after the credits roll, be sure to catch The Making of the Perfect Candidate on OSN for more behind-the-scenes insight.