The Perfect Candidate (2021)
The Perfect Candidate
”A Saudi doctor runs for office, facing opposition and breaking barriers as the town's first female candidate.”
Soon at your home
Trailer
Why watch this film?
After making a splash abroad with 'Mary Shelley' and 'Happiness on a Thread', Saudi filmmaker Haifaa Al-Mansour returns to her roots, already shown in the moving 'Wadjda's Dream', with the interesting 'The Perfect Candidate'. Riding on discussions about female protagonism and machismo in the Middle East, the feature film tells the story of a woman who decides to run for public office in her city to help the population - and going against the patriarchy. Although it is more conventional than in her other works, the filmmaker once again shows personality by putting her clear opinions in the story and marking her position on an issue that boils in the region. It could be stronger and deeper, as well as having a little more identity in its realization, but still has plenty of room to reflect on the world of today.
Filmelier
Our suggestions
Plot summary
A determined young Saudi doctor's surprise run for office in the local city elections sweeps up her family and community as they struggle to accept their town's first female candidate.
To share
Do you want to watch something different?
Watch full movies now!
Press play and be surprised!
Where to watch?
Soon at your home
From the same director
Nappily Ever After
Based on Trisha R. Thomas' novel, this Netflix movie addresses the beauty standards imposed by society and how they are able to affect people's lives. The feature is led by Sanaa Lathan, who gained a lot of success in the early 2000s with films such as 'Beyond the Limits' and, in recent years, has been dedicating more time to series.
Mary Shelley
Mary Shelley is one of the most renowned authors of English literature, responsible for the classic 'Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus'. She, however, had a complicated life, suffered at the hands of an abusive husband and prejudice against a female writer. This movie precisely addresses this trajectory, with a great performance by Elle Fanning ('Super 8') in the role of the protagonist. We know not only who inspired her to create the scientist Victor Frankenstein, but also the references to create a story that criticizes man trying to become God. It is a feature film that gives a greater dimension to the original work.
Drama
Downtown Owl
'Downtown Owl' - Searching for a break from her cosmopolitan life in Milwaukee, Julia Rabia (Lily Rabe), arrives in the closeknit Reagan-era town of Owl, North Dakota for a one-semester high school teaching job. But when the small town turns out to be a wonderland of second-string poets, smoldering Marlboro Men, and a social hierarchy that echoes high school, Julia doesn't know if she's come to town to get away from home or to find it. Ed Harris, Vanessa Hudgens, Henry Golding, and Finn Wittrock also star in this Great Plains dark dramedy directed by Lily Rabe and Hamish Linklater. Based on the novel by Chuck Klosterman.
Baby
After his release from a juvenile center, Wellington finds himself homeless in São Paulo. At a porn theater, he meets Ronaldo, who mentors him in street survival. Their bond evolves into a turbulent affair.
Cake
'Cake' takes us into the darkly funny world of Claire Bennett (Jennifer Aniston) who initiates a dubious relationship with a widower (Sam Worthington) while confronting fantastical hallucinations of his dead wife (Anna Kendrick). With her feisty housekeeper cum caretaker (Adriana Barraza) ever at her side, Claire searches for human connection and self-forgiveness in this tale of personal redemption.
Lie With Me
Lie With Me (Arrête avec tes mensonges) - An emotional French drama directed by Olivier Peyo, has been awarded the award for Best Narrative Feature Film at FilmOut San Diego. The film follows a writer who returns to his hometown of Cognac after 35 years to represent a cognac brand and reunites with the son of his first love, a role played by Victor Belmondo, triggering an avalanche of passionate memories of his youth.
