After her debut feature Wadjda (2012) broke new ground as the first-ever film shot entirely in Saudi Arabia - and the first made by a Saudi woman - director Haifaa Al Mansour returns to the kingdom with The Perfect Candidate, a tale of one woman's quest to challenge not only the system but also herself. Maryam is an ambitious young doctor working in a small town clinic in Saudi Arabia. After Maryam is prevented from traveling to Dubai in search of a better job, a bureaucratic mixup leads her to stumble on the application for her local city elections and she decides to run.

“Essential Film of 2020  ★★★★ “Fiery and Headstrong.“ - The Guardian

“★★★★★ “Joyride to new political territory.” - Evening Standard 

★★★★ - Little White Lies 

★★★★ “Compelling and timely.” - Empire

★★★★ “Groundbreaking…powerful parable of feminism at the sharp end.” -Time Out  

★★★★ - The Independent 

★★★★ “A charming, sensitive and important piece of work.” - Film Stories