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The Perfect Candidate

Play trailer 2:04 Poster for The Perfect Candidate Released May 14, 2021 1h 41m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
93% Tomatometer 83 Reviews 61% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
When Maryam, a hardworking young doctor in a small-town clinic, is prevented from flying to Dubai for a conference without a male guardian's approval, she seeks help from a politically connected cousin but inadvertently registers as a candidate for the municipal council. Maryam sees the election as a way to fix the muddy road in front of her clinic, but her campaign slowly garners broader appeal.
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The Perfect Candidate

The Perfect Candidate

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Critics Consensus

A message movie admirable for its subtlety as well as its execution, The Perfect Candidate faces oppression and powerfully advocates for change.

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Critics Reviews

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Amy Nicholson FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles) It really liked it. It's not a doom and gloom movie -- it's about "how can you use your influence?" May 21, 2021 Full Review Claudia Puig FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles) What I appreciated about this was the subtleties -- she's doing things in small victories. May 21, 2021 Full Review Ann Hornaday Washington Post Mansour gives audiences a candid, often wryly amusing glimpse of life inside the Saudi kingdom, which is so often cloaked in opacity and menace. Rated: 3/4 May 19, 2021 Full Review Eddie Harrison film-authority.com …a real return to form for the writer/director Haifaa Al Mansou, a simple and effective drama that makes a succinct point; why should anyone accept living in a skewed, unfair world when we have the power to make a better one?… Rated: 4/5 Oct 14, 2024 Full Review Annlee Ellingson CineWomen Seven years after Haifaa al-Mansour filmed Wadjda, the first feature shot entirely in ... Saudi Arabia, she returns with The Perfect Candidate, a movie that demonstrates how much has changed in the Arab country — and how much has stayed the same. Jul 29, 2024 Full Review Brian Susbielles InSession Film With The Perfect Candidate, she has made some rumbles but puts on a perfect platform for the rights of women in such a restrictive country for the modern century. Rated: A- Mar 1, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (6) audience reviews
kdd I loved the movie! A chance to get a glimpse of Saudi society. Very nicely done. Well acted, nice music and touching. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/17/21 Full Review David H Terrific screenplay showing family conflict, personal growth, cultural/religious background, and political dynamics. The basic story is about the eldest daughter in a family of Saudi musicians who has become an MD because she has stagefright, and who signs up to be a candidate for the rural municipal council as an offhand byproduct of trying to get a computer error corrected so she can have permission to leave the Kingdom and attend a conference in Dubai that will give her a chance for a job in Riyadh that will get her out of the anti-woman bias at her local medical clinic. On top of everything else, the film gently satirizes modern political campaigning. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 05/16/21 Full Review david l The Perfect Candidate is a wonderfully subtle and not at all on-the-nose movie in its feminist message. It takes an important look into the changing Saudi society when it comes to basic women's rights, making it very timely as it captures this important period effortlessly. The acting is great and the ending is quite moving. This is an even better, more confident movie from Haifaa al-Mansour than her previous feature, Wadjda. Both films were snubbed by the Academy for some reason. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review dave d I wanted to like 'The Perfect Candidate' much more than I did, but it's all too often unfocused and wandering. There's a subplot here that sometimes engulfs the film. When on track and focused on the titular character, this Saudi Arabian feature is best. There are quite a few cliche moments, in this female empowerment story. Final Score: 5/10 Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Well worth watching. Well paced, humourus and interesting insight into (some) women's lives in the ME. Great performance from the leading lady. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review Audience Member A subtle, yet steadfast account of the types of oppression being challenged and overcome by women like Haifaa Al-Mansour. Her characters are likeable, with the family and their lives being relatable. Its approach isn't about drama or high levels of tension, but instead focusses on the everyday lives of people Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Synopsis When Maryam, a hardworking young doctor in a small-town clinic, is prevented from flying to Dubai for a conference without a male guardian's approval, she seeks help from a politically connected cousin but inadvertently registers as a candidate for the municipal council. Maryam sees the election as a way to fix the muddy road in front of her clinic, but her campaign slowly garners broader appeal.
Director
Haifaa Al-Mansour
Producer
Haifaa Al-Mansour, Gerhard Meixner, Brad Niemann, Roman Paul
Screenwriter
Haifaa Al-Mansour, Brad Niemann
Distributor
Music Box Films
Production Co
Al Mansour Est. for Audiovisual Media, NDR, Razor Film Produktion GmbH
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Arabic
Release Date (Theaters)
May 14, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
May 10, 2021
Box Office (Gross USA)
$28.8K
Runtime
1h 41m
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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