The Perfect Candidate Film

The Perfect Candidate is a Saudi film, produced in 2019, marking the first Saudi film to compete for the top prize at the seventy-sixth Venice Film Festival. It was selected to represent the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the Oscars' Best Foreign Language Film category. It was the first Saudi film to receive support from the Saudi Film Council in 2019, and it also participated in competitions for Best Film at the Belgrade and London Film festivals.

The film is set in a suburb of Riyadh City, where the young doctor, 'Maryam', faces social obstacles represented by strict customs and traditions. The hospital where she works is the only one equipped with an emergency department to treat critical cases from that suburb. Often, the emergency department receives male patients, some of whom refuse to be treated by a female doctor. This situation is the opening event that sets the tone for the film, as the patient arriving at the emergency room becomes angry and shouts at the doctor, refusing her presence in the hospital and rejecting her treatment.

Dr. Maryam attempts to improve the quality of life in her hospital, as the road leading to it is unpaved and difficult for patients to access. However, she struggles to meet with the municipal council director to address these issues. Instead of succumbing to feelings of frustration, Maryam decides to run for a position on the municipal council and challenge the system in her town. Despite the reluctance on the part of her family and community, she refuses to surrender. Maryam embarks on a path she had not planned for, as her candidacy compels her to face a challenging battle in the elections. Her opponent is a well-known figure who has previously held the position and made accomplishments.

The film is written and directed by Saudi filmmaker Haifaa al-Mansour. The leading roles are portrayed by Mila al-Zahrani, Nora al-Awad, Khalid Abdulraheem, Dae al-Hilali, Rakan Al Sa'ad, and Shafi al-Harthy.

The film runs for 104 minutes, offering a realistic portrayal of the current status and daily life of Saudi women amidst cultural and social transformations. These changes have enabled women to engage in various fields of work and encouraged them to contribute to the desired development across all sectors.