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The Perfect Candidate

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Overview

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.

Reactions, Awards & Festivals

Official Selection - Sundance Film Festival 2020

Official Selection - Venice International Film Festival 2019

Official Selection - Toronto International Film Festival 2019

“A sly, buoyant social drama...fresh and hopeful.”

Jessica Kiang

Rolling Stone

"a candid, often wryly amusing glimpse of life inside the Saudi kingdom"

Ann Hornaday

The Washington Post

“Fiery and headstrong...instantly gets you on its side”

Xan Brooks

The Guardian

“Eye-opening...a feel-good Middle East tale with an irresistible heroine.”

Deborah Young

The Hollywood Reporter

"A movie as brave and humble as its heroine.”

David Ehrlich

IndieWire

Cast & Crew
  • Mila Alzahrani : Maryam
  • Dhay : Selma
  • Khalid Abdulrhim : Abdulaziz
  • Shafi Al Harthy : Mohammed
  • Directed by : Haifaa Al Mansour
  • Written by : Haifaa Al Mansour, Brad Niemann
  • Production Designer : Olivier Meidinger, ADC - VSK
  • Costume Designer : Heike Fademrecht
  • Makeup Artist : Dorothea Wiedermann
  • Sound Designer : Sebastian Schmidt
  • Composer : Volker Bertelmann
  • Editor : Andreas Wodraschke, BFS
  • Director of Photography : Patrick Orth
  • Produced by : Roman Paul, Gerhard Meixner, Haifaa Al Mansour, Brad Niemann
Technical Info
  • Production Year : 2019
  • Release Date : May 1, 2020
  • Countries of Production : Germany, Saudi Arabia
  • Language : Arabic with English Subtitles
  • Running Time : 105 min
  • Screen Ratio : 2.39:1
  • Sound : 5.1
  • Color : Color
  • Rating : Not Rated
Theatrical Engagements
Theater Name
City
State
Date
Los Angeles
California
05/14/2021
Pasadena
California
05/14/2021
New York
New York
05/14/2021
New York
New York
05/14/2021
Baltimore
Maryland
05/21/2021
Chicago
Illinois
05/21/2021
Dallas
Texas
05/21/2021
Plano
Texas
05/21/2021
San Diego
California
05/21/2021
Washington
D.C.
05/21/2021
Fairfax
Virginia
05/21/2021
Scottsdale
Arizona
05/21/2021
Brooklyn
New York
05/21/2021
Cincinnati
Ohio
05/21/2021
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
05/21/2021
Portland
Oregon
05/28/2021
Sacramento
California
05/28/2021
Boca Raton
Florida
05/28/2021
Cleveland Heights
Ohio
05/28/2021
Springfield
Missouri
05/28/2021
Montpelier
Vermont
05/28/2021
Sarasota
Florida
05/28/2021
Fort Lauderdale
Florida
05/28/2021
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
05/28/2021
San Rafael
California
05/28/2021
San Francisco
California
05/29/2021
Normal
Illinois
06/04/2021
Amherst
Massachusetts
06/04/2021
Coral Gables
Florida
06/04/2021
Columbus
Ohio
06/04/2021
Chapel Hill
North Carolina
06/04/2021
Harrisburg
Pennsylvania
06/04/2021
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
06/04/2021
Omaha
Nebraska
06/04/2021
Nashville
Tennessee
06/04/2021
Canton
Michigan
06/04/2021
Lewes
Delaware
06/04/2021
Oxnard
California
06/07/2021
Spokane
Washington
06/11/2021
New Orleans
Louisiana
06/11/2021
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
06/11/2021
Matiland
Florida
06/11/2021
Akron
Ohio
06/11/2021
Pelham
New York
06/11/2021
Albuquerque
New Mexico
06/11/2021
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma
06/18/2021
Ambler
Pennsylvania
06/18/2021
Chatnam
New York
07/11/2021
Tunkhannock
Pennsylvania
07/18/2021
DVD/Blu-Ray Special Features

– Feature Commentary with director Haifaa Al Mansour
– Making Of Featurette
– Sundance Talk with Haifaa Al Mansour and Bassem Youssef
– Theatrical Trailer