Saudi Runaway
Using her smartphone camera, a young woman invites us into her world and her life behind closed doors, a veil and the façade of a respectable family. Muna’s life is determined by her father and a much-mentioned future husband. Realising that her passport is about to expire and that neither of these men will agree to an extension, she plots her escape from Saudi Arabia.
Moments of pure joie de vivre – such as Muna’s unbounded excitement at the spectacle of a rare cloudburst – are in stark contrast to her oppressive situation. Disregarding the risks involved, she secretly records the ups and downs of her everyday life: the murky view of the world she sees through her veil; the uninhibitedness of women among themselves; the creeping dread of the inexorably approaching forced wedding; as well as moments of communality during Muslim holidays. (Festival infromation, Berlinale 2020)
Her upcoming wedding day will change Muna’s life forever. It is the day she makes her decision, not about her groom already chosen for her, but whether to seek freedom outside of Saudi Arabia. A woman of courage facing dangers and challenges, Muna plots her escape from her paternalistic society. Exactly because she is a person of compassion and love for family values, she has to leave. This coming-of-self-determination-story is real, authentic and touching, being totally put together of smartphone videos. Susanne Regina Meures as the director with Muna as protagonist and person created more than a film, together they added feminism to smartphone and cast dignity of women as a bridge instead of a border. And together they added a young woman to Germany who is happy about the sun of freedom inside – and so very fine about the rain outside (photo: © Christian Frei Filmproductions).