The film will launch also on linear channels this July to coincide with the occasion of Eid Al Adha.
Saudi filmmaker Haifaa Al-Mansour’s film The Perfect Candidate is scheduled to premiere exclusively on OSN Store, where it will be available to buy or rent from May 23.
Directed by Haifaa Al-Mansour, The Perfect Candidate tells the story of a young doctor Maryam who surprises everyone by standing as a candidate for the local municipality in Saudi Arabia. Maryam’s only desire is for the dirt road outside the local hospital to be surfaced, but no one takes this ambitious professional woman’s modest political mission seriously.
Al-Mansour depicts Maryam’s political mission as a multi-layered family drama. She outlines how the new candidate is supported by her sisters and how her father, a musician, worries about her progressive values. On tour with his band in conservative areas, he realises Maryam’s mission is about creative openness and freedom of expression.
Commenting on the film, Haifaa al-Mansour said: “The pace of modernisation in Saudi Arabia is incredibly rapid right now. We are seeing so many changes, happening so fast, that it is hard for people to fully grasp the full extent of what is happening. I wanted to capture this moment through my film, of a society in transition, and the ways these changes are perceived from people.”
The Perfect Candidate was nominated for Best Film at the Venice Film Festival, FEST International Film Festival and the London Film Festival.
Rolla Karam, Vice President of Acquisitions and Head of Arabic Programming at OSN noted: “OSN is all about bringing exclusive entertainment to the region and we are proud to introduce The Perfect Candidate to our exciting lineup this Eid. As a leading industry player, we are committed to celebrating local talent and making their content accessible to our customers across the Middle East. The Perfect Candidate is a stunning, feel-good movie based on hope and determination which couldn’t be timelier.”
