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The Perfect Candidate poster

Film · 2019

The Perfect Candidate

Directed by Haifaa Al-Mansour · starring Nora Al Awadh, Dae Al Hilali and Mila Al Zahrani

  • 5.3 AverageMovieNCo
  • 8.0 Users3 votes
  • 2.7 Critics3 reviews

Synopsis

Maryam, a woman who lives in Saudi Arabia, is scheduled to fly to Dubai. However, her legal guardian, her father, is out. Since Maryam is a woman and does not have the documentation in accordance with the Custody Law, she tries to get a local administrator to sign her papers. Facing off against all the bureaucratic problems established by a society that considers women inferior and that prevents her from achieving her objective, Maryam ends up initiating a campaign of political vindication and is established as the leader of the movement to free women and achieve the social justice they lack. To achieve this, enters into the political race to become the mayor of her city, transforming her into a true phenomenon. A considerable section of the Saudi spheres of power are horrified by her efforts and attempt to establish place pressure upon Maryam in order to make her abandon her objective before their established oligarchic structure crumbles. Barriers and obstacles surge as Maryam attempt to carve out her impromptu political career and win justice for gender.

'The Perfect Candidate' is the latest film by Saudi director Haifaa Al-Mansour, who is very committed to the social struggles of her country. It has been shown in lots of international festivals such as Venice and Toronto.

Where to watch The Perfect Candidate

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Available now in the UK:

Availability checked on 8 November 2026.

The essentials

Runtime
101 min1 hour and 41 minutes
Box office
$1.3mworldwide
How long is The Perfect Candidate?
1 hour and 41 minutes (101 minutes).
When was The Perfect Candidate released in the UK?
It was released in the UK on 26 March 2020.
Who directed The Perfect Candidate?
Haifaa Al-Mansour.
Who is in The Perfect Candidate?
It stars Nora Al Awadh, Dae Al Hilali, Mila Al Zahrani and Khalid Abdulraheem.
Where can I watch The Perfect Candidate?
In the UK it is available to rent on Apple TV.
How much did The Perfect Candidate make?
It took $1.3 million worldwide.
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Producers
Haifaa Al-Mansour

Videos and trailers

See the video

Photos and posters

All 10 photos

Reviews

All 3 reviews
8.0 3 votes

What the critics say average 2.7 from 3 outlets

  • 8.0 The GuardianXan Brooks Haifaa al-Mansour, the first Saudi woman to direct a feature, goes back to basics with an effective story of a doctor trying to enter politics. Read
  • 0.0 The Hollywood ReporterDeborah Young A feel-good Middle East tale ? a fable, really ? about a determined, courageous young woman who establishes her own identity in one of the most repressive male-oriented societies in the world. Read
  • 0.0 VarietyJay Weissberg The script is so simplistic in how it runs through a checklist of cultural practices ? women?s dress, gendered spaces, the role of music ? that it reduces the people themselves to unsophisticated… Read

Box office

Weekend by weekend
  • Worldwide $1.3m
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