A pair of patent emerald high heels steps out of a car, followed by a black satin pair, chunky glam rock heels, a pointed pair in twinkling blue, and maroon polka dot platforms, each followed by the swoosh of black abaya — a loose traditional cloak worn by Muslim women. There’s a glamorous party to attend, and these ladies are dressing up for the occasion. This is the opening scene of The Wedding Singer’s Daughter, the 16th installment in Miu Miu’s acclaimed short-film series Women’s Tales, which premiered today at Venice International Film Festival. Directed by Saudi Arabia’s leading filmmaker Haifaa Al-Mansour, Miu Miu’s latest commission offers a thought-provoking glimpse into the prejudices women face in conservative societies. Set in 1980s Riyadh, this Tale spotlights a singer performing at a wedding when the electricity cuts out. It’s up to her young daughter — who has to contend with teasing from other children because of her mother’s profession — to save the day.
“The wedding singer is someone whom Saudi society has always looked down on. I wanted to show a strong woman embracing this role, and the ways her being ostracized would affect her daughter,” the celebrated director tells SLEEK. “I feel like it is very important to recognize brave women who push boundaries and try to move society forward by doing something they love and through something artistic.” This transgressive narrative is a common theme in Al-Mansour’s work, from her 2012 breakthrough WADJDA (the first feature length film shot in Saudi Arabia) about a young girl determined to raise enough money to buy a bicycle even though cycling is frowned upon for Saudi girls, to her recent feature Mary Shelley exploring how the Frankenstein author wrote a book outside of what was considered acceptable literature for women — the director is committed to realising stories about women who bravely transcend the confines of their societies. “All of my work focuses on strong women who go after what they want, who work within whatever opportunities they can create for themselves to achieve their goals. In The Wedding Singer’s Daughter the young girl is starting her journey, learning that you have to get beyond the mean things that people are going to say and just get the job done.”
What’s particularly remarkable about Al-Mansour’s short is how it presents a mysterious women’s only space where fashion and glamour play a pivotal role. Outfitted in luxurious Miu Miu — think rich brocade, ultra-feminine pinks, sparking costume jewels, ruching, lace and sehr Miu Miu collars — the female cast are the epitome of extravagant style within a segregated space (in Saudi Arabia weddings are separated by gender). “For Saudi women, weddings are the ultimate place to show off their fashionable clothes. They can dress however they like. It is a time for them to let loose, to have fun, and just enjoy life,” confirms Al-Mansour. At the beginning of the film, a woman takes off her cloak to reveal a mane of curls and a sumptuous embroidered dress. As she touches up her lipstick and the young girl looks on, there is a sense of amazement and wonder at the confident sense of self that fashion can conjure, even within a conservative society such as Saudi Arabia.
“Fashion is one of the few public ways in which a Saudi woman can express her creativity or her individuality. Even if a woman is completely covered, she can say something about herself with her bag and or her shoes,” Al-Mansour explains. “It may seem silly to some, but these small statements mean a great deal in a closed society. It is important to give women the opportunity to explore their identities, and the things they want to say about themselves, through fashion or any other creative outlet they can find.” As for the clothes themselves, Al-Mansour considers the collection to be “very nostalgic, but glamorous. It reminded me of weddings I went to when I was younger”. She continues, “Miu Miu were incredibly supportive of my vision, and they provided the most amazing clothes to bring it all to life!”.
As Saudi Arabia released its first driving licences to women earlier this year, and lifted its ban on cinemas at the end of 2017, it appears as though the time is ripe to showcase Saudi stories. This is especially urgent for The Wedding Singer’s Daughter director. “It has always been important for me to provide a window into the hidden world of Saudi Arabia through my work. It is a very closed off, private place, so it is important for me to understand what we are really like,” reflects Al-Mansour. “There are a lot of misconceptions about life in the Kingdom, especially in the unknown realm of women, so I want to show it in the most realistic and honest way possible. I also want the world to know how fun and full of life we are as a people, how much we love music and food and dancing, and just enjoying life.” And if The Wedding Singer’s Daughter is anything to go by, this is certainly true.
Take a look at some of the looks from the film here:
All images courtesy of Miu Miu.
You can view full Women’s Tales series hier.