'Hijra' Movie Review: A Mysterious Disappearance Exposes Societal Restrictions in Powerful Saudi Drama

Shahad Ameens second feature, Hijra, diverts from the conventional pilgrimage journey to Mecca, revealing deeper personal and societal insights. The story centers on the abrupt disappearance of one of two young women under the care of their devout grandmother, upending their Hajj ritual. Chosen as Saudi Arabias submission for the Oscars international feature category, the film demonstrates that finding the missing girl requires both Sitti (Khairiah Nathmy) and her granddaughter Janna (Lamar Faden) to confront and trust their own instincts as they traverse the country.

Ameen takes an unconventional route to explore the societal norms shaping these womens lives. From the opening scenewhere snow is wiped off a bus windshield to the holy land, only to obscure the viewthe director sets a tone of subtle tension. Sitti, eternally dressed in a white abaya, demands strict piety but bends her principles when convenient, reflecting the complex balance between outward devotion and personal choice.

The story is set in 2001, before major political changes following the U.S. invasion, yet Hijra depicts cultural shifts already underway, with Westernized influences like fast-food chains and beauty salons appearing alongside camels roaming streets. Eighteen-year-old Sarah (Raghad Bokhari), often lost in her music, vanishes into a crowd of worshippers, later revealed to have intended to cross the border with a boyfriend.

While it might seem convenient that Sitti and Janna quickly find a driver, Ahmed (Nawaf Al-Dhufairy) willingly helps them for payment, illustrating Ameens point that moral and spiritual choices are personal rather than universally shared. Ahmeds practical yet morally flexible behaviorselling supposedly holy water taken from a tapsets up a narrative where the characters must define their own principles.

The film avoids forced epiphanies, instead highlighting oppressive systems that influence everyday decisions. Even seemingly minor deceptionslike seating arrangements in a checkpoint or a phone call to conceal identitycreate tension and shape Jannas psychological growth. These subtleties keep the story gripping, emphasizing the emotional and moral challenges over mere logistical obstacles.

Although the central mystery resolves within the first hour, Ameen maintains interest through the characters introspective journeys, exploring who they are beyond societal constraints. Nathmy, Al-Dhufairy, and Faden deliver nuanced performances, with Nathmy particularly impressive as Sitti, reflecting on past pilgrimages and reconsidering her own freedom and choices.

Hijra imagines multiple paths to liberation, contrasting generational perspectives and opening space for characters to find autonomy within restrictive social norms.

Author: Gavin Porter