Films from near and far: The Perfect Candidate
Broaden your perspective at Focus Filmtheater
The film council from near and far invites you to: The Perfect Candidate!
On October 29, we will go to the polls in the Netherlands for the parliamentary elections. The right to vote is a great thing, and now that our democracy is under pressure, it is more important than ever to use this right. That is why the film council has chosen The Perfect Candidate for Sunday 19 October: an inspiring story about perseverance, change and making your voice heard.
The Perfect Candidate (Arabic: المرشحة المثالية) is a 2019 Saudi film directed by Haifaa al-Mansour. The drama follows Maryam, a young and skilled doctor in a small clinic. Because the unpaved access road to the hospital hinders her patients, she unexpectedly decides to run for the city council.
But the bumpy road is not her only obstacle. Male patients refuse to be helped by her, her work offers few career opportunities and she still needs her father’s permission to travel.
Her decision sets in motion a process of acceptance and change among her family and in the community, who have never seen a woman on the ballot paper. The film shows how sexism affects everyday actions and how women’s freedom of movement is restricted.
A subtle but powerful portrait of how political change often starts with personal courage and how important it is that all voices are heard.
Program Council
From the project Verre binding , film is used as an art form to create encounters between Arnhemmers from near and far.
The program council, which started in October 2024, chooses films from all over the world with universal themes that offer the viewer a different perspective. Verre Binding gives visitors the opportunity to meet Arnhemmers from near and far and to discuss universal themes together.