THE MATCHMAKER
Saudi Arabia, 2023, 81 minutes, Colour.
Husam AlHarthi, Reem AlHabib, Nour Alkhadra.
Directed by Abdulmohsen Aldhabaan.
The Matchmaker offers an opportunity for reflection on the status of women, the dominance of men, in Saudi Arabian society – memories of women being forbidden to drive, have business opportunities…
However, this film may be quite surprising to some audiences – perhaps for Saudi Arabian men.
It is brief, but rather unhurried in its treatment of its theme, a number of audiences finding it boring. However, the theme is important, relationships between men and women, assumptions of male superiority, the response and revenge of women. It is something of a moral fable for our times.
The film opens with a narrative about a woman, oppressed, going into the desert, a voice hearing her, her husband coming, finding a ring, it setting him on fire, his returning as his wife’s servant, at beck and call. Then there is a transition to the contemporary city, an IT worker coming home, his wife and daughter, their enjoying each other’s company, the husband always late, having his meal, sleepless during the night, spying on his neighbours, going to work, the attraction towards Salma, secretary, warning her about harassment, yet his obsession with her. She resigns from the company and goes to a distant resort, he goes on a flight following her.
The dry mountainous rocky scenery of the resort is fascinating.
The resort is comfortable, men in uniforms functioning, an audience with the Matchmaker, promises of further weddings… However, gradually the man becomes alert, feeling he is in prison, unable to move freely, escaping and meeting the father of Salma who wants his daughter back again, observing the ceremonies of marriage, the husband leading the bride in wedding dress on a camel, a scarf-masked red uniform band playing. Ultimately, he tries to escape, is trapped. And, throughout the experience of the resort he has some strange dreams, imagining himself at home, playing the game with his wife and daughter.
There is a complication at the end, somewhat difficult to follow, Salma confronting the man, removing the gift of the ring which he has not been able to remove, seemingly freeing him – but, ultimately, like the Matchmaker, she sits and observes a slow motion troupe of red garbed men, servant/slaves, trekking through the desert.
