In the lead role, Adwa Bader plays Sarah, a young Saudi woman who faces a strict curfew imposed by her very conservative father when she requests permission to go shopping. However, the pretext for shopping is a ruse, as Sarah has alternative plans. Instead of perusing Riyadh's shops, she arranges a clandestine meeting with her potential suitor Saad (Yazeed Almajyul).
Saad proposes an invitation to a clandestine party in the desert, which attracts Sarah, who agrees to attend on the condition of guaranteeing her return before 10 p.m., the time when her father hopes to pick her up.
Director: Meshal Al Jaser
Writer: Meshal Al Jaser
Stars: Adwa Bader, Yazeed Almajyul, Khalid Bin Shaddad
The plan quickly begins to fall apart. On their way into the desert, Saad and Sarah encounter a gunman in a jeep and an aggressive camel seeking revenge, while dealing with the effects of poisoning.
Throughout the day, they meet various members of Saudi society, including an astute poet. Meanwhile, Sarah monitors the ticking clock as the likelihood of returning to her father on time decreases, compounded by heavy traffic due to a popular soccer game in town.
Writer-director Meshal Al Jaser infuses Naga with a sense of turbulence that threatens to spiral out of control, but is expertly harnessed to take the story in surprising and entertaining directions. Adwa Bader gives a standout performance as the rebellious Sarah, bringing resolve and vulnerability to her character.
While some scenes may seem unnecessary and the direction occasionally indulgent, these small flaws do not overshadow the overall enjoyment of Naga. Inspired by filmmakers such as Martin Scorsese, the Safdie brothers and Quentin Tarantino, Al Jaser employs dynamic camerawork, non-linear focus, genre bending and surreal elements to create a distinctive and unique viewing experience.
Despite his imperfections, Naga remains thoroughly entertaining, combining humor, suspense, and creativity. Meshal Al Jaser and Adwa Bader emerge as inventive and stimulating talents, leaving audiences excited for their future contributions to cinema.
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