What Walaa Wants

20181 h 29 min 24 secFilm: Documentary

PG

Direction: Christy Garland

Production: Anne Köhncke (Final Cut for Real)Matt Code (Murmur Media Inc.)Christy Garland (Murmur Media Inc.)Justine Pimlott (National Film Board of Canada)Signe Byrge Sorensen (Final Cut for Real)Anita Lee (National Film Board of Canada)Waël KabbaniPenny Charter

Script: Christy Garland

Coproduced by Murmur Media Inc, the National Film Board of Canada and Final Cut for Real in association with Doha Film Institute, Iambic Dream Films, DR2 and UR.

Raised in a refugee camp in the West Bank while her mother was in prison, Walaa dreams of becoming a policewoman in the Palestinian Security Forces (PSF). Despite discouragement from her family, even her beloved brother Mohammed, Walaa applies and gets in.  But her own rebellious behaviour and complicated relationship with her mother are challenging, as are the circumstances under which she lives.

Following Walaa from 15-21, with an intimate POV, What Walaa Wants is the compelling story of a defiant young girl navigating formidable obstacles, learning which rules to break and follow, and disproving the negative predictions from her surroundings and the world at large.

Other versions


Subject categories


  • Social Issues > EducationIntergenerational ConflictWomen
  • Psychology and Psychiatry > Individual in Society
  • Politics and Government > Refugees and War Victims
  • Women > Working MothersYoung Women, 18-30 Years Old
  • Health/Personal Development > Careers & Education
  • Family Studies/Home Economics > Family Diversity and Challenges
  • Civics/Citizenship > Human Rights
  • Ethics and Religious Culture > Religious Diversity/Heritage

Credits


writer
Christy Garland
director
Christy Garland
participant
Walaa Khaled Fawzy Tanji
producer
Anne Köhncke
Matt Code
Christy Garland
Justine Pimlott
executive producer
Signe Byrge Sorensen
Anita Lee
Waël Kabbani
Penny Charter
editor
Michael Aaglund
Graeme Ring
original music
Tom Third
cinematography
Christy Garland
sound
Christy Garland
production coordinator
Ekram Zubaydi
Andrew Martin-Smith
translator
Ekram Zubaydi
Teyama Alkamli
Azza Taha
David Mesiha
Magdy Omar
Nada Kawar
Yasmin Haj
Zein Adris
Alaa Aleryani
Manal Zreik
Rimah Jabr
Ashraf Al Zaghal
Serence Husni
Kays Mejri
Keenana Issa
Younes Samman
Ali Al Hadi
Maissa Darraji
appearance
Latifa Abu Draa
Mohammad Tanji
Samia Khaled Tanji
Noaam Tanji
Laila Khaled Fawzy Tanji
Shereen Kamal Terawi
Zaher K. A. Sabbah
Issa Abu-Allan
Noor Abu-Romi
Ahlam Awagneh
Akram Awwad Fataftah
Mohammad Hafiz Ghannam
Haytham Yaseen
Zohdi Shaqour
Na'el Abu-Keshek
colourist
Anders V. Christensen
sound designer
Peter Schultz
post producer
Maria Kristensen
editing consultant
Molly Malene Stensgaard
Janus Billeskov Jansen
associate producer
Lyana Saleh
additional cinematography
Hanna Abu Saada
production accountant
Korthe Barfod
Jan Arildslund
Pam Leeuwestein
trailer editor
Waltteri Vanhanen
technical assistance
Waltteri Vanhanen
production assistant
Mauricio Gonzalez-Aranda
Kasper Kjems
Jad Mourad
Haneen Battrawi
Sofie Bervild Nielsen
Sia Bergmann
Mie Mollerup
translation coordinator
Andrew Moir
production legal
Brenda Blake
graphic designer
Maria Jose Cuevas
poster design
Maria Jose Cuevas
re-recording mixer
Peter Schultz
sound effects editor
Mathias Dehn Middelhart
post-production supervisor
Anders V. Christensen
online editor
Martin Munck Schmidt
VFX
Martin Munck Schmidt
post assistant
Sebastian Munk
manager studio operations
Mark Wilson
studio administrator
Leslie Anne Poyntz

Awards


  • DGC Special Jury Prize – Canadian Feature Documentary AwardHot Docs
  • Margaret Mead Filmmaker AwardMargaret Mead Film and Video Festival
  • Best Feature DocumentaryForest City Film Festival
  • Artistic Merit Award for documentaryInternational Film Festival
  • Hilal Best Feature AwardAjyal Youth Film Festival