What Walaa Wants

Canada, Denmark | 2018 | 1h29 | Documentary Raised in a refugee camp in the West Bank while her mother was in prison, Walaa dreams of being a policewoman, wearing a uniform, avoiding marriage, and earning a salary. But her own rebellious behavior and a complicated relationship with her mother are a challenge, as are the circumstances in which she lives. Following Walaa from 15 to 21, this first-ever look inside the Palestinian police academy brings us the story of a young woman navigating formidable obstacles, learning which rules to break and which to follow, and disproving the negative predictions from her entourage and the world at large. A film by Christy Garland