Raised in a refugee camp in the West Bank, Walaa is a strong-willed young woman with a big dream: to join the Palestinian Security Forces. But considering so few women make it into the forces, not to mention Walaa’s rebellious behaviour, this isn’t easy to attain. An exuberant coming-of-age story shot over six years, What Walaa Wants follows the trajectory of this passionate teen as she navigates formidable obstacles and takes charge of her life—disproving the negative predictions that come with her surroundings and the world at large. 

In Arabic with English subtitles