(Shadya), Roy Westler / IZR, 2005
original version / English subtitles, 50 min
Started at the age of eight, the Arab–Israeli Shadya Zouabi has practised karate, and very successfully, too. She has a full trophy cabinet, is a world champion and the star of the Israeli National Karate Team. Her Muslim family has been living in Tamra, Galilee for generations. Her father Mazen is broadminded and has always stimulated his daughter's karate career and defended it against the more conservative family members. The unconventional, 17–year–old Shadya behaves defiantly before the camera and has given up on praying. As a member of the Israeli National Karate Team, she heads to the 2004 World Champion–ships in South Africa. Here, during meetings with the Palestinian team, several critical moments occur that make Shadya think about her origins. Over the course of the film, several important questions also presents itself, such as: 'Will the unfettered Shadya be able to cope with her brothers, who openly condemn her attitude? And what will she do with her engagement that was decided by her family?
