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Tell us what you think >>
Selected submissions will be posted here regularly, so visit again to read more comments.
1/18/07
John Moyer
Pittsburgh, PA
Shadya is the story of a brilliant young girl who has her spirit crushed by her own culture. I felt very sad for her and I my wish for all children, not just daughters, is to have healthy supportive families who can love them for who they are as individual beings rather than to make them fit into their small ideas of cultural expectations.
1/18/07
Siosiua Vea
Palo Alto, CA
SHADYA is an inspiration to me. It is also a reminder of the status of women regarded in this world still, as secondary and inferior. Shadya shatters that stereotype with a "roundhouse" and a quick jab. The support her father gives her is vital and allows her to pursue her ambitions. She reminds me of my days as a pupil in Kenpo martial arts. In Karate, there is a passion to strive for excellence and to win. Shadya shows that same passion, even in the face of difficulties, and cultural differences.
1/18/07
Nila
Hillsboro, OR
Regarding my perceptions of Israeli Muslims: The only part I liked was where the Dad was supportive of the girls and spent time with them. The rest was terribly sad for me, especially how jealous and nasty the brothers were. Watching the traditional Muslim girls in the karate balcony wasn't nice either. If the brothers were successful & educated, they wouldn't be so determined to destroy their sisters. Also the casual animal cruelty in the backyard, it wasn't a quick death for that creature.
Regarding "Having it All": It's impossible to have it all. Even here there is still age, gender & looks discrimination. I do think it's possible to have "more" here or in other countries if you have supportive families or social support. I hope Shadya's males in her life can "get it" that bettering yourself as a female can lead to improved futures for the whole family.
1/18/07
Emilie Walker
I do agree that the theme ambition and tradition is universal. I'm sure that almost every single woman in their lives has thought, struggled, dreamed of their ambitions and possibly have regretted their decision due to the life of the tradition. I have encountered this subject more so as a theme, I think particularly, because I did not grow up in a religious home. There really has been no pressure on my decisions only, like Shadya who only listened to herself and her father, the pressure comes from myself. You can see it in her eyes on the car ride home that she realizes her defeat of the match and must retire her competing of karate. I agree with her father, that if she would have waited until 20 or a later age to marry I think she would have gotten all that positive rebellion out of her system. As well as advancing to where it is she wanted to be in karate. She was such a flittering spirit that it saddened me to see her in that beautiful birdcage. It was all her own decision though. Live and learn. This film was absolutely stunning. It was finally a relief to see something on TV. Worth watching, worth learning about. It makes me feel wonderful inside to think of families like that. That still take walks and enjoy the sun together, still do activities, let their children make there own decisions. Thank you for expanding my brain and not rotting it with fake reality.
1/17/07
Naomi Clark
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Of all the independent films I've seen this one had the most profound affect on my perception of my role in society, in the home, Middle Eastern and other traditions globally. I find Shadya's actions to strive to have a life that is her own and on her own terms was inspiring, but based on what I saw in the film I disagree with film maker Udi Kalinsky that in her case she can " have it all" for her situation.
From what I gathered from the film it seemed that even though she had a passion for more than just karate , one that I would call a passion to know one's own self and what you can do, slowly her surroundings began to whittle away at her. Everyone strives for approval whether it's at home, in the workplace, or from peers. I think that initially Shadya was unique in that the only approval she truly wanted was from within herself, but as outside pressures began to mount she eventually found that giving in was easier than pushing through.
This film is the kind of media that everyone needs to see in order to relate to others, find their own place, see where they came from, and where they want their own traditions to go in the future.
1/17/07
Dave Hall
Brooklyn, New York
At both the beginning and the end of your beautiful film about Shadya, a voice over describes her as a "Modern Muslim woman". But then you demonstrate in your fine film that Shadya and her family are rather unmodern. And while her situation is common enough, it by no means gives the viewer a clear-eyed look at the Muslim world. Presenting this girl and her family and village as typical of Muslim culture might lead uninformed viewers to believe that strong, independent women are rare in the Muslim world.
The Muslim world is and has been filled with independent, educated women who achieve great things with the support of their families. Remember, it was the predominantly Muslim country of Pakistan that elected Benazir Bhutto Prime Minister, way back in the 1970's, while we in the US have yet to elect a woman as chief executive.
Your film was very moving and extremely well done, but it, unfortunately, also seemed to perpetuate the mistaken Western notion that the Muslimworld is backward when it comes to women's rights. Shadya, as inspiring and exciting as she is, is not a "modern" Muslim woman, she's just a brilliant individual who is hampered by an ignorant but apparently persuasive local social circle (personified in her oaf of an older brother. I would like to see PBS in all it's programming, to do a better job when it comes to addressing the Arab and Muslim World.
1/17/07
Idaho
Conflicts between ambition and tradition run strong in many small towns in America (as well as throughout the nation). Women are viewed as the one that is in control of the household. Women are the ones to bare the children (although we are the only ones capable of this) and washing the dishes. It is a battle when you enter the mans world, especially into the very fabric that the men hold dear to them. We need to understand that biologically we just are not able to do some of the things men do, but it's not about being "equal" but being respected for what we do.
1/17/07
Eugene, Oregon
CAPITOL 'WOW', I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THAT THE DAD WAS FLOUTING CONVENTION MORE THAN THE SON. HOWEVER, ARCHAIC THE ELDEST SONS FEELINGS MIGHT HAVE BEEN PERCEIVED BY ME, HIS CONVICTIONS WERE STRONG AND WELL DOCUMENTED. I ALSO LOVED THE RELATIONSHIP THAT THE OTHER DAUGHTER HAD WITH THE FAMILY, I FOUND THE PETULANCE AND DIS-RESPECT OF SHADYA AS OFFENSIVE AS SHADYA DID. THANK YOU FOR AN INTERESTING DOCUMENTATION.
1/17/07
The saddest part of your film to me was when the girls father was not allowed to buy coffee at the Jewish? Shop. it reminds me of the Jim Crowe laws of the south. I hope our country and other Jewish people condemn the practice. I do.
1/17/07
I am neither Israeli nor Muslim. I am an Irish-Italian-American and a Roman Catholic. Despite the apparent differences in our ethnicities, I feel that Shadya and I are not so different after all. Although the specifics of our lives may greatly vary with both face many of the same challenges. We both struggle to balance the traditions of our cultures, our obligations to our families as well as our own ambitions and desires.
In Islamic tradition once you decide to practice Islam you are not allowed to stop or you will go to hell. Similarly, in Catholicism once you are confirmed by the church you are obligated to the church or you will go to hell. As Shadya stopped the prayer ritual, I have stopped going to mass on Sundays.
1/17/07
Iris Seefeldt
Arlington Hts., IL
My heart went out to Shadya. Every women I see that is tethered in any way by culture and ignorance is as good as dead. The story was very, very, sad! A wasted dream, a wasted future. A reality in a land with too great a population for its own good. There is no hope and no opportunity. I read the anger and jealousy in the demeanor of the brother. The Husband. The arrogance, the gall, the fear that her independence might contaminate the rest of the women. it was palpable. "It is not permitted" said it all. The love of the Father for his daughters was overshadowed by the possibility of his personal status. I had a feeling there was more to her dominance behind the scenes. In her eyes I could see she became a very unhappy girl, her illusions shattered. In the end I could not help but see this life played out in many a life in that region. What good is education, freedom of speech, equality when culture and custom override all? It is a travesty and points out to me why the Middle East will never ever really come out of the Middle Ages. I will not experience it in my life time.
1/17/07
Tulsa, OK
What a gut wrenching film. To anyone who has studied the martial arts, we understand how devastating it is to be deprived thru injury the practice of our art. The emotional injury done to Shadya is heartbreaking.
1/17/07
Erin
I have just finished watching "Shadya", and I must say that I am quite moved. The filmmakers were able to capture not only the mood of the environment but also Shadya's spirit. What an exceptional girl! Her very energy seemed to light her from within.
Women all over the globe continue to struggle with ambition versus tradition. I know that if you have enough spirit, enough drive and are empowered, you can rise above the limitations that surround you. It seems as though Shadya is strong enough to do just that. I do not know what it is like to be Muslim nor do I know what it's like to live in any other country but the US. Yet, Shadya's story really touched something deep inside me. I hope and pray that she will find a way to hold on to her spirit no matter what life may throw her way. I hope that she teaches her baby all of the wonderful ideals that her father taught her. I also hope her husband understands what a special woman he married! Good luck to Shadya. And thanks to the filmmakers for such a wonderful, insightful film. I will never forget it.
1/17/07
Diane
Canfield, OH
I believe that women in every culture throughout the world face a "conflict between ambition and tradition." I would further this thought to also include men. It was obvious that Shadya's father faced this conflict within himself: dealing with his ambition for his daughters, which was in conflict with the traditions of the Islamic faith, and its proscriptions involving women. I also think of a friend whose husband desired to be a stay at home dad. His ambition to do this was conflicted by our society's tradition of "male breadwinners" and "stay at home moms." It is in fact this conflict between tradition and ambition that acts as an impetus for societal change.
1/17/07
Tanya-liz Marte
Clifton Park, NY
What a powerful film! This touched me deeply. I admired her strength and her father's love. She may be from another part of the world but I truly identify with this girl. Best wishes to her and may all of her dreams become a reality. Great Film!!
1/17/07
MIlan, NY
Shadya's story is twofold. It's about courage and confrontation, nationalities and tradition. First, the courage needed to face the prejudices Arab-Israeli's must deal with living in Israel and the related identity issues. The second, the plight of an intelligent young Arab woman living in a traditional Arab household were the males (with the exception of her father) dictate how a woman should act and what her destiny should be, which seems limited to bearing children, cleaning the house, and cooking for her husband.
Shadya embraces her ethnic heritage with tremendous courage exemplified most profoundly when after winning a regional karate competition for her Israeli team she drapes herself in the Palestinian flag. She confronts the distain this causes in the eyes of her team mates head-on by trying to have them understand that it's all about acceptance and how she knows her country (Israel) will never accept her because she was born Arab. A fact made all the more clear when her father, a gentle and loving man, is denied a cup of coffee by an Israeli merchant.
Shadya's second battle is the one she fights at home. Her brothers, one in particular, openly discusses his dislike of her for the level of accomplishment she has attained in her art (karate) and her ambitions to do more with her life. All of which is in direct conflict with his traditional Arab male view of where a women's place is. Her mother is compliant with here son's views and her younger sister who is following in Shadya's karate footsteps only interests seems to be in capturing any attention now focused on Shadya.
1/17/07
Omaha, NE
I just finished watching the film and I feel like my heart is broken. It was horrific to see such a beautiful spirit like Shadya's be trampled so viciously. After watching an episode of Morgan Spurlock's show, 30 Days, which documented Muslim life, I was beginning to feel for Muslim's and the way they are treated in this country. However, Shadya's brothers and husband have thrown me right back into the fear and disgust that I had in the past when reading about how Muslim women are treated by their "loved ones". Even her father turned on her in the end. I really do hope that she is now getting back into karate but I have a feeling the men in her life will never let her be happy for long.
1/17/07
Kim
Sarver, PA
I loved the film. It spoke volumes of the differences among cultures, Be it American Christian or Israeli Muslim. What a strong woman Shadya was portrayed as, yet at the young age of 18 she was married off by her father, later revealed to 'please her brothers'. It is a film that I will not soon forget. Thank you for the opportunity.
1/17/07
Anthony D.S.
Huntley, IL
I really enjoyed this program. One thing that I did not like is that it was in subtitles. I am a big reader, I read all the time, but every once and a while I want to take a break from reading. I don't want to read a movie. But I would not have enjoyed it if it was translated and someone else's voice was dubbed in. But yes... I enjoyed it, I enjoyed it a lot.
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