The Girl, Whose Shadow Reflects the Moon

Walaa, 16, recounts her terrifying journey as a 14-year-old girl from Syria to Jordan, and how filmmaking has given her hope through the chance to voice her story and reach out to other girls with similar experiences.

5:08 / Irbid, Jordan / 2015

About the artist

Walaa is from Dara'a, Syria and now lives as a refugee in Irbid, Jordan. This is her first time using a camera and making a film. Already a talented writer, Walaa sought out the art of filmmaking as a vehicle for expressing her and the stories of many girls in her circumstance. Though she is struggling to figure out how to gain an education in school and in filmmaking, her desire to continue telling these stories and making films is unbreakable.

"It’s important for girls to bring things from inside to the outside. Our society often makes girls feel like they have to be ashamed of themselves, so many girls are afraid of speaking up. It’s important for them to bring these things outside because girls go through things in their lives, and so many girls are afraid of speaking up. For me, the workshops gave me courage and helped me not be afraid to tell my story to people. I hope that each young woman is able to express her inner-self directly and indirectly, and that she can just break the world. It doesn’t matter, just break it all over the place…”

CREDITS

Director & Cinematographer: Walaa Al Alawi

Music: Jameel Al Sakran

Editors: Laura Doggett, Walaa Al Alawi, Jameel Al Sakran, Tasneem Toghoj

Workshop Facilitators: Laura Doggett & Tasneem Toghoj