Freedom Fields

Women from all walks of life make up the newly formed football team: captain Fadwa is a petro-physicist, Nama is a student whose family are internally displaced and goalkeeper Halima is training to become a doctor. Against the backdrop of a country in strife – with vociferous conservative opposition threatening the women’s safety, as well as the national federation unwilling to take a clear position to support them – the team’s spirit is nothing short of inspirational. Filmed in the years since Libya’s 2011 revolution, British Libyan Arebi’s beautiful, self-shot debut is a captivating tribute to a young generation trying to build the future they want, all the way down to hand-cutting the grass of their future training pitch to ensure that no matter what, they will play.

 

Elhum Shakerifar