In her new documentary, Waad Al-Kateab (director of the Oscar nominated  For Sama) shows us the dramatic challenges faced by refugee athletes who competed for a place in the 2020 Olympic Games. Narrated in first person and often asking herself difficult questions, Al-Kateab listens to the athletes who have seen their dreams vanish and accompanies them through their suffering. 

In this powerful essay on freedom, a topic Al-Kateab gravitates to, the audience is exposed to the harsh world of high-performance athletes and the opportunities they may lack due to living in war zones or places where their rights have been violated. The film also appeals to humanity and raises questions about athletic development in harsh settings or extreme stress. How does one become the best version of oneself when deprived of freedom?––Maya Ochoa

Waad Al-Kateab