Speed Sisters

Even in America, women race car drivers are faced with adversity. The sport is mostly seen as a boys' club, which has led to accusations of sexism—Richard Petty famously received criticism for inappropriate comments about NASCAR star, Danica Patrick. Now imagine female drivers in the Middle East. It’s a culture where, in some places, the idea of women driving at all is considered improper, let alone tearing up a track. This hasn’t stopped a team of young ladies known as the Speed Sisters, who are the first all-female race car driving team in the region. The quintet have garnered headlines in the West Bank for their impressive foray into the Palestinian street-car scene. Besides the basic gender issue, they also have to overcome other obstacles, including run-ins with the Israeli military and their restrictive checkpoints and trying to stay safe in a land that’s marred by war. SPEED SISTERS is a vibrant and unmistakably inspiring documentary about five fearless (and, frankly, badass) women who crush stereotypes at every turn. (In English and Arabic with subtitles) –E.F.