Speed Sisters
By Frannie Ucciferri,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Spirited docu follows Middle Eastern female racing team.
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Speed Sisters
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What's the Story?
In open-air markets and air strips along the West Bank, the SPEED SISTERS -- the first all-female street-car racing team in the Middle East -- are revving to compete. This documentary follows four Palestinian women and their supportive coach as they pursue their passion for racing despite high odds and many obstacles. Because as much as the women say that they're there to compete with the men, they must also compete with each other, balancing being teammates with being competitors. At the heart of the battle are Betty and Marah. One comes from a wealthy line of successful racers and has a love of nail art. The other is a talented up-and-comer whose refugee family had to choose between buying a new car for her to race or purchasing land for a home of their own (they chose the car). The team must also navigate life off the racetrack, dealing with everyday life in the highly militarized areas of occupied Palestine. Even finding an open area to practice in can be a dangerous challenge for the young women. Still, they persist, ignoring violence and naysayers to determine which of them will earn the title of female racing champion.
Is It Any Good?
Director Amber Fares' spirited documentary is about both a vibrant, diverse group of women with a passion for racing and the stark realities of Palestinian life on the West Bank. The five women all seem to channel their struggles -- the instability of occupation, the disappointment of conservative relatives, the pressure to start families, the ongoing political turmoil over the West Bank, balancing modern life with traditional Islam -- into street racing. Interestingly, they don't appear to face much pushback from male racers, who (at least according to the film) seemed to accept them fairly quickly as legitimate competitors. But they do face some opposition from the men in charge of the racing federation, as well as from online haters. Still, they take it all in stride, not allowing anything to hold them back.
That said, it can be hard to tell whether the tension between Marah and Betty is being played up for cinematic drama -- or played down to focus on team unity. Also, for a documentary about women who love speed, the film can get a bit slow at times. There are plenty of long, quiet moments in Speed Sisters that are meant to show what life is like for the women when they're not racing -- for example waiting in endless lines of cars at military checkpoints. The combination of the pacing and the subtitles might be too slow for younger viewers, but the intense racing scenes and great female role models more than make up for it. It's easy to root for these women and their relentless passion.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how we can use media to explore other cultures and learn what life is like in other places. What did Speed Sisters teach you about Palestine? How could you find out more?
In what ways are the racers treated differently by their families -- and the racing federation -- because of their gender? Do you think it's easier for them to be on an all-female team? Why or why not?
How do the racers in Speed Sisters demonstrate perseverance? Why is this an important character strength? Do you consider them role models? Why or why not?
Which affected you more -- seeing the movie's moments of violence/tension or listening to the women talk about the violence they experience as part of their everyday life? Why?
Movie Details
- In theaters: January 27, 2017
- On DVD or streaming: February 21, 2017
- Director: Amber Fares
- Studio: Dogwoof Global Sales
- Genre: Documentary
- Topics: Cars and Trucks, Great Girl Role Models
- Character Strengths: Perseverance
- Run time: 78 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: July 26, 2022
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