简介：AStrangerinHerOwnCityfollowsNajmia,atheriteenyearoldgirl,whofloutscustombynotwearingaveil,byplayinginthestreetswithboysherage,byridingabicycle,ascooterandgenerallydoingwhatevershelikes.Sheiscursed,ridiculedandthreatened,but,buoyedbyatrulyindomitablespirit,shepersevereswithincrediblegoodhumorandsenseofperspective. "ImetNajmiabychanceasIwaswalkingaroundtheoldcityofSanaa.Inoticedthisyounggirlstrugglingtoliveherlifefreelyinasocietythatplacessomanyrestrictionsonwomen.Shewasunveiled,playedinthestreetwithboys,rodeabicycleanddidwhatevershefeltlike. FortunatelythatdayIhadmycameraandbegantoshootspontaneously.Iwentbacktofilmherinherneighborhoodandremaineddiscreet.Najmia'spersonalityputherinthespotlightsincepeoplewerenotusedtoseeingastronggirllikeher.Thoughmostpeoplerebukedher,Inoticedafeelingofadmirationastheyjokedandlaughedwithher. Aftersevenmonthsofshootingthefilm,Najmia'sfatherstoppedherfromattendingschoolandorderedhertoweartheveil.AyearlaterwhenthefilmfirstprizeattheBerlinFilmFestival,thePresidentofYemenaskedtoseethefilm.HewassodrawntoNajmia'spersonalitythatheofferedtopayforNajmia'seducation.ThattomewasthebestprizeIcouldhaveevergottenforthefilm. LikeNajmia,Itoohadarebelliouspersonality.Forcedtogetmarriedat11,IrealizedIhadtofightmybattlesmyself.Withmymother'shelpIwasabletosecureadivorceandquicklyrealizedthateducationwasmykeytosuccessandindependence.IworkedatalocalTVstationintheafternoonsandwenttoschoolinthemornings.At16Iwonascholarshiptostudyfilm-makingintheUnitedStatesandNajmia‘sstoryismyfirstfilm. Relativeswhoearlieropposedmenowpraisemeandhopetheirdaughterswouldfollowinmyfootsteps.Insteadofbeingabadexample,Ibecameagoodexample.ThischangemakesmehappyandmakesmefeellikeIcontributedtotheevolutionofwomeninmycountry…