Pakistan’s number one female squash player, Maria Toorpakai’s story is remarkable by any standards. Little wonder then that her life inspired first a book and is now the subject of a documentary film which recently premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The film is titled Girl Unbound: The War to Be Her. Maria hails from the tribal region of South Waziristan and the director, Erin Heidenreich follows her struggle to play the sport she loves against all odds. While she comes under attack by the regressive forces in tribal society, Maria finds help and encouragement from within her own family and community as well.

The film will doubtless generate some controversy, but no one can deny that this is a story that needs to be told. Watch the trailer below.