I Love the Army

In a self-made home video, 12-year-old Jade explains why it's so much more fun to hang out with boys. A year later, she's the only girl playing an army game. "Boys are just cool," Jade explains. "They don't cry as much and aren't afraid of getting dirty." After she finishes high school, she wants to join the Israeli army more than anything. Jade knows everything about weapons and can really see herself as a soldier. In her room, she laughingly tells us what it will be like: "Give me 100 pushups!" When she turns 14, Jade goes on a trip to Israel and visits a real army base. She feels a connection with this country: "My mother was born here. Israel feels like a home away from home." In addition to her tough-girl activities, Jade also loves to dance -- and she's the one who leads. Jade doesn't want to wear a dress, but like it or not, she will have to put one on for the big competition. Director Jaap van Heusden delivers a fascinating montage of two years in Jade's life, juxtaposing her tough existence of army camouflage with the inevitable stress regarding the dress and makeup. After all, that stuff is for girls.