Sonita

Rhode Island Premiere

Sonita Alizadeh, a teenage Afghan refugee living illegally in Iran, daydreams about becoming the next female rapper to emerge from the Middle East. But living in a culture that forbids women from openly expressing themselves, let alone singing publicly, doesn’t make achieving those dreams easy. When she learns her family intends to marry her off to the highest bidder back in Afghanistan, Sonita uses her rap videos to oppose her mother’s mandate, rapping verses that serve as a rallying cry with a growing ripple effect within her community and beyond. Deeply layered and full of heart, this inspiring film pulls no punches showing the heartbreaking lack of choices Sonita rejects through her art and perseverance.