Sonita

Director(s): Rokhsareh Ghaem Maghami
Country: Iran
Language: Farsi w/English subtitles
Documentary | 2015 | 91 min
Recommended for ages 13+ (Parental Guidance: domestic violence, acts of war depicted, threatening situations)

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.

Awards
Documentary Filmmaker Award 2016, Full Frame Documentary Film Festival (Durham, NC)
Audience Award and Grand Jury Prize for World Documentary 2016, Sundance
Audience Award 2016, Camden International Film Festival
Audience Award 2015, Amsterdam International Documentary Film Festival

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